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

i think he will get some records OK!!!!!!

tktrack wrote:

i suppose we should then conclude from this post that gatlin will be making an attempt on the marathon record? just because you have more speed does not make you better at events longer than your primary one. do you think that wariner could beat el g in the mile? i think not.

Yours is an exceptionally stupid statement. El Guerrouj is moving to an event one tier above his primary one, after already having run it in his past (1992 13:46 as a junior). Gatline moving to the marathon is not even close to being comparable. It's OK, though; most people do not think so well under the influence of controlled substances.

Bekele signs up for Edinburgh Cross

Monday 29 November 2004

Kenenisa Bekele, the World and Olympic 10,000m champion has confirmed his entry for the Great Edinburgh International Cross Country – IAAF permit race – which will take place in the city’s ancient Holyrood Park on 15 January 2005.

This is the first race of the current season in which Bekele, 22, the three-time double World Cross Country champion has agreed to participate.

David Hart, Marketing Director of the event, said: "We've always had a great relationship with Kenenisa and three years ago, he scored the first of his two consecutive Great North International victories."

"We actually gave Bekele his first opportunity to run on British soil although he was virtually unknown outside of Ethiopia. But he quickly became a well known athlete when three months after his first Newcastle win, he claimed the World junior cross country title a day after finishing second in the senior short course race. His career since then has, despite the odd injury, been phenomenal and already despite his youth, he is acknowledged as one of the all-time greats."

Indeed this year, as well as his third World Cross short and long course double, Bekele on the track set a World Indoor 5000m record, and then outdoors established 5000 and 10,000m World records, before capturing the Olympic 10,000m title and a silver medal at 5000m on the heels of Hicham El Guerrouj’s victory.

The women's race in Edinburgh already includes Benita Johnson, the Australian winner of this year’s World Cross Country long course title in Brussels last March.

Poll from

www.iaaf.org

RESULTS:

If Kenenisa Bekele and Hicham El Guerrouj clash in the short course race at the 2005 World Cross Country Championships in St Etienne - St Galmier, France in March: who would the winner be?

Kenenisa Bekele 72.29%

Hicham El Guerrouj 27.71%

whoa not too many people have faith in Hicham ability in x-country where anything could happen.

it's not a lack of faith in El Guerrouj -- it's the belief that Bekele as no equal on a cross country course

trackhead wrote:

it's not a lack of faith in El Guerrouj -- it's the belief that Bekele as no equal on a cross country course

I agree, I would also add that Bekele should make the case that in 1-to-1 race with EL G, he indeed is unbeatable - XC or/and Track. Taking on El G in France next March and winning the short course makes up the loss he suffered in Athens. Then on the planned ambition of EL G attacking the WR of 5K, Bekele needs to step up to the plate and defeneding it, even improving it. Accomplishing those will, in my judgement, clearly establish that Kenenisa Bekele indeed is the next big thing in distance runner that could fill in the great Haile Geb shoe.

I agree that in a single Short Course matchup Kenenisa would easily dispatch Hicham and in a single 5000m Championship on the track. The only problem is that Kenenisa loves to double and that may create another difficult obstacle to overcome in 2005. Kenenisa plans to improve the Ethopian 1500m indoor NR and run a few outdoor 1500m to combat Hicham's speed and improve his own to further enable him to break more records.

I hope I'm wrong but if Kenenisa TRY the DOUBLE at this year X-Country Championship he may very well find incredibly strenuous competition from few Kenyans (John Korir, Eluid Kipchoge, and Sammy Kipketer) and few young Ethopians. 2005 is the year for Kenenisa to focus on single race Championships to best improve his chances of beating Hicham and keep fresh for World records shortly before and after World Championships. It would be the greatest race in many years if Hicham and Kenenisa meet in a 5000m outdoor World Record attempt, I would love to see if Hicham could hang with sub 12:35 pace in a race (not time trial)?

