By Tom Degun

mo_farah_22-08-11August 23 - Britain's Mo Farah has highlighted Ethiopian long distance running icon Kenenisa Bekele as his main threat for gold in the 10,000 metres at the World Athletics Championships, which get underway in Daegu this weekend.


Farah has been the dominant force in the long distance races this year having won his last ten races against world class fields and the 28-year-old is being widely tipped to become the become the first European to win the world 10,000m title.

However, Farah admits he is very wary of Bekele who is a two-time Olympic champion, four-time world champion and the world record holder in the event.

Bekele has been nursing a knee injury for the last 18 months and watched from the side-lines as Farah has taken his spot as the leader in the event but the 29-year-old Ethiopian will return to action in South Korea and ominously has never been beaten over 10,000m.

"I don't have a clue what to expect from him," said Farah, who broke the European 10,000m record in Eugene in June.

"I've been training well, but of course you are aware of other athletes and Kenenisa Bekele is one of the class athletes.

"He's like the Usain Bolt of distance running, he's dominated and shown by how many medals he's won that he's a great athlete.

"If he's going to be there, of course it's not going to be easy, but at the same time I have to concentrate on my own race."

Kenenisa_Bekele_22-08-11
Bekele's manager Jos Hermens has promised the defending champion will be in Daegu and on top form for the competition, and Farah admits that his coach Alberto Salazar has been studying Bekele to learn from his technique.

"I don't study Bekele's technique but I think my coach has been looking at it because he's a great athlete with a good technique who makes it look easy," said Farah.

"If you want to look up to someone and follow a class athlete, you just want to be like Kenenisa because he's just different class.

"He's the man and I've got to get it right on the day."

Farah added that he may well attempt a golden double at the World Championships by competing in the 5,000m as well as the 10,000m as he is currently ranked the number one over both distances.

He achieved the feat at the European Championships in Barcelona last year when he claimed victory in both events in the Spanish city but he said he will wait until after the 10,000m to decide on whether he will compete over the shorter distance.

"I want to give the 10,000 metres 110 per cent and then see how my legs feel afterwards," he said.

"But if I feel good I can still do the 5000 metres."

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