Bekele Going For 10K WR At Pre!

[Cyril]

I am sure some of you may disagree with me, and only time will bear this out (or prove me wrong), but I don't believe Kenenisa will ever break 26:20 again. His best times are behind him, which of course is not to say he won't be the best distance runner in the world.

What do you base this on?

I doubt he will do it at Pre, but specuation that he will never do it again is simply a guess.

With his bro coming up, they can potentially push (or pace) each other to more WRs.

[Cyril]

if k. bekele is running 10k, lagat can definetly run that pace for 5k, lagat even beat k. bekele in a 5k with a 51 point, last lap. but other than that it would be hard to find a current 2 runners besides lagat who could run that pace for a 5k, teg would have to run near his best ever, solinsky, broe, goucher, webb, fam, hall rtz etc. have never run a 5k at the pace k. bekele has a 10k much less what he would be attempting in a wr attempt.

What pace? Teg and Goucher have run that fast. I doubt they would be able to (or want to) do it at Pre, but they have done it.

Maybe they should have two races combined: A 5k with the superstuds including some of those mentioned above and some other low 13 guys, and then the 10k with Bekele vs. the clock. He could "simply" continue on for another 12.5... :wink:

[zzbottom]

I am sure some of you may disagree with me, and only time will bear this out (or prove me wrong), but I don't believe Kenenisa will ever break 26:20 again. His best times are behind him, which of course is not to say he won't be the best distance runner in the world.

What do you base this on?

I doubt he will do it at Pre, but specuation that he will never do it again is simply a guess.

Kenenisa Bekele is not improving. It has been 3 years since he has run faster than 12:48. This makes it difficult to see him running 13:08 back to back (to break his record) or even, according to my prediction, running 13:09xx back to back to break 26:20. Part of my prediction is a tribute to his greatness, in that his 10000 record is more formidable than some might assume.

[Cyril]

I am sure some of you may disagree with me, and only time will bear this out (or prove me wrong), but I don't believe Kenenisa will ever break 26:20 again. His best times are behind him, which of course is not to say he won't be the best distance runner in the world.

What do you base this on?

I doubt he will do it at Pre, but specuation that he will never do it again is simply a guess.

Kenenisa Bekele is not improving. It has been 3 years since he has run faster than 12:48. This makes it difficult to see him running 13:08 back to back (to break his record) or even, according to my prediction, running 13:09xx back to back to break 26:20. Part of my prediction is a tribute to his greatness, in that his 10000 record is more formidable than some might assume.

As you mentioned, only time will tell. He is far from being considered "old". This being an Olympic year may see him hit "high(er) form" again. He needs something to excite him - Olympic gold may do the trick.

[gh]

Bekele will be 25 at Pre, 26 shortly thereafter. When you go back to the original legends of 10K running, that makes him a youngster, in that Nurmi got his last 10K record at 27, Zátopek at 31, Clarke at 28. But look at the ages of those preceded Bek as WR holder, w/ age at time of last WR in the event:

Geb 25
Tergat 28
Hissou 24
Sigei 24
Ondieki 22
Chelimo 21
Barrios 25
.... obviously some of those BDs may be open to question, but taken at face value, one might posit that in the modern world, Bek may indeed already be past his sell date as a 10K WR setter.

[dl]

Make that 32 for Ondieki. It took him a long time to develop from a good runner at Iowa State to a World Champion and world record holder.

[gh]

why is it that they persist and putting the "2" and "3" keys so close together on the keyboard?!

[Marlow]

Maybe they should have two races combined: A 5k with the superstuds including some of those mentioned above and some other low 13 guys, and then the 10k with Bekele vs. the clock. He could "simply" continue on for another 12.5... :wink:

How about the 5Kers START as he crosses the 5000 mark. That would be awesome!!

[jeremyp]

Relay style....Lagat runs the first mile, Vaughn the second, Lagat the third, etc.

I was thinking Webb and Lagat could run alternate laps: good workout!

[SQUACKEE]

FWIW I agree with ZZ. Bek is not improving and why should he? What would make him faster as he turns 26?

[tandfman]

FWIW I agree with ZZ. Bek is not improving and why should he?

Why shouldn't he?

What would make him faster as he turns 26?

What made Paul Tergat faster. He set his WR when he was 28, and he won his two Olympic silver medals when he was 27 and 31.

There are lots of other examples. Not all athletes are over the hill at 26. Many keep improving. Will Bekele be one of them? I've no idea, but I wouldn't dismiss the possibility.

[Powell]

Every athlete is unique. It's nonsense to say that if X set their PB at 35, then Y will continue improving until the same age.

Take a look at Bekele's progression:
2004 12:37.35/ 26:20.31
2005 12:40.18/ 26:17.53
2006 12:48.09/ -
2007 12:49.53/ 26:46.19

The fact is in the last 2 seasons he couldn't even get anywhere near his records. What makes you think the trend will be reversed in 2008?

[EPelle]

2-Mile indoor record and a long course victory. No early-season track races this season.

[Powell]

2-Mile indoor record

Not worth more than his 3000 PB.

and a long course victory.

By the smallest margin of all his wins, even though he only had one race to run this time, as opposed to two up to 2006.

No early-season track races this season.

Reportedly due to poor form.

[EPelle]

What is being reported now is that his form is spot-on. We:ll see.