7/14/08
By Bob Ramsak
(c) 2008 TRACK PROFILE Report, all rights reserved; used with permission
Bernard
Lagat's ambitious goal to succeed Hicham El Guerrouj as the Olympic
1500m and 5000m champion might have gotten even more difficult with
today's team announcement by the Ethiopian Olympic Committee (EOC).
Despite earlier indications that he would only defend his 10,000m
Olympic title in Beijing, the EOC included Kenenisa Bekele on its 5000m
roster as well.
Less than two months ago, Bekele told reporters in Hengelo, The Netherlands, that a double was out of the question.
"It's
very tough to run a double at the Olympics," he said. "I ran many
kilometers in a few days in Athens, and I lost a lot of power."
Apparently
Bekele has had a change of heart. The world record holder at both
events and widely acknowledged as the finest distance runner of his
generation, Bekele will be aiming to improve upon his showing over the
shorter distance in Athens four years ago, where he finished runner-up
to El Guerrouj.
History --neither Olympic nor his own-- will be
on his side. Only Emil Zatopek (1952), Vladimir Kuts (1956), Lasse
Viren (1972 and 1976), and Miruts Yifter (1980) have managed the long
distance double on the world's biggest stage. Before Athens, Bekele
attempted the double in 2003, the same summer he succeeded Haile
Gebrselassie as world record holder in both events. After winning the
10,000, his first of three successive global titles over the distance,
he took bronze in the 5000m.
TWO DIBABAS AND ONE IS DOUBLING
Tirunesh
Dibaba was also named to the team in both the 5000 and 10,000, setting
up an eagerly anticipated dual with compatriot Meseret Defar, who was
also on the roster. The reigning Olympic 5000m bronze medallist, Dibaba
managed the double at the 2005 world championships when she was still
only 19. Last month she broke Defar's world 5000m record with a
stunning 14:11.15, covering the final 3000m in a blazing 8:27.51. No
woman has yet won both at an Olympic Games.
Also named to the
team in the 10,000m was Gebrselassie, who will be making his fourth
consecutive Olympic appearance in the event. The winner in 1996 and
2000, Gebrselassie finished fifth in Athens four years ago before
turning his full attentions to the marathon, in which he currently
holds the world record. Sileshi Sihine, the Olympic silver medallist
and three-time world championships silver medallist, will also contest
the 10,000m.
Others announced include world indoor 3000m
champion Tariku Bekele (Kenenisa's younger brother) in the 5000m, and
Derese Mekonnen, the world indoor 1500m champion, in the metric mile.
The complete team listing is below. Four athletes have been named in
certain events, but a maximum of three will be able to compete in
Beijing.
MEN -
1500m: Derese Mekonnen, Mulugeta Wondimu, Mekonnen Gebremedhin, Demma Daba
5000m: Kenenisa Bekele, Tariku Bekele, Abraham Cherkos, Ali Abdosh
10,000m: Kenenisa Bekele, Sileshi Sihine, Haile Gebrselassie, Ibrahim Jeylan
Marathon: Tsegaye Kebede, Deriba Mergia, Gudisa Shentema, Gashaw Melese
3000m Steeplechase: Nahom Mesfin, Roba Gari, Yacob Jarso
WOMEN -
1500m: Gelete Burka, Meskerem Assefa
5000m: Tirunesh Dibaba, Meseret Defar, Meselech Melkamu, Belaynesh Fekadu
10,000m: Mestawet Tufa, Tirunesh Dibaba, Ejegayehou Dibaba, Wude Ayalew
Marathon: Gete Wami, Berhane Adere, Bezunesh Bekele, Dire Tune
3000m Steeplechase: Zemzem Ahmed, Mekdes Bekele, Sofia Assefa
ENDS