Bahrain’s Alemu Bekele, originally from Ethiopia, wins the junior men’s race at the 10th Asian Cross Country Championships

Bahrain’s Alemu Bekele Gebre has been tipped as the next Kenenisa Bekele. Alemu is said to have a similar running style as multi-titled world record holder Kenenisa, apart from sharing the name Bekele and originating from the same Ethiopian hometown of Bekoji.

He yesterday won the junior men’s race at the 10th Asian Cross Country Championships, which was his first participation in a major competition at the international level.

Alemu, aged only 18, is being guided by veteran Bahrain national coach Tolosa Kotu, who is a highly respected distance running tactician. Among Kotu’s past athletes was another multi-titled runner, Ethiopia’s Haile Gebrselassie.

“He is talented and a very good athlete,” Kotu told the GDN. “He has been training with me for one year, and he is one of my best. He can be the next Kenenisa Bekele.”

Bekele is a three-time Olympic champion and three-time world champion, and presently holds world records in the men’s 5,000m and 10,000m.

Alemu will be competing primarily in 1,500m in the early part of his international career, said Kotu, with a move to the 3,000m to follow. Before the 2009 track season, however, Alemu will represent Bahrain at the 37th World Cross Country Championships in Amman next month.

“He looks like Bekele and he runs the same way,” said Bahrain Athletics Association technical manager Lounes Madene.

Added Kotu: “Right now, he still has to show what he can do against other top distance runners in world events, but sure his talent is there. If he is the next Bekele, we can only wait and see.”

– BAHRAIN (The Gulf Daily News)