BRUSSELS, (Reuters) – World and Olympic champion Kenenisa Bekele is driven by the prospect of breaking his 10,000 and 5,000 metres records and is also is considering an attempt at the 3,000 world best set 13 years ago.
The 27-year-old Ethiopian told reporters on the eve of the Brussels Golden League meeting he felt there was no particular part of his racing he needed to improve.
“Really it’s perfect,” Bekele said yesterday with a broad smile. “The only thing is I want to run faster than my records. I also want to attack the 3,000 metres. It has stayed for a long time.”
Bekele’s 5,000 and 10,000 metre records date back to 2004 and 2005 respectively. The 3,000 record of seven minutes 20.67 was run by Kenyan Daniel Komen in 1996.
Coach Jos Hermens said Bekele would aim to be selective in 2010, a year with no major championships, in a bid to better his times.
“The 3,000 metres is a longer dream… then he would need to put in a few 1,500 metres for pace,” Hermens said.
Bekele also said he would like to run the marathon, but was not willing to be drawn on when that would happen.
He is one of three athletes still in the hunt for at least a share of the $1 million Golden League jackpot going into the final meeting in Brussels.
To earn the jackpot, competitors must win their events at all six Golden League meetings.
“Those races are not easy… To win six is very tough. For many, four or five is tough. It’s very good to win all six,” said Bekele, who spent four days recuperating in Ethiopia after last week’s Zurich meeting.
Olympic pole vault gold medallist Yelena Isinbayeva and 400 metres world champion Sanya Richards are the other two athletes with 100 percent Golden League records so far.
Bekele argued he faced the most difficult challenge of the three given the strength of the 5,000 metres field today and the chance of a new athlete breaking through.
“In the 400 metres or the pole vault you can’t really get strong new athletes,” he said.
