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Gebreselassie eyes world record |
| HENGELO, Netherlands, May 30, 2009 (AFP) - |
Ethiopian Haile Gebrselassie is targeting a fifth world record at the Hengelo Grand Prix on Monday.
After setting four world records at previous meets in the eastern Dutch city, Gebrselassie, the current marathon world record holder, will lead an assault on the one-hour record at the Fanny Blankers-Koen Games, part of the IAAF World Athletics Tour.A star-studded field includes six Olympic gold medallists, five reigning World and four European champions in Hengelo, with Olympic 5,000 and 10,000m champion Kenenisa Bekele running in the unfamiliar 1500m.
The Ethiopian has chosen the 1500m to test and improve his speed in preparation for August's World Athletics Championships in Berlin.
He will be up against it, however, with a field that includes Kenyan Asbel Kiprop, the Olympic 1500m silver medallist, another Kenyan in the shape of Suleiman Simotwo and Moroccan Mohamed Moustaoui.
The 5,000m is also loaded with talent, featuring nine athletes who have run the 12.5 laps in under 13 minutes.
The Kenyan quartet of Eliud Kipchoge, Augustine Choge, Joseph Ebuya and Abraham Chebii will likely battle it out with the Ethiopian trio of Sileshi Sihine, Abraham Cherkos and Abebe Dinkessa in the absence of Bekele's lurking frame.
Other Olympic champions on show include Kenyans Brimin Kipruto (3000m Steeplechase) and Nancy Lagat (1500m), Pole Tomasz Majewski (Shot Put), Irving Saladino of Panama (Long Jump), and Brazilian Maurren Higa Maggi (Long Jump).
Kipruto will be up against the rest of the Beijing podium, with silver medallist Mahiedine Mekhissi-Benabbad of France and third-placed compatriot Richard Mateeloong racing.
In women's events, Olympic and World 400m champion Christine Ohuruogu of Britain will again contest the 200m, while Bahamian Chandra Sturrup and American Mechelle Lewis, both with sub-11sec credentials, are the favourites in the 100m. |
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