This will be the first in a series of highlights from the 2012 season.

There are many things that make something a highlight, and with any series like this you leave out more than you include. But that’s no reason not to do it. Let’s relish in the performances we loved from the year.

Saturday 18 February

Without the promise of a world cross country champs in March, the powers that be having decided it was more suited to a biannual championship -  a shame in my opinion – the first real highlight of the early year elite distance running scene was Mo’s 2 mile race indoors in the Birmingham Grand Prix.

There’s no bias with it being in Birmingham, it was simply the first time he was lined up against some real competition, in the year when it ALL mattered. The Olympic year.

How was he doing? How had winter training gone? Was he handling the pressure of being world 5k champion and favourite to win the 5 and 10 in London? Everyone was itching to see him in action. Birmingham provided the platform.

The grand prix in Birmingham has been regarded as the biggest indoor meeting in the world for a number of years. The entry lists are always strong and this year was no different. Mo was up against Tariku Bekele, perennial high quality performer Eliud Kipchoge and Moses Kipsiro, with pacing by Remmy Limo and Gideon Gathimba. In addition there was domestic British interest in Johnny Mellor toeing the line as well. He might not have been contesting for the win, but the fact that he was lining up against these guys was an indication of how far he had come and the fantastic form he had been showing in recent times.

A week before this race, there had been another 2 mile race, in the US. Mo’s training partner Galen Rupp had run an incredibly strong and almost entirely solo 8:09.72 for the win and the American record. Since they had been training together Mo was expected to be in similar shape. Galen had taken the record from Bernard Lagat incidentally, who was in the Birmingham meeting, but was running the 1500m. If there is one thing Bernie (and his coach James Li) know how to do, it is shape a season. Starting out with a 1500 instead of going head to head with your main Olympic 5k rival is a sensible decision both from a racing position and from a training position. Sharpen up with some under distance races early season.

Back to the 2 mile race. The race was touted as being Mo’s attempt on the long standing British record (8:17 John Mayock) as well as the 39-year old European record (8:13.2 Emile Puttemans). But in reality these records didn’t mean much. They were sugar coating on the cake of the actual race. What the fans wanted to see was Mo versus the guys on the track. The guys who could challenge, push and perhaps beat him. The race got underway and the pace was brisk. The world record was never going to be troubled, but Gathimba took them through the opening mile in 4:04 so there were no passengers. Arne Gabius from Germany was running an incredibly courageous race and was hanging onto everything he could. He really stood up that day.

Once the final few laps approached, the contenders shuffled around trying to position themselves to stick in the winning strike for home. The last lap burn up was just that and coming off the final bend Mo, Eliud, Tariku and Kipsiro were covered in that invisible blanket cliché. Eliud Kipchoge has a history of starting seasons well so it should probably not have been too surprising that he held the others off for the win. Mo managed second with Kipsiro and Bekele third and fourth. Less than a second separated them.

Finishing in 8:08.07, Mo had broken the British record and the European record. He had also bested his training partner by a second. But tellingly he hadn’t won the race. The media naturally chose to run with that story. What happened Mo? Where was the kick Mo? Are you overtraining Mo? The usual none-too-deep journalistic type inquisitions that they think the public wants to read about. (Perhaps the public do want to read that kind of stuff, who am I to know?)

Fact is, all keen fans of distance running had seen what they wanted to see. A strong Mo kicking hard and racing hard. The fact that he had been edged out was neither here nor there. This was February. It didn’t matter. It matters in August. In many ways, being beaten here in his first high profile race and in his home country, may have been a good thing. When is getting beaten a good thing? Well, when it takes some of the pressure from an expectant public off your shoulders it is a good thing. And when it shows the world that just because you won the 5000m world champs the year before, it doesn’t mean the rest of the professional distance running world are simply going to hand you wins. They will race you even harder, and want to beat you even more. It showed everyone that winning in August was going to be tough. But it also showed everyone that Mo had trained well over the winter and was in a great position (possibly the perfect position) leading into the transition from indoor to outdoor season. He was up for the challenge.

The running year was underway. The unavoidable conveyor belt to the Olympics had begun. This 2 mile race cracked open the 2012 distance season, and what a season it turned out to be.

Were we sure that Mo could do the double? No. But by gosh we knew we were in for an exciting ride.

Footnote: Lagat didn’t win his 1500m, but ran 3:36 and probably got what he needed from it. A month later he went to world indoors and won the 3000m gold medal.

Footnote 2: Johnny Mellor held on for an 8:40.5 Personal Best. Great run Johnny.

