Dejen Gebremeskel Gets Win and World Leading 26:51.02 in His 10,000 Debut on The Track

by LetsRun.com
June 27, 2013

23-year old Ethiopian Dejen Gebremeskel, the 2012 Olympic silver and 2011 World Championship bronze medallist at 5000, successfully made his 10,000 meter debut on the track tonight at the Folksam Grand Prix in Sollentuna, Sweden.

Running without rabbits after 3000, Gebremeskel, who had looked awful in his last race in New York (13:31.02 5000 on May 25th), got the win in a world leading 26:51.02 to establish himself as a legitimate threat to Olympic champion Mo Farah.

22-year old Abera Kuma, who was third at Prefontaine 10,000 behind Kenenisa Bekele and Imane Merga, turned the tables on Merga tonight as he was second in 26:52.85 with Merga a well-beaten third in 26:57.33.

Dejen Gebremeskel earlier this year in Carlsbad

Quick Take #1: This should make things real interesting for Worlds. Up until tonight, there seemingly was no one capable of challenging Mo Farah in Moscow unless it was going to be his own training partner Galen Rupp. But the 12:48 Gebremeskel can’t be discounted after he totally turned his season around.

QT #2: After Prefontaine, Kenenisa Bekele was allegedly named to the World Championships team. However, if the Ethiopians change their mind and go by fastest times as they did last year, tonight’s result would mean Bekele doesn’t have a spot on the team.

As bad as Bekele looked in his 5000 today, is there any chance he just opts out of Worlds to focus on a fall marathon?

More: MB: Dejen Gebremeskel (26:51) and Meseret Defar (30:08) Run 2013 World Leaders in Stockholm
MB: Dejen Gebremeskel 26:51 at Sollentuna