Posted: May 28, 2004

Athletics: Steeplechase Will Be Hot At Ostrava

From David Monti

(c) 2004 Race Results Weekly, all rights reserved RaceResultsWeekly.com

By Bob Ramsak

Said Saeef Shaheen, who last year captured the world steeplechase title after a thrilling dual with Ezekiel Kemboi, will face the Kenyan again at the Golden Spike Super Grand Meeting in Ostrava, Czech Republic, Tuesday, 08-Jun, organizers announced this week.

In 2003, Shaheen, the former Kenyan Stephen Cherono, dominated the steeplechase, winning each of his nine races over the distance. In Ostrava last year, Shaheen defeated Hicham El Guerrouj in the 5000m in 12:48.81, the fastest performance of the year. In his only track race this season, Shaheen was defeated in the 5000m two weeks ago by world champion Eliud Kipchoge; Kemboi has yet to race this season. Kenyan Wilson Boit Kipketer, a former world record holder in the event, is entered in the race as well.

The women's race will feature Justyna Bak of Poland and Russian Lyubov Ivanova, the third and fourth fastest-ever steeplechasers, along with former world record holder Cristina Casandra of Romania. Ugandan Dorcus Inzikuru will set the pace. Three of the ten fastest-ever women's steeplechase performances have been run in Ostrava.

Briton Kelly Holmes, who is still toying with the idea of an Olympic middle distance double, will test her fitness in the 1500, taking on Canada's Carmen Douma Hussar, world indoor bronze medallist, and Hayley Tullett, world outdoor bronze medallist. The meet record in the event, 4:06.6, was set by Grete Waitz in 1977.

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