Kenenisa Bekele breaks all-comers’ record at UK Trials, assures his place at the London Games

Birmingham, UK – Kenenisa Bekele moved up to third place on the world 10,000m list for 2012 and virtually assured his place with the Ethiopian national team at the London Olympic Games when he broke the UK all-comers’ record at Alexander Stadium here on Friday, according to IAAF.org.

The reigning Olympic 5000m and 10,000m champion was invited to run as a guest in the men’s 10,000m final at the end of the first day of the Aviva UK Trials along with his younger brother Tariku and their fellow Ethiopians Sileshi Sihine and Gebre-Egziabher Gebremariam, plus the Commonwealth champion Moses Kipsiro from Uganda.

Bekele produced his best performance of the season so far to win with his trademark sprint finish in 27:02.59, just 0.61 seconds slower than this year’s world leader Wilson Kiprop.

Tariku Bekele ran a personal best to finish second in 27:03.24 while Gebremariam was third in 27:03.58. Kipsiro also set a PB, fifth behind Sihine in 27:04.48.

After two years of injury problems, the World record holder was relieved to get back to winning ways following four defeats in four Samsung Diamond League meetings over 3000m and 5000m so far this season.

“It was a bit windy and not easy to run around 27 minutes so I am so happy,” he said.

“Now I hope to be selected for London. I am improving my confidence after injury. I had to finish fast or somebody would have beaten me. It was very important to finish fast.”