3 years ago
06/17/2016 12:45am CDT
I can't believe they are having a men's 5K with only 3 runners, plus a pacer. Might as well be 2, since I doubt Debeli Gezmu (13:29 track PR) will feature much.
I'd love to know what O'Hare is scheduled to take them through at, or how far he can make it even. Even 7:45 at 3K might be all out for him.
The Ethiopian federation continues to confound me ... first Oslo was to serve as their 5K trials, but then apparently there would be a second trials race later. I can't imagine it was Stockholm, since so many of the big Ethiopian names weren't there.
To have 2 trials races is confusing enough, but clearly some athletes think times will be a big consideration, otherwise why do this race (a time trial, as stated in the preview ... although it would be amusing to see only 2 or 3 guys in a sit-and-kick style race) ?
Or maybe the information being spread out there isn't correct. Maybe they will go purely on the fastest 3 times (currently Edris, Gebremeskel, and Jeilan with Kejelcha next) ... I'm not sure anyone knows.
The selection shouldn't be too difficult this year ... between Edris, Gebremeskel, Gebrhiwet and Kejelcha. Alamirew continues his downward trajectory, Merga has shown nothing, Jeilan will do only the 10K I assume.
Edris tried the 10K last year, and earlier this year I'd read about him trying to make that team again, but as arguably the best 5K guy so far this year I think that wouldn't be so wise. If he does though, they have their 5K team, easy. All the other quicker Ethiopians this year are relative newcomers with no championship experience, so probably not so wise to put them on the team.
