Salazar goes home devastated? Will his latest star import - Yomif Kejelcha - be left off Ethiopian 5000 team?

rojo wrote:

Will he be left off?

Why would they not select Kejelcha unless Ethiopia have concerns about the double? Did you consider that he’s probably racing on tired legs for his WCs build-up?

If they have concerns about doubling that would also call Barega and Gebrhiwet’s selection into question, right?

They all “misjudged” Cheptegei today and it doesn’t make a bit of difference. Gebrhiwet still almost ran down Cheptegei from 25m back. (Unless Cheptegei plans take the WCs out at sub-12:50 pace and maintain he’s not going to win like today. He’s the only Ugandan, no one is going to help him up front in the final.)

The Ethiopians are finally practicing team tactics that haven’t been this robust since Bekele, Geb, Sihine, Gebremariam, (Berhanu? RIP), etc. dominated 10-15 years ago.

doot doot wrote:

Why would they not select Kejelcha unless Ethiopia have concerns about the double? Did you consider that he’s probably racing on tired legs for his WCs build-up?

Lmao, because Bekele is clearly better. He has the WL and smoked Kejelcha and Barega. Even if Kejelcha weren’t doubling, I’d pick Bekele over him.

Nobody cares about the 5000 anyhow, and I'm beginning to agree that long jump fouls are more interesting. This was the last chance for a really fast one, ever. A sit and kick champs will only drive that point home.

Pretty funny Rojo.

A TREMENDOUS meet otherwise for the NOP.

Brazier 1:42.70 in 800.

1-2 Domination in the 1500.

I think Robert is trying to make up for us not having an Alberto Salazar segment on the podcast this week.

doot doot wrote:

rojo wrote:

Will he be left off?

Why would they not select Kejelcha unless Ethiopia have concerns about the double? Did you consider that he’s probably racing on tired legs for his WCs build-up?

If they have concerns about doubling that would also call Barega and Gebrhiwet’s selection into question, right?

They all “misjudged” Cheptegei today and it doesn’t make a bit of difference. Gebrhiwet still almost ran down Cheptegei from 25m back. (Unless Cheptegei plans take the WCs out at sub-12:50 pace and maintain he’s not going to win like today. He’s the only Ugandan, no one is going to help him up front in the final.)

The Ethiopians are finally practicing team tactics that haven’t been this robust since Bekele, Geb, Sihine, Gebremariam, (Berhanu? RIP), etc. dominated 10-15 years ago.

I thought they normally base it solely on time? that's why in 2013 Bekele was left of the 10,000m team even though he beat them at the Pre meet, they went faster and were selected.

They also have another spot from Edris winning last worlds but i assume they don't have to take him??

Yomif doesn't look comfortable in these types of races. Basically, anything not set up as a TT. I don't see any way he should be on the team.

Chep impresses.

Africa does weird sht but you’re probably right. With Edris as the auto, can Ethiopia field 4 runners in the 5,000? Edris has shown nothing this season and would be a waste of a choice if Ethiopia can’t enter 4 athletes.

I thought Bekele had only run 12:57 this year but has in fact run 12:52.

I confess bias here but the demonstrably fearless 3:47 miler, 12:46 (last year) 5k, and 26:49.99 debut 10k would still be my pick over the 12:52 new guy on the scene in a selection (versus “qualification”) scenario.

FFF wrote:

Yomif doesn't look comfortable in these types of races. Basically, anything not set up as a TT. I don't see any way he should be on the team.

Chep impresses.

He could conceivably run the legs off of Cheptegei opening the door for the other 2 (maybe 3..?) Ethiopians?

Edris is ostensibly not fit, so the question is what does Bekele offer that Kejelcha doesn’t?

Clearly you didn’t follow the sport when they screwed KB in 2013.

doot doot wrote:

FFF wrote:

Yomif doesn't look comfortable in these types of races. Basically, anything not set up as a TT. I don't see any way he should be on the team.

Chep impresses.

He could conceivably run the legs off of Cheptegei opening the door for the other 2 (maybe 3..?) Ethiopians?

Edris is ostensibly not fit, so the question is what does Bekele offer that Kejelcha doesn’t?

You're not being objective here.

As of this moment, Kejelcha is too slow to be in this equation.

doot doot wrote:

FFF wrote:

Yomif doesn't look comfortable in these types of races. Basically, anything not set up as a TT. I don't see any way he should be on the team.

Chep impresses.

He could conceivably run the legs off of Cheptegei opening the door for the other 2 (maybe 3..?) Ethiopians?

