5,000m: Eliud Kipchoge vs Kenenisa Bekele
Watch Eliud Kipchoge and Kenenisa Bekele race head-to-head over the 5,000m
Eliud Kipchoge
12:46.53
Kenenisa Bekele
12:37.35
What the times tell us
Over the 5,000m, Kenenisa Bekele comes out ahead with 12:37.35, 9.18s quicker than Eliud Kipchoge on 12:46.53. Both marks were set in peak condition with near-perfect pacing, so treat them as the ceiling of elite performance rather than typical running. At this level a few seconds reflects years of training and the finest margins in tactics and fuelling.
Common questions
Who is faster, Eliud Kipchoge or Kenenisa Bekele, over the 5,000m?
Kenenisa Bekele is faster over the 5,000m, with a best of 12:37.35 against Eliud Kipchoge on 12:46.53.
How is this comparison worked out?
We take each athlete's best recorded time at the distance and play them out as a side-by-side race. The animation reflects the real time gap, scaled to the 5,000m.
Can I compare my own times against the pros?
Yes. Use the RunReps Race Time Predictor and Pace Calculator to estimate your finish at the 5,000m, then see how it measures up against the best.