16 yr old who ran 12:54.19 now moves up and debuts in the marathon!

Ummm ... because the real money is at the marathon?

Also, I'm surprised that someone survived an eruption.

why would Cherkos move up when he had such promise at 3000m-5000m?

$$$$$$$$

Are you serious a 16yr old ran 8:16.07 for 2 miles and we think German Fernandez 2 mile record was legendary!

I believe a 15-year-old did well at a 100-miler a few years back. That is much more impressive, IMHO.

Umm... heard of the Phil Hersh article that was on the homepage last week? Guess not.

VIPAM wrote:

but why would Cherkos move up when he had such promise at 3000m-5000m?

Is it cause all the real competition is in the marathon?

And furthermore, isn't there soooo much money in the marathon. Didn't Wanjiru just walk away with more than $500,000? How does that compare with the money in 3k/5k races?

oops sorry for a repetitive answer, i guess we all were typing responses at the same time haha

Awesome times.

Is that his brother who won?

I was about to ask the same thing!

Who say you can't make an GREAT living running track races just ask Eliud Kipchoge, Tirunesh Dibaba, Meseret Defar, and Kenenisa Bekele. With their appearance fee and winnings from entire meets of the season I'm sure each is over $250,000 to million!

You only get the big bucks -over $100,000- like that if you win one of the four majors- Berin, Chicago, New York, or Boston.

If Abreham Cherkos Feleke was born in 1989, then I'd like to tell you about the Hippopotamus I saw flying above my apartment complex today. We all know the Ethiopian Federation likes to lie about their athletes' ages from time to time, but man, they have really pushed it too far this time.

No ! Look ! He's really 21 !

http://rodale.typepad.com/.a/6a00e54f86af568833012876b06dd7970c-pi

haha looks like a skinny version of leo manzano

I smell something stinky wrote:

If Abreham Cherkos Feleke was born in 1989, then I'd like to tell you about the Hippopotamus I saw flying above my apartment complex today.

did you alert the FAA?

If you think this guy is 16, you're an idiot. ive been there and trained with the best in the world, nobody knows when they were born, only rough estimates, I met 28yr old Ugandan who was hoping to make it to world juniors.

wake up.

so if no one knows birthdates...howd you know he was 28?

doubtful wrote:

so if no one knows birthdates...howd you know he was 28?

I can tell the age of people by looking at them.

First I would like to point out that this is not directed to all Letsrun posters. There are some of you that need to wake up or just grow up and act like adults (which most of you are on this website). All African nations don't need to lie about their ages especially Ethiopia.

Occassionally there are phenoms that come out of those countries that actually post such times and at the accurate ages stated.

I guess Alan Webb was actually 23 when he ran 3:53 in high school?

And to the poster who said he trained with the best in the world. Sir in your dreams don't actually count!

InYourDreams wrote:

First I would like to point out that this is not directed to all Letsrun posters. There are some of you that need to wake up or just grow up and act like adults (which most of you are on this website). All African nations don't need to lie about their ages especially Ethiopia.

Occassionally there are phenoms that come out of those countries that actually post such times and at the accurate ages stated.

I guess Alan Webb was actually 23 when he ran 3:53 in high school?

And to the poster who said he trained with the best in the world. Sir in your dreams don't actually count!

Perhaps, occasionally, there are. This is not one of those times. I am very grown up, thank you. I do not need anyone to hold my hand and lie to me and tell me that this man was a child when he ran 12:54.

So, in short, maybe you need to grow up and stop believing in 16 year old sub 13 5k guys, the tooth fairy, and Santa Claus.

This just shows running isn't about hard work, it's just simply about talent, which is why it's such a lame sport.

Three reasons:

1) He maxed out his potential in 3/5K

2) More money in marathons

3) No testing for PEDs

The last point is the most important.

He is of course not 21, but his performances are amazing

regardless.