Kenenisa Bekele made headlines last week by declaring “of course I am the best” long distance runner ever. But the Ethiopian was fifth-best at London Marathon, finishing 74 seconds behind Kenya’s Amos Kipruto.
Kenenisa, 40, clocked 2:05:53, the fastest-ever marathon by a runner 40 years or older. He was with the lead pack until being dropped in the 21st mile. But Kenenisa estimated he could have run 90 to 120 seconds faster had he not missed parts of six weeks of training with hip and joint injuries.
“I expect better even if the preparation is short,” he said. “I know my talent and I know my capacity, but really I couldn’t achieve what I expect.”
Bekele is the second-fastest marathoner in history behind Kenya’s Eluid Kipchoge, who his own world record. by clocking 2:01:09 at the Berlin Marathon last week.
“I am happy when I see Eliud Kipchoge run that time,” Kenenisa said. “It motivates all athletes who really expect to do the same thing.”
Kenenisa’s best time was within two seconds of Kipchoge’s previous world record (2:01:39). He described breaking Kipchoge’s new mark as the “main goal” for the rest of his career.
“Yes, I hope, one day it will happen, of course,” Kenenisa said. “With good preparation, I don’t know when, but we will see one more time.”
Nobody has won more London Marathons than Kipchoge, a four-time champion who set the course record (2:02:37) in 2019. But the two-time Olympic marathon champion did not run this year in London, as elite marathoners typically choose to enter one race each spring and fall.
Kenenisa does not know which race he will enter in the spring. But it will not be against Kipchoge. “I need to show something first,” Kenenisa said. “I need to run a fast time. I have to check myself. This is not enough.”
Kipchoge will try to become the first runner to win three Olympic marathon titles at the Paris Games. Bekele, who will be 42 in 2024, has not committed to trying to qualify for the Ethiopian team.
“There’s a long time to go before Paris,” Bekele said. “At this moment I am not decided. I have to show something.” So who is the greatest long distance runner ever?
Kenenisa can make a strong case on the track:
Kenenisa
Four Olympic medals (three gold)
Six World Championship medals (five gold)
Former 5000m and 10,000m world-record holder
Kipchoge
Two Olympic medals
Two World Championship medals (one gold)
But Kipchoge can make a strong case on the pavement:
Kenenisa
Second-fastest marathoner in history
Two World Marathon Major victories
Kipchoge
Four of the five best marathon times in history
Two-time Olympic marathon champion
12 World Marathon Major victories

At the third and final October edition of the TCS London Marathon, Ethiopia’s Yalemzerf Yehualaw used powerful late-race surges to win Europe’s largest marathon in 2:17:26. Yehualaw, 23, became the race’s youngest-ever winner, and got her first-ever Abbott World Marathon Majors victory along with USD 55,000 in prize money plus time bonuses.
Yalemzerf was joined at that point by compatriots Sutume Asefa Kebede, Ashete Bekere, Alemu Megertu and Hiwot Gebrekidan, while Kenyans Judith Jeptum Korir and Joyciline Jepkosgei were also there. Joan Melly Chelimo, who formerly represented Kenya but now runs for Romania, filled out the leading group.
In the 33rd kilometer Yehualaw was running at the back of the pack, and as she went through a crosswalk she suddenly fell (it wasn’t clear why). She quickly got to her feet and in less than a minute rejoined the lead pack. She didn’t appear to be injured; her running form looked normal and there were no visible scrapes or cuts.
Without question, Yehualaw was still trying for Keitany’s record in the final two kilometers, but she just ran out of time. Her winning mark of 2:17:26 was the third-fastest ever at London behind only Paula Radcliffe’s 2:15:25 from 2003 and Keitany’s 2:17:01 from 2017.
Jepkosgei got second in 2:18:07 and Megertu third in 2:18:32. Korir –who won the silver medal at the marathon at the World Athletics Championships in Eugene last July, and originally planned to be a pacemaker here– was fourth in 2:18:43. Melly got fifth in 2:19:57.
Although she didn’t win the USD $355,000, her total payday (not including her appearance fee or any private bonuses her management negotiated with the race) was a solid USD $205,000 ($55,000 for the win plus $150,000 for breaking 2:17:30).
It’s remarkable that Yehualaw has only run two marathons. She made her debut in Hamburg last April, and her mark of 2:17:23 was the fastest-ever by a debutante.

Group (A) favorites Ethiopia turned out the first team to exit the 2022 CECAFA U-17 Cup final after losing both the group stage matches.
What is most surprising is that of World Youngest nation South Sudan and little known Somalia are East African representatives in African nations U-17 Cup final to be held in host nation Algeria.
The shocking part of the story is that of the early elimination of hosts Ethiopia after two successive defeats at the hands of group minnows Somalia followed by a 3-2 defeat by Tanzania on Thursday.
The Ethiopian was considered the group favorite for playing in front of home supporters. But a poor performance from Head Coach Tadios Teklu’s young talents, Somalia managed to secure a 1-0 historic victory in the opening match.
Many expected the side to fare better in the second match against well organized Tanzania. But once again the home side failed to win the decisive match thus kicked out of the tournament with two defeats out of two.
Ethiopia entered the game in search of a win to secure a slot into the semi final. But the diehard Tanzanians managed to the final minutes winning goal to progress to the semi final with 3-2 score line.
Though the responsibility laid on young Coach Tadios and his assistants is considered too heavy to carry out, Ethiopia as a host nation should have at least make it into the cup final.
Poor preparation, the so called age cheat at the time of team selection and failure to drive the players to commitment like the young talents of Somali and Sudan, Ethiopia lost a golden home chance of having a place in a n international fixtures.
To tell the truth I got not the first, not the second but the third best players because of the MRI result” remarked frustration clearly written all over his face Tadios Teklu.

This week marks the opening of the voting process for the 2022 World Athletes of the Year ahead of the World Athletics Awards 2022.
World Athletics confirmed a list of 10 nominees for Women’s World Athlete of the Year. These athletes were selected by an international panel of athletics experts, comprising representatives from all six continental areas of World Athletics.
It has been another memorable year for the sport and the nominations reflect some of the standout performances achieved at the World Athletics Championships Oregon22, World Athletics Indoor Championships Belgrade 22, one-day meeting circuits and other events around the world.
The nominees for 2022 Women’s World Athlete of the Year are, World 100m record holder Nigerian Toby Amusan, World Shot put champion USA Chase Ealey, World 100m champion Jamaican Fraser Pryce, World 20km race Walk champion Peruvian Kimberly Garcia, Jamaican World 200m champion Shericka Jackson, Kenyan 1500m champion Faith Kipyegon, Yaroslava Mahuchikh, UKR- World indoor high jump champion, Sydney McLaughlin, USA World 400m hurdles champion, Shaunae Miller-Uibo, BAH- World 400m champion and Yulimar Rojas, VEN- World triple jump champion.
The World Athletics Council and the World Athletics Family will cast their votes by email, while fans can vote online via the World Athletics social media platforms.
The winners will be revealed on World Athletics’ social media platforms in early December.