Kenenisa destroys Paul Bitok and field at Gateshed

Any idea why the times were so slow (considering the quality of the field and the apparent use of rabbits)?

Umm, paul pitok.. vipiam you are an idiot. Paul Bitok is 100 years old. Its like saying Brazil thrashes Mongolia in soccer..

Bekele's time was 9 seconds slower than the last 3000 in his WR run.

Shaheen was not in the race. A little disapointed with this meet. Paula and Ibsinyeva (sp?) WILL rescue it.

Let's see, Northern England in June? The weather is always perfect right?

Willard Scott wrote:

Let's see, Northern England in June? The weather is always perfect right?

Can I assume that you wrote this in lieu of an informative, intelligent, and knowledgeable response?

The weather according to update section of the Gateshed Gp site and Bekele REPORTEDLY went for the record solo and tired? The following was the report the site gave:

Men's 3000m 19:13 Bekele is on the final lap and he's losing time... The Ethiopian powers to the finish line in 7:41.31. It's outside the Gateshead stadium record, but a solid victory nonetheless.

Men's 3000m 19:11 But Bekele, the world champion, is not looking like a world beater today, and maybe not a stadium beater either. Whether it's the chilly conditions or simply an accumulation of fatigue after having set two world records in two weeks, we don't know...

Men's 3000m 19:10 Bekele won't break Daniel Komen's 1996 world record of 7:20.67 but he'll likely set a new stadium record here in Gateshead...

Men's 3000m 19:08 Bekele is running solo and the Ethiopian is on fire!!!

Men's 3000m 19:05 And now, the new world 5,000 and 10,000 metres world record-holder Kenenisa Bekele is attempting a third straight record in the 3,000!!!

VIPAM

foster's record lives on... unbelievable...

Bekele looked knackered - though I'm sure he could have gone a bit quicker if he'd been pushed. Interesting that he becomes the latest in a long line of illustrious athletes to miss Brendan Foster's stadium record of 7:35.10 sat at the opening meet in 1974.

oldguy wrote:Can I assume that you wrote this in lieu of an informative, intelligent, and knowledgeable response?

Oldguy, I'd guess Willard Scott, being a weatherman and a track fan, was being "informative, intelligent, and knowledgeable."

London has Summer for what, three days a year? Imagine what Gateshead is like?

Anyone have splits?

"While the blustery weather is not helping Christian Olsson nor the sprint events, it will favour distance runners Kenenisa Bekele and Paula Radcliffe, who are due to run soon."

This was the on-line commentary about five minutes before Bekele's race began. Undoubtedly, the weather wasn't perfect, but it didn't sound horrible.

oldguy wrote:

"While the blustery weather is not helping Christian Olsson nor the sprint events, it will favour distance runners Kenenisa Bekele and Paula Radcliffe, who are due to run soon."

This was the on-line commentary about five minutes before Bekele's race began. Undoubtedly, the weather wasn't perfect, but it didn't sound horrible.

How many exceptionally fast races from 1500m up have been run in England in the past 25 years?

Richard Neer wrote:

How many exceptionally fast races from 1500m up have been run in England in the past 25 years?

Plenty.

El-G, Lagat, and Kipchirchir all put up mile times in the 3:45-3:47 range.

Gebrselassie ran 12:57 in a field without any other REALLY big names.

Radcliffe ran 14:40-something.

Lots of good times.

Anyone have 3K splits?

they left the gate in the shed.

It was very windy, however I was still surprised Bekele didn't run a little quicker. He went through 4 laps in 4:01. Foster was convinced Bekele would break 7:30 and even though he was clearly tired a 1:58 last 800m would have brought him home in under 7:35.

He's only human after all.

Bazza:

Did Bekele look tired or was he not motivated? tinman

Leonard Luchaine wrote:

Richard Neer wrote:

How many exceptionally fast races from 1500m up have been run in England in the past 25 years?

Plenty.

El-G, Lagat, and Kipchirchir all put up mile times in the 3:45-3:47 range.

9 3:45.96 Hicham El Guerrouj MAR 14.09.74 1 London 05.08.2000

17 3:47.10 Hicham El Guerrouj MAR 14.09.74 1 London 07.08.1999

22 3:47.67 Noah Ngeny KEN 02.11.78 2 London 05.08.2000

31 3:48.17 Paul Korir KEN 15.07.77 1 London 08.08.2003

69 3:49.41 Hicham El Guerrouj MAR 14.09.74 1 London 22.07.2001

73 3:49.49 Steve Cram GBR 14.10.60 1 London 12.09.1986

80 3:49.57 Steve Ovett GBR 09.10.55 1 London 31.08.1979

96 3:49.80 Vénuste Niyongabo BDI 09.12.73 1 London 27.08.1995

he looked tired and was breathing very hard after a mile, considering that Mottram and Bitok only ran 7:50+ and they are both in sub 7:40 shape i would say the conditions were really hard.

Delighted to see Big Bren's record survive. It only saddens me that he appears to be the biggest supporter of Bekele/ Hermans and his crowd and wants to pay extravangant amounts of money to get a guy drugged up to his eyeballs all the way over to England to try and break his own record and then will turn around and say British distance running is a disgrace. Maybe if he supported some of the disillusioned British athletes instead of paying SCUM big money to run things would be different. I realize Foster and most of the European greats are now commentators or are paid by the sport and so have to bring these guys in and kiss their asses but it makes me sick.

Whether you like it or not Bekele is an amazing, CLEAN running machine. How the hell did you figure he is drugged out? Because he kicks your miserable ass everytime he steps on the track or Xcountry trails? Or is it because he has a stamina that you can only dream of when you're totally cocked out?

Get a life and accept the FACT that there are individuals that you can even simulate in a second life let alone in this miserable one you're living now.

If Bekele's winning and breaking records angers you, stock up on your Pepto because you're going to need it before you develop gushing ulcers!!!!