Three-time Olympic champion Bekele back to form as Farah watches on

By Jack Zorab, Sportsbeat, in Birmingham

KENENISA Bekele stormed to the third quickest 10,000m time in the world this year to surely set up an intriguing battle with Great Britain's Mo Farah at the London 2012 Olympics.

WATCHING BRIEF: Mo Farah watched Kenenisa Bekele's performance over 10,000m in Birmingham with interest after running in the 1500m (Getty Images/Aviva Athletics)

Bekele, the defending 5,000m and 10,000m Olympic champion and one of the greatest distance athletes of all time, needed a quick time at the Aviva 2012 Trials in Birmingham to convince Ethiopian selectors that he was worth a shot at a unique third successive gold medal over 25 laps.

And despite reports of being off colour, the world record holder produced an impressive performance in chilly and windy conditions.

He held off Uganda's Moses Kipsiro, who did the long distance double at the 2010 Commonwealth Games, and fellow Ethiopians Gebre Gebremariam and Tariku Bekele to clock 27:02.59 - a new UK all-comers record.

More importantly it moved him ahead of his younger brother Tariku, Lelisa Desisa, Sileshi Shine and Gebremariam in the national standings and only Kenya's Wilson Kiprop and Moses Masai have gone quicker in 2012.

"I'm very happy with my time," he said. "I hope to be selected for London now.

"I am improving with every competition this season so expected to run a very fast race.

“I am confident of defending my Olympic titles. Mo Farah is in good form this year and he is one of the athletes that will be very hard to beat this summer."

Farah, the world champion over 5,000m and silver medallist in the 10,000m, is running over 1500m to work on his speed this weekend but watched Bekele's performance with interest from the stands at the Alexander Stadium.

In their only meeting so far this season, Farah convincingly beat Bekele over 5,000m at the IAAF Diamond League meeting in Eugene.

* Aviva has been backing the GB & NI Team since 1999. Now it’s your turn. #BackTheTeam on Twitter or search for ‘Aviva Athletics’ on Facebook

© Sportsbeat 2012