Jelimo, Gebrselassie Steal the Show in Hengelo
Posted May 24th, 2008 at 5:33 PM by Bob Ramsak
Section: News & Results, Track & Field, Olympics
Those fortunate enough to secure a ticket to this afternoon’s 26th edition of the Fanny Blankers-Koen Games in Hengelo witnessed a pair of stellar performances that will not be quickly forgotten: a legend of the sport who stubbornly and thankfully refuses to step aside, and the possible birth of another.
14 years after setting his first world record on the Hengelo track, Haile Gebrselassie (Pictured) returned to the venue carrying the role of sentimental favorite in the 10,000m, but in reality was an underdog in his quest to achieve a qualifying performance for a fourth consecutive Olympic team berth.
With two spots open for the mighty Ethiopian 10,000 squad for Beijing, Gebrselassie, now 35 and with his attentions firmly focused on the marathon, needed to finish at least second among the formidable group of Ethiopians in the field. And “Mr. Hengelo” fulfilled his goal in quite impressive fashion, giving Ethiopian selectors plenty to think about over the next few weeks.
Running near the front throughout, Gebrselassie tucked in behind Olympic silver medallist and compatriot Sileshi Sihine (Pictured, below right) for much of the proceedings, and in the latter stages, when only the pair, along with Kenyans Eliud Kipchoge and Leonard Patrick Komon remained in contention, he even took his turn with the lead.
The younger Sileshi’s kick didn’t disappoint as he cruised to a 26:50.53 victory, but Gebrselassie wasn’t far behind, gliding to a runner-up finish in 26:51.20. They were the two quickest performances of the year and for Gebrselassie, a major step towards Beijing.
“Running under 27 minutes was my goal,” said Gebrselassie, who won back-to-back Olympic titles in the event in 1996 and 2000 before finishing fifth in 2004. “It was a good time, it might be enough to send me to Beijing. Now we have to wait and see the results from a few other 10,000m races over the next few weeks. And then the federation will decide.” Visibly pleased, Gebrselassie knows that his spot is not yet secure. “We ran just 26:50 today, so you never know.”
Kipchoge (26:54.32) and Komon (26:57.08) both also dipped under 27 minutes while Gebre Gebremariam, the recently-minted African champion, struggled in the waning stages and finished a distant seventh in 27:20.65.
While Gebreselassie received most of the afternoon’s attention, the athletics world may have witnessed the birth of a new star in the frame of Kenyan Pamela Jelimo (Pictured, below right).
After making waves with her 1:58.70 800m victory at the African Championships in the high altitude of Addis Ababa last month, the 19-year-old burst onto the international scene here with a jaw-dropping 1:55.76 victory, by far the day’s most impressive display of running. Powering to the front as she entered the back stretch, Jelimo stretched her lead through the bend and extended it down the homestretch, slowing little through the finish to become the 20th fastest in history in this her first race on the international circuit.
Her reward was a world junior record, smashing the 1:57.18 set by China’s Yuan Wang in Beijing in 1993. And Jelimo’s initial reaction?
“I’m very happy,” said Jelimo, who won by nearly three seconds over Maryam Jamal (1:58.66), the reigning world 1500m champion. “Next time I think I can go much faster.” A former sprinter, Jelimo only took up the event three months ago. After crossing the line, she said, she had plenty in reserve.
The waning stages of her run were reminiscent to Janeth Jepkosgei’s gun-to-tape Kenyan record of 1:56.04 at last summer’s World championships. Except Jelimo was considerably faster. Both are expected to race at the AF Golden League opener in Berlin on June 1.
Lucia Klocova of Slovakia was third (1:59.76) with Dutchwoman Yvonne Hak fourth with a personal best 2:00.10.
Kenenisa Bekele won the 5000m handily, but fell well short of his World record of 12:37.35 set on this track four years ago. The Ethiopian was already alone seven minutes into the race, reaching the 3000m split in 7:44.17, seven seconds behind his intended target. With no opposition, he went on to cruise towards the finish, crossing the line in 12:58.94, another world leader on the afternoon. Kenyan Edwin Soi was a distant second in 13:13.88.
