Posted: December 30, 2005

Athletics: Bekele To Make Another Bid At Two-Mile World Best In Birmingham

By Bob Ramsak, Track Profile

© 2005 Track Profile all rights reserved TrackProfile.com

Olympic 10,000m champion Kenenisa Bekele will chase the world best for the two mile distance at the Norwich Union Grand Prix in Birmingham on February 18, organizers announced today.

Bekele, who successfully defended his world title in the 10,000m in Helsinki last summer, will again attack compatriot Haile Gebrselassie’s indoor two mile best of 8:04.69, also set in Birmingham in 2003. In a highly-publicized attempt last February at the same meeting, Bekele finished second to another Ethiopian, Markos Geneti, six weeks after the tragic death of his fiancee.

"There is no major outdoor track title to aim for next year," Bekele said in a press release, "so Birmingham will be a vital part of my season. It's a huge event and the opportunity of another world record is really exciting."

Bekele, still just 23, already has four world records to his credit: the 5000m outdoors and indoors, and two at 10,000m.

Last March, Bekele cruised to an unprecedented fourth consecutive double win at the World Cross Country Championships. He will contest his first cross country race of the season at the VisitScotland Great Edinburgh International Cross Country on Jan. 14 in the Scottish capital.

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