Bekele out of Great North meeting
Ethiopia's double
Olympic champion Kenenisa Bekele has pulled out of today's Great
North Miles meeting on the Newcastle-Gateshead Quaysides.
Bekele, who won the 5, 000m and 10,000m in Beijing, was due to face
arch-rival Eliud Kipchoge over two miles but has not been able to
train sufficiently.
Kenya's Kipchoge, who finished second behind Bekele in the 5,000m in
Beijing, is now the clear favourite.
Mexico's Juan Luis Barrios and Kenya's Mike Kipyeo could also
feature.
The Kenyan pair of Asbel Kiprop and Janet Jepkosgei have pulled out
of their respective mile races because of visa problems.
"Although we are obviously disappointed, we understand his situation
of not wanting to run when not fully fit against world-class
opposition," said David Hart, communications director for the
meeting.
"But I'm sure we'll see him racing again on Tyneside in the future
and one day we'd love to see him compete in the Bupa Great North Run
itself."
Kent's Lisa Dobriskey leads the British challenge on Saturday and
will look to defend her mile title. She will be joined in the mile
field by fellow Briton Stephanie Twell.
Dobriskey narrowly missed out on Olympic 1500m bronze this summer
before winning the New York Fifth Avenue road mile in impressive
fashion.
Britain's Mo Farah goes in the men's mile but in the absence of
Olympic 1500m silver medallist Kiprop, fellow Kenyan Brimin Kipruto,
winner of the 3,000m steeplechase title in Beijing, will be the
favourite.
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