¶2012 OG: m10,000–Mo Farah (GB) 27:30.42

[dj]

T&FN formchart

1. Mo Farah (Great Britain)
2. Kenenisa Bekele (Ethiopia)
3. Galen Rupp (US)
4. Tariku Bekele (Ethiopia)
5. Wilson Kiprop (Kenya)
6. Moses Kipsiro (Uganda)
7. Zersenay Tadese (Eritrea)
8. Moses Masai (Kenya)
9. Bidan Karoki (Kenya)
10. Teklemariam Medhin (Eritrea)

[EPelle]

Olympic Record: 27.01,17, Kenenisa Bekele, ETH, Beijing 2008

2008 Results: G-Kenenisa Bekele, ETH, 27.01,17OR; S-Sileshi Sihine, ETH, 27.02,77; B- Micah Kogo, KEN, 27.04,11
================================================================================

[Marlow]

2. Kenenisa Bekele (Ethiopia)

Oly Mystery #1 - Will he win going away . . . or will he even finish?

[Alan Shank]

2. Kenenisa Bekele (Ethiopia)

Oly Mystery #1 - Will he win going away . . . or will he even finish?

I think he'll finish in the Olympics, even if he cannot win. He, Mo Farah and Rupp can all run a long drive (1600 or 1200) or a 53 last lap, so who will go first? We should not count the Kenyans out, either.
Cheers,
Alan Shank
Woodland, CA, USA

[TN1965]

Kenyans will collectively push the pace, since none of them can close in 53 sec. They may even "sacrifice" one or two runners so that the top guy (Kiprop?) will have a better chance.

[4:24-miler]

I'm am really looking forward to see what Rupp can do in this race. All the hoopla, hype, and blog verbal fist fights will finally be settled. Since Billy Mill's famous win the highest finish by an American male is Frank Shorter's 5th place in '72.

[4:24-miler]

How shocked would you folks be if Rupp actually won the gold medal?

[Master Po]

How shocked would you folks be if Rupp actually won the gold medal?

Very, very shocked. I probably couldn't bear the shock. Might be better for my health if he "merely" earned the silver or bronze.

[Conor Dary]

Not up there with Mills but still a huge surprise.

Maybe gh will be in the announcers booth, grab the mike and do a Dick Bank imitation.

[Marlow]

Very, very shocked. I probably couldn't bear the shock. Might be better for my health if he "merely" earned the silver or bronze.

Not as shocked as I was in Eugene when Lagat passed him coming into the stretch of the 5000, only to be passed by Rupp before the finish.

[aaronk]

How shocked would you folks be if Rupp actually won the gold medal?

Not up there with Mills but still a huge surprise.

Maybe gh will be in the announcers booth, grab the mike and do a Dick Bank imitation.

Mills win may have been a shock, but his winning time wasn't.
I thought Ron Clarke would win, as he had the WR (and would better it substantially the following year!!).
But in August 1964, about two months before Tokyo, Mills raced Ron Larrieu to an American Record 6 mile time of 27:54 at a Pierce College (L.A.) All-Comers meet.

I know!!
I RAN in this race!!
Okay, so I got lapped about SIX times!!
So what??

My time was 37:11.3.
And every time they went by......they ran in tandem throughout the race.......I sped up a bit to stay with them for 10 or 20 yards!!

Anyway, I do think Rupp could win it, but I picked him for a Silver!!

[Dave]

Very, very shocked. I probably couldn't bear the shock. Might be better for my health if he "merely" earned the silver or bronze.

Not as shocked as I was in Eugene when Lagat passed him coming into the stretch of the 5000, only to be passed by Rupp before the finish.

To me, that moment was when Rupp went from being a very promising athelete to a mature, great runner. The 10k should be fantastic to watch.

[Alan Shank]

Mills win may have been a shock, but his winning time wasn't.
I thought Ron Clarke would win, as he had the WR (and would better it substantially the following year!!).
But in August 1964, about two months before Tokyo, Mills raced Ron Larrieu to an American Record 6 mile time of 27:54 at a Pierce College (L.A.) All-Comers meet.

I know!!
I RAN in this race!!
Okay, so I got lapped about SIX times!!
So what??

My time was 37:11.3.
And every time they went by......they ran in tandem throughout the race.......I sped up a bit to stay with them for 10 or 20 yards!!

