As expected, Ethiopians dominated the eagerly anticipated long-distance races at the Hengelo meeting in the Netherlands. While Kenenisa Bekele won the 5,000m, his compatriot Sileshi Sihine took the 10,000m from Haile Gebrselassie, who took a major step towards Olympic selection. But a Kenyan woman stole the show: 19-year-old Pamela Jelimo produced a breathtaking 800m, storming across the line in 1:55.76. That meant the newcomer had broken the world junior record of 1:57.18, set by the Chinese Yuan Wang in Beijing in 1993.
Jelimo’s splendid time was not only a world junior record but a Kenyan record and the fastest time in the world this year. The previous national record of 1:56.04 was set by Janeth Jepkosgei when she won last year’s world championship. All of a sudden she has a strong rival in Jelimo, who is now ranked 20th on the world-all time list. The Kenyan’s time in Hengelo was the fastest 800m by a woman in nearly five years.
“I’m very happy,” said Jelimo, after she had left the world 1500m champion Maryam Jamal (Bahrain/1:58.66) trailing almost 3 seconds behind her. The Kenyan, who used to be a sprinter and has been running the 800m only for the past three months, took the lead about 250 meters from the finish and drew away from the opposition. “I can run a lot faster next time,” Jelimo said. Her next race will be on Sunday at the ISTAF meeting in Berlin’s Olympic stadium. Among her rivals in this opening meeting of the AF Golden League will be Jepkosgei.
Gebrselassie may well have made sure of selection for the Olympic Games in finishing second behind Sihine’s world-leading time of 26:50.53 in the 10,000m. The Ethiopian superstar ran 26:51.20 and said, “My aim was to run under 27:00. Now we have to wait and see how a few more 10,000m races turn out and then the federation will decide who is going to Beijing.” Gebrselassie had decided against running the marathon on health grounds because of Beijing’s polluted atmosphere. Also finishing under 27:00 in Hengelo were the Kenyans Eliud Kipchoge (26:54.32) and Leonard Komon (26:57.08).
The 5,000m also produced the fastest time in the world this year. Bekele’s attack on his own world record (12:37.35) petered out in the early stages. But the Ethiopian still won in commanding style in 12:58.94 from the Kenyan Edwin Soi (13:13.88). Bekele announced in Hengelo, “I won’t be trying to double at the Olympics, but instead concentrate on the 10,000m.”
Among the women Ethiopia had triple success in the 5,000m as Gelete Burka won in 14:45.84 from Meselech Melkamu (14:46.25) and Belaynesh Fikadu (14:46.84).
KIMbia’s Gathoni Wins Bolder Boulder
Millicent Gathoni kept the women’s Bolder Boulder title in the KIMbia family for another year, taking the Memorial Day 10K in 32:49. She battled Ethiopia’s Amane Gobena for most of the race before pulling away for a 4-second victory. Her victory also helped Gathoni lead the Kenyan women to a second-place finish in the international team competition behind a strong Romanian contingent. Returning to action after last month’s Olympic Marathon Trials, KIMbia’s Elva Dryer ran 34:39 and was the second American behind Deena Kastor.
Ridouane Harroufi repeated as men’s champion, running 28:32 to defeat Ethiopians Dmessew Tsega (28:33) and Gebo Berka (28:37). Running as part of the British Commonwealth team, KIMbia’s John Yuda placed fourth in 28:48, one place and 9 seconds ahead of his training partner John Korir, who was the top finisher on the Kenyan men’s squad. Charles Munyeki was eighth in 29:12. Ethiopia won the men’s team title, followed by Kenya and the Commonwealth.
Irina Mikitenko Wins Again in London
Irina Mikitenko remains unbeaten in this Olympic year. The 35-year-old German won the debut of the London 10,000 in 32:02. Mikitenko triumphed in the top-quality road 10K in the British capital despite wind, rain and chilly temperatures of around 50 degrees, winning in convincing style from the Briton Mara Yamauchi (32:26) and the Hungarian Aniko Kalovics (32:59). That meant she has won all her five races in 2008, including the London Marathon in April in a German record of 2:24:14.
“I’m very happy with my race in what was extremely unpleasant weather on an undulating course. It’s a pity I couldn’t get under 32:00, but a fifth win in succession was more important to me than the time,” said Mikitenko, who will now prepare for the marathon at the Olympic Games. “I might run a half marathon in preparation for Beijing,” she added.