Eliud Kipchoge won the world 5000m title in 2003 aged just 18 (Picture: Reuters)

The last Kenyan to win the event at the Olympics was Naftali Temu in Mexico in 1968, and the authorities had hoped to shortlist 15 runners to go to the Prefontaine Diamond League race in the United States in June, where the top three finishers will earn Olympic places.But just 17 out of the expected 31 runners turned up, with other possible entrants overseas competing in other distance races.Of those who did turn up, only 15 completed the race, which was won by world 10,000m bronze medallist Moses Ndiema Masai – and of those, two did not clock a time fast enough to earn the trip to America.In a race run in chilly conditions, 2003 world 5000m champion Eliud Kipchoge came second, with Lucas Kimeli Rotich in third.The main trials affecting the other distance races will be held on June 23.

Stateside…

Andy Vernon and Julia Bleasdale put in solid displays to finish in creditable spots in the top ten of the men and women’s 5K races at the noted annual road event held in Carlsbad, California, on Sunday showing that they are building up nicely towards the summer.

World Student Games champion Vernon came home ninth in a best of 13:40 on the road, first time inside 14 mins, losing out on a higher placing to 3:31 Aussie miler Ryan Gregson and US-based Kenyan Haron Lagat, both credited with 13:39, in the closing stages and will take plenty of heart from his outing in windy conditions in his pursuing of a necessary Olympic A standard, either in the 5000 or the 10000m on the track.

Erratic young Ethiopian Dejen Gebremeskel turned his fiercesome kick to awesome account this once as he streaked away to a commanding victory late in the contest in 13:11, fourth fastest all-time, after seasoned campaigner and former global 5000m champion Eliud Kipchoge (KEN) did all the ‘dirty work’ running hard from the front into the wind in an identical pattern to last year’s edition.

So much so that they clocked almost identical times save the Kenyan was eventually pipped into third by rising Ethiopian Hagos Gebrhiwet, just 17, as both were awarded with an identical 13:14, the latter emerging as a top prospect for the forthcoming World U20 Championships in Barcelona.

Tariku Bekele, the brother of great Kenenisa, followed in fourth in 13:16 to add further gloss and depth to the race while Irishman Alistair Cragg set a national best of 13:26 back in sixth place.

Having already run close to her PB in 15:45.90 in Adelaide, Australia, Bleasdale climbed up a notch to come a splendid sixth in 15:47 and might entertain some hope that she could sail near the A standard of 15:20 when the season picks up.

Double Olympic champion Tirunesh Dibaba (ETH) ran away with affairs in 15:01 as she placed a solid dozen seconds on compatriot runner-up Werknesh Kidane (15:13), with Kenyan Pauline Korikwiang spoiling an Ethiopian full podium in third in 15:22.

Results

http://running.competitor.com/cgiresults?eId=36&eiId=80

At the Texas Relays in Austin, Chris Gowell savoured maybe the best moment of his career so far as he rose a comfortable winner of the Jerry Thompson Mile in a big PB of 4:01.08 to erase his previous best of 4:03.93, set in Cwmbran (Wales) in August 2010.

The 26-year-old crossed the line nearly two seconds ahead of second-placed Kenyan Jackson Kivuva where Kevin Ondrasek was a close third in 4:03.04.

Gowell also competed over 800m two days earlier to take fifth in a season starter of 1:49.79 amidst a close order for the minor spots as American miler Leo Manzano struck out down the home straight a convincing victor in a new meeting record of 1:47.65, implying a likely shift of weight on the longer distance for the Brit.

‘chaser Lennie Waite got the same place along the finishing line of the women’s metric mile in a SB of 4:19.44 in a follow-up to an early world-leading 9:55.91 in Houston, the capital of Texas, a week earlier. That is her fastest ever opener over the barriers for good measure.

Having got off to a solid 10.30 in Arlington the previous weekend, Tyrone Edgar combined with Wallace Spearmon and Darvis Patton, deployed in the opening two legs, over the unfamiliar top bend to help ‘Speed United’ win the Invitational 4x100m relay with ease in 38.64 although, surprisingly, the fastest run of the day arrived in the guise of Auburn in a swift 38.30 in the Clyde Littlefield race earlier in the program.

After hard times on the sidelines for a couple of years, the former European Cup winner will be content to be putting together solid back-on-back races and feel competitive again at this stage.

Former European U20 silver medallist Amy Harris was eighth in the long jump on a windy 6.40m (4.0m/sec), with a legal 6.23m too (2.0m/sec), but promising U23 jumper Lorraine Ugen apparently suffered a setback as she just touched at 4.43m in her opening effort and called it a day after passing the second.

Hopefully, there is nothing serious with her and she could build on a slightly windy 6.83m recently that has effectively drawn her into striking distance of the A qualifying standard in the long jump for London (6.75m).

Chelsea Hayes was the winner at 6.86m aided by a strong tailwind of 5.0m/sec and Tori Bowie followed with an also very windy 6.77m (4.6m/sec).