Hey, I saw that race! I attended Pierce from W'62 through S'64. Pete Petersens was my coach (and Bob Chambers). The LA Track Club came out to a couple of those meets. I remember seeing Jim Grelle and Joe Douglas running a mile, IIRC.

Still, 28:24 is another 30 seconds faster, and, again IIRC, Larrieu beat Mills.
Cheers,
Alan Shank
Woodland, CA, USA

[aaronk]

Mills win may have been a shock, but his winning time wasn't.
I thought Ron Clarke would win, as he had the WR (and would better it substantially the following year!!).
But in August 1964, about two months before Tokyo, Mills raced Ron Larrieu to an American Record 6 mile time of 27:54 at a Pierce College (L.A.) All-Comers meet.

I know!!
I RAN in this race!!
Okay, so I got lapped about SIX times!!
So what??

My time was 37:11.3.
And every time they went by......they ran in tandem throughout the race.......I sped up a bit to stay with them for 10 or 20 yards!!

Hey, I saw that race! I attended Pierce from W'62 through S'64. Pete Petersens was my coach (and Bob Chambers). The LA Track Club came out to a couple of those meets. I remember seeing Jim Grelle and Joe Douglas running a mile, IIRC.

Still, 28:24 is another 30 seconds faster, and, again IIRC, Larrieu beat Mills.
Cheers,
Alan Shank
Woodland, CA, USA

Wow, small world!!
I began running senior year of HS at North Hollywood HS.....Harvey Nelson coach.
Continued for years after running summer all-comers meets at Gardena HS, Comptom, and Pierce...mostly Pierce.
Would run more than one event, usually.
I remember MANY events there!!
Besides Mills and Larrieu, I remember Richard Romo running 3:58.8, Bob Schul running a two mile in 8:26, Bob Seagren RUNNING an 800 (!!!) in 2:00 or 2:01!! (At the time, I believe he was WR holder in the PV....or at least AR holder!!), and sooooo many others.
People I met there , I later got to know better when I attended Humboldt State Univ in the mid to late 70's.
Bill Scobie, in particular.
He'd run many Pierce meets.
And yes, I absolutely remember Pete Petersons!!

Incredible!!!
Thanks VERY much for the memories!!!
Feel free to discuss this at length with me....if you wish!!

P.S. Two friends who also ran Pierce often with me were Billy Brown (short, barrel chest) and Richard Fern (tall, gangly, thick glasses). Remember them??
Also, at NHHS, the year I ran the mile (1962), Burt Ballentine was our "star"....he won LA City Champs with a 4:23.0. Later got down to 4:08, I believe. Know of him?? What happened to him??

[Alan Shank]

Hey, I saw that race! I attended Pierce from W'62 through S'64. Pete Petersens was my coach (and Bob Chambers). The LA Track Club came out to a couple of those meets. I remember seeing Jim Grelle and Joe Douglas running a mile, IIRC.

Still, 28:24 is another 30 seconds faster, and, again IIRC, Larrieu beat Mills.
Cheers,
Alan Shank
Woodland, CA, USA

Wow, small world!!
I began running senior year of HS at North Hollywood HS.....Harvey Nelson coach.
Continued for years after running summer all-comers meets at Gardena HS, Comptom, and Pierce...mostly Pierce.
Would run more than one event, usually.
I remember MANY events there!!
Besides Mills and Larrieu, I remember Richard Romo running 3:58.8, Bob Schul running a two mile in 8:26, Bob Seagren RUNNING an 800 (!!!) in 2:00 or 2:01!! (At the time, I believe he was WR holder in the PV....or at least AR holder!!), and sooooo many others.
People I met there , I later got to know better when I attended Humboldt State Univ in the mid to late 70's.
Bill Scobie, in particular.

That's Scobey, ran at Cleveland, won LA City X-Country as a winter-graduating senior, then came to Pierce; we were teammates for two years.

Incredible!!!
Thanks VERY much for the memories!!!
Feel free to discuss this at length with me....if you wish!!

P.S. Two friends who also ran Pierce often with me were Billy Brown (short, barrel chest) and Richard Fern (tall, gangly, thick glasses). Remember them??
Also, at NHHS, the year I ran the mile (1962), Burt Ballentine was our "star"....he won LA City Champs with a 4:23.0. Later got down to 4:08, I believe. Know of him?? What happened to him??

