No. This is recency bias. There have been many great ones, including epic Geb vs Tergat. Remember the times are literally different now. This is a low 27 race in the old shoes.
too young to have understood the context of Geb and Tergat. First memorable 10k for me was London, and this topped that race for sure.
Loved how relentless the Ethiopians were, but it cost Yomif for sure. It looked like he could’ve taken off with 2400 to go, if he was fit enough he should have tried.
I agree Geb vs. Tergat at Sydney was better. I remember they showed the whole race without commercial breaks. This was back when the 10k had heats! Gebrselassie won gold in 27.18.21 to Tergat's 27.18.29.
Awesome race for sure, particularly with how many guys were still in it at the end despite the hot pace.
I’m still partial to the Geb-Bekele duel at the 2003 world championships where they covered the second half in 12:57 and Bekele grabbed the torch from Geb. But I won’t argue with anyone who thinks today’s race was better.
The big stage, marquee athletes, fast times, drama — this one had it all.
Greatest 10k in my lifetime. Is it the greatest 10k of all time?
It's certainly in the running for all the reasons that you cited. Probably some Kipchoge Bekele races in there too, but this one was among the greats. Fantastic race in an event that can be fairly flat sometimes.
Awesome race for sure, particularly with how many guys were still in it at the end despite the hot pace.
I’m still partial to the Geb-Bekele duel at the 2003 world championships where they covered the second half in 12:57 and Bekele grabbed the torch from Geb. But I won’t argue with anyone who thinks today’s race was better.
Don't forget Bekele vs Tadese in 2009. Today's race was definitely up there with all of the races mentioned though, no doubt about it.
I agree Geb vs. Tergat at Sydney was better. I remember they showed the whole race without commercial breaks. This was back when the 10k had heats! Gebrselassie won gold in 27.18.21 to Tergat's 27.18.29.
Geb-Tergat Atlanta was awesome as well. I was standing next to a bunch of Ethiopians, who celebrated like mad for 25 laps. Tergat straining like mad to get away from Geb - and failing to do so - was just incredible. The entire stadium knew Geb was just waiting to pounce. When he finally did with 200 to go, it was electric. Best I ever saw in person.
Awesome race for sure, particularly with how many guys were still in it at the end despite the hot pace.
I’m still partial to the Geb-Bekele duel at the 2003 world championships where they covered the second half in 12:57 and Bekele grabbed the torch from Geb. But I won’t argue with anyone who thinks today’s race was better.
I also would pick the 2003 world championship, in which both Bekele and Geb ran the second half under 13:00 -- in, of course, old-school shoes. Culpepper and Meb, the two best 10,000 runners from the U.S., were both lapped, finishing well over 1:30 behind. After the race, Culpepper said that it just made him want to give up running, and both Culpepper and Meb ran the marathon in the next year's Olympics and never looked back.
So, although I enjoyed today's race, I wouldn't even rank it as the greatest 10,000 that I've seen in Paris.
I agree Geb vs. Tergat at Sydney was better. I remember they showed the whole race without commercial breaks. This was back when the 10k had heats! Gebrselassie won gold in 27.18.21 to Tergat's 27.18.29.
Geb-Tergat Atlanta was awesome as well. I was standing next to a bunch of Ethiopians, who celebrated like mad for 25 laps. Tergat straining like mad to get away from Geb - and failing to do so - was just incredible. The entire stadium knew Geb was just waiting to pounce. When he finally did with 200 to go, it was electric. Best I ever saw in person.
Yes, I was there in Atlanta as well. What a race. Kenyans tried as a team after 5K to break Geb and set up Tergat. Tergat took it with 5 to go. The last 5 laps were run in 4:59! First 5K - 13:59, last 5K - 13:08. Same night Michael Johnson broke the 200 meter world record and Carl Lewis won on his last jump. I told my wife I can now die a happy man because I've seen the greatest night in track and field and all of it in person.
The big stage, marquee athletes, fast times, drama — this one had it all.
Greatest 10k in my lifetime. Is it the greatest 10k of all time?
We saw some old school Ethiopian tactics. Everyone taking the lead for long stretches. Barega caught the Kenyans early and they were never a factor. One of the greatest distance countries ever was a no show.
Times were amazing but the actual race was more entertaining.
I also would pick the 2003 world championship, in which both Bekele and Geb ran the second half under 13:00 -- in, of course, old-school shoes. Culpepper and Meb, the two best 10,000 runners from the U.S., were both lapped, finishing well over 1:30 behind. After the race, Culpepper said that it just made him want to give up running, and both Culpepper and Meb ran the marathon in the next year's Olympics and never looked back.
So, although I enjoyed today's race, I wouldn't even rank it as the greatest 10,000 that I've seen in Paris.
Good point about Culpepper and Meb. At that time, the American 5K record was 12:58, so that race must have been demoralizing for them. Thrilled to see how American distance running has been elevated since then!
The big stage, marquee athletes, fast times, drama — this one had it all.
Greatest 10k in my lifetime. Is it the greatest 10k of all time?
Of note, while the Haile vs Tergat or whomever were exciting, this is the first race where the top 12 were within possible striking distance at even 8800 meters. We couldn't be sure if it would be Cheptegei or Aregawi or Kejelcha or Fisher or any permutation of Ethiopian, French, Kenyan, American or Canadian (Mo Ahmed) athletes...Heck even Nico Young, an NAU senior, finished 12th.
Aregawi had a kick that was unprecedented, going from 10th to Silver in the stretch.
I don't know if we'll see a race like this ever again.
I love a definite battle but this was a battle of 12.
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