Posted: July 15, 2005

Athletics: Shaheen On Helsinki: 'i'm Going There To Win Gold'

By Bob Ramsak, Track Profile

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Saif Saaeed Shaheen doesn’t mince words when looking towards his upcoming title defense in the 3000 meter steeplechase at next month’s IAAF World Championships in Helsinki.

“I am going there to win gold, to win another title,” the 22-year-old Kenyan-born Qatari said. “I’m not going to win anything other than gold. That’s what I have to have in mind.”

In one of the most exciting steeplechase races ever, Shaheen, the former Stephen Cherono, waged a vicious battle with Kenyan Ezekiel Kemboi at the 2003 World Championships. Reminiscent of that victory at the Stade de France in Paris two years ago, Shaheen was dramatically challenged to the finish at the Golden Gala meeting last Friday in Rome by another Kenyan, Paul Kipsiele Koech. After a furious come-from-behind sprint finish, Shaheen clocked 7:56.34, just 3/100s of a second in front of Koech. Displaying the competitive ferocity of the event, their performances were the fifth and sixth fastest ever.

“I wanted to run 7:50,” Shaheen said, a performance considerably faster that the 7:53.63 world record he set in Brussels last year. But the assault on his global standard, Shaheen explained, was thwarted by inadequate pacing.

“We had three pacemakers. The first was supposed to run three laps, the second one lap, and the third one lap. But the second pacemaker didn’t do the job that was expected of him. So the third pacemaker overtook the second and did the whole job.”

“I wanted to run faster,” Shaheen continued, “but when I saw two kilometers in 5:19, I was disappointed. So it became a tactical race. Then I knew that the last 100 meters would be tight.”

At Rome’s Olympic Stadium, Koech took the lead and significantly upped the tempo with 500 meters to go to nearly score a dramatic upset, but Shaheen dismisses the notion that the Kenyan may have discovered a recipe to end his dominance in the event. Shaheen currently carries one of the longest win streaks in athletics, a 16-race stretch in the event that dates back to May 25, 2003.

“I was relaxed because I was expecting something fast,” Shaheen said. “I was still strong at the end but I didn’t time the kick well. I was late a little bit.”

Shaheen added that he was prepared for a tough contest from Koech, the Olympic bronze medallist, as well as from former world record holder Brahim Boulami of Morocco, who followed the leaders for much of the race.

“I was not surprised. Every lap he was right there behind me. I know these guys are strong. I was expecting something from them.”

Shaheen said that his Rome victory, despite his world record attempt being dashed, was an important stepping stone towards Helsinki. He doesn’t plan on racing again until the opening round of the world championships.

“I’m not disappointed about not breaking the world record. As long as I gained something. I have a good idea about my opponents now. Boulami is coming up. Paul [Kipsiele] Koech is strong also.”

Shaheen added that there are numerous other key contenders that he’ll have to be prepared for.

“A championships is a championship. Anything can happen. I expect everybody to be a tough competitor in Helsinki. Remember in 2000 in Sydney when Nils Schumann came from nowhere to win Olympic gold in the 800. Anything can happen.”

But Shaheen is clearly envisioning a repeat of his performance two years ago, a race that had more 65,000 people on their feet.

“I think it’s going to be a very exciting race. I’ll try something different. Maybe I’ll go fast the first lap and slow the second. Or fast for two laps.” Smiling widely, Shaheen added, “But I won’t tell you now.”

“Whether it’s fast or slow,” he promised, “I think I’ll do okay. And it will be exciting.”

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