In a message dated Tue, 17 Oct 2000 1:27:31 PM Eastern Daylight Time,
"Mcewen, Brian T" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> writes:
<<
What I am saying is that:
There is a strong correlation between the availability of EPO ('87?, 88?,
89?) and the complete disappearance of SUCCESSFUL doubling at the major
Championships in the 5k/10k where heats are required. The attempts are much
fewer, and the successes are nearly nonexistent. In '72, '76, and '80 there
were three double golds, and several other notable double medallists, and
high-placing doublers (Viren, Yifter, Puttemans, Shorter, kedir, Maaninka,
Foster). Add the '83 WC and you have Werner Schildhauer (double silver) in
the 5k/10k.
Ask yourself: Why did it happen regularly at the European Championships,
the Olympics and eventually at the Worlds ... and then it suddenly became
nonexistent.
The only male I remember doing it ever in the last 12 years was the great
Gebrselassie in 1995 ... he wins the 10 and I think gets bronze in the 5k
.. and he is the BEST of the last 7 years.
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
Geb only did the double once (in 1993, NOT 1995, and he got SILVER in the 5.
Get your facts straight) because it's too damn hard. He had to run his ass
off to beat Tanui in the 10,000 (after Chelimo pushed the pace) and then had
to come back in the most amazing 5000 of all time. Kirui threw in a 4:02 1600
in the middle of the damn race! That's why no one doubles anymore. It's that
simple.
Sure, anyone could've doubled at the 1983 Worlds. The races were won in
around 28:00 and 13:25. The Kenyans would never let the races go that slow
anymore (okay, they did in the 5 in Sydney, but those were not the top
kenyans).
Who wants to double when you have Paul Kipkoech running the second half of
the 1987 Worlds 10K in 13:25? Who's gonna run all those rounds when Ngugi
throws in a 58 in Seoul?
Championship distance races are a whole new ballgame now with the true rise
of the Africans. Martii Vainio would be getting dropped at halfway in the
10,000 now. That's why there's no one doubling!!!!
As an aside, Stephane Franke doubled in Atlanta. He's the last guy I can
remember doing it.
McEwen, you have to remember that a correlation doesn't necesarrily show a
connection. When you see 1987, you see EPO. Whem more astute observers see
that year, they see the true rise of the Kenyans.
sideshow
