Gebrselassie could race against Bekele in Beijing
SALVO, North Carolina: Ethiopia's two greatest track runners Haile Gebrselassie and Kenenisa Bekele could meet in the 10,000 m at the Beijing Olympics.
"It's up to the federation, but they could end up together in the 10 km. It's a big possibility," their manager Jos Hermens told Reuters by telephone from Edinburgh shortly after Bekele won his sixth world long-course cross-country title on Sunday.
Gebrselassie's fitness in a 10,000 m race at Hengelo on May 24 will be a big factor.
So too will Bekele's choice of events for Beijing. He has yet to decide whether to defend his Olympic 10,000 m title, chase gold in the 5,000 where he was the silver medalist in Athens four years ago, or tackle both races.
"I can't say this far ahead but to do both would not be easy," Bekele told a news conference in Edinburgh. "The pollution might mean I would have to focus on one."
Gebrselassie's course is much clearer. The world marathon record holder is bypassing the longer race at the Games.
The 1996 and 2000 Olympic 10,000 m champion and former world record holder hopes to qualify for Beijing at that distance with a strong Hengelo showing.
He has no road races planned until then.
"He has to catch up with some speed work," Hermens said. "He needs the track training."
Hermens said Bekele was likely to run a 5,000 m at Hengelo.
The current 5,000 and 10,000 m world record holder also wants to compete in the African Championships from April 30 to May 4 on home soil in Addis Ababa.
Agencies
(China Daily 04/02/2008 page22)