Recently-minted African 1500m champion Gelete Burka made her first 5000m appearance of the season a notable success. Taking the lead at the bell, the 22-year-old Ethiopian broke from a strung out pack of ten to cruise to a solid 14:45.84 victory.
“The race was very good,” she said, adding that a win over compatriot Meselech Melkamu was an added bonus. “Yes, I’m very happy with that.”
Melkamu was second (14:46.25), with Belaynesh Fikadu (14:46.84) completing an Ethiopian top-3 sweep. Linet Masai was rewarded with her mid-race front-running with a 14:47.14 PB, finishing fourth ahead of Priscah Jepleting (14:50.98). Despite the afternoon’s strong winds, eight of the first 11 ran to career bests.
Elsewhere, unheralded Dutchman Robert Lathouwers pulled of an impressive upset with his 1:45.80 victory, taking down some major players including reigning World champion Afred Kirwa Yego (third in 1:46.06) and Moroccan Amine Laalou (1:46.02). It was a personal best for the 24-year-old from Rotterdam, and his first dip into sub-1:46 territory.
Richard Mateelong turned in an impressive win in the 3000m Steeplechase, a solid performance not necessarily indicative of his 8:13.00 clocking. Fellow Kenyan Benjamin Kiplagat was second (8:14.29), a personal best.
(c) 2008 Race Results Weekly, all rights reserved. Used with permission.
PHOTOS: Pamela Jelimo, Haile Gebrselassie, and Sileshi Sihine. (Courtesy of Bob Ramsak/Race Results Weekly)
OFFICIAL RESULTS:
MEN -
1. Robert Lathouwers, NED 1:45.80 PB
2. Amine Laalou, MAR 1:46.02
3. Alfred Kirwa Yego, KEN 1:46.06
4. Abraham Chepkirwok, UGA 1:46.30
5. Marcin Lewandowski, POL 1:46.62
6. Yusuf Saad Kamel, BRN 1:46.70
7. Edwin Letting, KEN 1:46.88
8. Sam Ellis, GBR 1:48.72
9. Nils Schumann, GER 1:49.25
10. Timothy Kiptanui, KEN 1:50.02
DNF - Samwel Mwera, TAN DNF
5000m:
1. Kenenisa Bekele, ETH 12:58.94 WL
2. Edwin Cheruiyot Soi, KEN 13:13.88
3. Thomas Pkemei Longosiwa, KEN 13:14.36
4. Ibrahim Jeilan, ETH 13:15.12
5. Joseph Ebuya, KEN 13:18.25
6. Geofrey Kusuro, UGA 13:18.38 PB [1989]
7. Stephen Kiprotich, UGA 13:23.70 PB [1989]
8. Boaz Cheboiywo, KEN 13:24.29
9. Titus Kipjumba Mbishei, KEN 13:27.54 PB [1990]
10. Matthew Tegenkamp, USA 13:28.52
11. Mourad Marofit, MAR 13:30.90 PB [1990]
12. Ayele Abshero, ETH 13:35.83 PB
13. Khalid El Aamri, MAR 13:40.76
14. Sahle Warga, ETH 13:41.49
15. Shume Gerbaba, ETH 13:45.21 PB
16. Legese Lamiso, ETH 13:53.49 PB
17. Biri Assafa, ETH 13:54.56
18. Nick McCormick, GBR 14:11.64
DNF - Mulugeta Wendimu, ETH
DNF - Isaac Kipruto Sang, KEN
DNF - Cornelius Ndiwa, KEN
DNF - Rob Detert, NED
10,000m:
1. Sileshi Sihine, ETH 26:50.53 WL
2. Haile Gebrselassie, ETH 26:51.20
3. Eliud Kipchoge, KEN 26:54.32
4. Leonard Patrick Komon, KEN 26:57.08 DB, PB
5. Boniface Kiprop, UGA 27:19.26
6. Fabiano Joseph Naasi, TAN 27:19.72 PB
