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Pacemaker Bekele runs world leading time
World indoor champion Tariku Bekele admitted he had only planned to be a pacesetter, but felt so good he went onto win the 3 000m in Berlin in the world's fastest time so far this season.
The 23-year-old, younger brother of 5 000 and 10 000m world record-holder Kenenisa, won here at the World Challenge event in a time of seven minutes 28.99 seconds to beat his own personal best.
He admitted he had originally told veteran Bernard Lagat of the United States he would help him set the pace to try and break the American record, but ended up with a convincing win ahead of Kenyans Vincent Kiprop Chepkok, second, and Edwin Cheruiyot Soi, who finished third.
Lagat - a double gold medallist at the 2007 world championships here in the same stadium - could finish only seventh.
Bekele won the 3 000m world indoor title in Valencia in 2008 and the 5 000m at the World Junior Championships in Beijing in 2006.
"Before the race, I had talked with Bernard about how to help him break the record," said Bekele.
"But then I got into the race and felt better and better, on the last two laps, I knew that I could take the lead.
"After this race, I see that my shape is really good.
"I wanted to run under 7:30 and it is not easy to do that on this track and in such a big stadium where you have the impression all the spectators are taking oxygen from you.
"I am very happy and my next competition will be the Continental
Cup in Split."
