Bekele Going For 10K WR At Pre!

[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.

[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.

[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]

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:

[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.

[RMc]

What's the American soil 5k best?

[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.

[doug091463]

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.

[Marlow]

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

Cheater! :twisted:

[DrJay]

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

[Marlow]

His current mark is 26:17.53, set at Brussels, Belgium three years ago. That’s two sub-13:10 5ks back-to-back!

That is just absurd. We couldn't even get a two-man relay team to rabbit him!!!

Sure we could.

How you figger? Two best times in the USA right now:

13:16.29 Bernard Lagat
13:18.46 Brent Vaughn

so you think they could both get season's bests by 6-8 seconds at the same time in the next few weeks as rabbits? I think not.

[DrJay]

Pre Classic website doesn't have a startlist yet. Anyone know who will be competing??

I was wondering about the meet as a whole, not just the 10K. I'm sure it will be quality, as usual.

[zzbottom]

Kenenisa Bekele is a great runner, but he is either delusional or he is not on particularly good terms with the truth. At the end of April, he pulls out of the 10000 at the African Champs because his training is not going well, and then he reluctantly enters the 5000 in early May despite the fact that he has not "made sufficient training." So on June 8th, he is going to be ready to tackle the world record? I understand that there may be motives for deception due to formulating a training and racing schedule which is best for himself, but it is what it is.

[gh]

Pre Classic website doesn't have a startlist yet. Anyone know who will be competing??

It's my understanding that this is a "sudden" addition to the meet, so I doubt many people would have it on their radar, particularly with Hengelo so close beforehand and the OT coming up at the end of the month.

In any case, if KB is indeed in WR shape, then the only person who will be "competing" is him!

[DrJay]

Cool, Teg in the Hengelo 5K, with Bekele and every male Kenyan who's not running the 10K.