VIPAM

Kenenisa have lost to Hicham twice in their two meetings and that should be the primary focus of his 2005 to avenge his loses before Hicham retires. If Kenny B. don't beat Hicham in 2005 it will be a big boost for Hicham's career and a big stain for Kenny B's. I really hope to see them race twice once on the European circuit and once at the World Championships to see who is the best?

Vipam wrote:

I agree that in a single Short Course matchup Kenenisa would easily dispatch Hicham and in a single 5000m Championship on the track.

Thank you Vipam, I think you make it quite clear that in your opinion Bekele can do no wrong.

Sorry to say, though, that there are other athletes out there that can beat him and take his records (El G, Shaheen, Kipchoge, Sihine).

(Cue Vipam falling to the ground ripping out his hair as he contemplates physical retribution towards me for daring to suggest his idol can be beaten. The hero worship at time borders on ridiculous.)

"It would be the greatest race in many years if Hicham and Kenenisa meet in a 5000m outdoor World Record attempt, I would love to see if Hicham could hang with sub 12:35 pace in a race (not time trial)?"

Bekele's PR is 12:37. And that was in a time trial. He also hasn't proven that he can hang with sub 12:35 pace in a race.

Californian wrote:

Bekele's PR is 12:37. And that was in a time trial. He also hasn't proven that he can hang with sub 12:35 pace in a race.

Shhhh. Don't confuse Vipam with logic. It might interfere with his daily ministrations lying prostrate on the floor humming Gregorian chant and meditating on Bekele's quadriceps muscles.

....Then on the planned ambition of EL G attacking the WR of 5K, Bekele needs to step up to the plate and defending it, even improving it.

Well well well, Bekele vs. El G going to duke it out on XC, that is going to be an interesting match up - though as the poll indicates and I believe too that he would easily show his prowess of the mud, singing in the rain and sailing home easy, just like he did the past three years.

But the most important race of the year would be the 5k World Record face off between him and EL G. As many of you already pointed out, Bekele not only defending his coveted world record of 5K but also need to make it clear that in a single race he indeed is the sole champion. As EL G eyeing the end of his career soon, Bekele need to accept the challenge posed by EL G and make up for the loss he suffered by winning in world record time. What makes the Haile Gebreslassie great is that, in his prime time, not only broke record after record, but he took the challenge from his fiercest rivals and humbled them all.

poor tactics are what cost Kenny the 5000 olympic gold and the 03 WC 5000 gold. correct.

however, talking about tiredness becuase of doubles. HOW DUMB ARE ELUID KIPCHOGE AND THE KENYANS!!!! kipchoge had 2 other kenyans in the race with him, together the 3 of them could have forced the pace to suit kipchoge as he was perfectly fresh and running against 2 tired athletes. Kipchoge has run -12:50 so his ability to run fast is unquestionable, stupid mistake from him.

I think the only way that kenny b could outkick elguerrouj is if it was a WR pace, and even then they would both be shoulder to shoulder on the last lap, i cant imagine either of them being dropped at say 3500m on a fast pace race. the thought of someone running away/breaking guerrouj or bekele is just ludacris, wouldnt happen.

--Yowsa

Yes I think Kenenisa is phenomenal talent as well is Hicham. It is my opinion as it is others that Kenenisa is capable of beating Hicham in a championship or world record attempt. I just think that he will have to run one event in order to do it; otherwise, he may suffer the same fate if he chooses to double again.

Hicham is a supreme talent and one that will force Kenenisa to end his doubles in order to beat him on the track or again get beat. You think thats why he's running 1500m in 2005 to improve his speed for his double/clash with Hicham, Shaheen, and Eluid in the 5000m?

--Californian

I know that Kenenisa pb (5000m world record)is 12:37.35 but the reference to sub 12:35 is what I think he will run in 2005. In order for Hicham to break the world record or retain it (if he breaks if before Kenenisa) he will need to think sub 12:35. Kenenisa race was a solo time trial which is alot different in the 5000m than the 1500m; therefore, it is highly probable that he could go much faster with better rabbits or if forced in a world attempt/race. I think Hicham have the ability to run sub 12:40 but he will need the rabbit to go further than Kenenisa's did in his WR run.