Your memories are as optimistic as your predictions. >:-) Ballentine did NOT win the city mile; John Kennedy of Verdugo ran 4:22.9, Ballentine 4:23.0 and Scobey 4:23.2. Ballentine, Kennedy and Scobey were all teammates of mine at Pierce, along with Bill Berridge, Norm Bain and Danny Figueroa (all Cleveland High), Sam Nay (Van Nuys?), Dick Weeks (Birmingham), Rich Achee (Reseda) and Dennis Chiniaeff (sp?), also of Cleveland. Those guys and a few more just had a reunion down in So Cal, which I, unfortunately, had to miss. Pete is pretty old, but still gets around. Ballentine lives in Texas now; I think he was in the Air Force. Kennedy got down to around 4:03, then switched to 5K and made the final OT in 1968; he and Bob Schul both suffered badly from the altitude/asthma.

I imagine you ran the cross-country course at Pierce, right? I started running in 1961 for Canoga Park High.

We should probably take this nostalgia shit offline, I guess. PM me.
Cheers,
Alan

[odelltrclan]

I have a seriously difficult time believing Rupp can win this race. Not that he isn't capable, but the fact that he has not beaten Farah and therefore may not be sure how to do so. The only way I can see him beating Farah is to beat Farah at his own game and get the jump on Farah. Almost every race that I have seen Farah beat Rupp Farah has jumped the field and led at the bell with Rupp a meter or so behind. He can't let that happen this time.

No one know which Bekele will show up. I am betting a far better one than we have seen thus far this year, but probably not good enough to get the win. Should be a great race! Hope the Kenyans push it fast.

[kuha]

Mills win may have been a shock, but his winning time wasn't.
But in August 1964, about two months before Tokyo, Mills raced Ron Larrieu to an American Record 6 mile time of 27:54 at a Pierce College (L.A.) All-Comers meet.

That's very cool about being in that race. However, you're selling Mills a little bit short here. I don't have the relevant facts in front of me, but I'd wager that 28:24 at the time was certainly in the top 8 or 10 performances of all time at the distance--a genuinely impressive performance. And, of course, a 27:54 6m is "only" about equal to a 28:50-ish 10,000. That was certainly "promising" but nothing like 28:24. Mills ran 28:17 in 1965 and probably should or could have gone faster except (as I vaguely recall) for some injury or illness...

[Conor Dary]

Not only that but if I remember right Mills passed the halfway point faster than his 5k PR.

[Alan Shank]

Mills win may have been a shock, but his winning time wasn't.
But in August 1964, about two months before Tokyo, Mills raced Ron Larrieu to an American Record 6 mile time of 27:54 at a Pierce College (L.A.) All-Comers meet.

That's very cool about being in that race. However, you're selling Mills a little bit short here. I don't have the relevant facts in front of me, but I'd wager that 28:24 at the time was certainly in the top 8 or 10 performances of all time at the distance--a genuinely impressive performance. And, of course, a 27:54 6m is "only" about equal to a 28:50-ish 10,000. That was certainly "promising" but nothing like 28:24. Mills ran 28:17 in 1965 and probably should or could have gone faster except (as I vaguely recall) for some injury or illness...

He and Jerry Lindgren also broke the 6-Mile WR in 1965 in San Diego, 27:11.6 or s.t. like that, right?

As to Mills passing 5K faster than his PR, that is just because he didn't run 5K much.
Cheers,
Alan Shank
Woodland, CA, USA

[kuha]

He and Jerry Lindgren also broke the 6-Mile WR in 1965 in San Diego, 27:11.6 or s.t. like that, right?

Yes, of course--a time that had to be worth 28:05/06 or so.

[aaronk]

Mills win may have been a shock, but his winning time wasn't.
But in August 1964, about two months before Tokyo, Mills raced Ron Larrieu to an American Record 6 mile time of 27:54 at a Pierce College (L.A.) All-Comers meet.

That's very cool about being in that race. However, you're selling Mills a little bit short here. I don't have the relevant facts in front of me, but I'd wager that 28:24 at the time was certainly in the top 8 or 10 performances of all time at the distance--a genuinely impressive performance. And, of course, a 27:54 6m is "only" about equal to a 28:50-ish 10,000. That was certainly "promising" but nothing like 28:24. Mills ran 28:17 in 1965 and probably should or could have gone faster except (as I vaguely recall) for some injury or illness...

