World XC Recap: A Truly Unbelievable Day

A quote from a man who just finished a marathon. 37 to 40km were hampered by a cross wind, from 40-42 he had a tailwind, which were the slowest kms of his marathon.

first you said it was crosswinds, now it's tailwinds? prove it. even if he had tailwinds for 2k, there were substantial winds in the last segment of the race, which is the point. other non Geb sources (TFNews) also reported the winds being a problem at the race. But anyway, let's see your source.

September 24, 2006 wind direction SE. The only time he had a headwind was from 34 to 36km marks.

OUCH! Joel Tetreault is burning up...

I'll grant he didn't face a _direct_ tailwind for much of the latter stages of the race, but he did face crosswinds for most of it (you can see this from the map), except for a small bit around 40k where he had the wind directly in back of him. Not 40-42 as you claimed before. Anyway, I don't think it really changes what Geb said - that he had issues from the wind in the end. I think he's experienced enough of a runner that we can believe him when he says that.

Ethiopians have made some inroads against the kenyans..10 years ago the discussion was Kenya, Morocco and Ethiopia. Now its Eth vs. Ken.

if you look at the world championships.. and the top 3 spots. we have won from 1991 6 out of the 9. Olympics 2 out of the 3. We have schooled kenyans on the track in the 10,000 meters.

We are slowly moving down to the 5,000 where now...athletes like Geneti.. have 12;50 potential and he didn't make it to the world champs last year

The kenyans still have the middle distance advatage that can kill us off at the 5000. A guy like chebi, lagat (now runs for the U.S) can blow buy a tarkiu, cherkose and geneti. Cherkose and Jaylen are the future starts of Eth. 12:54 and 27:02 in there second year is serious business. Jaylen is a racer. Cherkose isn't yet. These two .. at the youth level were running 2:27k at the end of a 3k. I knew right away that these monsters will gobble up anything in there way.

In the womens category kenya is getting hammered by ethiopia in everything other than marathon 800 1500. Even in 1500 i bet you dibaba can school any kenyan if she stepped down.

Kenya has not figured out how to promote and take care of women athletes. Ethiopia is doing very well in this. I think thats the difference

Joel Tetreault wrote:

I'll grant he didn't face a _direct_ tailwind for much of the latter stages of the race, but he did face crosswinds for most of it (you can see this from the map), except for a small bit around 40k where he had the wind directly in back of him. Not 40-42 as you claimed before.

Geez, you're thick. I already said he faced crosswinds throughout the race (without ever looking at the map). Call it 39-41km of tailwind, and in the last km he had a quartering tailwind. The last 3 km of his race were his slowest.

I'm trying to figure out what your point with all of this is. All I was saying in my first post was that other factors besides heat - no one to run with in the end, and wind in the final stages didn't help his cause. Even if you want to claim there was a tailwind in the final kilometers or wherever, he definitely had to face some in the kilometers leading up to that, which probably contributed to his last few kilometers being slowest even though he had a marginal tailwind (since he had to push harder to keep the pace going). All I am saying is that the wind didn't help. If you want to take me to task that I said "tailwind" writing in a hurry, fine, I'll admit I was wrong on that (for certain sections of the course). But saying he didn't have issues with wind in the last 10k given the map and your wind data, and on top of what Geb himself said, is a little farfetched.

I think some of our miscommunication is how we are defining "final kilometers" - I am taking this to mean the last quarter or so of the race, you take it to mean the last 5k or so. So the analysis will be slightly different given those sections of the race.

Thanks Ethio boy! stop lying by saying it's only middle distance Kenyans still dominate. what of half and full marathon? are they still middle distance? I wasn't yet talking of women's side that is why I didnot mention women's records.

The fact is that in the distance, kenyan men side hold most records. You still brag on only 10,000m and 5000m, 2000 indoor only!!!I didnot mention DMR,4 by 800m, and marathon relays WR all belonging to Kenyans.

Last year and couple of years Kenyans have beaten Bekele in his own yard.The list is,

Eluid Kipchoge- world champ.

Abraham chebii- Humiliated both Geb and Bekele several

several times.

Isaac songok- last year Oslo Grand prix.

Benard Lagat Ex kenyan- beat Bekele twice! in 5000m Grand prix and 1600 m indoor here in USA.

What I remember nolstagically is AdiSsababa marathon which A kenyan WON and is the defending champ!! Beating the second place Ethio by almost 3 minutes.

I guess you never took note of IAAF release of last year performance in 5000m and 10000m, in the top 100 list best performers. Kenyans had almost half of in 10000m and 5000m.

