Distance Running Fans in the bay area will get a once in a lifetime opportunity this Friday, the chance to observe a world-class 10k on American soil outside of the Olympics. The goal that the top American runners will be shooting for is the nearly 15-year-old American record set by Mark Nenow in 1986 of 27:20.56.

The top 4 Americans from the Olympic Trials (Meb Keflezighi (1st place- 12th in Olympics), Alan Culpepper (2nd at trials), Abdi Abdirahman (3rd place, 10th at Olympics), and Shawn Found (4th place) are all entered, as is Nick Rogers who had the #3 time in America last year at 10,000m.However, the focus will not be on the them, but primarily on America's best distance runner the past decade Bob Kennedy. Kennedy has stated that when he moved to the 10,000m he wanted to do it right. Well, he has instructed the rabbits to go out at 13:30 with the ambitious goal of running under 27:00. Whether Kennedy can hold this pace in his first track race of the outdoor season is another matter. 27:00 is equivalent to sub 13:00 on nearly all conversion tables. Is Kennedy in the best shape of his life??? Doubtful, but he may have a new found hunger after a car accident kept him from making the Olympic Team last year.

Kennedy's goal is indeed ambitious, but he did not become the best by backing down from challenges. Kennedy holds the American record at 5,000m at 12:58.75. He ran his only competitive 10k at Stanford 2 years ago and held off a fast closing Alan Culpepper to win in 27:38, in what was viewed by many just as a test effort. But on Friday, he will attempt to become only the 9th person ever to run under 27:00 minutes for 10k.

Kennedy should have plenty of company in helping him reach the goal of 27:00, as the field includes 2 sub 13:00 minute 5k runners in addition to himself. In total 5 Kim McDonald athletes (Kennedy's agent) are entered in the race to help him towards his goal, with 2 being designated as rabbits. The rabbits are Martin Keino, the miler and experienced rabbit from Kenya (son of the legendary Kip Keino), and Albert Chepkurui (19 year old who ran 12:59 for 5k last year). Also, expect James Getanda of Kenya whose best mark is 13:30 for 5k to help with the pacing. The other McDonald athletes in the field are Ben Maiyo (13:02 5k last year, 27:34 10k best), Luke Kipkosgei (12:56 5k last year, 27:22 10k best), and Abraham Chebii (13:01 5k last year, "only" 28:01 for 10k).

But a win for Kennedy or one of his McDonald teammates is far from assured because the field is loaded, and includes the Japanese 5k Record holder, Toshin Takaoka (#2 All-time in Japan at 10k at 27:40 for 7th in the Sydney Olympics), the Irish 5k and 10k Record Holder Mark Carroll (13:03, 27:46), and the Canadian record holder Jeff Schiebler (27:45). All three of the above should be going after their respective national records (the Japanese record is 27:35).

That is not to say that anyone should discount the chances of two Americans in the race, Meb Keflezighi and Alan Culpepper. Neither has stated publicly that they are after the American record, much less the incredibly ambitious 27:00 barrier. Nonetheless, Keflezighi has been on a tear this year with wins at the 15k Road Championships and the US XC Nationals with Culpepper coming in 2nd both times. Keflezighi is coming off of a 3 week high-altitude stint in Mammoth Lakes, California, so if his body gets a boost from the altitude training and readjusts to the lower altitude he could go after the record. Culpepper skipped the world cross-country race to focus on the track, so perhaps he is ready to avenge the illness that sidelined him at last year's Olympics.

American Abdi Abdirahman, an impressive 10th place finish at last year's Olympics in the 10k, has struggled a bit early this year on the track and does not appear to be in form to give the record a shot.

A couple of scenarios could unfold in the race. The first scenario is if Kennedy goes out at 13:30 pace. If he does, do not expect many people outside of his Kenyan stable mates to be with him. But expect a second pack to emerge that can catch Kennedy if he falters. But if Kennedy can run 27:00 minutes (80% of LetsRun.com viewers do not think he can), then no one in the field will beat him, and the other runners will not regret going out slower. The other scenario is the athletes going out a bit slower with one main pack including Kennedy up front with a constant battle to the finish the final 5k and a shot at the American record. Either way the action should be hot.

The runners will be chasing a few records in addition to Nenow's American record. The fastest time on American soil is 27:07 by Haile Gebrselassie at the 1996 Olympics. The fastest time by an American on American soil is 27:30.00 by Alberto Salazar when he was beaten by .1 by the Kenyan great Henry Rono in a classic duel in 1982 in the rain of Eugene. From accounts of the race, Rono was 10 pounds over weight and kept thinking to himself that he would hang on for one more lap before dropping out. Well, he hung on for the 25th and final lap and the narrow win as Salazar just missed Craig Virgin's American record of 27:29.16 set 2 years earlier.

Also, in the field will be a number of athletes chasing the World Championship A standard of 28:00. Expect some of these athletes including 5k Olympian Brad Hauser (10k best of 28:08), Satoshi Irifune of Japan (28:02 in 1999), Toshiuiro Iwasa of Japan (28:06 in 2000 for the win), Yoji Yamaguchi of Japan (28:12 best), division II star from New Zealand Michale Aish (28:08 in 2000), Shawn Found (4th at US Olympic Trials), Matt Downin, and LetsRun.com's own Weldon Johnson to form their own back behind the guys up front.

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Field for championships section below:
Men's 10,000 Meter Run (Championship Section) at 9:15pm
1. Albert Chepkurui, Kim MacDonald International Management
2. Martin Keino, Kim MacDonald International Management
3. James Getanda, Kim MacDonald International Management
4. Luke Kipkosgei, Kim MacDonald International Management
5. Abraham Chebii, Kim MacDonald International Management
6. Bob Kennedy, Nike International
7. Alan Culpepper, Adidas
8. Toshinari Takaoka, Japan
9. Abdi Abdirahman, Nike International
10. Mark Carroll, Ireland
11. Mebrahtom Keflezighi, Nike
12. Jeff Schiebler, Nike/Canada
13. Nick Rogers, Nike
14. Satoshi Irifune, Japan
15. Jason Rexing, Nike Farm Team
16. Toshiuiro Iwasa, Japan
17. Brad Hauser, Nike International
18. Michael Aish, Western State
19. Ben Noad, Boston AA
20. Phil Price, Team USA
21. Yoji Yamaguchi, Japan
22. Greg Jimmerson, Nike Farm Team
23. Matt Downin, Nike
24. Weldon Johnson, LetsRun.com
25. Shawn Found, US Army
26. Clint Wells, NYAC
27. Andrew Letherby, Fila
28. Alan Bunce, New Zealand
29. Brent Hauser, Nike Farm Team