The men’s winner in London was Micah Kogo. The world-class Kenyan runner completed the course, which in part is the same as that for the Olympic Marathon in 2012, in 28:08 and finished 7 seconds ahead of the world half marathon champion Zersenay Tadese (Eritrea). Third was the Briton Mo Farah in 28:39. Over 6,000 runners were on the start line for this bank holiday race in London.
Radcliffe’s Olympic Prospects almost Nil
There was dreadful news for Paula Radcliffe following a fresh medical examination in Ireland. As reported by the BBC, the marathon world record holder was diagnosed as suffering from a stress fracture of the left thigh. It almost certainly puts the Englishwoman out of the race to start the Olympic Marathon in Beijing, although she herself has not given up hope completely. “I need some luck. I definitely won’t go into the race if I’m in pain or not in good form,” said Radcliffe. The 34-year-old hopes to be able to train again in two weeks.
However, specialists have told her it will be impossible to achieve the amount of training required for Beijing. A doctor consulted by the BBC described the diagnosis as “a catastrophe” for Radcliffe. He estimated that recovery from this kind of injury would take at least six weeks. A further six weeks would then be required before full training would be possible. By that time, Radcliffe’s chances of competing in the Olympic Games would be gone. Even an interruption of four weeks would be too long at this juncture. Radcliffe is angry that the gravity of the injury was not recognized in earlier examinations.
Radcliffe, who won the New York Marathon in November after the birth of her daughter, already suffered a toe injury in the early part of the year, and withdrew from the London Marathon. Two weeks ago Radcliffe began to feel pain in her left hip. This was wrongly diagnosed as a wrenched muscle that was putting pressure on the bone. With the aid of crutches and rest, Radcliffe had hoped to get over the problem. The new diagnosis is a body blow for the English runner.
A “Safari” with Kenyan Friends
Kenya’s runners, together with those from Ethiopia, have dominated the long distances for years. However, it is by no means clear when their best runners will be racing at the top meetings this season. This is because the Kenyan athletics federation has put the plans of many into disarray with their latest initiative. That is nothing new in East Africa. But when it comes to ideas from federation officials, they usually turn out to be a safari that leads to a dead end. The ensuing chaos, impenetrability and confusion miraculously vanish into thin air in a while—until the next “Initiative” from Athletics Kenya (AK). The athletes are the ones who suffer most. The current case, which the London-based journalist Pat Butcher reveals on his Web site www.globerunner.org, concerns Olympic selection.
Federation officials, who otherwise have little or no influence over racing plans of leading athletes, are using the situation to play power games. Last Wednesday AK suddenly contacted every international manager who works with Kenyan athletes. They were told with just six days’ notice of a training camp that was to begin in Eldoret on May 20. The announcement stated: “All athletes managed by you must, without exception, report to the training camp by May 20. Any athlete failing to attend will not be considered for Olympic selection and their managers will be suspended. With regard to competing abroad the coaches in the training camp will permit this when appropriate. We require a training and competition schedule for the athletes under your management. Please ensure that these instructions are fulfilled to the letter. We look forward to your co-operation…” The letter was signed by Isiah Kiplagat, president of Athletics Kenya.
With this the entire planning for the first half of the season has been thrown into confusion. Some athletes, who had just arrived in Europe or the U.S. from Kenya to prepare for the initial phase of their competitive season, had to dash back to Kenya – to a training camp that no one even knows how long it will last. The managers concerned are incensed about the behavior of the Kenyan officials. Since they reckon that AK will punish any public criticism with suspension, they have only made their feelings clear anonymously. One manager, who looks after a current world champion, sent his athlete back to Kenya after a European road race on Sunday, although they had originally planned to go to Switzerland for altitude training.
“Things have improved with the Kenyan officials who used to call us bloodsuckers, but sometimes you can’t work out what they are doing. It’s surely in our very own interest that our athletes are in their best form at a World Championships or Olympics,” said the manager.
About two years ago Athletics Kenya caused a stir when it drew up a black list. Well respected managers, including the Dutchman Jos Hermens, were banned from any future work with Kenyan athletes for the most tenuous reasons. A few weeks later the protesting managers received an e-mail: “Dear Friends,” it said, “We congratulate you on your successful protest and look forward to working with you in the future.” Kenyan athletes caught the eye at the World Championships in Helsinki in 2005 because they were wearing different kit. It turned out that some of the team uniforms had been sold in Kenya before the start of the championships.
