Friday, June 22, 2012

Bekele runs all-comers 10,000m record at UK Trials

(JUNE 22, BIRMINGHAM, ENGLAND)--Ethiopian legend Kenenisa Bekele is the star of the show on the first night of the British Olympic Trials, Kenenisa Bekele of Ethiopia competes in the Men's 10,000 metres final during day one of the Aviva 2012 UK Olympic Trials and Championship at Alexander Stadium on June 22, 2012 in Birmingham, England.


The Aviva 2012 Trials is arguably one of the most important domestic athletics competitions in recent history for British athletes, but on the first night of action at the Birmingham Alexander Stadium the top performances came from a handful of leading African athletes.

Months of meticulous planning has gone into the Aviva 2012 Trials – the event where British athletes try to secure their place on the team for the London 2012 Games. But Ethiopian athletes have not had the benefit of being a part of such a slick operation and confusion has reigned over their selection policy for the Olympics.

Initially it was understood that the 10,000m at the FBK Games in Hengelo would be the official trial race for Ethiopian athletes and as such, a large contingent – including Haile Gebrselassie – travelled to the Dutch city in an attempt to prove their worth, and Tariku Bekele won on his debut at the distance.

But since then it transpired that the Ethiopian federation were yet to make up their mind. Further, they reversed their decision to pre-select Kenenisa Bekele – the reigning Olympic champion in the event – after he had suffered a series of defeats on the international circuit. Read more Athletics weekly »

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