Craig Mottram relaxes before the 2006 Healthy Kidney 10-K in New York City (Photo by David Monti)
Australian star Craig Mottram is in Madrid tonight for the 42nd running of the San Silvestre Vallecana, one of Europe's top "Sylversterlaufs," so named for St. Sylvester's Day (31-Dec).
On the line will be Mottram's streak of 12 consecutive victories over 10 kilometers on the road; he was last beaten at the distance in 1999. Tonight he will face 2003 world 5000m champion, Eliud Kipchoge, who is the defending champion in Madrid and course record holder (27:34). Mottram knows how to win here; he won in 2004 beating marathon world record holder, Paul Tergat, by six seconds.
According to Mottram's manager and coach, Nic Bideau, the big man from Geelong is in excellent fitness in advance of the indoor and cross country seasons. He recently ran a successful time trial on "The Tan," the track which circles Melbourne's Botanical Gardens, covering the 3.84 km course in 10 minutes and 8 seconds, similar to running 7:47 for 3000m.
The Madrid race is actually two events in one. At 6:00 p.m. a massive citizens' race, which organizers estimate will have 20,000 participants, will take place. Then at 8:00 p.m. a separate elite race will be held for about 500 runners. Men must be able to break 38 minutes and women must be able to break 45 minutes in order to take part. Many of the runners from the citizens' race stay to cheer for the elites, showering them with confetti and sometimes spraying them with shaving cream.
According to the Spanish sports newspaper, MARCA, the following athletes will compete tonight in Madrid at the San Silvestre Vallecana 10-K:
MEN -
Eliud Kipchoge, KEN, 27:34 PB (defending champion)
Craig Mottram, AUS, 27:54 (won in 2004)
Zersenay Tadesse, ERI, 27:36
Chema Martínez, ESP, 27:48 (won in 2003)
Jesús España, ESP, 28:33
WOMEN -
Benita Johnson, AUS, 31:17 (won in 2004)
Jelena Prokopcuka, LAT, 31:33 (second last year)
Marta Domínguez, ESP, 31:35 (won in 2002 and 2003)
Course records are 27:34 (Kipchoge, 2005) and 31:16 (Paula Radcliffe, 2005).
A history of race winners is here: http://www.arrs.ne.
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