Bernard Lagat of the US wins his second gold of the champs in the 5000m (© Getty Images)
An event which has proved notoriously tricky to predict in recent Olympics once again poses more questions than answers.
Reigning world champion Bernard Lagat of the USA is one of the principle contenders and with a blistering kick finish and world-class ability over 1500m, where he is also world champion, it is easy to see why.
Nonetheless, Lagat plans to first compete in the 1500m and it remains to be seen how the fatigue will affect him before he steps on the start line for the 5000m heats. He has also performed sparingly over the 5000m distance this year, although he was an impressive winner at the US Olympic Trials in Eugene in June.
The Kenyan-born Lagat faces a huge threat from East Africa with four-time world and reigning Olympic 10,000m champion Kenenisa Bekele selected as one of four members of the Ethiopian team.
It is likely that Bekele will only make a decision on whether to compete in the 5000m after the 10,000m final but his very presence as a potential starter will put him firmly among the lead contenders.
However, for all his masterful dominance over the 10,000m distance he has yet to win a global 5000m title and he had to settle for silver at the 2004 Olympic Games.
Bekele is joined in the Ethiopian team by his brother, Tariku, the reigning world indoor 3000m champion who is second on the world lists after recording 12:52.45 for second in Berlin. Alongside the Bekele brothers in the Ethiopian team is world junior 5000m champion Abreham Cherkos who could prove a dark horse after an impressive 2008 campaign.
Kenya is surprisingly seeking their first men’s 5000m Olympic title for 20 years since John Ngugi struck gold in Seoul. Leading their challenge is 2003 world champion Eliud Kipchoge, who seems to have been around for ever but is still aged only 23. Kipchoge, who won the silver medal at last summer’s World Championships, is an accomplished performer on the big stage and has not finished outside of the first two in his three 5000m outings this year.
Joining Kipchoge in the Kenyan team is Edwin Soi who took victory in the Kenyan Trials last month. Soi has limited experience on the big stage but with a lifetime best of 12:52.40 he is another big threat.
Thomas Longosiwa completes the Kenyan trio. He finished a surprising third at the Kenyan trials but recorded a personal best of 12:51.95 in Brussels last year.
Also out of East Africa, Moses Kipsiro is another challenger. The 21-year-old Ugandan won bronze at last summer’s World Championships and he ran 12:54.70 in Berlin, his one outing over 5000m this summer.
Leading the non African challenge will be Australia’s 2005 World Championships 5000m bronze medallist Craig Mottram with 13:11.99 this year and Spain’s European champion Jesus Espana (13:13.32).
Other names to watch out for are Morocco’s Mourad Marofit (13:02.84), Belgium’s Monder Rizki (13:04.06) and Qatar’s Kenyan-born James Kwalia (13:04.70).
Steve Landells for the IAAF
Men’s 3000m Steeplechase - PREVIEW
Even with their world No.1 – Peter Kipsiele Koech – a surprise absentee after finishing fourth at the Olympic Trials, Kenya fully expect to retain their iron-like grip on this title.
The remarkable East African nation have won each of the last six Olympic steeplechase gold medals and their winning sequence stretches back to 1968 if we discount the 1976 and 1980 Games which Kenya boycotted.
Defending champion Ezekiel Kemboi has proved one of the most formidable steeplechase competitors in recent years and is strongly fancied to repeat the achievements of Finland’s Volmari Iso-Hollo the last man to secure back to back titles in 1936.
Kemboi, 26, proved the No.1 at the Kenyan trials and has also claimed three successive World Championship silver medals. He has limited his appearances over the barriers this season but finished second – behind world champion Brimin Kipruto - in Rome before winning in Athens in a season’s best 8:09.25.
Kipruto would appear the main threat. After edging Kemboi at the 2007 World Championships, Kipruto began the season modestly, placing fifth in Doha and fourth in Hengelo. But his victory in the Rome Golden League meeting showed he is back to his best form.
The third string Kenyan – Richard Matelong – took the bronze medal at 2007 World Championships and booked his place at the Olympic Games by finishing third in the Kenyan Trials.
He landed the gold medal at the African Championships in Addis Ababa in May, but only finished a distant seventh in Paris.
The main threat to Kenyan hegemony will come from, Kenya-born Tareq Mubarak Taher who represents Bahrain. Taher, the 2006 Asian Games winner, showed his medal credentials by finishing third in Rome and winning at the Paris Golden League meeting in 8:08 –albeit in a race minus Kemboi and Kipruto.
Mustafa Mohamed is the main European standard bearer. The Swede, who finished fourth at last summer’s World Championships, is another medal threat. The European cross country silver medallist has competed sparingly this season but third place finishes in Paris and Stockholm – the former in a season’s best of 8:11.10 hints at his medal ability.
Morocco has a solid-looking challenge in the shape of Pan Arab silver medallist Hamid Ezzine (8:13.20) and Brahim Taleb (8:14.32).
Meanwhile, Ethiopia will hope Nahom Mesfin, who set a national junior record of 8:14.68 in Neerpelt in May, can become the first athlete from that nation to win an Olympic steeplechase medal.
Another dark horse could be Uganda’s Benjamin Kiplagat, who claimed silver at the World Junior Championships and set a national junior record of 8:14.29 in Hengelo.
France’s experienced Bouabdellah Tahri (8:12.72) and his countryman Vincent Zouaoui Dandrieaux (8:14.74) could also make an impression.
Steve Landells for the IAAF
