He seriously thinks the Berlin course is short? Or does he just dislike Geb?
I'm not sure who these people who question the validity of the Berlin course are. I suspect they don't exist. Anyway, Khalid's former record has been beaten on other courses, too.
He's usually a good guy. I'm not even sure why he "went there," though I'm sure he's frustrated by endless injury.
It's pretty laughable when he questions Gebs credentials, because a 2 time olympic gold medal and former 10km and half-marathon world record holder really has few credentials.
Corner Gas wrote:
It's pretty laughable when he questions Gebs credentials, because a 2 time olympic gold medal and former 10km and half-marathon world record holder really has few credentials.
Not to mention that Tergat, who is also a former 10k and half-marathon world record holder ran 2:04:55 there, and ran 2:05:48 in London. Also, Geb ran 2:04:53 in Dubai.
What he said isn't so bad. Stop with the manufactured controversy...
"the people who run it in Chicago or London and broke the world-record they have more credentials than the people who ran it in Berlin so I think that’s the key."
He wasn't referring to the runners in those marathons, but to the organizers.
Kahlid is a great athlete and a good guy but it seems he knows very little about course course measuring or who measured Berlin or London.
Both Berlin and London where measured by Hugh Jones.
Jones was also the measurer for the:
2000 Olympic Games in Sydney
2005 World Marathon Championships in Helsinki
2009 World Marathon Championships in Berlin
2008 (run in 2007) Olympic Trials Marathon in NY
World Half Marathon Championship in England
+ 100's of other international races.
He is the most experience road course measurer on the planet.
Plus he was a world class marathoner back in the 80's winning London with a 2:09.
Jones is the Secretary of Aims (Association of International Marathons) and he is a member of the IAAF Road Race Commission.
Jones is the LOC (local organizing committee) measurer for the 2012 Olympic Games.
Khalid - get healthy - we hope to see you on the roads in London 2012. I know the course will
be accurate!
David Katz
Road Course Measurer
2012 Olympic Games