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By Bob Ramsak
OSTRAVA, Czech Republic (11-Jun) – Tirunesh Dibaba’s follow-up performance to her 5000m world record will be among the key highlights at the 47th Golden Spike Grand Prix in Ostrava, Czech Republic on Thursday where Dibaba will run 10,000m.
Racing in this sprawling Eastern Czech city just five days after shattering the 5000m world record with her 14:11.15 run, Dibaba isn’t predicting another record, but she will have to run fast in order to ensure selection to the Ethiopian Olympic team.
“After the world record last week it’s not easy to run again,” said Dibaba, who arrived from her home in Addis Ababa early this afternoon. “But I need to run well to get my qualification for the Olympics.”
Ethiopian selectors generally pick the season’s three fastest performers, so Dibaba is hoping that a performance in the 30:40 to 31:00 range will be enough be considered for selection.
“I am intending to run both (in Beijing),” said Dibaba, a two-time defending world champion over 10,000m. “But it’s not up to me to decide that. It’s up to my coaches and the federation.”
She has already decided however that she would be taking a stab at the Junxia Wang’s 29:31.78 world mark, set in 1993, later this season, most likely she said, at the Memorial Van Damme in Brussels.
As in Oslo, she’ll be joined by older sister Ejegayehu who has a 30:18.39 and an Olympic silver medal to her credit; Werknesh Kidane, whose 30:07.15 ranks her as the fourth fastest ever; and Benita Johnson, the Australian record holder (30:37.68) in the 10,000m and marathon. Johnson also needs an Olympic Games qualifying time.
Also of interest will be Kenyan Linet Masai’s 10,000m debut. Just 18, she followed up her 2007 World junior Cross Country triumph with a bronze medal finish in the senior race in March.
Besides Dibaba’s heroics in the 5000m, the most stunning display at Bislett Stadium last Friday came in the men’s 800m where Abubaker Kaki Khamis, running from the front, scorched to a superb 1:42.69 victory, a world junior record for the Sudanese sensation and the fastest in the world in five years. Kaki, the world indoor champion, will celebrate his 19th birthday in 110 days, and will presumably be looking for an early birthday present here. Second in Oslo was Kenyan David Rudisha, himself only 19, who improved his career best to 1:43.72, and will be looking for revenge here.
As is tradition in Ostrava, the longest race on the men’s program, named for Czech legend Emil Zatopek, is again one of the finest gatherings of talent on the early season calendar, and this year’s 5000m is no exception. Topping the loaded field is a solid triumvirate: World indoor 3000m champion Tariku Bekele, and Kenyans Eliud Kipchoge and Augustine Choge.
The younger of the Bekele brothers, Tariku is gradually working his way out from behind the long shadow cast by big brother Kenenisa. He improved to 12:52.45 in Berlin two weeks ago where he finished second. Choge, with a PB 12:53.66, is marginally slower on paper, but his recent form – a world-leading 1500m victory in Berlin, a 3:50.30 PB in Oslo’s Dream Mile and a world-leading 7:32.01 for 3000m in Doha early last month – indicates he should be taken seriously over the longer distance. Both will need to bring their A game against Kipchoge, the 2003 World champion who is always a solid threat when he steps on the track. In his most recent outing, he was third in the Hengelo 10,000, clocking 26:54.32.
A year ago, the meet began with Haile Gebrselassie’s successful assault on the world record for the One Hour run. This year it’ll the women’s turn in the classic distance challenge. More specifically, it’ll be Gebrselassie’s Ethiopian compatriot, Boston Marathon champion Dire Tune’s turn. She’ll be gunning for 18,340m, a mark set by Tegla Loroupe a decade ago in Borgholzhausen, Germany. Four pacesetters will assist in the bid which begins at 5 p.m., an hour and a half prior to the main program.
The women’s 800 features more than a half dozen women with sub-2:00 credentials. Lucia Klocova of Slovakia, second in Oslo, leads the field which includes world indoor champion Tamsyn Lewis and Russia’s European champion Olga Kotlyarova.
Elsewhere, Usain Bolt, the recently minted 100m world record holder, will make his eagerly-awaited follow up outing as well, this time competing in his favorite event, the 200m.
While rain forced a delay to Wednesday’s separate hammer throws competition, the forecast for Thursday calls for cloudy skies, a high of 20 C (68 F), and a 20 percent chance of showers.
PROGRAMMING NOTE:
WCSN, the Home of World Champions, has full coverage of the 2008 IAAF indoor and outdoor season, along with numerous other highly anticipated major track and field events on the web.
Next up will be the IAAF Grand Prix meeting in Ostrava, Czech Republic, on Thursday, June 12. Visit WCSN.com to see the full schedule of heart pounding IAAF race action, only at WCSN.com and learn how to watch.
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