2002 Amsterdam Marathon Results: Gete Wami Wins convincingly in her debut

Correction

The amazing story is that Wami had bagged her season and done only one long run since May....

Pardon me if I refuse to believe she only did one long run since May

With Gete Wami superb debut in the Marathon off limit training, it points well of things to come in 2003. The prospect of Paula striking gold at the 2003 Worlds leave her only one EASY event- the Marathon.

5000m

Berhane Adere (Eth)

Gaby Szabo (Rom)

both ladys Personnal Best are near Paula's and if all three

are fit=Paula get outkick in 2003. Berhane would win.

10000m

Gete Wami (Eth)

Yoko Shubui (Jap)

The 30:28 Chinse Runner if Ma can figure out how to pass the 2003 World drug test for his runner. Both Gete and the chinese runner are capable of running sub 30 min and kick with or outkick Paula. Gete would win.

Marathon

Paula stands alone at this event. No lady can challenge Paula in the Marathon, yet. Paula could win the 2003 Worlds with relatively ease.

However with Paula and Gete both running the 10000m at the Worlds we will see if she can get away from Gete and the chinese to win her first Gold-World Outdoor Track event.

Yea. Right. Just one long run since May. I agree sounds like quite a bit of BS.

Great debut nonetheless, I'll be interested how she progresses...sometimes 10K folks turn out to be GREAT marathoners, and other times, so so. Tulu is a good example of someone whose marathon has not reached the same level as her 10Ks.

Gete debut and takes down Oly champ Fatuma Roba national record, hmmm I smell trouble for other female 10000m runners.

I agree that Gete Wami will pose a great problem for any

runner in the 10000m if she stays healthy in 2003. Paula

have the capability to run sub 30 min for the 10000m and so

does Gete; however, Paula doesn't have Gete's (4:01.47-1500m) leg speed. The 10000m scenerio in 2003 should have

Paula blazing off the starting line and running phenomal spilts in hope of getting away from the field. The problem

will be breaking women who are CAPABLE of running sub 30 min (Gete Wami, Berehane Adere, the Chinese lady, L. Malot (Ken), Yoko Shubui and MAYBE Derartu Tulu.) I would love to see Paula grab a medal in 2003; however, the 10000m will

be much tougher to even place for her than WINNING the 2002 World Marathon.

While I think Paula's PR is only 4:05, I can't believe she can't run 4-flat. With a PR of 8:22, she has to be able to. That's like saying a 9-flat 2-miler can't run 4:20 mile.

It is my opinion that Paula can improve on her 1500m PR; however, ds-man do you think she can win the 10000m over

Gete Wami and co. Both Paula and Gete are stronger and Gete pre-2002 pr is close to Paula's new 10000m pr or do you

think she should run the marathon and win unchallenged?

Vipam

Paula recently said that she wants to improve her 1500m time next year - that certainly points to her aiming at the 10k rather than the marathon at the World Champs. However, Paula has laid the ghosts by winning two track titles next year and I think she should do the marathon in Paris where she would surely win gold. There's no shame in not being the best in every event.

I agree in the 10000m she could run 29:45-29:50 and still have competition; however, she is head and shoulders above the females in the marathon. My guess is she have World titles on the surfaces of x-country and roads, thus she wants one on the track. The track 10000m is a different monster than x-country and road and I believe Berhane Adere, Sun Yingjie, Edith Masai, and Gete Wami will cause her problems.