UK long jump champion Julian Reid is also a decent hand in the triple jump, a potential B plan for Olympic selection if the A doesn’t come off, and came out with a slightly windy but encouraging 16.76m (2.6m/sec), with a legal 16.24m (1.8m/sec) put down as well, for a considerable improvement on his indoor 16.35m this season.

Early in the four-day meeting, Joe Wade ran a UK-topping 8:58.29 for fourth immediately followed a slot behind by his twin brother Tom in 9:01.40 (SB) in the men’s 3000m steeplechase with Luis Orta a comfortable winner in 8:50.72 up front.

Results

http://www.texassports.com/livestats/tex-relays/

Matt Graham drew in between the Wade brothers to number two in the early UK lists as he continued his gradual return to form in a SB of 9:00.93 to win over the barriers at the Oliver Nikoloff Invitational in Cincinatti, Ohio, a couple of days later.

The U23 Scot caught the eye when he dropped down to a sound 8:51.48 as an U20 two seasons ago but languished on the verge of 9 minutes for the entire last summer, yet it looks a matter of time before he dips back inside that benchmark again. Incidentally, he has won both his outings in his specialty this term.

James Mee moved fourth in the British charts courtesy of a massive PB of 9:03.88 for fourth at the Raleigh Relays in Raleigh, North Carolina, where Tina Muir kept on improving by heaps through a second huge PB on the trot in 16:10.55 in third over the women’s 5000m.

Lee Carey returned a big PB of his own in 14:08.68, also third, in the men’s version and Hannah Brooks won over the same distance in a SB of 16:20.05 at the UNF Invitational in Jacksonville, Florida.

Britain…

The seventh stage was ‘all the money’ at the Northern Road Relays in Liverpool as in-form Jonny Mellor (Liverpool), fresh from a fabulous debut of 62:59 over the half marathon in New York, and Nick McCormick (Morpeth) produced the two fastest long-leg times in 21:43 and 21:47 respectively with James Wilkinson (Leeds) also involved in 22:04.

Niall Brooks (Sale) was the fastest over the short leg of the course in 11:07 to indicate that he is getting back on track after a shortened stuttering drive last summer.

Liverpool were runaway winners ahead of Salford and Morpeth.

Elle Baker (Stockport) and Charlene Thomas (Wakefield) handed in the two swiftest legs with a single second separating their runs in 12:25 and 12:26, second and sixth stage respectively, as Rotherham prevailed in women, followed by Wakefield and Salford.

Men: http://www.race-results.co.uk/results/2012/n1212.pdf

Women: http://www.race-results.co.uk/results/2012/n6w12.pdf

Annabel Gummow, the European U20 bronze medallist over 5000m, turned a cut or two above anyone else as she delivered the fastest leg by a long way in 15:50 at the Midland Road Relays in Birmingham. However, her team, Bristol & West AC, could not get anywhere near the top two outfits of Westbury and Birchfield Harriers for the top honours.

Bristol did win, though, the men’s race ahead of Tipton and Birchfield Harriers.

Men: http://www.race-results.co.uk/results/2012/m1212.htm

Women: http://www.race-results.co.uk/results/2012/mw612.htm

Men’s Race

13:11 at the line

Gebremeskel’s  winning time of 13:11 equaled the third-best time ever over the famous Carlsbad loop course, and tied the winning times from the previous two years when both he and today’s third-place finisher (second in 2011) Eliud Kipchoge of Kenya hit 13:11 in 2011 and 2010. Today’s runner-up, Hagos Gebrhiwet, just 17 years old, trailed just three seconds behind his countryman (13:14), leading places two through six to the fastest times for those places in CBAD history.  Ireland’s Alistair Cragg’s 13:26 in sixth produced the lone record of the day, a new Irish and European road 5k record.

“My plan was to run sub-13:10,” said third place finisher and 2010 champion Eliud Kipchoge of Kenya (13:14).  “But it was not possible because I could not feel comfortable with everyone on my back. I thought people would work together.”

And how many times have you raced against Ethiopians, Eliud?  Have they ever shown an inclination to assist with the pace?  Exactly.  You might make a note come London this August.

With the two-time Kenyan Olympic 5000m medalist- bronze in 2004, silver in 2008 – towing the field through the first two miles – 4:12, 8:33 (4:21) – the Ethiopians were content to draft in behind, thus saving energy for the long slog into the wind heading north along Carlsbad Boulevard after mile one.   But after passing through boisterous crowds along the center of the T-bar course, the road continues along a desolate stretch to the far turnaround.  It was on that silent patch of road around 4Km that Gebremeskel made his winning move.

