Douglas Wakiihuri has one word for Kipgoche v Bekele: ‘Boom!’
The 1987 London Marathon champion Douglas Wakiihuri after conducting a training session at Ngong Forest Sanctuary on September 9, 2020.
What you need to know:
- Tight call Legendary Kenyan runner says race far from decided, tips Ethiopian duo Tola and Geremew to do well
- Wakiihuri likens putting fastest marathon runner Kipchoge, and second fastest Bekele in the same race with two raging bulls in same ring
Failure by Ethiopia’s Kenenisa Bekele to break Kenya’s Eliud Kipchoge marathon world record in Berlin last year is perhaps what has set up what could turn out as one of the most thrilling races in the recent times in London on October 4.
Legendary long distance runner Douglas Wakiihuri says he fails to understand why Bekele couldn’t break Kipchoge’s record. The Ethiopian was short by just two seconds.
Ethiopian long distance running legend Kenenisa Bekele trains in Addis Ababa ahead of the London Marathon set for October 4, 2020.
Speaking to Nation Sport last week Wakiihuri, however, said London offered the stage for a thrilling rematch that could possibly see the two protagonist threaten a new record.
Kipchoge set the standing marathon world record when he won in Berlin in 2018 in two hours, 01 minutes and 39 seconds before Bekele almost shattered last year, running 2:01:41.
“I am yet to understand why Bekele couldn’t down the record and now he wants it. Why did he slow down by two seconds?” posed Wakiihuri. “For me, I would have done it when I could since I am sure it will be a different story now.”
Wakiihuri, who made history as the first African to win the London Marathon in 1987, hopes that the new course in London is certified by World Athletics.
"I want to believe the times that will be set from the 2.15km loop will be recognised,” Wakiihuri said. “I also hope that the cornering won’t be too tight since that is where time and speed is lost.”
Ethiopian long distance running legend Kenenisa Bekele stretches after training in Addis Ababa ahead of the London Marathon set for October 4, 2020.
Wakiihuri opined that for a record to go the runners ought to cover between two minutes and 42 seconds and to 2.43 minutes per kilometre.
“But again, I don’t see someone doing 2.43 for more than 10km. Anything between 2.45 and 2.50 minutes will be a slow race hence it will need a trigger. It will either be Eliud or Kenenisa to do that and not the pacesetters,” said Wakiihuri.
Wakiihuri said talking about a world record is compared to engaging two bulls in a fight.
“You put the bulls there and then ‘boom!’...they go for each other. Either one will burn out or win it with a record,” said Wakiihuri.
Victor Chumo (left) and world Marathon Record holder Eliud Kipchoge train at the Kipchoge Keino Stadium in Eldoret town, Uasin Gishu County on September 8, 2020.
Wakiihuri predicted that the athletes will take it easy the first half of the race but the second half is where things will start to develop with fast pace expected.
Looking at the physique of both runners, Wakiihuri notes that Kipchoge is much lighter while Bekele is powerful and heavy. “Bekele’s consumption is much higher than of Eliud and if the race is to come to the last sprint, then the Kenyan will carry the day,” explained Wakiihuri.
However, Wakiihuri warned Kipchoge and Bekele of surprises. “Nobody knew me when I surprised many to win the world title in 1987 in Rome. They still couldn’t bet on me at 1989 London Marathon where I went on to stun them,” said Wakiihuri.
“There will always be someone to pull a surprise,” said Wakiihuri, adding that running in a loop will produce a different aspect to the race. “But we need to appreciate that at least we have a major race this season.”
Wakiihuri tipped the 2017 world marathon silver medallist Ethiopian Tamirat Tola, who won silver in marathon at 2016 Rio Olympics and his compatriot Ethiopian Mosinet Geremew, who won silver at 2019 Doha World Championships to perform well.
Kipchoge and Bekele have met twice in marathon with the Kenyan carrying the day on both occasions.
They met for the first time in marathon in 2016 London where Kipchoge won in a course record 2:03:05 as Bekele finished third in 2:06:36 behind Stanley Biwott (2:03:51).
They met again in 2018 London where Kipchoge prevailed as Bekele came in sixth.
The Ethiopian had also failed to finish the race in 2017 where Kenya’s Daniel Wanjiru won.
Ethiopian long distance running legend Kenenisa Bekele trains in Addis Ababa ahead of the London Marathon set for October 4, 2020.
Talking about the women’s race that has attracted some of the world’s top athletes, Wakiihuri noted that such a rich field tends to cancel itself with the top contenders watching each other too closely to the detriment of good racing.
“It will be a bit challenging to see who will fire up the race.”
While the focus will be on marathon world record holder Brigid Kosgei, world champion Ruth Chepng'etich and former champion Vivian Cheruiyot, Edith Chelimo, who is of unknown qualities, are the other women to watch.
“All will want victory and no one knows but I do not foresee anybody pulling the trigger at halfway mark or 30km but from 35km onwards,” said Wakiihuri.
He said that for one to break the world record, she should break away as early as the first 15km.
Wakiihuri observed that is what Mary Keitany did when she set the women’s only world record of 2:17:01 in the 2017 London Marathon and when Kosgei set the mixed women world record of 2:14:04 last year in Chicago.
