Harder to win Olympic 10,000-5,000 or World-x?

[SQUACKEE]

The above 2 posts are right on the money. X-C running is a different animal from track running--takes a different kind of strength, balance, and "touch." Some athletes have alot of both--Tergat, Bekele, etc. Some just don't: Geb, for example.

Did Geb ever run the world-x, maybe he could have won it in his prime?

[EPelle]

03/28/1993 IAAF World Cross Country Amorbieta Gebrselassie 7 Tergat 10
03/26/1994 IAAF World Cross Country Budapest Gebrselassie 3 Tergat 4
03/25/1995 IAAF World Cross Country Durham Tergat 1 Gebrselassie 4
03/23/1996 IAAF World Cross Country Stellenbosch Tergat 1 Gebrselassie 5

[bad hammy]

Did Geb ever run the world-x, maybe he could have won it in his prime?

From this list of top three finishers I came across ( http://www.gbrathletics.com/ic/xc.htm - couldn't fine an IAAF official results site) he placed third in the 94 long course, 2nd in the 92 junior, and won the short-lived World Cross Challenge (points over a series of races) in 94.

[bekeselassie]

Some athletes have alot of both--Tergat, Bekele, etc. Some just don't: Geb, for example.

Please cut this post! :roll:

[bekeselassie]

03/25/1995 IAAF World Cross Country Durham Tergat 1 Gebrselassie 4
03/23/1996 IAAF World Cross Country Stellenbosch Tergat 1 Gebrselassie 5

And this one. :roll:

[SQUACKEE]

I know they are differant animals but im still surprised Geb didnt do better.

[kuha]

The above 2 posts are right on the money. X-C running is a different animal from track running--takes a different kind of strength, balance, and "touch." Some athletes have alot of both--Tergat, Bekele, etc. Some just don't: Geb, for example.

Did Geb ever run the world-x, maybe he could have won it in his prime?

Well, you already have your answer on this. Geb got 2nd in the '92 junior race. I was at the '95 Worlds race and he was decisively beaten (although there was talk about a flight screw-up for the Ethiopian team and how none of them got any sleep). In '96 I would have bet $100 that he would have won, but he tripped on a log and Tergat went on to humiliate him (see the IAAF video of this race--Tergat was awesome over the last mile or so). After this, Geb pretty much gave up on X-C. He's my all-time running hero, but he just never really "got it" with X-C.

I would add this: the first time I ever really paid much attention to him in X-C (in '92 he was just a name) was the Durham race in (I think) January of '94 (seen live on TV while living over there). It was a snowy, bitter day, but he just ran away from the field to win by something like a minute.

[Powell]

World XC was harder to win when it was just one race. AFter they split it into long and short races, it got a bit watered down. I, for one, am happy they're going back to the old format.

[nevetsllim]

World XC was harder to win when it was just one race. AFter they split it into long and short races, it got a bit watered down. I, for one, am happy they're going back to the old format.

I think the 5000m/10000m is definitely harder to win because you have heats in the 5000m (semis in the 70's and 80's) and sometimes 10000m

[tlb747]

The above 2 posts are right on the money. X-C running is a different animal from track running--takes a different kind of strength, balance, and "touch." Some athletes have alot of both--Tergat, Bekele, etc. Some just don't: Geb, for example.

Ouch!

[tlb747]

Some athletes have alot of both--Tergat, Bekele, etc. Some just don't: Geb, for example.

Please cut this post! :roll:

If that post gets cut, would part of your user name also go? :lol:

[bekeselassie]

World XC was harder to win when it was just one race. AFter they split it into long and short races, it got a bit watered down. I, for one, am happy they're going back to the old format.

Interesting thought, Powell. I had posted a few weeks ago that I didn't like them going back to the old format because it would alter Bekele's legacy. But what you say does make sense.

Does that change anyone's perspective on Bekele's four doubles?