In a tense and turbulent World Championships 10000 m full of turnover at the head of the pack, Saitama-based 2006 World Jr. 10000 m and 2008 World Jr. XC champion Ibrahim Jeilan (Ethiopia/Team Honda) pulled off a darkhorse win by running down world leader Mo Farah (Great Britain) in the home stretch to take his first senior world title. In so doing he achieved the historic feat of becoming the first man to beat world record holder Kenenisa Bekele (Ethiopia) over the 10000 m distance. Jeilan's coach at Honda, Kiyoshi Akimoto, told JRN shortly after the race, "This result belongs to both Jeilan and the rest of the coaching staff. He has taken the Japanese lifestyle and training methodology to heart deeply and is truly a superb athlete."
Jeilan also beat Japan-based Kenyans Martin Mathathi (Suzuki Hamamatsu AC), the 2007 World Championships bronze medalist and 10 mile world junior record holder, and Paul Tanui (Team Kyudenko), this year's World XC silver medalist. Both Mathathi and Tanui were among the many who led the race before the final kilometer which Jeilan blazed in under 2:27. "Japan-based Kenyan" is a common enough phrase, but Jeilan's outstanding victory may well herald the rise of the Japan-based Ethiopians.
Following the lead of the Japanese women in the 10000 m, 27:38 man Yuki Sato (Team Nissin Shokuhin), the sole Japanese man in the 10000 m, was second-to-last, a limp 15th in 29:04.15.
2011 World Championships Men's 10000 m
Daegu, Korea, 8/28/11
click here for complete results
1. Ibrahim Jeilan (Ethiopia/Team Honda) - 27:13.81
2. Mohamed Farah (Great Britain) - 27:14.07
3. Imane Merga (Ethiopia) - 27:19.14
4. Zerseney Tadese (Eritrea) - 27:22.57
5. Martin Mathathi (Kenya/Suzuki AC) - 27:23.87
6. Peter Kirui (Kenya) - 27:25.63 - PB
7. Galen Rupp (U.S.A.) - 27:26.84
8. Sileshi Sihine (Ethiopia) - 27:34.11
9. Paul Tanui (Kenya/Team Kyudenko) - 27:54.03
10. Matthew Tegenkamp (U.S.A.) - 28:41.62
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15. Yuki Sato (Team Nissin Shokuhin) - 29:04.15
DNF - Kenenisa Bekele (Ethiopia)
Comments
I was hoping for a bit more from Sato, but not worry.
Even the usually reliable women's marathon team under-performed.
The success of the Japanese based Africans (1st, 5th and 9th!)make you wonder how much of the blame should be placed on the athletes.