Kenenisa Bekele: "Howya like me now?"

[bekeselassie]

When Kennster (credit the name to Eldrick ) ran only a 4:01 in Madison Square Garden a few weeks ago and had his butt handed to him by Bernard Lagat, many of you were ready to dismiss his efforts as a miler or even a 3000 guy. Others of you thought he would be "okay" but not a threat.

It's too early for me to issue any kind of "told you so", but I am curious if anyone is beginning to take him a little more seriously after what he did in Birmingham. If you're not already aware, he ran 2 miles indoors in 8:05.

I'm standing by him, guys! If he indeed spends the year concentrating on the middle distances, he'll be dangerous.

[SQUACKEE]

Re: Kenenisa Bekele: "Howya like me now?"

When Kennster (credit the name to Eldrick ) ran only a 4:01 in Madison Square Garden a few weeks ago and had his butt handed to him by Bernard Lagat, many of you were ready to dismiss his efforts as a miler or even a 3000 guy. Others of you thought he would be "okay" but not a threat.

It's too early for me to issue any kind of "told you so", but I am curious if anyone is beginning to take him a little more seriously after what he did in Birmingham. If you're not already aware, he ran 2 miles indoors in 8:05.

I'm standing by him, guys! If he indeed spends the year concentrating on the middle distances, he'll be dangerous.

Mottram- 12:56? 3:48

Bekele- 12:37-4:01??, i think not. You will see 3:28-3:46 if he runs some big 1500's this summer.

[EPelle]

What killed Bekele in New York was a 55-56 opening lap on that tight track. He said it was too fast for him.

Birmingham track:



Turns not so tight here for Bekele. Plus, remember, he is running at 60-point pace from the beginning, not 55-second pace and dying.



The track surface is Mondo Sportflex Super X Classic.

[SQUACKEE]

Thanx Eric! Great pix. Even Bek is human. On this beautiful big track all he had to do was keep running 30 secounds and change for 16+ laps. :shock:

[mojo]

What a beautiful track!

Did you noticed the pointer is on the Canadian flag!!! 8) 8)

Must be acknowledging our athletics supremacy.

[Jon]

Did you noticed the pointer is on the Canadian flag!!! 8) 8)

But on the end of that 'pointer' is a flaming torch :twisted:

[marknhj]

This is what my "proper track" comment on the indoor vs. outdoor thread was referring to...

[mojo]

Did you noticed the pointer is on the Canadian flag!!! 8) 8)

But on the end of that 'pointer' is a flaming torch :twisted:

I see no flame but it wouldn't surprise me. Canadians are hot!

[dkny]

birmingham track

Looks like a few too many cones on the track. They tend to bounce around a little on portable tracks. Requires a good deal of re-postioning after each race to make sure they are accruately placed.

[twittering debutante]

Re: birmingham track

Looks like a few too many cones on the track. They tend to bounce around a little on portable tracks. Requires a good deal of re-postioning after each race to make sure they are accruately placed.

Not only that, but it takes YEARS of specialized cone-placement training to be able to really do the job.

[ShaunP]

Bekele

It was noted by Peter Matthews, the stadium announcer in Birmingham, that Kenny's last mile in Birmingham 2 mile was faster than the 4:01 mile that he ran in Milrose.

I think that this puts his New York performance in perspective, in that this does not reflect his potential as a miler...

ShaunP

[tandfman]

Re: birmingham track

Not only that, but it takes YEARS of specialized cone-placement training to be able to really do the job.

I know you're not serious about that, but you might be surprised at how often the cones are not properly placed, even at major competition. It's a simple task that can be, and too often is, screwed up.