Posted: July 27, 2004

Athletics: Ramzi, Shaheen Headliners In Stockholm

From David Monti

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

By Bob Ramsak

STOCKHOLM -- Rashid Ramzi and Saif Saaeed Shaheen headline the distance action at this evening's DN Galan Super Grand Prix in Stockholm's intimately charming Olympic Stadium.

Ramzi, the season's middle-distance revelation, makes his first appearance since his stunning upset win at Rome's Golden Gala 1500 meters. In Rome, the 24-year-old Moroccan-born Bahraini ran to a 3:30.25 personal best to defeat the strongest field of the year, including world record holder Hicham El Guerrouj. Here he'll face 19-year-old Alex Chirchir of Kenya, who has a 3:32.35 to his credit this year, along with Morrocan Adil El Kaouch, who has clocked 3:32.86 this season. The field also includes Canadian Olympian Kevin Sullivan, Syndey Olympic champion Noah Ngeny, and Paris bronze medallist Ivan Heshko. Americans Jason Lunn and Charlie Gruber, still chasing the Olympic 'A' stasndard will compete in the "B" race. A 3:33 pace was requested.

The men's 5000 features six runners that have dipped under the still-formidable 13-minute barrier, and organizers say an assault on Daniel Komen's 12:51.60 meet record is in the works. As has become tradition in Stockholm, any athlete who sets a stadium record is rewarded with a 1-carat diamond valued at US$10,000. In the 5000, defending DN Galan steeplechase champion --and reigning World chamion-- Saif Saaeed Shaheen of Qatar is expected to lead that assault. His PB 12:48.80 dates back to his victory over Hicham El Guerrouj in Ostrava last year. While Kenyan-born Bahraini Musir Salem Jawher should pose the biggest threat to Shaheen, the race's lap bonuses, oftentimes resulting in fierce jostling for position, adds to the race's unpredictablility.

The steeplechase has a strong tradition in Stockholm, and that tradition continues this year. All three Olympic medallists from Sydney -- Kenyans Ruben Kosgei and Wilson Boit Kipketer and bronze medalist Ali Ezzine of Morocco. But the trio looks to be upstaged by world leader Paul Kipsiele Koech, whose 7:59.65 paces the world this year. With his 8:05.52 win in Hengelo in late May, Kenyan teen Brimin Kipruto is third on the world list thus far this season.

The women's 800 includes the Athens-bound US trio of Jearl Miles-Clark, Nicole Teter, and Hazel Clark. Brazil's Luciana Mendez (1:59.11), Mina Ait Hamou (1:59.13) and Guyanese national record holder Marian Burnett (1:59.47) have each dipped under 1:59.50 this season. Kenyan Alice Timbilil, second to compatriot's Isabella Ochichi in Paris on Friday, tops the women's 3000.

The weekend's showers and clouds evolved into pleasant, partly cloudy conditions today. Another sell-out crowd is expected.