Posted: July 13, 2007

Athletics (RRW): Flanagan Returns To Action In Rome 5000

From David Monti © 2007 Race Results Weekly, all rights reserved RaceResultsWeekly.com By Bob Ramsak ROME -- With most of the top Ethiopians and Kenyans away preparing for other events, the women’s 5000 at Friday night’s Golden Gala Kinder+Sport meeting will provide an opportunity for U.S. record holder Shalane Flanagan to steal, or at least borrow, the spotlight, as the Golden League series resumes in the Italian capital. Flanagan, who celebrated her 26th birthday four days ago, returns to competition for the first time since taking the U.S. 5000 title in Indianapolis three weeks ago. In April Flanagan clocked 14:44.80 at the Mt. Sac Relays to set her second national record in less than three months. At the Reebok Boston indoor Games in January, she ran 8:33.25 for 3000m indoors. Both runs eclipsed standards previously held by Regina Jacobs. On paper, her key competitors look to be Kenyan Linet Masai and Mariem Alaouli Selsouli of Morocco. Americans Deena Kastor and Jen Rhines are also in the field. The men’s 5000 field includes Olympic bronze medallist Eliud Kipchoge, who made a strong 10,000m debut in May, clocking 26:49.02. One of the top Ethiopians not on the country’s team roster for the upcoming African Games, Sileshi Sihine, is in the field, along with Ugandan Boniface Kiprop who will be making his 2007 track debut. The top European in the field is Irishman Alistair Cragg, who was fifth last weekend in the Paris 3000m. The men’s 800 features the return of perennial speedster Wilfred Bungei. The world indoor champion hasn’t raced since his victory in Belgrade on May 29 due to a muscle tear. “It feels pretty good now,” said Bungei, who has been able to train for the past two weeks. “I wanted to come to Rome to check things out before the Kenyan trials (July 27-28).” The winner in May’s Grand Prix in Doha with a world-leading 1:44.14, Bungei will be looking for the season’s first sub-1:44. The field includes Mohammed Al-Salhi, the runner-up in the Golden League kick-off in Oslo, Olympic silver medallist Mbulaeni Mulaudzi of South Africa, and U.S. championships 1-2 finishers Khadevis Robinson and Nick Symmonds. Two days ago in Lausanne, Kenia Sinclair kicked past Maria Mutola for a solid victory in the 800m, and returns to action to lead the field here. At the Swiss meet, Hazel Clark, who was second at the Swiss meet, returns as well, along with Kenyan Janeth Jepkosgei. Alice Schmidt makes her first start over the distance since her third place finish at the US Championships. Oslo Dream Mile winner Adil Kaouch returns to action after skipping the Paris leg of the Golden League. The 28-year-old Moroccan, the silver medallist at the 2005 World Championships, beat a strong field in Oslo clocking a personal best 3:51.14, including Kenyan Daniel Kipchirchir Komen. Komen is in the Rome field as well to defend his Golden Gala crown. Last year he won in 3:29.02, the fastest time of the year. The winner of Prefontaine Classic mile in 3:48.28, the 22-year-old was second in his last outing, finishing behind Bilal Mansour Ali in Athens on July 2. A crowd of about 40,000 is expected at Rome's Stadio Olimpico, site of the 1960 Olympic Games. Subscribe to the Runner's Web Weekly Digest