He and Jerry Lindgren also broke the 6-Mile WR in 1965 in San Diego, 27:11.6 or s.t. like that, right?

As to Mills passing 5K faster than his PR, that is just because he didn't run 5K much.
Cheers,
Alan Shank
Woodland, CA, USA

Reason I mentioned Mills's Pierce race (besides me being in it!! ) is because it provided proof....but only in retrospect.....that Mills wasn't such an "unknown" or "dark horse" as pre-Tokyo write-ups said.
Clarke was seen as the clear favorite.
Mills was just an American runner. I don't remember much being expected from him.

As for his rate of improvement, it's not so unusual to drop 30 secs from your 10K time in one race.
Don't forget, that 27:54 in August (August 12th!!) was in an All-Comers meet, not some European meet for elite runners!!
In fact, I was MORE impressed with Ron Larrieu, who I HAD heard of before that race. Mills was less known to me then.
But I never saw him winning Gold!! That was a real shocker!!

Mills ran 27:54 in August 1964. In his 28:24, he probably passed 6 miles in about 27:34 (if he ran a sub-60 last lap!!), about a 20 sec improvement from August. Then in June 1965, in that great race with Gerry Lindgren, he dropped another 23 secs from his 6 mile best!!

Other HUGE improvements recently prove my point about Mills's improvement.

Natosha Rogers had just a 16:25 5K best from 2011, then went from 34:18 to 31:59 in 4 races this year. Obviously she ran faster than 16:25.......TWICE!!
Then Evan Jager went from NEVER having run a steeple to AR holder in just 5 races....all this year!!

[TN1965]

How shocked would you folks be if Rupp actually won the gold medal?

I hope Salazar's heart will be fine if this happens...

[TN1965]

I have a seriously difficult time believing Rupp can win this race. Not that he isn't capable, but the fact that he has not beaten Farah and therefore may not be sure how to do so. The only way I can see him beating Farah is to beat Farah at his own game and get the jump on Farah. Almost every race that I have seen Farah beat Rupp Farah has jumped the field and led at the bell with Rupp a meter or so behind. He can't let that happen this time.

Rupp had an even longer losing streak against Lagat, and he won in the least likely way.

And Rupp might have outkicked Farah at the Oxy meet if Andrews had not got into his path.

[gibson]

rupp if he's kept his peak will contend for any spot period.
you have to realize he's NOW on farah's level.
you have the 5000 m against lagat and the 1500 against farah as proof.

you have to give the edge to farah of course because he's been there and done that, plus he probably has a little more in the tank than he's shown.

bekele despite claims of hermans is not the bekele of old.
i peg bekele and rupp the same as equally probable for 2-3-4 positions.

farah for gold
bekele or rupp silver.
"jonny on the spot" african for 3rd.

and i hope we talk olympics from here on in and not about irrelevant personal high school times, beer buddies and such.

[no one]

the Pierce (Big Red) phenomena issued in many a magical track experiences during hot summer nights in the valley. Tarack and field guys came from all over to run, jump, throw etc. Pretty big names too.

Pierce would later set the National JC4x440 relay record and the 4x880 national record. - same yr as I recall. Many So Cal High (as well as jr college , college and open runners) sharpen their skills and had some necessary ego boosts at that venue. Up and comers set foot into the next level.

Natl PV records and yep Iglois boys would come cruise around in their all black unis and sometimes run into a local stud who beat them of gave em a go. Ran a xc race before the meet wich was a nice touch. I learned how to 'race' there.

[aaronk]

the Pierce (Big Red) phenomena issued in many a magical track experiences during hot summer nights in the valley. Tarack and field guys came from all over to run, jump, throw etc. Pretty big names too.

Pierce would later set the National JC4x440 relay record and the 4x880 national record. - same yr as I recall. Many So Cal High (as well as jr college , college and open runners) sharpen their skills and had some necessary ego boosts at that venue. Up and comers set foot into the next level.

Natl PV records and yep Iglois boys would come cruise around in their all black unis and sometimes run into a local stud who beat them of gave em a go. Ran a xc race before the meet wich was a nice touch. I learned how to 'race' there.

