Gebrselassie

[jlanza]

1 Chebii Abraham KEN 12:57.14
2 Bekele Kenenisa ETH 12:57.34
3 Gebrselassie Haile ETH 13:00.32
4 Gebremariam Gebre-egziabher ETH 13:05.47
5 Chepkurui Albert KEN 13:05.96
6 Sihine Sileshi ETH 13:06.53
7 Hissou Salah MAR 13:08.38
8 Mekonnen Hailu ETH 13:10.16
9 Goumri Abderrahim MAR 13:11.42
10 Mezgebu Assefa ETH 13:14.60
11 Kipkosgei Luke KEN 13:15.98
12 Geneti Markos ETH 13:20.38
13 Limo Richard KEN 13:20.71
14 Bellani Hicham MAR 13:21.37
15 Kiprop Francis KEN 13:22.13
16 Bett Mark KEN 13:25.81
17 El Amri Khalid MAR 13:27.59
18 Kwalia James KEN 13:37.36
19 Power Michael AUS 13:37.79
20 Al Otaibi Makhld KSA 13:38.15
21 Chenonge Hillary KEN 13:42.32
22 Bakken Marius NOR 13:45.61
23 Muli Pius KEN 13:54.70

So, does this, along with earlier results, mean that he's now "too slow" to win a really top flight 5000?

[MJD]

Re: Gebrselassie

>So, does this, along with
>earlier results, mean that he's now "too slow"
>to win a really top flight 5000?

According to someone who saw the race, he was playing domestique to Bekele. Don't know if that is true.

[Guest]

Re: Gebrselassie

So, does this, along with
>earlier results, mean that he's now "too slow"
>to win a really top flight 5000?

He's not invinsible as in the past, but I wouldn't count the greatest distance talent the world has ever seen out quite yet.

[jlanza]

Re: Gebrselassie

>
So, does this, along with
>earlier results,
>mean that he's now "too slow"
>to win a really
>top flight 5000?

He's not invinsible as in the
>past, but I wouldn't count the greatest distance
>talent the world has ever seen out quite yet.

I don't mean to count him out in terms of being able to run relatively fast times, as he has shown this year already, BUT can he win a race that needs a sub-12:50, or has he just lost that little edge?

[Guest]

Re: Gebrselassie

He's not only not invinsible, he's not invisible nor invincible,

[Guest]

Re: Gebrselassie

Yeah, I know what you mean. Hey, he's getting a little older. That trademark kick may be a little less fatal. Also, he has risen the bar. He has also mentored Bekele who will be one of his biggest challengers. He has changed the way the event is run and won. Now you need to be able to uncork a 25-26 last 200 to win a 5 under 12:50.

It no longer about just being strong. Now you must be strong enough to stay in the hunt and have an incredible finish if you want any chance of winning. The first 4800m is simply to separate the racers from the runners - the real race is now 200 meters. These guys are too tough. The top guys won't be broken in the first 4600.

[MJD]

Re: Gebrselassie

>According to someone who saw
>the race, he was playing domestique to Bekele.
>Don't know if that is true.

Just watched it on the CBC. Geb sure looked like he was sacrificing himself for Bekele and they still couldn't pull it off.

[Guest]

Re: Gebrselassie

Any chance that he is going to concetrate on the Marathon now and these 5k's are now just speed work for him. Might explain his lack of devasting kick and willingness to sacrifice himself for a countryman at these shorter distances.

[Guest]

Re: Gebrselassie

>Any chance that he is going to concetrate on the
>Marathon now and these 5k's are now just speed
>work for him. Might explain his lack of
>devasting kick and willingness to sacrifice
>himself for a countryman at these shorter
>distances.

I beleive he began running the marathon because he felt his speed wasn't what it had been. His training for the marathon may also have sapped some of that speed. He is still doing surprisingly well. I'm also surprised that he is racing on the track as much as he is. Its great. As long as he can run as well as he is, I don't think there is a reason to focus primarily on the marathon.

But, these fast track races definately will help his marathoning.

[Guest]

Re: Gebrselassie

I think that Gebrselassie should run 5k at the World Championships. Because of his injury in 2000 - 2001 and his marathoning in 2002 he hasn't had much speed work.

If he runs a few 1500s including those at the World Championships, I suspect that his speed will return in time to win the 5k. He did win the 1500 at the World Indoor Championships in 1999. In fact, his kick at Sydney in 2000 was reminiscent of his kick there.

If he had done a 1500 - 5000 double at the 1999 World Championships the injury caused by 10k heats and finals would never have happened. Geb's tender legs can't handle long races on hard surfaces, so I think he should do 1500 - 5000 until the Athens 10k

[Guest]

Re: Gebrselassie

(gebs tender legs cant handle long distances on hard surfaces) well a debut 206 marathon says he can. what range though 1500 to marathon

[Guest]

Re: Gebrselassie

I wrote "...THE INJURY CAUSED BY 10K HEATS AND FINALS WOULD NEVER HAVE HAPPENED. Geb's tender legs can't handle long races on hard surfces" because T&FN reported in the 1999 WCh issue on p.65 that he didn't race post-Seville due to injuries sustained in that 10k.

In addition, the 1996 OG issue on p. 24 and on p.25 cited the hard track at Atlanta for precluding Geb's doubling in the 5k.

The photo of his 2:06 on p.46 of the "Runners World" July 2002 showed that his racing flats had a thick heel which allowed him to finish that race. His only other race in 2002 was a dnf.

In addition, his only race of 2001 was his WCh 3rd for 10k. I suspect that these facts prove that 2003 should be Geb's year for 1500 - 5k, so he can be ready for a 10k - 5k double at Athens.

His 2:06 proves to me that he has the stamina for that double but his best race is not the marathon. His pace from 10k to marathon slows by about 13% while Paula Radcliffe slows by only 8.35%.