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Welcome to the Paris 2003 Day 2 |
Day 2 of the Paris 2003 World Track Championships, was filled
with drama. This was provided in Women's heptahlon and the
Men's 100m quarters, however the Men's 10 000m final was not
to be outdone. The Ethiopian Emperor and Successors provided
an awesome display of controlled power running.
Also on view for day 2 were the heats of Women's 800m.
Men's 10000m Final :
The Emperor of Distance running, Haile Gebrselassie of Ethiopia,
gleefully began proceedings for the handing over of the crown
across to the heir apparent Kenenisa Bekele after the Paris
10 000m Championships.
In a brilliant display of controlled power running, the Ethiopian
Express steamed its way around the Stade de France, without
taking any foreigners on board for a luxury ride.
The race started in a somewhat casual fashion, and it was
the impetus of Mebrahtom Keflezighi [USA] that prompted the
1st K to be passed in 2:52.01, to bring some sense and sensibility
to a Championship Final. Certainly no indication of what was
to follow.
The blue and red clad American, was allowed the role of pacesetter
as the field cruised through 2K in 5:36.76, an acceleration
to a 2:44 kilometer. Germany's Dieter Baumann, the 1992 Olympic
5000m Champion in Barcelona, appeared at the front briefly
only to disappear into the depths of the pack to resurface
with a DNF. An Autumn marathon beckons ?
The following km towards 3K [ 8:24.72 ] was 2:47.'72 conducted
by Salim Kipsang [ Kenya ], that was the last occasion that
one of the runners from that East African country would be
allowed near the lead.
Gebrselassie took the lead and with a 2:46.05 and a 2:42.56
from Bekele they passed through 5K in 13:52.33 ... roughly
a 27:45 for 10k pace. Nothing spectacular and maybe appropriate
for a warm Paris evening before the impending summer ending
in Europe.
Hey, follow the storyline. Bekele then injected further pace
into the effort handing over to Geb shortly before the 6K
mark. A 2:36.52 kilometer, the fastest of the race. That should
add the heat, 6k passed in 16:26.85 and any pretenders to
climbing aboard were thrown off with venom.
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Kenenisa
Bekele
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Click for large image
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It was now an East African affair at the front, the green
vest and red shorts of Ethiopia forcing the pace, followed
by 3 Kenyans and an athlete from Qatar, who a month before
was known as Albert Chepkurui of Kenya, and who now goes by
the name of Ahmad Hassan Abdullah, sitting at the rear of
the 7 man line.
The next K was pushed across at 2:38.29 for the front three
to progress through 7K in 19:05.14, with Geb doing the donkey
work. Shortly thereafter, the gap between Ethiopian and Kenyan
distance running began to show. With Geb as the train driver
they were well onto their way to a clean sweep of the podium
positions.
8K passed in 21:42.58, another quick kilometer in 2:37.44,
the pace was relentless and the Ethiopians were clear of the
field, Sileshi Sihine the 3rd of the trio.
The pace did not slacken, another 2:37.98 to pass through
9k in 24:20.56, the stage was now set for a showdown between
Geb and Bek. At stages Gebrselassie had signalled for Bekele
to come to the front, as well as moving to the right of the
inside track creating space for his compatriot who was rapidly
turning into foe. Bekele declined the offers and moved to
the right of Geb's shoulder.
The intent was evident, Geb was now a stalked prey awaiting
the cobra's strike. The air began to tingle with intensity
and anticipation, something had to give. 2 laps to go, the
previous lap looked to be slower however it was a 62.71, the
flashbulbs from the inside of track illuminated the Ethiopian
gladiators in their dress of combat. Each athlete primed to
perfection with concentration and the knowledge that in another
800m a new Champion would be crowned.
It still looked effortless, the only tell tale sign of acceleration
was the higher lifting of Geb's right hand and the sliding
off the back of Sihine. Still Bekele sat, content to bide
his time. Geb still had the awareness to look towards the
stadium's large screen, however the young Kenenisa was all
focus with eyes fixed in front of him. 600m to go [ 25.23
], would Geb kick, No ? It seemed as though there was no further
lift in the tempo they as breezed round the bend, with Geb
hugging the kurb and Bek slightly to his right. Their footstrike,
arm carriage and trailing leg perfectly matched in unison.
We were witnessing sublime movement at high speed. 600m to
400m to go was 31 second, Geb had not begun his normal long
drive for home. The bell came in 25:54.54 and the Emperor's
cards were on the table for the heir apparent to observe.
26:09 with 300m to go. Coming into the backstraight for the
final time and as they begin to pass the yellow clad figure
of a lapped Tanzanian, Bekele moved his chassis to the right
of Haile for his attack on the Emperor's throne. Approaching
200m to go [ 26:23 - 14 sec for the 100 ], and the Ethiopians
are shoulder to shoulder, 190m to go and Bekele makes his
move. It doesn't seem punishing, however he is moving away
from Geb.
Coming off the final bend he switches to the inside of the
3rd lane to blast past the 3 lapped runners in the inside
lane, his win is sealed. 26:49.58 is the winning time, a new
Championship Record, a new Champion and the indication that
Bekele undoutedly is the man to fill the shoes of Haile Gebrselassie.
Geb comes home in 26:50.77 followed by Sihine in 27:01.44.
Breaking the race down into two halves the 1st was in 13:52.33
and the 2nd a staggering 12:57.25. The last 1K a blistering
2:29.02. And on closer inspection the last 3K in 7:44.44.
An absolutely amazing championship race and the handing over
of the Emperor's mantle has begun. There is still more to
achieve before the process is complete, however the coronation
plannings have begun.
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Women's 800m Heats :
Maria Mutola again showed that she is undoubtedly the favourite
to capture the 800m title. After leading at the bell, she
dropped back allowing Britain's Kelly Holmes to steal a march
on the field, the Mozambique powerhouse then simply changed
gears and cantered away from Holmes, and the field to book
her place in the finals.
Stephanie Graf underlined her improved form by clocking sub
2min in her semi, with Moroccan hope, Amina Aït Hammou,
taking the 3rd semi. These 3 semi final winners will in all
probability be the medal winners, however Holmes may feel
she has a hand to play after her 1:58 clocking. | results
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