Bekele looks too good for the master Gebrselassie

By Mitch Phillips

LONDON (Reuters) - When Haile Gebrselassie was taking distance running to new levels a decade ago few could have imagined that even before he had retired he would be eclipsed by another Ethiopian, Kenenisa Bekele.

If, as expected, the two men line up for the 10,000 metres final in Beijing it will be world record holder, Olympic and triple world champion Bekele who will be the hot favourite.

Bekele, 26, has a remarkable record of consistency, winning championship titles, setting world records and dominating cross country running over the past six years.

This year he regained the world cross title to make it 12 wins in 13 attempts over the two senior distances.

His 10,000 metres world record of 26 minutes 17.53 seconds, set in 2005, is more than five seconds faster than Gebrselassie's world mark of 1998 - itself half a minute better than William Sigie's 1994 mark that he first surpassed in 1995.

Bekele also has the 5,000 world record of 12:37.35, previously held by his compatriot, a double Olympic champion at 10,000.

His style is modelled on Gebrselassie too. Both men destroy their opponents with their finishing speed and it is not unusual for Bekele to post a 53-second final lap.

In Athens four years ago the Ethiopians tried to run as a team to help Gebrselassie challenge for a third gold but, injured, he dropped off the pace leaving Bekele to blast through the last lap to win.