It's on!!!!! Kibiwott Kandie says he will go for 10,000 glory against Cheptegei, Kiplimo and Farah in Tokyo

birdbeard wrote:

Huh. I feel this thread has written off Cheptegei in favor of Kiplimo et all too soon. I still think Chpetegei is king. I guess we'll see.

That's fair. He's world champ and WR holder, clearly the number 1. I just don't think he's nailed on for the gold with all the competition and absent the time trial conditions (plus wavelight) that he had for his record.

I think what is cool and exciting for distance fans is that the men's 10,000 is likely to have the highest quality field of any track event at the Olympics. We have numerous global medallists and WR holders distances from 5k to HM. You could make a good case for anyone of at least 6 athletes to take the gold. I don't think you could say that for any other track event

runderun wrote:I'd be surprised if any of those were competing for medals in a race with Chep, Kiplimo, Kipruto, Kejelcha, Farah, Kandie, and maybe Kamworor. I guess someone might have a breakthrough but I wouldn't even bet on Karoki or Yator making the Kenyan team

Don't forget triple bronze medalist Paul Tanui if he can get back in shape. That man knows how to run up front with guts and no fear of speed. And double silver medalist Dejen Gebremeskel was still a world class road 5 and 10K two years ago, also he had the world best for 10K on track one year, but failed at Worlds later the same summer.

Anyway and that said, I'd be surprised if the Tokyo Olympics happens at all - but maybe that's for the best - maybe then someone somewhere somehow could set up a (by all means inagural) 10K with ALL the best ranked runners in the world - i.e without the three-per-national-team rule.

Valencia - do you hear me? Twentyfive men! Twentyfive laps! Twentyfive minutes?

Isn't the fact that Mo Farah is only going to run the 10K while a lot of these guys are going to try to double make it a bit more likely that he can have a shot at a metal

Considering in all the past championships he tried double

A metal?

He has no shot at a medal so maybe that was his sly way of making an honest prediction knowing he will take his multivitamin that day.

round and round wrote:

Aussiestatman wrote:

When he ran 58.54 for second at the World half last year, he was in a pack at 10k a n 28.23. You would suppose he could go much quicker over 25 laps of a track.

Well, then he ran a big negative split because a 58:54 half marathon is 27:58 10k average pace (4:30 per mile)

.

You are right, Kandie ran the second 10k in 27.35

runderun wrote:

Aussiestatman wrote:

Do you think athletes like Andamlak Belihu, Bedan Karoki, and Richard Yator are more chance of challenging for third than Kandie. They have track experience even if a few seconds behind the main contenders. Remember now that all the current men are 37+sec behind Cheptegei, unless Bekele drops back: which will be a no.

I'd be surprised if any of those were competing for medals in a race with Chep, Kiplimo, Kipruto, Kejelcha, Farah, Kandie, and maybe Kamworor. I guess someone might have a breakthrough but I wouldn't even bet on Karoki or Yator making the Kenyan team

Let’s break it down further: who will represent USA in this event? Shadrack Kipchirchir? Lopez Lomong? Eric Jenkins? Paul Chelimo? Any marathoners that missed selection at that event?

Japan already has had their selection trials last month where three young men all beat the old NR

Of the eight European men to run sub 27.16.25 last year, five of them were from France. The year before no Frenchman ran that quick. Four of the five are young. Could the three who make the Olympics be on the improve?

Who will represent me there: Pat Tiernan and Stewie McSweyn?

Aussiestatman wrote:

Of the eight European men to run sub 27.16.25 last year, five of them were from France. The year before no Frenchman ran that quick. Four of the five are young. Could the three who make the Olympics be on the improve?

I think once things (testing) goes back to normal, the French will find it difficult to maintain the same level of performances as last year.

Tiernan thinks he can medal. Getting his abilities mixed up with his ambition.