The answer of Geb is within reach, wait for Isaac songok and Augustine Choge. Isaac is ready to defeat Bekele once more like last year.

You just think of another Ethio new sensation,please donot assume Kenyans cannot get a new sensation. Donot narrow you shallow thinking. it is open thing. Remember even white boy Motram Craig beat Bekele squarely last year at worlds!!!!!!!!! Read the facts he doesnot own this people, he is just the owner of the Record which is one and half secs faster than Daniel Komen's time of 12.39.

The only sports analogy I can think of in describing the Kenyan fans' reaction when Bekele dropped out is the reaction that (name of city's fans) have when Alex Rodriguez strikes out with two outs and the bases loaded in the bottom of the ninth...While on the course for the junior women's race, I did witness Wejo almost get nailed by a half-full water bottle.

pillarofsalt wrote:

the people in attendance wanted Kenyan dominance and by and large, Bekele was enemy #1, the only thing that really in their minds prevented Kenya from exerting its dominance

Dancing with glee because Bekele dropped out? What wonderful people they are.

Rody,

First of all, it is very clear that you are an eritrean? but don't have the guts to admit.. it ... no kenyan would make the comment you made. FYI.. take a look at the top 10,000 meteres

If you include the QAT athlete (who is kenyan) Kenya has 6 top 20 times and Ethiopia has 10.. i am afraid that you are flat out wrong on that..

For 5000 ethiopia has 9 out of the top 20.. and i am sure that Tariku will crack this list this year. 12:48 is his target.

http://www.alltime-athletics.com/m_5000ok.htm

I don't think anyone will buy your logic of picking every loss that kenenisa had and forgetting about every win ... for example you mentioned that Lagat beat kenenisa twice.. but you don't mention that kenenisa beat him twice as well and one was in the 1500 meters in Shanghai. Don't even try to tell me i don't know the IAAF stats.. GROW UP!!!

26:17.53 Kenenisa Bekele ETH

26:20.31 Kenenisa Bekele ETH

26:22.75 Haile Gebrselassie ETH

26:27.85 Paul Tergat KEN

26:28.72 Kenenisa Bekele ETH

26:29.22 Haile Gebrselassie ETH

26:30.03 Nicholas Kemboi KEN

26:30.74 Abebe Dinkesa Negera ETH

26:31.32 Haile Gebrselassie ETH

26:35.63 Micah Kogo KEN

26:36.26 Paul Koech KEN

26:37.25 Zersenay Tadesse ERI

26:38.08 Salah Hissou MAR

26:38.76 Abdullah Ahmad Hassan QAT

26:39.69 Sileshi Sihine ETH

26:39.77 Boniface Kiprop UGA

26:41.58 Haile Gebrselassie ETH

26:41.75 Samuel Wanjiru KEN

26:41.95 Boniface Kiprop UGA

26:43.53 Haile Gebrselassie ETH

Look at this latest polls from IAAF, Then if you own two eyes and brains say which country dominates this event. I am sorry to let you know I am not Eritrian. I would be bragging lot for Tadasse kicking Bekele ass. Do you know what is the WR for indoor 10000m? (you're in for surprice) If you have balls lie and say Ethio(EPO) own the record. It is Kenyan's by

Mark Bett. So, be sure to specify which 10,000m record. ie indoor or outdoor! right bro! So, Donot be too proud of

10000m WR two countries own it.

COMMENTS?

Men's 5000 - 10 000m (3000m - 2 Miles - Cross Country)