Edris is ostensibly not fit, so the question is what does Bekele offer that Kejelcha doesn’t?

A well recognized name in T&F. Bekele stands for domination in the 5000m and 10000m, and just seeing the name might intimidate competitors from other countries.

Ithappened wrote:

Clearly you didn’t follow the sport when they screwed KB in 2013.

that was a totally screwing him....he of course went to beat Mo at the Bupa great north run so was obviously still fit that year

"Almost ran down" ? There are probably tactical races where the first 5 were closer than Gebrihwet and Chepteguei were today.

They were going 13:05 pace at the halfway point. Their mistake was thinking that Chepteguei was going to fade like Jager 3 years ago. He won Silver at 10km in London 2017, very foolish to give him 5 free seconds at the bell lap.

Gebrihwet and Barega are probably the best kickers out there but if they don't position themselves well there are no guarantees even in a very slow race. And Chepteguei is not too shabby on the closing speed neither.

right now off time Ethiopan 5,000m ranking

Haile Bekele: 12:52.98

Selemon Barega: 12:53.04

Hagos Gebrhiwet: 12:54.92

Abadi Hadis: 12:56.48

Yomif Kejelcha: 13:00.56

so Kejelcha doesn't make top 3 or top 4 if you include Edris' spot. Of course, they could put Kejelcha in instead of Hadis...who knows..don't think anything is written in stone

FFF wrote:

doot doot wrote:

He could conceivably run the legs off of Cheptegei opening the door for the other 2 (maybe 3..?) Ethiopians?

Edris is ostensibly not fit, so the question is what does Bekele offer that Kejelcha doesn’t?

You're not being objective here.

As of this moment, Kejelcha is too slow to be in this equation.

And that’s a failure of the selection process when you have one guy (of 5 in the 12:4x/12:5low range) with a 12:52 season best who has zero championship credentials who happens to have a faster season best than a 3:47/12:46/26:49/sub-60:00 guy (over the past year and change) WITH championship experience who would be chosen over the latter.

Ethiopia doesn’t need a “back of the pack” 12:52 guy when the 12:46 guy towed an entire contingent to sub-12:50 unless he has Sihine duty aka he HAS to rabbit Barega and Gebrhiwet and take it to Cheptegei.

___

In a selection scenario it would have made at least some sense to not select 2013 Kenenisa because of the injury recovery. Hindsight is 20/20 re: Great North that year, sure. In a selection scenario you do not pick newcomer 12:52 Bekele over Kejelcha. Ever.

Thanks for your input, Al.

Who is to say that Salazar would allow that to happen? Isn't it possible that he will set up a rested Kejelcha for a sub 12:50 in a time trial with paid Nike pacers in ten days or so before the Ethiopian deadline? Kejelcha did run 3:47.01 indoors this year and the 26:49. While he's set for the 10000m, Al has been working on his mile speed for the 5000m champs, so you would think that they won't rest with this situation. Maybe he was sick or tired from training. He never looked sharp and knowing he did not have a top three time and that he didn't have the greatest last lap kick, why else would he have allowed Cheptegei to get away?

Rockstar Games wrote:

"Almost ran down" ? There are probably tactical races where the first 5 were closer than Gebrihwet and Chepteguei were today.

They were going 13:05 pace at the halfway point. Their mistake was thinking that Chepteguei was going to fade like Jager 3 years ago. He won Silver at 10km in London 2017, very foolish to give him 5 free seconds at the bell lap.

Gebrihwet and Barega are probably the best kickers out there but if they don't position themselves well there are no guarantees even in a very slow race. And Chepteguei is not too shabby on the closing speed neither.

Totally agree that Ethiopia miscalculated today and they need to be smarter in four weeks. Cheptegei proved his grit in 2017 against Farah and must be respected. While he isn’t a bad kicker, I think that’s his only “flaw” because I definitely don’t think he’s Championship sharp (aka peaked) today.

I have zero reason to think Cheptegei won’t be in at least as good of form as today come the WCs but I do have strong suspicions that the Ethiopians will be much more race sharp than today in terms of tactics and speed.

The very late WCs is all but certainly accounting for aberrant showings.

I won’t claim to be an expert on peaking by any means, but I imagine the 5 and especially the 10k guys don’t have the luxury of a double peak for outdoors like the 800/1500 guys (see: Engels talking about NOP shutting it down after USAs). Cheptegei ran “unopposed” surely below max effort and I would bet the Ethiopians were racing on very tired legs for their build-up.