With Alan Shank and myself, and now you, that makes THREE Pierce All-Comers Meet alumnai on this board!!!
VERY small world!!
If you tell me your real name, I might recognize you.
I ran several events in EVERY (or almost every!!) Pierce A-C meet from 1962 through 1966!!
Including that opening Cross Country race. Hilly course!! One and a half miles, right??
Ran several of those CC races!!
Some of the best track memories of my entire life!!

Aside to Alan.......
Thanks for the spelling correction on Scobey!!
When we met (again) at Humboldt State, he remembered me from Pierce!!
He was a fireman for many years in Oxnard CA!!

[Alan Shank]

With Alan Shank and myself, and now you, that makes THREE Pierce All-Comers Meet alumnai on this board!!!
VERY small world!!
If you tell me your real name, I might recognize you.
I ran several events in EVERY (or almost every!!) Pierce A-C meet from 1962 through 1966!!
Including that opening Cross Country race. Hilly course!! One and a half miles, right??

When I ran cross country at Canoga Park, it was 1.8 miles, starting/finishing in a dirt parking lot at the top of the hill. The arboretum hill was right in the middle of the course; we called it "Puke's Peak" or "Puke Hill". There was a college course that was 3 miles or 5K, depending on the race. Later, they paved over that parking lot and moved the start/finish to the bottom of the arboretum hill. It has been modified more since then.

Here is a link to a map of the (current?) course:
http://images.dyestat.com/dyestatcal/im ... Course.jpg

and another:
http://www.mapmyrun.com/s/routes/view/r ... lls/986841
Cheers,
Alan Shank

[dj]

He and Jerry Lindgren also broke the 6-Mile WR in 1965 in San Diego, 27:11.6 or s.t. like that, right?

Yes, of course--a time that had to be worth 28:05/06 or so.

Or worth less, as the '65 AAU was one of the first 6M/10k races of significance on a synthetic track.

[kuha]

He and Jerry Lindgren also broke the 6-Mile WR in 1965 in San Diego, 27:11.6 or s.t. like that, right?

Yes, of course--a time that had to be worth 28:05/06 or so.

Or worth less, as the '65 AAU was one of the first 6M/10k races of significance on a synthetic track.

Yes, but it was still worth 28:05/06 on a synthetic track!

Interesting that we don't "discount" Ryun's 3:55.3 race in any real way, do we?

[no one]

my bros were running there at that time 61-5 or 66 - I didn't 'start' until summer of 63 or 4 then through '70-71.

One bro had course record on the 1.8 mile course as a jr and LA City Champ + state mile champ x2 and nation leading 880. Had walking pnuemonia his sr yr xc and into early track - so ran AMA (not so smart but that's HS) in xc and did poorly that yr xc (8th) and actually below par in track.

Spent plenty of time on that track. Older brother ran for Pierce and was on Ntl record setting 4x880.

I did see all those big 'time' distance races however. Pierce was quite the track&field phenomena in those days, yes? Wide range of athletes and big fun for everybody I thought.

'Mad Dog' was ---- is, a character. Still very much into track. Sadly Bob Chambers passed away several yrs ago.

[no one]

the SD track was hard as a rock. As I recall many distance guys did not like it. Like or not I'm unsure if it produced faster/better times.

[dj]

the SD track was hard as a rock. As I recall many distance guys did not like it. Like or not I'm unsure if it produced faster/better times.

When? In '65 when it was still relatively new, or in subsequent years when the track had cured and settled?

[dj]

He and Jerry Lindgren also broke the 6-Mile WR in 1965 in San Diego, 27:11.6 or s.t. like that, right?

Yes, of course--a time that had to be worth 28:05/06 or so.

Or worth less, as the '65 AAU was one of the first 6M/10k races of significance on a synthetic track.

Yes, but it was still worth 28:05/06 on a synthetic track!

Interesting that we don't "discount" Ryun's 3:55.3 race in any real way, do we?

"We" do when comparing the 3:55.3 to cinder track marks of the era.

[Conor Dary]

"We" do when comparing the 3:55.3 to cinder track marks of the era.

Well, that is news to me.

[kuha]

Me too. First I've ever heard of that.

The comment above about that track supports what I'd heard before: it was pretty poor for an all-weather surface.