2xCBAD Champ Dejen Gebremeskel

“There was no wind there anymore,” explained Gebremeskel, the fifth place finisher at the March 11th IAAF World Indoor Track Championships 3000m in Istanbul, Turkey.   “I like Carlsbad because coming off the indoor season running 3000 meters this is a good transition to prepare for the 5000 meters outdoors.  But I was surprised with my time, because of the wind. When I was running I was thinking maybe 13:20.  Then I saw 13:11. But I had more speed from the indoor season. It helped me here.”

Though he has finished first, second, now third over the last three years, Kenya’s Kipchoge is still a big Carlsbad booster.

“It can’t be compared to any other course in the world,” he enthused.  “It has its own character.  I like it very much. It is the best course.”

When it was pointed out that Steve Scott of the USA and John Walker of New Zealand, two of the greatest 1500m/milers in history had designed the layout, Kipchoge cracked, “I give credit to them for it. It is the best 5K on the road. If you want to run fast, come to Carlsbad.”

Women’s Race

Women’s winner Tirunesh Dibaba (15:01) also dispatched her final competitor, countrywoman Werknesh Kidane, at the 4K mark as the course neared the second 180-degree turnaround on Carlsbad Boulevard.  But unlike men’s champion Gebremeskel, Dibaba had done the brunt of the work in the lead during the first two miles – 4:49, 9:43 (4:54).

4:49 1st Mile

“I am happy with the race,” said Dibaba afterward, “but it was not a fast time because of the wind.  But after today I am ready for the Olympics. No problems anymore.”This was Dibaba’s third competition, and third win, of 2012 following a New Year’s eve road 10K in Spain and an indoor 3000m in Boston in February.  This current streak comes she missed nearly a year and a half to stress reaction and stress fracture injuries to her right shin.  It was the first serious injury of a career which has produced two Olympic and nine World Championship gold medals on the track and cross country.

“The training now is just like before the injuries,” she said through the translation of men’s champion Dejen Gebremeskel.  “Before Boston I had only been on the track one or two sessions.  Now I am back. I knew all along I would be.”

This was Dibaba’s fourth visit to Carlsbad, her first coming in 2002 as a 16 year-old when she took second (15:19) to American Deena Kastor’s then 14:54 world record. The following year the woman nicknamed the “Baby-Faced Destoyer” by the late elite athlete coordinator at Carlsbad, Mike Long, finished third (15:00).  Then she won it in 2005.

Pushing into a headwind

The 2008 Olympic 5000 and 10,000m gold medalist will next compete at the Prefontaine Classic in Eugene, Oregon in June, where she will be looking for an Olympic qualifying performance.  She hasn’t declared whether she would run the 5K or 10K in Eugene, but unlike the USA, which conducts an Olympic Trials competition per se, the Ethiopians, like many other nations, select their teams after a designated season of competitions. Top three times per each event are chosen.  So in Eugene this June Dibaba must produce the goods to guarantee a spot on the Ethiopian Olympic team. Then do it again somewhere else in her other distance.  Tall order, even for this 5’5″, 101 pound dynamo.

Victory!

While she has matured into an ethereal beauty with a visage not quite as babyish as before, what she and the sport wanted to see most was whether the Destroyer still could be summoned.  And the answer to that was a decided yes.  And what better place to show it off than at Carlsbad?

NOTES:

Global Athletics prez Mark Wetmore was on hand in Carlsbad. Friend of current Competitor Groupd elite athlete coordinator Matt Turnbull and former coordinator, the late Mike Long, Wetmore said that Tirunesh Dibaba and 4th place finisher Tariku Bekele had to personally lobby the Ethiopian Federation to get permission for their contingent to run Carlsbad.

Wetmore dispensing split times to Tiru and Werky

In an Olympic year the Ethiopian federation is very reluctant to allow athletes time out of country to compete in road races. But with the assist of Wetmore the athletes explained that with no track competitions in the near term on offer, Carlsbad gave them the best competitive opportunity to transition from the indoor to outdoor track season.  Only after they showed federation officials their travel documents, showing they weren’t hanging around SoCal for an extended vacation, was permission granted.While Dibaba and Gebremeskel look to make the 2012 Ethiopian Olympic team, Dejen in the 5000 where he is the reigning World Championships bronze medalist, and Tirunesh in the distance double as she attempts to defend both her Olympic 5000 and 10,000m titles, another of Global Athletics champions, marathoner Gebre Gebremariam, is currently on the outside looking in.

“Right now they’ve selected the top three from the Dubai Marathon,” explained Mark Wetmore.  “GG is running Boston, and is not on the team now. It’s crazy not to take him.  He’s a 26:30s 10K guy, and the odds are London will turn into a last 7K race.”

Like defending Boston champion Geoffrey Mutai of Kenya, GG, who took third in Boston in 2011 (2:04:53) and is the husband of Carlsbad women’s runner up Werkenesh Kidane, will have to provide strong evidence to his nation’s Olympic selectors on April 16th  that he is London worthy.