26 March 2007 (12 March 2007)

Pl. (Pl.) Athlete Birth Nat Score

1. (1.) Kenenisa BEKELE 82 ETH 1418

2. (2.) Isaac Kiprono SONGOK 84 KEN 1392

3. (3.) Tariku BEKELE 87 ETH 1358

4. (4.) Eliud KIPCHOGE 84 KEN 1354

5. (5.) Edwin Cheruiyot SOI 84 KEN 1345

6. (7.) Micah Kemboi KOGO 86 KEN 1331

7. (6.) Boniface KIPROP 85 UGA 1326

8. (8.) Abreham Cherkos FELEKE 89 ETH 1322

9. (11.) Hicham BELLANI 79 MAR 1309

10. (10.) Benjamin LIMO 74 KEN 1307

11. (12.) Mike Kipruto KIGEN 86 KEN 1305

12. (8.) Augustine Kiprono CHOGE 87 KEN 1297

13. (14.) Boniface Kiprotich SONGOK 80 KEN 1292

14. (13.) Joseph EBUYA 87 KEN 1288

15. (16.) Abraham CHEBII 79 KEN 1283

16. (17.) Bernard LAGAT 74 USA 1267

17. (18.) Jonas CHERUIYOT 84 KEN 1265

18. (19.) Matt TEGENKAMP 82 USA 1252

19. (21.) Abderrahim GOUMRI 76 MAR 1240

20. (22.) Adam GOUCHER 75 USA 1233

21. (20.) Moses KIPSIRO 86 UGA 1229

22. (23.) Essa Ismail RASHED 86 QAT 1228

23. (24.) Josphat Muchiri NDAMBIRI 85 KEN 1223

24. (25.) Leonard Patrick KOMON 88 KEN 1219

25. (26.) Ahmed BADAY 79 MAR 1218

26. (27.) Jesús ESPANA 78 ESP 1212

27. (29.) James Mwangi MURIGI 86 KEN 1205

28. (30.) Mark BETT 76 KEN 1204

29. (-) Bernard Kiprop KIPYEGO 86 KEN 1203

29. (31.) Kiprono MENJO 79 KEN 1203

29. (31.) Mohammed FARAH 83 GBR 1203

32. (28.) Wilson Kipkemei BUSIENEI 81 UGA 1200

33. (33.) John KARIUKI 86 KEN 1190

34. (34.) Dathan RITZENHEIN 82 USA 1184

35. (35.) Ibrahim Jellan GASHU 89 ETH 1183

36. (36.) Sultan Khamis ZAMAN 85 QAT 1181

37. (37.) Jan FITSCHEN 77 GER 1180

38. (38.) Bado WORKU 88 ETH 1176

38. (38.) Ali Abdallah AFRINGI 82 ERI 1176

40. (-) Gideon NGATUNYI 86 KEN 1174

41. (40.) Juan Carlos DE LA OSSA 76 ESP 1167

42. (44.) Mekubo MOGUSU 86 KEN 1151

43. (41.) Aadam Ismaeel KHAMIS 89 BRN 1149

43. (41.) Christian BELZ 74 SUI 1149

45. (43.) Marilson GOMES DOS SANTOS 77 BRA 1146

46. (-) Wifred Kipkoech TARAGON 85 KEN 1139

47. (45.) Iván HIERRO 78 ESP 1131

48. (46.) Halil AKKAª 83 TUR 1128

48. (46.) Abdi ABDIRAHMAN 77 USA 1128

50. (48.) Sergey IVANOV 79 RUS 1127

50. (48.) Arne GABIUS 81 GER 1127

What the hell is Ethiopia boy talking about!. Hey there are only 5 Ethiopians in top 50 list in the latest polls! and you have guts to say it is Kenyan vs Ethiopia!!!!!!!!!! Kenyans own 5000m with the top ten, 6 being kenyans beats the number of all Ethiopians in the whole list. Kenyans have 26 athletes! with 6 of them in the top ten! There is no matching here. Forget it Ethio boy if you did Statitics!

no doubt the depth of talent for kenyan is immense. from 800 to marthon.

when we come to special athletes dominating for long period of time moroco and ethiopia produce the finest athletes.

we do not denay kenyan repeatition in scoreing best time compare to ethiopian athletes.

if we come individual case ethiopian athletes are supereb.

22 world record, two olympic gold for 10,000 countless roead race champ. for haile( as far as no no single keyan acheived). yes haile has been beaten by kenyan but when we compare how many time haile hummilate kenyan it is countless.

the same is true for kenenisa. he lost to kenyan may be 4-5 time where as kenenisa demolishe keyan countless time from 1500 to 10,000 and ofcourse his treade mark of cross country and no doubt kenenisa will contnioue hummliatinmg kenyan for the next 6 or 7 year.

here i want to mention kenyan domenance in 3000 SC. and over all result of XC SINCE 1981.

WHEN WE COME TO WOMAN PERFORMANCE, ETHIOPIAN WOMEN AE BY FAR THE BEST IN THE WORLD FROM 1500-TO 10000.

As a Kenyan I have to agree with Mesfin and Ethio Boy on some of their points.....

Yes Kenya certainly has the depth that no other country possesses, but we seem unable to harness that into creating a handful of true (and consistent) world beaters.... Geb, Kenny B, Tirunesh, Defar being the key examples.

I think it is down to poor management of talent at a macro (national level).... Talent is not nurtured and developed. The environment is too short-termist and mercenary. Too often really top talent gets burnt out by early exposure, over-racing and to a certain extent some exploitation.