Posted: June 22, 2005

Athletics: TDK Golden League 2005 – Distance Events

Monte-Carlo – The TDK Golden League 2005 commences with the Meeting Gaz de France, Paris St-Denis on Friday 1 July. An annual six meeting series comprising the world’s premier one day meetings - Paris, Rome, Oslo, Zurich, Brussels and Berlin - the TDK Golden League offers at least a share of the $1 million Jackpot for any athlete who wins his or her event in each of the six venues, and then goes on to compete at the World Athletics Final in Monaco, 9 - 10 September.

There are 12 TDK Golden League events via which the Jackpot can be won, and as we build-up to the start of the series next week, we begin with a preview of the distance events – 3000m/5000m for both men and women – on the basis of the principle stars who will toe the line in the Stade de France on 1 July.

The women will run the 3000m and the men the 5000m in Paris, and, among the many champions and record breakers, one name looms large, that of Ethiopia’s Kenenisa Bekele, Athlete of the Year, and IAAF World Ranked number one for 5000m/10,000m.

The 23-year-old is World and Olympic 10,000m champion and World record holder for both 5000m and 10,000m, but Bekele won’t have it all his own way. Also confirmed are some of his top compatriots who include Gebre Gebremariam, Olympic 5000m 4th placer and recent winner of the national 5000m and 10,000m titles, and fellow Olympic finalists, Mulugeta Wendimu (1500m 10th) and Dejene Berhanu (5000m 5th).

Kenyans in the field include former World Cross Country short course champions Benjamin Limo and John Kibowen, and Commonwealth 5000m winner Sammy Kipketer. Uganda’s World Junior 10,000m record holder and Olympic 4th placer Boniface Kiprop cannot be discounted even at half distance, and there are also the impressive Qatari’s James Kwalia and Abdullah Ahmed Hassan.

But the men shouldn’t grab all the headlines. In the women’s 3000m, there is Olympic 5000m silver medallist Isabella Ochichi, World Championships bronze medallist Edith Masai and Alice Timbilili, all Kenyans. Expect to see in close contention, Ethiopia’s Werknesh Kidane, this winter’s double World Cross medallist, Uganda’s Steeplechase world leader Dorcus Inzikuru, and newly crowned Russian 10,000m title holder Galina Bogomolova, all pressing their own winning claims.

TDK Golden League 2005
2005 Dates
Paris- Friday, 1 July
Rome- Friday, 8 July
Oslo- Friday, 29 July
Zurich- Friday, 19 August
Brussels- Friday, 26 August
Berlin- Sunday, 4 September
2005 Events
There will be seven events for men and five for women:

Men - 100m, 800m, 1500m or Mile, 3000m or 5000m, 110m Hurdles, High Jump, Javelin Throw.
Women - 100m, 800m, 3000m or 5000m, 400m Hurdles, Triple Jump.