Kenenisa Bekele: how soon will he totally annihilate the distance WR's?

titles-- yes; records-- no...

now that they've curbed the epo thing, it will be a long time before we see 12:39 and 26:22 again...

Obviously you must know the "facts." I find it interesting that you think it's a fact that Geb was on EPO, since I have never heard of any proof regarding drug use. If you want to stick to "facts", then maybe you should actually find some.

Gaf

I agree 100% with your comment. Where is any proof of Geb taking EPO? Is this the same thing that Bekele will go through? "He wins by so much, so he must be on drugs"...

It will be terrific to see Bekele and Geb go head to head next summer. Think about the possibility of THAT matchup over 10,000m!

Mike

I don't think he says it's a "fact" that Geb was on EPO; he makes an insinuation, but not a statement of fact.

As for the records, I agree that 26:22 and 12:39 won't be touched. Bekele may eventually hit around low 26:40s and 12:45 or so, but that's it.

Vipam -

Have you ever heard of these guys? Sammy Kipketer, Benjamin Limo, Richard Limo, John Kibowen,Abraham Chebii, Mark Bett, Paul Bitok, Luke Kipkosgei, Albert Chepkurui

Would you like me to name you more? All those guys have run under 13:00, let's wait and see what happens.

Yes I have heard of all those extremely talented runners; however, to to 2001 and find the European Circuit races. In one of those races Kenenisa outkicked Sammy Kipketer,

Luke Kipkosegi, Benjamin Limo, and John Kibowen (all excellent kickers) and the race was very fast 7:30 and was just nipped by Paul Bitok. I am not saying that Kenenisa will go the next 5 years undefeated, but he will definetly win more than all those racers combined. If all those runners stay healthy Kenenisa will dominated, unless they start running MUCH faster than 12:55 (because he definetly will in 2003).

Vipam

Vipam

I agree the question is how many athletes will be able to step up to Kenenisa's level once he hit full stride. Sammy

Kipketer is surely one who will with no fear and hopefully Ritz, Jorge can in 2-3 years. The current crop of 5000m runners beside Sammy and Geb will not stand a chance after 2003 against Kenenisa!

howmany

I think "Keni" will be at least as dominant as Tergat was, as evidenced by the ease with which he dispatched both fields at the 2002 World XC Champs. Transferring that dominance to the track and running close to the WR's in the 5000 and 10000? Well that's a whole "nother" ballgame. As unbeatable as Geb has been on the track when he is 100%, he has shown his mortality when running XC (1996 Worlds when Tergat ran a 2:29 11th kilo--Geb had no response). I'm just saying the reverse can also be true. Someone that is virtually unbeatable at XC can be reduced to a mere mortal on the track where there aren't any variations in terrain to break up the rhythm. Face it, on the track at the world level someone has to be able to close in 53 or 54 (with a last 200 of 24-25) to win the big ones and we'll just have to wait and see if Bekele can do that. And I, for one, don't think Geb's done just yet either. He may not set any more world records on the track but I think he can still win anytime he lines up--even against Bekele.

Very good fwrunco

I agree that Geb is not finished just yet and could probably take Kenenisa in the 10000m in 2003. Now to the subject of speed, Kenenisa ran 7:30.67 as a 17 year old

(that the equivalent to back to back 4:02 miles.) Kenenisa have yet to display how potent his kick is but it is safe

to say he have a VERY GOOD kick; futhermore, you don't need to kick if noone is near you. EXAMPLE-John Ngugi (another x-country king) superior strength in the 1988 Olympic 5000m.

Vipam

Well, I think he looks unfit compared to Komen, Tergat, and Gebresallassiecomehome.

K. Bekele will, no doubt, be a sight to behold this year and for several to come. I agree that he will probably not touch Geb's records in the 5K and 10K, though. I think Vipam's insinuation about EPO use relative to the current world records was not unreasonable at all. If you are waiting for "proof" to come through official channels, then I wouldn't hold your breath.

Dash B. I am not insinuating anything, I think Kenenisa will have an OUTSTANDING 2003 season and eventually break

the 5000m and 10000m World Records. The subject of EPO

is irrelavant because I think the current World Recorder

was and still is clean; therefore, the records can be broken. He will have some competition this year with Sammy Kipketer in the 5000m and what I wouldn't give to see Kenenisa, Geb, Sammy, and Hicham all HEALTHY and in the World 5000m FINAL!!!

Vipam

care to make it interesting???

the guy's an enormous talent, but you obviously have no idea how fast 12:39/26:22 is... i'll wager everything i own that he doesn't get either record... how about you???

that boy is built like ryan shay almost

facts

I fully understand how fast both the 5000m and 10000m World Records are and I didn't say that Kenenisa would break either record in 2003. Kenenisa is more than a talent and if he surpasses his young cross-country achievements than he will most definetly destroy both world records.

The fact that he ran a WORLD JUNIOR RECORD of 7:30.67 at age 17 hinted at his future capabilities. Kenenisa should run at least 12:48 next year (2003) and then the records may be THREATEN and perhaps fall in 2004. Sammy Kipketer

could even get the 10000m record as soon as 2004.

Vipam

Bekele is surely the next big-time talent. However, I agree with "facts," in that the 5K and 10K record are not his for the taking. On a semi-related note, consider Mourhit. He waxed everyone at world cross and ran a 26 forty-something 10K or so, but that's a LONG way from 26:22 (I know Mourhit was busted for EPO). Even the great Tergat, with his 26:29, is "well" off Geb's mark. Bekele has yet to prove himself capable of these sorts of times, although, I agree he is young. Plus, there has been a palpable receding from the unbelievable times we saw in the late '90s. That is another issue entirely, though.

im going to go there: if anyone thinks geb's records were set without the use of "illegal" drugs (be it EPO and/or otherwise), you're living in a dreamworld, soporific somnolence, a cloud in trousers...

I think that Tergat was VERY lucky to have retired from XC when he did. Bekele did last year what Tergat never did, nor could do- won both races easily. If Tergat could run 26:29, I wouldn't be surprised to see KB run 15 seconds faster, maybe sooner rather than later. Also consider that at age 17 KB ran within 5 seconds of Geb's fastest 3000 ever. Makes you think.

peter buniak wrote:

im going to go there: if anyone thinks geb's records were set without the use of "illegal" drugs (be it EPO and/or otherwise), you're living in a dreamworld, soporific somnolence, a cloud in trousers...

I pity you. You're so cynical. Just b/c someone runs well, faster than you con comprehend, they are drugged. I'd hate to live your sad life.