OFFICIAL Tokyo Marathon Haile Geb Thread

No speak Engrish? wrote:

Lost Soul wrote:

... Considering how quick that was at his then age of 35, he probably could of ran a 10k time trial ('cause championship races are always slower than a time trial) somewhere around 26:45 or so. ...

Could HAVE not could OF run

Could HAVE RUN, not could OF RAN.

It's a footrace not a business.

Geb is not qualified to run in London, and should not run if selected.

Ethiopia could be giving up a medal if they did choose him to run. Having Geb run and not do well would not be good press for them either. I do have much respect for Geb, but he has not qualified for the Ethiopian team and that's that. I do hope he keeps running though, as he says he's going to do.

And to make one thing clear:

I really don't think he SHOULD be selected.

I just think that he will be selected.

I prefer the US system.

Actually have a race to determine the team.

If a champion doesn't make the team - oh well - he won't be a champion this year.

The line between true sports and entertainment is blurred when you throw money into the equation.

And the Olympics is very much about money these days.

Time out everyone. He runs 2:08 where the winner ran 2:07:36. He runs 45 seconds faster and he wins. People are too quick to write him off. Not sayin' he'll win London, but given the three finishers' times, he was right there. I say the Ethiopian Olympic Cmte selects him. One last hurrah.

Almost there wrote:

No speak Engrish? wrote:

Could HAVE not could OF run

Could HAVE RUN, not could OF RAN.

Yeah, that one really bugs me. Why do people keep saying "should of"???? "Of"?? of what??

Because should've becomes should'v becomes should'ov becomes should'of.

A sad day for me. He's slower than Hall was in Chicago.

joho wrote:

Geb 4th in 2:08:16.

Bad Engrish.I have my doubts about Haile making the 10k. He doesn't have the gears for the last lap anymore. Not even sure Kenny does for the last lap with the likes of Merga.

  wrote:

Because should've becomes should'v becomes should'ov becomes should'of.

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If you listen to Haile's words after race he does not seem done yet. It's very likely he will give it another try.

I bet he will be running in Rotterdam in one month time.

J.R. wrote:

Geb is not qualified to run in London, and should not run if selected.

What makes you think he is not qualified? Did he not just meet the A standard?

Fortunately, it's up to each country to select their team. The US have a selection race, others may nominate their fastest runners within the qualifying window, give priority to national champions, past Olympic medalists, etc. The UK, like many other countries, does not even make their nominating criteria public, which can lead to some questionable results, but nobody in the UK would question the right of the UK to chose who will represent them.

As far as I know, Haile still has the best PB of all Ethiopians. That alone would be a perfectly legitimate reason for nominating him to the Olympics, even if he is not capable of running even close to 2:03:59 in London.

There are quite a few Ethiopians who have qualified ahead of Gebrsellasie, with better and faster races. Countries that pick slower runners ahead of faster ones means they were selected though not qualified, a very bad practice in my view.

spirit of wonder wrote:

If you listen to Haile's words after race he does not seem done yet. It's very likely he will give it another try.

I bet he will be running in Rotterdam in one month time.

Good for him. That's a good choice to run Rotterdam.

spirit of wonder wrote:

If you listen to Haile's words after race he does not seem done yet. It's very likely he will give it another try.

I bet he will be running in Rotterdam in one month time.

Would not suprise me if he gives it another go

father time is undefeated.

Track Nut wrote:

Time out everyone. He runs 2:08 where the winner ran 2:07:36. He runs 45 seconds faster and he wins. People are too quick to write him off. Not sayin' he'll win London, but given the three finishers' times, he was right there. I say the Ethiopian Olympic Cmte selects him. One last hurrah.

That was a whole different group of runners than you would see at London. It's not comparable.

Also, how many of you remember Haile passing on the last Olympic Marathon because he was concerned with the conditions. I thought it was really about his quest for the world record and money especially after he paced Bekele in the 10,000 meters.

I don't blame him for his choice. A runner's career is a short one. However I don't have the same sympathy as others do about his desire to represent Ethiopia for the Olympic Marathon when it was on the bottom of his list four years ago.

His record in international races without pacers is not a good one even when he was in his prime. I don't see how Ethiopia can just send him to the Olympic Marathon based on his record over the past year.

wellletssee wrote:

His record in international races without pacers is not a good one even when he was in his prime.

Huh? WC outdoor - 4 golds, 2 silver, 1 bronze. Olympics - 2 golds. WC indoor - 4 golds.

That's not a good record?

Geb´s manager Jos Hermens on the topic:

'' He can still run in the 2.05, but in his country there are many runners who currently faster. The Olympics in London, he can forget.

http://translate.google.de/translate?hl=de&ie=UTF8&prev=_t&sl=nl&tl=en&u=http://www.nusport.nl/overig/2749951/hermens-gebrselassie-weet-voorbij-is.html

(Google translate only)

J.R. wrote:

Good for him. That's a good choice to run Rotterdam.

Mosop is running Rotterdam for the WR. Haile will not be there.

Anyone catch that about Kawauchi shaving his head after the race to show his remorse?