+++++

Sonia O’Sullivan

One of Ireland’s greatest ever runners, Sonia O’Sullivan was back in Carlsbad for the first time since finishing seventh in 2002. The Villanova grad, 1995 World Champion  and 2000 Olympic silver medalist was on hand taking care of a squad of athletes managed by her husband Nic Bideau who was back home in Australia.“Oh, I ran sixth of seventh today in the master’s race,” said the always upbeat O’Sullivan.  “16:56 or :57 won it, I think.  The Polish girl (Dororta Gruca, 16:58). We have eight of nine in our group, many of them youngsters on their first trip away from home. Afterwards we are going up to Mt. Laguna for some training at altitude before becoming the Aussie Distance Medley team at the Penn Relays.  We’ve had good success in the past training up at Laguna, so we’re looking forward to getting back there.”

Also ahead for Sonia is her position as Chef de Mission for the Olympic Council of Ireland for the 2012 London Games. The position is more along the lines of mentor than proctor, coach, or guide.  It isn’t just for the track team, but for all the Irish Olympians. Having won an Olympic silver medal in 2000 in Sydney, Sonia knows just a little about how to bring out the best performance in a very stressful environment.

“This is my first ever business card,” she laughed, handing me a sample.  “My job is more to talk to them to create the right mindset, the right atmosphere in the village so they can concentrate on the their performances.”

+++

Claire Rethmeier, 29 & under Women’s champ

2008 UCLA grad Claire Rethmeier won the women’s 29 and under race in a seven-second PR of 16:40.

“In college I was a little fish in a big pond,” she said after her win.  “It was demoralizing at times.  Overall the experience at UCLA was very happy, but in terms of running it was the wrong choice. I needed more balance.”

Today, Claire lives in Escondido where she works as an accountant in her mother’s firm, and competes for Movin’ Shoes with her boyfriend Chris Guarino.

“I wouldn’t do it if it weren’t for him,” she said with a playful nod in his direction.  “We get up every morning for our workouts, and I’m doing such different training now. I knew I was fitter than ever.  And though I love running fast just for the feeling, there’s nothing like winning.”

+++

Morning rush in the Beer Garden

In all, over 8500 entrants signed up for Carlsbad 2012.  The crowds along the course seemed smaller than in previous years, though I hadn’t covered the event since 2009. What had grown is the outdoor expo, and the crowd inside the beer garden.  Odd how at 11:00 a.m. after all the master’s races were over the place was SRO.  An hour later, it was as if the ballgame was a blowout and the crowd had all emptied out.

RESULTS

1. DEJEN GEBREMESKEL – Eth – 13:11

2. HAGOS GEBRHIWET – Eth – 13:14

3. ELIUD KIPCHOGE – Ken – 13:14

4. TARIKU BEKELE – Eth – 13;16

5. JOHN KIPKOECH – Ken – 13:24

6. ALISTAIR CRAGG – Irl – 13:26

7. RYAN GREGSON – Aus – 13:39

8. HARON LAGAT – Ken – 13:39

9. ANDY VERNON – GBR – 13:40

10. JUAN CARLOS ROMERO – Mex – 13:48

15. ANDREW CARLSON – Min. – 14:13

16. ANTHONY FAMIGLIETTI – N.C. – 14:21

WOMEN

1. TIRUNESH DIBABA – Eth – 15:01

2. WERKNESH KIDANE – Eth – 15:13

3. PAULINE KORIKWIANG – Ken – 15;22

4. GOTYTOM GEBRESLASE – Eth – 15:32 (17 years old)

5. AHEZA KIROS – Eth – 15:41

6. JULIA BLEASDALE – Gbr – 15:47

10. ALLIE KIEFFER – Az. 15:57

END

Farah was not happy with his performance in Birmingham despite setting a new European record (Photo: Getty Images)

The 28-year-old, who divides his time between Great Britain and the United States, revealed he and coach Alberto Salazar had yet to decide whether he would compete in the tournament in Turkey on 9-11 March.

On Saturday Farah was beaten into second place by Kenya’s Eliud Kipchoge over two miles at an indoor meeting in Birmingham.

Despite clocking a new British and European record with his time of eight minutes 8.07 seconds, Farah said he was a ‘bit disappointed’ with his race and felt ‘a bit heavy’.

When asked about his chances of going to Istanbul, he said: ‘I’ll have a chat with my coach. We’ll just see how it goes.

‘I don’t know what he will say.

‘There was nothing guaranteed [before Saturday's race]. We [Salazar and Farah] said we could go, it just depended on how the race went, how I felt.’

JJ Jegede Jumped 8.04m in Birmingham.

