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By Bob Ramsak
BERLIN --A crowd of more than 65,000 is expected at the DKB-ISTAF meeting when the six-meet AF Golden League series kicks off on Sunday at Berlin’s Olympic Stadium.
On the short list of potential favorites to go the distance in the chase for the $1 million jackpot is world 800m champion Janeth Jepkosgei, and the Kenyan will attract considerable attention for a variety of reason.
First, it’ll be the 25-year-old Kenyan’s 2008 debut as she rides a seven-race win streak into the German capital, the highlight of which was her sizzling and thoroughly entertaining gun-to-tape 1:56.04 run to the world title. She followed up with decisive victories in Zurich, Rieti, Brussels, and the World Athletics Final in Stuttgart to finish the year as the event’s undisputed No. 1.
But she’ll also be watched to see how, if at all, she’ll respond to the 1:55.76 ran a week ago by her 19-year-old compatriot Pamela Jelimo in just her third outing in the event. Jelimo is in Berlin at the moment, but not on the start list, creating a swirl of speculation as to whether she’ll wind up on the starting line tomorrow.
Challenging Jepkosgei will be a full slate of runners with sub 1:58 credentials, as well as Osaka finalists Brigita Langerholc and Svetlana Klyuka and Romanian Liliana Popescu, the surprise early season world leader in the 1500m.
The men’s 1500m is another of the ten events designated as part of the jackpot chase, and the field includes a solid slate including Adbelaati Iguider of Morocco, the early season world leader (3:32.63); Kenyan Augustine Choge, the runner-up in last year’s Golden League opener in Oslo, and this year’s world leader in the 3000m (7:32.01) from his victory in Doha; and Kenyan Daniel Kipchirchir Komen, the winner in Brussels and Berlin last year. The 23-year-old raced to his second successive World indoor silver medal in Valencia last March and will be making his outdoor debut.
The men’s 5000m is tabbed as an attempt on Haile Gebrselassie’s 12:53.19 meet record set in 1995. The primary contender is Tariku Bekele in his second outing since succeeding his brother as world indoor 3000m champion. Ugandan Moses Kipsiro, last year’s world bronze medallist, is also in the field, while Kenyans Joseph Ebuya, Micah Kogo and Edwin Soi are expected to challenge as well.
In the women’s 5000 local attention will be focused on local favorite Sabrina Mockenhaupt. The 27-year-old, a solid performer from 3000m to the marathon, will be testing her pre-Olympic form against a formidable field which includes Kenyan Priscah Jepleting Cherono, the bronze medallist in the event from Osaka; Kenyan rising stars Linet Masai, the world cross country bronze medallist; and former world Junior and world youth 3000m champion Veronica Nyaruai.
The men’s 800 will be run in two sections in the early afternoon. In the A race world champion Alfred Kirwa Yego of Kenya will take on Ugandan Abraham Chepkirwok, who was fourth in Osaka last summer, South Africa’s Mbulaeni Mulaudzi, the Olympic silver medallist; and quick Moroccan Amine Laalou. The B race features 2000 Olympic champion Nils Schumann.
Other strong favorites in the jackpot chase include 400m world and Olympic champion Jeremy Wariner, world long jump champion Irving Saladino, and world high jump champion Blanka Vlasic.
A heat wave hit Berlin this week, with temperatures expected to hit 32 C (90 F) when the gun sounds for the women’s 5000m at 2:40 to start the main program. The warm conditions may coincide nicely with a Global Warming demonstration planned for the German capital on Sunday, in which 250,000 bicyclists are expected to converge on the city from all directions. But the protest, which is forcing the closure of the main traffic arteries into the city, is expected to hinder the arrival of up to 35,000 fans traveling to Berlin for the meet.
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