• Dr Doctor
      • Almaz Ayana.... WOW! 5/17/2015 2:11PM
      • Dr Doctor
      • Are you people aware of this? She almost broke the 5K WR last night in China (Well, technically this night, because it was Sunday there)

        This girl (23) has been flying under the radar for years, her bread and butter race has been the steeple. Now she is 3rd fastest in history only 3 seconds off T. Dibaba's WR

        Speaking of Dibaba her younger sister will now have a rival that could eclipse the Dibaba/Defar rivalry.
    • sdfsd
      • RE: Almaz Ayana.... WOW! 5/17/2015 6:59PM - in reply to Dr Doctor
      • sdfsd
      • I have more faith in Ayana than Genzebe in championship races. Genzebe seem to have the Asafa syndrome.
    • watchful eyes
      • RE: Almaz Ayana.... WOW! 5/17/2015 7:47PM - in reply to Dr Doctor
      • watchful eyes
      • Ayana has been a top 5000 runner for a few years.

        It was decided by someone in Ethiopia a few years ago that she wasn't going far with steeplechase, she was developed for the 5000 instead. How else can one explain Tirunesh paced her to a PB in Paris 2013? She won the bronze in WC 2013. I think she had the 2nd fastest time for the year behind Tirunesh. She also had the 2nd fastest time in 2014 behind Genzebe.

        She doesn't have Genzebe's speed, but she has the endurance to run the longer distances.
    • rojo
      co-founder
      • RE: Almaz Ayana.... WOW! 5/17/2015 8:41PM - in reply to Dr Doctor
      • rojo
        co-founder
      • Dr Doctor wrote:


        This girl (23) has been flying under the radar for years, her bread and butter race has been the steeple.
        I disagree that the steeple has been her bread and butter. She with little fanfare had run 14:25 in the past - that's #6 all time.

        In the steeple, in 2010, she ran a world junior record of 9:22.51. That's only #39 all time and the women's steeple is a MUCH weaker event than the 5k.

        Plus she has a world championhip outdoor medal in the 5k, not steeple.

        You'd think given the fact she can run 14:14 that she'd obliterate the steeple WR.

        Here is our race recap:

        https://www.letsrun.com/news/20...y-1414-32/
    • NativeSon
      • RE: Almaz Ayana.... WOW! 5/17/2015 9:17PM - in reply to sdfsd
      • NativeSon
      • sdfsd wrote:
        I have more faith in Ayana than Genzebe in championship races. Genzebe seem to have the Asafa syndrome.
        I was thinking about the same thing today. Come World Championships, Genzebe won't be anywhere and could even miss out on the medals.
    • red nose day
      • RE: Almaz Ayana.... WOW! 5/17/2015 9:18PM - in reply to rojo
      • red nose day
      • rojo wrote:
        Dr Doctor wrote:


        This girl (23) has been flying under the radar for years, her bread and butter race has been the steeple.
        I disagree that the steeple has been her bread and butter. She with little fanfare had run 14:25 in the past - that's #6 all time.

        In the steeple, in 2010, she ran a world junior record of 9:22.51. That's only #39 all time and the women's steeple is a MUCH weaker event than the 5k.

        Plus she has a world championhip outdoor medal in the 5k, not steeple.

        You'd think given the fact she can run 14:14 that she'd obliterate the steeple WR.

        Here is our race recap:

        https://www.letsrun.com/news/20...y-1414-32/
        How many times does malmo need to explain to you that the steeple doesn't quite work that way?
    • Loophole
      • RE: Almaz Ayana.... WOW! 5/17/2015 9:48PM - in reply to watchful eyes
      • Loophole
      • She's been used as a pacemaker for the big names. But she is a very dedicated athlete and her hard work is paying off.

        I agree she doesn't have Genze's speed, but is far steadier endurance wise and if a very powerful runner. Look out for Mercy Cherono too,
    • IAAF Profile
      • RE: Almaz Ayana.... WOW! 5/17/2015 11:22PM - in reply to Loophole
      • IAAF Profile
      • Good Dec 2014 profile article here from IAAF:

        http://www.iaaf.org/news/featu...na-feature

        "After a successful year in 2014, Ayana is already looking forward to the 2015 outdoor track season where her major ambitions are to win the 5000m world title and attempt the world record over the event.

        “Breaking the world record is possible,” said Ayana, whose personal best is nearly 14 seconds behind Tirunesh Dibaba’s mark of 14:11.15.

        “And I will be thinking about it whenever there are favourable conditions,” she added."

        Appears she's now managed by Jos Hermens and Global Sports.
    • J.R.
      • RE: Almaz Ayana.... WOW! 5/18/2015 12:12AM - in reply to Dr Doctor
      • J.R.
      • Dr Doctor wrote:
        Are you people aware of this? She almost broke the 5K WR last night in China.
        Awesome, woohoo!
    • malmo
      • RE: Almaz Ayana.... WOW! 5/18/2015 7:12AM - in reply to red nose day
      • malmo
      • red nose day wrote:
        rojo wrote:
        Dr Doctor wrote:


        This girl (23) has been flying under the radar for years, her bread and butter race has been the steeple.
        I disagree that the steeple has been her bread and butter. She with little fanfare had run 14:25 in the past - that's #6 all time.

        In the steeple, in 2010, she ran a world junior record of 9:22.51. That's only #39 all time and the women's steeple is a MUCH weaker event than the 5k.

        Plus she has a world championhip outdoor medal in the 5k, not steeple.

        You'd think given the fact she can run 14:14 that she'd obliterate the steeple WR.

        Here is our race recap:

        https://www.letsrun.com/news/20...y-1414-32/
        How many times does malmo need to explain to you that the steeple doesn't quite work that way?
        You aren't quite understanding what I meant by "how is does or doesn't work". Being a great flat runner doesn't translate to being a steeplechaser. But if you are already a proven steeplechaser the way to improve at steeplechasing is to become a better runner.

        Rojo is right.
    • Ben bebby shoshop
      • RE: Almaz Ayana.... WOW! 5/18/2015 1:02PM - in reply to IAAF Profile
      • Ben bebby shoshop
      • IAAF Profile wrote:
        “Breaking the world record is possible,” said Ayana, who's now managed by Jos Hermens and Global Sports.
        Oh here we go.
    • Yes....
      • RE: Almaz Ayana.... WOW! 5/18/2015 2:49PM - in reply to Popful Mail
      • Yes....
      • Popful Mail wrote:
        lol I was waiting for a Jos Hermans mention.... And now we understand why she's running so fast..........
        Because Jos Hermans is awesome, and deserves our greatest respect.
    • wr potential
      • RE: Almaz Ayana.... WOW! 5/19/2015 9:32AM - in reply to sdfsd
      • wr potential
      • On that note, 2014 African Championships 5000m:

        1. Almaz Ayana - 15:32 CR
        2. Genzebe Dibaba - 15:42

        This rivalry could really be something. It'd be great to see them race in Beijing, 14:14 vs. 14:18i. Perhaps the Indoor WR can still get closer to the Outdoor WR, if they meet indoors?
    • Left Said Fred
      • RE: Almaz Ayana.... WOW! 5/19/2015 9:54AM - in reply to Popful Mail
      • Left Said Fred
      • Popful Mail wrote:
        lol I was waiting for a Jos Hermans mention.... And now we understand why she's running so fast..........
        Same story for Ryan Vail? Is his success this year also tied to his association with Hermens?