Shana Proctor gave the performance of her life when he broke the British Long jump record not once but twice at the Aviva Indoor Grand Prix today.

The Anguillan, who competes for Great Britain, jumped distances of 6.71m and then 6.80m to continue her impressive form in the event and also lead the line of a British dominance in the field events at the NIA Birmingham.

JJ Jegede added to his National title he won last week by soaring to a distance of 8.04m which puts him in joint seventh on the world rankings and in contention to go to Istanbul for the World Indoor Championships next month.

Holly Bleasdale and Robbie Grabarz also finished first in their events of pole vault and high jump also in which no doubt impress Head Coach Charles Van Commenee.

On the track however the all focus was on Asafa Powell who, for the first time, was competing in an indoor season, but his performance would have to settle for third as fellow countryman Lerone Clarke lead a Jamaican one, two, three finish with a time of 6.47 seconds.

Jessica Ennis then impressed not only the capacity crowd but also herself when she ran a time of 7.87 for the women’s 60mh race, beating World Silver medallist Danielle Carruthers.

Another key clash that watered the mouths of the fans alike, was the battle between Liu Xiang and Dayron Robles after their clash at Daegu last year which resulted in the Cuban being disqualified and losing his medal.

Liu Xiang ran an impressive 7.41 in the 60mh beating rival Dayron Robles

It would be Xiang however who extended his run over his rival to eight victories over him when he glided over the hurdles in a time of 7.41 seconds.

In the women’s 1500m Hannah England just couldn’t quite battle with Ethiopian Genzeba Diababa, but still battled to run a season’s best time of 4:09.79 for second place.

Diababa however tore the field apart and showing a clean pair of heels to run a new stadium record time of 4:01.33.

Finally crowd favourite Mo Farah ran a brave race, but looked a little tired in the final event of the program, the two mile race.

Finishing second, the double European Champion ran a new European Record of 8:08.07 after recovering from fourth position and run a hard last lap much to the delight of the sell-out crowd where the noise was almost deafening after ever lap he ran.

The eventual winner would be Kenya’s Eliud Kipchoge, who looked comfortable from the start, held his form and take the victory in a personal best time of 8:07.39.

Men’s Invitational 3000m

The ‘Mad Season’, as Gary Neville dubbed the current run in the English Premiership, rubbed off on the top drawer of the day at Hollyrood Park as the race unfolded totally against the form books or the complexion of the field, with the eagerly anticipated clash between three reigning Olympic and a former world champions never taking shape.

Great Kenenisa Bekele (ETH) turned up a mere ghost of himself as he floundered on the hilly muddy course and sunk deep into the field, a stark contrast to his pre-race statements, to raise far more questions over his fitness than he would have hoped to answer while Brimin Kipruto Kiprop (KEN) also languished thereabouts for an entirely anonymous outing, knocking plenty of the gloss off the affair.

On the far end up front, rising distance prospect Jonny Hay, on the back of a disappointing 8th in the U20s in Velenje at that, came to perform beyond his wildest dreams as he turned on a finishing kick that even his illustrious rivals would have envied for an astonishing runner-up, on a rare occasion to dare outshine his female groupmates in Mick Woods’s squad.

Eliud Kipchoge (KEN) showed some early purpose to assert himself but was never really convincing at the top and it was Ross Millington, the European U23 5000m silver medallist, to scent the opening and take his chance to burst to the front and quickly carve out a solid gap up front, driving hard round the second kilometre.

Reading the situation at a glance, Asbel Kiprop (KEN), the reigning Olympic and world 1500m champion, swiftly emerged in the hole between the Briton and the stretched out chasing pack to gain a hold on the race, his rangy figure striding beautifully along, and breezed past into the lead with aplomb as soon as the race entered its crucial final third.

The Kenyan was now in full flight and control to swiftly fashion plenty of daylight behind him and kept pulling away round the last lap, occasionally checking behind, to a commanding victory and a grand premiere in his campaign to defend his Olympic crown, an eventual winning margin of 5 secs in a time of 9:20, while Kipchoge and Spaniard Juan Carlos Higuero clawed their way back and round a tiring Millington in an effective scramble for the minor podium spots.

Hay hadn’t shown much until very late when he moved into fourth past former race winner Ricky Stevenson, who had figured in the top five meantime, but even at 200m out was looking way out of a top three finish. Yet, he somehow conjured up a nearly surreal turn of gear off the last hill to storm past startled both Kipchoge and Higuero over the final several strides and snatch second in 9:25 in a memorable breakthrough performance.

The youngster had every reason to float on cloud nine after the race and he will be brimming with confidence and excitement looking ahead at a season that could hold so much in store for him, even alluding to a crack at an Olympic berth. On that evidence, he could go a long way towards that end!

