keynian's running 30+ and complaining they can't beat the ethopians.
The Stanford 10k will go faster
I don't get it?
please explain to me.
keynian's running 30+ and complaining they can't beat the ethopians.
The Stanford 10k will go faster
I don't get it?
please explain to me.
Read: http://www.letsrun.com/forum/flat_read.php?thread=246897 . You're welcome.
Thanks
The newpaper reports left this for you to explain to me
extreme altitude
The newspapers didn't mention that the event was being held in Addis Ababa?
according to the newspaper report, gebre said the weather was also terrible
Cliff Notes
60,000 people inside and outside the stadium. Rain was before the race. Kids walked 30km to watch the race. This will make running more popular
http://www.addis2008.org/News/NewsManager.php?detail_news=9182400105
Behind-the-scenes: Crowds brave rains to watch Championships
Thursday May 1, 2008 - Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
Nothing like this has ever happened in Ethiopia.
On Wednesday evening hours before the start of the men’s 10000m, the area around Addis Ababa’s National Stadium was abuzz with activity long lines of people anxious to go into the Stadium to watch Africa’s best athletes compete at the 16th African Athletics Championships. Several hundreds fans queued outside the stadium all braving the pouring rain. For most, only one thing stood in their minds: the much-anticipated men’s 10000m final.
Inside, the stadium was packed with over 20,000 with anxious sports fans waiting to see their athletes compete in an international event on home ground. Ethiopia’s first attempt at hosting a major athletics competition is not only allowing sports fans a first glimpse at a major athletic event, but also an opportunity to see if their long distance runners would live up to their reputation.
“Men and my friends came from the CMC (around 30kms away from the stadium),”
fasil getachew, 16, en route to the Stadium. “We had to take city bus transport and don’t believe that we can get back since the buses will stop operating after 10:00. But still, we cannot loose this opportunity of watching our star athletes compete and dominate in a sport that is everything for Ethiopia.”
The long distance events are without doubt Ethiopia’s passion. In fact, some claim that it is the national sport with thousands of young athletes braving the chilling conditions every morning to jog in their neighbourhoods and around the Meskel Square in hope that one day they too could take over the mantle from Ethiopian greats like Gebrselassie, kenenisa Bekela, Meseret Defar, and others.
“We have seen the Kenyans,” said Mr. Ayele Hailu, 46 “Like us, they are formidable in long distance races. But I have a feeling that the races are ours as our athletes have us rooting for them on home ground.”
And no matter what nature will throw at them, the people are undeterred. Following the official opening of the championships, the rains poured in, but officials, athletes, and fans braved the conditions and defied nature.
As music composer Phatsu entertained with his eclectic mix of Ethiopian, African, and Western selections, the crowd cheered to every beat and danced to the traditional Eskista rhythms to beat the cold!
Is the 10000m boring? Think again!
Many in the athletics world feel the 10000m is perhaps too long and boring to capture any real fan interest. But after watching the twenty-five lap final at the Addis Ababa stadium, many will be forced to think again.
There was nothing boring about the race for the 20000 who packed the stadium on Wednesday evening. The crowds started cheered in support of athletes as soon as the race started. As the race progressed, the leading trio of Ethiopians- Gebregziabher gebremariam, Ibrahim Jeylan, and Eshetu wondimu- moved ahead and so did the sheer and songs of encouragement by the fans. The cheers did not stop even after the crowds knew that Gebremariam would win.
The cheering did not stop outside the stadium either. The unlucky ones who did not get the chance to watch the action inside the stadium jam-packed the Meskel Square to watch the race on the large screen outside the stadium. Unofficial estimates put the numbers to 60,000, more than twice the capacity of the Addis Ababa stadium.
A great day for the hosts was compounded when Gebremariam led Jeylan and Wondimu to a clean sweep of the medals. As the trio made their way around the stadium for their victory lap, supporters and well-wishers swarmed him eager to snap pictures with him and others wanted to hug and kiss him.
"it is a great honour to win in my home country and for Ethiopia to have a 1, 2 and 3,” said Gebremariam. “The crown is for my people.”
And once more, the people showed what their runners meant to them