7. Gebre-egziabher Gebremariam, ETH 27:20.65
8. Silas Kipruto, KEN 27:26.31
9. Eshetu Wondimu, ETH 27:29.31
10. Ahmad Hassan Abdullah, QAT 27:35.67
11. Essa Ismail Rashed, QAT 27:37.71
12. Bernard Kiprop Kipyego, KEN 27:49.14
13. Raji Assefa, ETH 28:01.34
DNF - Ayad Lamdassem, ESP
DNF - Sultan Khamis Zaman, QAT
DNF - Wilson Busienei, UGA
DNF - Abebe Dinkesa, ETH
DNF - Guus Jansen, NED
DNF - Joseph Kosgei, KEN
DNF - Gamal Belal Salem, QAT
3000m S/C:
1. Richard Kipkemboi Mateelong, KEN 8:13.00
2. Benjamin Kiplagat, UGA 8:14.29 NR, NJR [1989]
3. Reuben Kosgei, KEN 8:16.72
4. Brimin Kiprop Kipruto, KEN 8:18.06
5. Mahiedine Mekhissi-Benabbad, FRA 8:18.42
6. Michael Kipyego, KEN 8:22.21
7. Thamer Kamal Ali, QAT 8:25.71
8. Vincent Zouaoui Dandrieaux, FRA 8:27.97
9. Andrew Lemoncello, GBR 8:28.17
10. Youcef Abdi, AUS 8:28.81
11. Pieter Desmet, BEL 8:33.07
12. Irba Lakhal, FRA 8:33.25
13. Jukka Keskisalo, FIN 8:37.74
14. Krijn van Koolwijk, BEL 8:53.64
DNF - Itai Maggidi, ISR
DNF - David Biwott Chemweno, KEN
DNS - Legese Lamiso, ETH
WOMEN -
800m:
1. Pamela Jelimo, KEN 1:55.76 WJR, NR, WL
2. Maryam Yusuf Jamal, BRN 1:58.66 NR
3. Lucia Klocová, SVK 1:59.76
4. Yvonne Hak, NED 2:00.10 PB
5. Mina Aït Hammou, MAR 2:00.46
6. Jennifer Meadows, GBR 2:00.64
7. Laetitia Valdonado, FRA 2:01.78
8. Brigita Langerholc, SLO 2:02.13
9. Marian Burnett, GUY 2:02.85
10. Irene Jelagat, KEN 2:04.37
11. Ewelina Setowska-Dryk, POL 2:05.24
12. Machteld Anna Mulder, NED 2:05.83
DNF - Kathrin Trauth, GER
5000m:
1. Gelete Burka, ETH 14:45.84 WL
2. Meselech Melkamu, ETH 14:46.25
3. Belaynesh Fikadu, ETH 14:46.84 PB
4. Linet Chepkwemoi Masai, KEN 14:47.14 PB
5. Priscah Jepleting Cherono, KEN 14:50.98
6. Viola Kibiwot, KEN 14:51.59 PB
7. Lucy Kabuu Wangui, KEN 14:53.66 PB
8. Philes Ongori, KEN 14:56.06
9. Veronica Nyaruai Wanjiru, KEN 15:05.38
10. Bizunesh Urgesa, ETH 15:08.26
11. Sule Utura, ETH 15:10.40
12. Jessica Augusto, POR 15:19.67
13. Megan Metcalfe, CAN 15:22.23
14. Mestawet Tufa, ETH 15:29.05
15. Mariya Konovalova, RUS 15:31.49
16. Silvia Weissteiner, ITA 15:44.26
17. Laura Kenney, GBR 15:45.32
18. Hayley Yelling, GBR 15:48.16
19. Helen Clitheroe, GBR 15:49.98
DNF - Brigitta Tusai, HUN
DNF - Sonja Roman, SLO
DNF - Esther Chemtai, KEN
***Note: We encourage EVERYONE to see a doctor before altering their diet, taking a supplement and/or performing athletic, fitness or other strenuous physical activity. It is your responsibility to evaluate the accuracy, completeness and usefulness of any information, instruction, opinion or advice contained in the content. Please also see our complete disclaimer.***
Tags: fanny blankers koen games, haile gebrselassie, Hengelo, Kenenisa Bekele, mr. hengelo, Netherlands, Pamela Jelimo, Sileshi Sihine
Like what you see? Subscribe to our feed!
The Final Sprint