Kipchoge held off Higuero to grab third in an identical time a second behind (9:26) to save the day where Stevenson consolidated a return to form a further four seconds adrift in 9:30 and a plucky Millington had to do with sixth finally in 9:34.

But there was no screen of mist or smoke to conceal the embarrassment of a deflated Bekele who dragged home way down the order in 11th in 9:42, Kipruto just a stride behind in the same time, and the great Ethiopian looks as though he has got an awful lot to do to haul back into contention for gold in the remaining months leading up to London.

Results

1.Asbel Kiprop (KEN) 9:20, 2.Jonny Hay (U23) 9:25, 3.Eliud Kipchoge (KEN) 9:26, 4.Juan Carlos Higuero (ESP) 9:26, 5.Ricky Stevenson 9:30, 6.Ross Millington 9:34, 7.Callum Hawkins (U23) 9:39, 8.Arturo Casado (ESP) 9:40, 9.Steve Vernon 9:41, …, 11.Kenenisa Bekele (ETH) 9:42, 12.Brimin Kipruto (KEN) 9:42, …, 15.Tony Whiteman (V40) 10:08, 17.Adam Cotton (U23) 10:21

http://www.greatrun.org/app_files/gr_files/Bupa-Great-Edinburgh-XCountry-2012-Mens-Invitational-3K-Results.pdf

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Senior Men’s 8km

European cross-country champion Atelaw Bekele‘s aggressive front-run tactics did not take the field by surprise, like they worked in Velenje, and Ayam Landassem clawed his way quickly back after a familiar early burst by the Belgian, with compatriot Javier Guerra and American John Grey briefly joining up.

The Spaniard tucked alongside nicely and only struck out for home in the late stages for an eventual convincing win by three seconds in 25:44 as another American, Bobby Mack, followed on through to snatch second at the end.

The Brits looked more content with team tactics, rewarded with the win in the end, and Frank Tickner showed late to edge into the top five past a tiring Guerra in 25:55. Steve Vernon, in his first race of two on the day, was back in seventh in 26 mins dead followed by Tom Humphries a further spot behind.

Results

1.Ayam Lamdassem (ESP) 25.44, 2.Bobby Mack (USA) 25:47, 3.Atelaw Bekele (BEL) 25:47, 4.John Grey (USA) 25:52, 5.Frank Tickner 25:55, 6.Javier Guerra (ESP) 26:00, 7.Steve Vernon 26:00, 8.Tom Humphries 26:07, 10.Jonny Taylor 26:13, 16.James Walsh 26:45, 17.James Wilkinson (U23) 26:48, 18.Derek Hawkins (U23) 26:50

Teams: 1.EUR 44, 2.GBR 58, 3.USA 76

http://www.greatrun.org/app_files/gr_files/Bupa-Great-Edinburgh-XCountry-2012-Senior-Men-Team-Challenge-Results.pdf

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Senior Women’s 6km

1.Fionnuala Briton (IRL) 21:32, 2.Gemma Steel 21:52, 3.Elle Baker 22:08, 4.Neely Spence (USA) 22:11, 5.Freya Murray 22:17, 6.Hattie Dean 22:27, …, 8.Hannah Walker 22:29, 9.Steph Twell 22:33, 13.Naomi Taschimowitz 22:53, 18.Rosie Smith 23:18

Teams: 1.GBR 33, 2.EUR 61, 3.USA 89

http://www.greatrun.org/app_files/gr_files/Bupa-Great-Edinburgh-XCountry-2012-Senior-Women-Team-Challenge-Results.pdf

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The late stages of the Junior men’s race in Edinburgh where Kirubel Erassa (USA) edges out Kieron Clements and Mark Shaw for the top honours

U20 Men’s 6km

1.Kirubel Erassa (USA) 19:54, 2.Kieron Clements 19:55, 3.Mark Shaw 19:58, 4.Eddie Owens (USA) 20:08, 5.Andrew Gardner (USA) 20:11, …, 9.Jack Goodwin 20:22, 13.Charlie Grice 20:42, 17.Robbie Farnham-Rose 20:54, 18.Gordon Benson 20:56

Teams: 1.USA 16, 2.GBR 26, 3.EUR 48

http://www.greatrun.org/app_files/gr_files/Bupa-Great-Edinburgh-XCountry-2012-Junior-Men-Team-Challenge-Results.pdf

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Emelia Gorecka romps to a faraway victory in the junior women’s race

U20 Women’s 4km

1.Emelia Gorecka 14:48, 2.Aisling Cuffe (USA) 15:09, 3.Molly Siedel (USA) 15:57,…, 5.Iona Lake 15:27

Teams: 1.USA 15, 2.GBR 27, 3.EUR 62

http://www.greatrun.org/app_files/gr_files/Bupa-Great-Edinburgh-XCountry-2012-Junior-Women-Team-Challenge-Results.pdf

     The second Samsung Diamond League Athletics season kicked off today in Doha, Qatar.  As expected the meet featured many world leading performances. Perhaps none was better, or more appreciated, than the men’s 3000 meters, won by 20 year-old Ethiopian Yenew Alamirew, the new distance sensation from the land of Haile Gebrselassie and Keninisa Bekele.  The smiling assassin continued his impressive display of finishing speed with a 7:27.26 win over a major field of former world and Commonwealth Games champions from Kenya.  He led the top four men under 7:30, and the top six to PR performances.

