Bolt vs. Bekele at 700 metres?

[twofeet]

ATTN: John Carson -- How's about bringing this one to the Varsity Centre?

Sprinter Bolt versus long distance runner Bekele at 700 metres?
By Raf Casert

THE ASSOCIATED PRESS

BRUSSELS – Sprinter Usain Bolt and long-distance runner Kenenisa Bekele are both unbeatable _ over their distance. So, why not have them race against each other somewhere in between?

``If Usain agrees, if someone wants to organize this, I am ready,'' Bekele said Thursday, a day before the Memorial Van Damme Golden League meet.

Bolt, of Jamaica, is the reigning world and Olympic champion and world record-holder over 100 and 200 metres. Bekele, of Ethiopia, is the reigning world and Olympic champion and world record-holder over 5,000 and 10,000 metres.

The idea would be to find a middle ground, somewhere between 600 and 800 metres.

``I think I am pretty good at 600 metres,'' Bolt said last week. Above 800 metres, he said, ``I have no chance.''

Bekele also thinks the two could meet around that distance.

``Six-hundred metres is a good chance for him,'' said Bekele, considering he would lose too much over the first lap. ``I need some 800 meters, maybe 700 metres.''

Any Bolt-Bekele showdown would be the biggest such match race since 200 and 400 Olympic champion Michael Johnson raced Canada's 100 champion Donovan Bailey over 150 metres in Toronto after the 1996 Atlanta Games. Johnson pulled up lame halfway through that race and the legacy of the event is more of a joke than anything else.

Bekele's manager, Jos Hermens, realizes that Bolt dominates the sport to such an extent that even a superlative performance like Bekele's 5,000-10,000 double at the Olympics and worlds became merely a footnote.

``I will have to think about it this winter,'' said Hermens of a potential matchup. ``I will have to take it up with Ricky Simms,'' the manager of Bolt.

Bekele is often left frustrated because his performances rarely get the merit they deserve. He is still chasing the worldwide acclaim his compatriot Haile Gebrselassie already has.

It stands in sharp contrast with Bolt, whose showmanship and stunning performances have made him one of the most marketable athletes in any sport.

When it comes to official performances, the two get no closer than the 400 for Bolt and the 1,500 for Bekele.

Bekele set a personal best of three minutes 32.35 over 1,500 two years ago, a time that would make him the 13th best performer of 2009. Bolt's top mark over 400 is 45.28 in 2007, which would be the 28th fastest time of this year.

[leroy]

Bekele would take it. you have to think that Bolt would tie up quite a bit in the last 200-300 meters and Bekele would have him in his sights and drag him in.

[1500rr]

600 - Bolt
650 - Bolt
700 - Bolt
750 - Bekele
800 - Bekele

[F.T]

No contest - Bekele by at least 40m

[dr1500]

Bolt will go out for a quick 500m and lose Bekele, then in the last 200m Bolt will tie up and Bekele will def. close the gap. It'll be a decision at the line too close to call.

[am]

It will be very hard to find out at what distance they would be equal (racing strategy aside). Very unlikely to be 700 or 750 or 800 metres. More likely some awkward distance. Depending on how far one way or the other the race distance is the race would be a joke. If it is too long Bolt has no chance and will die in the last 100. If it is just a little too short Bekele will still have a chance and may only lose by a little with Bolt either blowing bye him or Bekele trying to catch a slowing Bolt. If both were to deviate from their training a bit for this race I think it would affect Bolt more unless this was part of moving up to the 400. Bolt probably has more pull in this race and want the race to be shorter.

If Bekele wants the respect then he will accept at a shorter distance as it is his chance to show the world how good he is. Even in losing this dream race he will become more popular with the general public then dominating the 5k/10k for the next while.

It also depends on if either of these athletes actually want the race or just the pay day or just the hype about talking about the match up.

[evane]

Bekele. No doubt.

[eight-hundred]

in Lausanne on 1 July 2003, Bekele recorded a 200 m segment during the last lap in 24 seconds and a 100 m section in 11.xx seconds to run a 52.63 final lap. no doubt hes going to win.

[skizzy]

Yep,

Bekele all the way.

[twofeet]

I agree with "am" that Bolt, being a major superstar, has more to lose in a showdown, in the eyes of the world, so his people will probably insist on 600m. If both guys tried really hard to win, it would be an awesome race, especially if Bekele, a virtual unknown to the general public, managed to win at a distance 4,400 metres short of his specialty.

[eight-hundred]

Sept 3, 2009 22:20:37 GMT -5 twofeet said:

I agree with "am" that Bolt, being a major superstar, has more to lose in a showdown, in the eyes of the world, so his people will probably insist on 600m. If both guys tried really hard to win, it would be an awesome race, especially if Bekele, a virtual unknown to the general public, managed to win at a distance 4,400 metres short of his specialty.

his specialty is the 10,000m, which hes never lost in. and good point about him being an unknown to the world. if this actually happens, regardless if he wins or losses, it will be huge for bekele. most people dont see the talent of bekele because they couldn't be bothered to watch 'a skinny man run around a circle 25 times'. so this is a great way of displaying his talent

[marathondude]

I would have to say that 600 meters would be a fair distance at which to match up. It is a standard, albeit rarely contested outdoors, distance. This would be good for the sport's publicity and good for Bekele to give him more recognition which he richly deserves.

[twofeet]

Sept 3, 2009 22:46:07 GMT -5 eight-hundred said:

Sept 3, 2009 22:20:37 GMT -5 twofeet said:

I agree with "am" that Bolt, being a major superstar, has more to lose in a showdown, in the eyes of the world, so his people will probably insist on 600m. If both guys tried really hard to win, it would be an awesome race, especially if Bekele, a virtual unknown to the general public, managed to win at a distance 4,400 metres short of his specialty.

his specialty is the 10,000m, which hes never lost in. and good point about him being an unknown to the world. if this actually happens, regardless if he wins or losses, it will be huge for bekele. most people dont see the talent of bekele because they couldn't be bothered to watch 'a skinny man run around a circle 25 times'. so this is a great way of displaying his talent

That's true -- make it 9,400m short of his specialty.

[journeyman]

I think Bekele would win a 600m. 500m would be much closer.

Bekele can run a 53 AFTER running 9600m. I'm pretty sure he can run about 1:15-16 for a 600 (say he goes through in 48-50), and I doubt Bolt can hold on much longer than 1:00. Even if he goes through in 46-7, Bekele will eat him up in the last 100m.

[slamer]

you guys forget that Bolt was running and training for 200 & 400 up until he broke the world record in the 100. He ran a 45 seconds 400 as a 15 year old. And Bolt said he thinks he's pretty good at 600. If you run 45 seconds 400s you have to be. Bekele has a ridiculous kick. But he can't run 45s. As it is, we haven't really seen what Bolt can do in the 400. I'm thinking he'll be the first guy to go under 43 seconds. After all he is jogging at 20.xx 200s.

In an 800, its probably Bekele.

This is why 700 would be interesting. But only if he starts to train for the 400 soon.