Kenenisa Bekele leads Abebe Dinkessa in the 2005 Hengelo 10,000m (© AFP/Getty Images)
As he prepares a return to the track where he captured the 10,000m World title in 2003, Kenenisa Bekele has high hopes in his second outdoor track race of the year, including a possible attempt on his own 5000m World record of 12:37.35 set last year.
“It depends on the weather,” said the Ethiopian who celebrated his 23rd birthday just 18 days ago. “If the conditions are ok, I will try. Yes,” he confirmed, “I’m planning it.”
“It will be a difficult race,” last year’s Athlete of the Year continued. “It’s the TDK Golden League. It’s always tough. There are plenty of good competitors.”
But Bekele shied away from making any absolute predictions. “It’s too difficult to think of a time. Maybe 12:35 or 12:36 would be good,” he understated. “But it will be difficult.”
Of his three World Records - which include his 26:20.31 in the 10,000m and his 12:49.60 for the indoor 5000 - Bekele said his outdoor “5000 is the most difficult. It’s very hard, and it’s a very fast pace.”
Despite the difficulty, Bekele added that he is up to the task.
“I trained very well, first in the U.S. in Flagstaff before my Hengelo race, then in Ethiopia.”
In Hengelo, despite formidable winds, Bekele produced the fourth fastest performance ever, 26:28.72.
After his Paris outing Friday night at the Stade de France, Bekele said he’s planning a very light racing load before his attempt to defend his 10,000 World crown in Helsinki.
“I will run the 3000m in Lausanne next week, then maybe just one more race, an easy race.”
Adding the 5000 to his repertoire in Helsinki, as he did in Paris and again last year at the Olympic Games, seems unlikely at the moment, he said.
“At this time, no, I will not run both events. I will only run the 10,000m. A double is too much for me. I’ve known that since the Olympics,” he said, where he finished runner-up to Hicham El Guerrouj. “With two hard races after the 10,000, it is too much, especially if the pace is fast.”
Despite his possible World record ambitions tomorrow night, being fully focused and prepared for his Helsinki title defence is by far his primary goal of the year.
“The World Championship is much more important. I will try any time, if I’m in good shape, to break the World records. But the World Championships is only once every two years.”
Bob Ramsak for the IAAF