HAVING broken two world records in a matter of days few would bet against Kenenisa Bekele shattering another here in the North-East.

Few that is except for the Ethiopian himself.

The 21-year-old established new marks in both the 5,000m and 10,000m at meetings in Hengelo and Ostrava respectively.

If he makes it a superb hat-trick when he turns out in the 3,000m at the Norwich Union Grand Prix at Gateshead International Stadium later this month, he would not only eclipse Kenyan Daniel Komen's world best of 7:20.67, set eight years ago in Italy, but also erase the record for the track achieved by Brendan Foster 30 years ago.

Foster, who clocked 7:35.10 - then a world record - in July 1974, was on hand to welcome Bekele to Gateshead yesterday.

However, when asked if he had both Komen and Foster's times in his sights the African, whose personal best stands at 7:30.67, suggested history might be against him.

"I will try to beat Brendan's time, 30 years is 30 years too long," he said. "But I ask myself 'why 30 years?' There are no other athletes who can beat this time? If it was too difficult for those athletes to beat that time then I think it will be for me, but I will try."

On hearing that Foster quipped, "He doesn't know about the wind!" before adding that if Bekele did relegate his time to history on the Sunday he would "come back on Monday and have a try".

For a while now Bekele has been touted as the greatest distance running talent in the world - a natural successor to his countryman, the legendary Haile Gebrselassie. His potential was realised last year when he beat his mentor to claim the world 10,000m title in Paris. Now after his recent heroics he is firmly installed as hot favourite for Olympic gold in Athens.

But while full of respect for his compatriot's achievements, Bekele gives the impression he does not care much for the comparison. He is not the new Gebrselassie, he is Kenenisa Bekele.

"I have accepted that most people will compare me with Haile but it is quite difficult when people compare you to someone else, it is difficult to be yourself," he said.

"In this case I would really like to be myself. A lot of people are calling me a successor to Haile Gebrselassie but that is not the point.

"He is, at this moment, for me the greatest distance runner ever but you never know, maybe I can do better."

Unlike Bekele, Foster, a key part of the BBC's commentary team for both the Grand Prix, other major domestic events and the Olympics, is happy to compare the two.

"Haile Gebrselassie, just look at his record, no one has done what he has done before," said the former 5,000m champion and Olympic 10,000m bronze medallist.

"As we write the record books today I would say he is the greatest distance runner of all time and there has been some fantastic athletes and I'm including all the greats, (Emil) Zatopek, Ron Clarke, all the great guys we have ever heard of.

"Then Haile comes along and does what he has done and then along comes Kenenisa, who, at the moment is the world record holder at 5,000m and 10,000m and world champion. If he becomes Olympic champion his name will go on that roll and he is only 21! Goodness, he could be even better than Haile.

"The great thing is we are witnessing the emergence of the new talent and as Haile steps aside they (Ethiopia) bring on the next guy. They have got a very good system there.

"The Ethiopian distance coach is probably the most successful athletics coach in the whole world. You can name them all but no one has done as much as he has. They just keep coming. Kenenisa will tell you there are more where he came from.

"In athletics and in sport you can only be the best in your era. Haile was the best of his time but that's what sport is all about - getting better all the time. There was Haile and here is Kenenisa."

When he takes to the track in Gateshead on June 27 it will be one of his last competitive runs before the Athens Olympiad and as such has taken on great significance.

"This competition is very important. I will not run many races, four, of which one is here in Gateshead," he said.

"This race will help me know who my competitors will be in Athens and also help with my speed. I will go to training camp in July with the Ethiopian team and Gateshead will be one of my last races. I will be looking to run a good time so that I can go to the training camp feeling good, prepare for the Olympic Games and try to do well there."

* Tickets for the Norwich Union British Grand Prix are available by phone on 0870 402 8000 or online at www.ukathletics.net The event runs from 3.15 pm to 7pm on June 27. Doors open at 1.15pm