Kenenisa Bekele beats Craig Mottram over 5000m - London (© Getty Images)
Helsinki, FinlandThe Ethiopian Athletics Federation (EAF) squad of 31 athletes for the 10th IAAF World Championships in Athletics, Helsinki, Finland, 6 -14 August 2005.
Bekele and Dibaba double attempts are the highlights
As has been customary over the last two years, the focal point of the team is again 23-year old Olympic and World 10,000m champion Kenenisa Bekele, who is named in both the 5000m and 10,000m teams. But according to Coach Tolosa Kotu, the decision of whether he will add the 5000m will only be made after he runs the 10,000m. “We have yet to decide,” he says. “He has told me that he does not feel up to the challenge, but we shall see anyway.”
This is contrary to a statement made by the Federation ten days ago confirming without any prevarication Bekele’s unique attempt. In previous double attempts, Bekele won 10,000m titles in Paris 2003 and Athens 2004, but was reduced to bronze and silver over 5000m respectively.
However, there are no doubts about the double attempt of the country’s other top and in-form distance runner Tirunesh Dibaba who has confirmed that she will race both races in Helsinki. “I will run both races and will be going for the win in both,” confirmed a confident Dibaba who has set world leading times in both the 5000m (14:32.08) and 10,000m (30:15.67) this season.
But Dibaba will be pushed in both races by her compatriots Meseret Defar (5000m) and Berhane Adere (10,000m).
Defar confident over the 5000m
Although dwarfed by Dibaba’s World Indoor record and double World Cross Country victory, Olympic 5000m champion Meseret Defar has enjoyed a fine season in her own right coming less than one second from the World Indoor 3000m record and winning 3000m Grand Prix races in New York and Doha.
But despite losing to Dibaba in the penultimate Ethiopian selection meet for Helsinki in the Rome Golden League, the 23-year old remains optimistic about her chances in Helsinki. “I do not prepare for other competitors,” she said. “I plan my own races and I am flying to Helsinki for victory.”
Two years ago, Defar fell in the 5000m heats and could not make the final in Paris and she says she wants to erase her bitter memories. “I have thought about it recently,” she said. “But the only way I can deal with it is victory in Paris. Thank God, he has consoled me during the Olympics.”
Apart from Defar, there is World Junior 5000m champion Meselech Melkamu and former World Youth 3000m silver medalist Sentayehu Ejigu will make sure that Ethiopia is well represented in the Finnish capital.
Adere looking for revenge in Helsinki
Over the 10,000m, Dibaba’s major challenger is expected to be the defending champion Berhane Adere who is keen to impress in Helsinki after missing the Athens Olympics due to a controversial dispute with her federation. “All that is in the memory now and I have to move forward,” she said.
But Adere and Dibaba are not the only ones to watch out for in the Ethiopian team. Werknesh Kidane won silver in Paris two years ago and has been showing the form that could see her challenge the duo in Helsinki.
Then there is Ejegayehou Dibaba who won Olympic silver and was the best Ethiopian female distance runner according to the IAAF World Rankings published at the end of the 2003/04 season.
Bekele to be pushed all the way
After running a world leading time of 26:28 in Hengelo, many would think that Kenenisa Bekele might have sewn up the 10,000m gold in Helsinki even before the race begun, but compatriots Abebe Dinkessa and Sileshi Sihine will ensure that he is pushed all the way.
It has been an unfortunate year with injuries for Sileshi Sihine who missed the World Cross in France and a fair share of the outdoor season with a knee injury. His only outdoor run this season resulted in an excellent 26:57 in Prague, Czech Republic. The 22-year old believes he is a match for anyone on his day. “My training has progressed well and I hope for a good result in Helsinki.”
Abebe Dinkessa has been in good form on the European circuit this season. The 22-year old ran 26:30 for the fifth fastest time on the Ethiopian all-time list in addition to 12:55 for the 5000m. But the in-form runner who is reportedly matching both Bekele and Sihine in training believes that his time has come to mix up with the big boys. “I have been working very hard,” he says. “I want to erase memories of the World Cross where I finished fourth although I travelled to win at least a medal.”
Burka and Tadesse offer middle distance hope
After an impressive start to her track season with a triple victory (1500m, 5000m, and 4x400m relays) in the Ethiopian championships, World Junior Cross Country champion Gelete Burka assured herself of a place in Ethiopia’s Helsinki team with a 1500m victory (4:04.97) in Hengelo early in the season. And Ethiopian distance runner ace Haile Gebrselassie is one of the many admirers of Burka. “She is an exceptionally strong athlete and I expect her to do well in Helsinki.”
Ethiopian Olympian Mestawot Tadesse is the faster of the two women in the 1500m team with 4:04.95 for a win in the Rome GL.
Late Stockholm run secures Genetti 1500m selection
In the men’s 1500m, 5000m specialist Markos Genetti ran 3:32 in the DN Galan meeting in Stockholm on 26 July to join Mulugeta Wondimu in the team, while Berhanu Alemu is Ethiopia’s sole representative over the 800m.
Tulu leads women in Marathon challenge
She might be 33 but two-Olympic and former World 10,000m champion Derartu Tulu will be making her big championship Marathon debut in Helsinki. And Tulu admitted that she is relishing another rematch with old rival Paula Radcliffe in the Finnish capital.
“Paula has not beaten me over the track and cross country,” she says. “Over the marathon, we have met twice and she has won. This time, we shall see.”
But Tulu refused to be drawn to speculation about the team’s chances in Helsinki. “It is difficult to predict what will happen in Helsinki,” she says. “We as a team have trained well and we will try to do our best.”
Asha Gigi is the fastest of the five-woman marathon team with 2:27.54, but the squad is a mix of youth and experience with 20-year old Dure Tune 19-year old Mulu Seboka in the team.
Gashaw Melese is the fastest male marathoner in the squad with 2:09.24, but the country will also have its hopes on Boston Marathon winner Haylu Negussie and experienced 2004 Paris Marathon champion Ambesse Tolosa.
Elshadai Negash for the IAAF