     Under warm (30C) but dry conditions (humidity 35%), the race was paced perfectly at 2:30.43 and 5:00.66 through kilometers one and two.  At the bell, 6:33,  the pack aligned behind by former World Champion at 5000 meters Eliud Kipchoge of Kenya with Alamirew fronting two more Kenyans, Augustuine Choge and Edwin Soi, in the prime slots behind the smooth striding Kipchoge.   The previous three laps had fallen in 59.73, 60.63, and 60.32, which had discouraged nobody.  Eight men on a string remained in position for the one lap shootout.

     With Kipchoge still holding forth on the backstretch, the clock ticked through 6:58.5 as Eliud Choge moved onto Alamirew’s shoulder in second.  Sensing the electric green vest and the 1500m speed beneath it – Choge finished second in the 2010 DL 1500 standings behind Asbel Kiprop – Alamirew dipped his chin and drove to the front, passing Kipchoge who had no answer for the gear now in play. A gap opened in less than three heart beats. And this was off an already incendiary pace!

     The scores of Ethiopians in the sparse Qatar crowd wailed their approval, waving their tri-colored flags and swaying in pride at the latest speed merchant from Addis Ababa.  Alamirew’s high shoulders and a upright sewing machine stride hit yet another gear at the top of the stretch!  The Kenyans fighting for the lesser places simply were left in the young Ethiopian’s heel flicks. 

     As the line approached, Alamirew even had time to ease off in the final few strides to smile and cross himself, as Kenya’s Edwin Soi weaved around countryman Choge before dipping inside to pip Kipchoge to take second.  Alamirew’s 7:27.26 was produced with a 55-second eased off final lap.  Not only the 2011 world-leading 3000 meter time, it represents the ninth best 3000 ever run, and third best ever by an Ethiopian behind legends Geb and Bekele.  And the kid is all of 20 years old!    

     Last year the Diamond League 5000/3000 season didn’t produce a dominant figure.  Kenya’s Kipchoge produced the fastest 5000 of the year at 12:51.21 in June in Shanghai – next up on the Diamond League schedule.  But Ethiopia’s Imane Merga won the overall Diamond League 5000 title. The seven races in the series were all close, but fireworks weren’t ever displayed. 

     In Alamirew we see evidence of another special champion.  He outsprinted Kipchoge and Choge earlier in the year at the Stuttgart indoor meet, too.  Time, as always will tell.  Speaking of which, Kenyan Daniel Komen’s 3000m world record of 7:20.67 from Rieti, Italy in 1996 is still the best record of them all.  The greatest runners of the era have all taken their shots, but nobody’s come close.

END

All-time men’s best 3000

   1.   7:20.67    Daniel Komen    KEN     Rieti    01.09.1996

                2.   7:23.09    Hicham El Guerrouj      MAR    Brussels   03.09.1999

        3.  7:25.02    Ali Saïdi-Sief           ALG    Monaco       18.08.2000

        4.  7:25.09    Haile Gebrselassie   ETH        Bruxelles 28.08.1998

        5.  7:25.11    Noureddine Morceli   ALG        Monaco    02.08.1994

List via Track & Field all-time performances homepage 

updated and maintained by
Peter Larsson

END

Kenenisa Bekele holds world records in the 5000 and 10000 meter races

      Kenenisa Bekele won two gold medals at the 2009 World Championships, held in Berlin. His double victories in 5,000 m (13:17.09) and 10,000 m (26:46.31) were unprecedented and by doing this became the first man to take both the long distance track gold medals at the same World Championships. In spite of his unrivalled success in athletics, he did not experience the mainstream appeal that others such as Haile Gebrselassie did.

Current world records

• 5,000 m world record 12:49.60 (Birmingham, on 20 February 2004)
• 5,000 m world record 12:37.35 (Amsterdam, on 31 May 2004)
• 10,000 m world record 26:17.53 (Brussels, on 26 August 2005, breaking his previous record of 26:20.31 from 8 June 2004)
• 2,000 m indoor world record 4:49.99 (Birmingham, on 17 February 2007)
• 2 mile indoor world best 8:04.35 (Birmingham, on 16 February 2008)