Can Hicham get the 5000m record if he is alone after 3000-3200m?

VIPAM

What kind of time will Kenenisa run in the 1500m if he runs at least 3 IAAF Grand Prix races? I say under 3:31 at the least! What kind of time do you think Kenenisa could run in a Super Grand Prix race with good rabbits?

If he does run the 1500m successfully will this enable him to handle Hicham with success in the 5000m?

VIPAM

Vipam wrote:

--Yowsa

Yes I think Kenenisa is phenomenal talent as well is Hicham. It is my opinion as it is others that Kenenisa is capable of beating Hicham in a championship or world record attempt. I just think that he will have to run one event in order to do it; otherwise, he may suffer the same fate if he chooses to double again.

Hicham is a supreme talent and one that will force Kenenisa to end his doubles in order to beat him on the track or again get beat. You think thats why he's running 1500m in 2005 to improve his speed for his double/clash with Hicham, Shaheen, and Eluid in the 5000m?

Then why do you post as though you know with certainty Bekele will win every time? Do you think it a coincidence that MANY people hav called you on showing near IDOL WORSHIP towards this athlete? And where do you come up with these predictions? You attempt to guess his time to the hundredth of a second. You were pretty close once, way off the next time, and all of a sudden you know his 1500m time?

The world must be full of fortune tellers who know everything about their favorite athlete.

"--Californian

I know that Kenenisa pb (5000m world record)is 12:37.35 but the reference to sub 12:35 is what I think he will run in 2005. In order for Hicham to break the world record or retain it (if he breaks if before Kenenisa) he will need to think sub 12:35. Kenenisa race was a solo time trial which is alot different in the 5000m than the 1500m; therefore, it is highly probable that he could go much faster with better rabbits or if forced in a world attempt/race. I think Hicham have the ability to run sub 12:40 but he will need the rabbit to go further than Kenenisa's did in his WR run.

Can Hicham get the 5000m record if he is alone after 3000-3200m?

VIPAM"

Then why didn't you originally pose the question: "Lets see if El Gerroudj and Bekele can hang at sub 12:35 pace in a race?" Because neither has done it yet. You may think that Bekele is more capable of doing it, but the fact of the matter is that it is an unknown qunatity as to whether he can do it.

Vipam,

You have yet to comment on my points about Bekele's poor tactics having MORE to do with his losses to El G at 5000 than the fact that he alread doubled (as I have said for the umpteenth time, El G was doubling also, and it is still an open question on who's double was harder. There is a REASON that El G's was an unprecedented double. ). Please acknowledge Bekele's stupid tactics and stop blaming his losses on "doubling". Talent alone (which I personally think Bekele has more than any other runner ever) does not make one unbeatable (tactics play a big role too, and if Bekele had run smarter in both 2003 WC and 2004 Olympic 5k's he would have two 5k golds to his name right now I think).

the answer to "whose doubling was harder" depends on which camp are you in. Those who think the 1500m race is more important than the longer distance (5k, 10k etc) would thnik EL G's effort is harder than Bekele's and and those who prefer otherwise think the oppoiste.

Not to take away anything from El G, I think Bekele's effort is way harder than EL G's. This is so because if you think about it first running 25 laps and winning it, then running another 12.5 laps and come out top of the hit and finally go for another 12.5 laps fast race stil winning Silver is indeed far more hard than EL G's. Replace El G's (1500 and 5000m) races, and do the compare and contrast analysis and see if you can come up with the same conclusion.

But again, the fact that we are still discussing about this tells me that the next Bekele vs El G face off (if there is one - crossing my fingers) would be a pivotal point to the ascendancy of Bekele as a heir apparent to Geb. In his prime Geb never lost a race to his rival until 1998. That is 6-8 yrs of glory! It is up to Bekele here to prove that he indeed is the next big thing after Geb. Hope J Hermans and the camp in Addis Ababa would take EL G's intention very seriously and defend their long distance turf aggresively.