Dominant at Pre in the 5000m, Mo Farah still prefers 10,000 in London

Britain’s Mo Farah is running in a class of his own this season. On Saturday in Eugene, Oregon, Farah, already running the fastest times in the world this year in the 5000m, dusted a deep field, which included American training partner Galen Rupp, as well as world record holder Kenenisa Bekele.

But Farah seems to be leaning towards the 10,000m in London, leaving the door open for a double, along with the 5000m.

“I am going to run the 10,000m for sure because it is the first race. I will see how I feel after that. It depends how I come off in the 10,000m. I would like to be fresh and not have any niggles,” Farah told reports after his victory at Hayward field.

Farah’s 12:56.98 on Saturday is the current world leading time in the 5000m. It was also a new course record at the legendary Oregon track, where Steve Prefontaine once stunned the running world with his audacious front running tactics.

Rupp also may face a similar dilemma running for the American squad. Rupp has run well enough to perhaps consider the double as well at the games in London. He is only one of two non-Africans to have run a sub-27-minute 10,000m — the other being fellow American Chris Solinsky.

Farah and Rupp both train under former star runner Alberto Salazar. As the pace began to sag mid-race, Rupp made a strong move into second place, running on Farah’s shoulder. The pace then intensified, carrying Farah to his dominant finish. Rupp faded in the last 200m, falling to third place behind Kenyan Isaiah Koech.

Farah has doubled before, including last year at the IAAF world championships in Daegu. There he won gold in the 5000m, but finished with a silver in the 10,000m. No doubt, the stinging last second defeat at least year’s world championship in the 10,000m is factoring into Farah’s decision-making for London.

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SqL9jhFXglI&feature=fvwrel[/youtube]

Bekele won double gold in 2008 in the 5000m and 10,000m in Beijing.

The 10,000m will run on Aug. 4 at the 2012. The 5000m will take place a week later on Aug. 11.