Posted: March 10, 2006

Athletics: Bekele, Shaheen And Kipchoge Ready For Sunday's 'Race Of Champions'

From David Monti

© 2006 Race Results Weekly, all rights reserved RaceResultsWeekly.com

By Bob Ramsak

MOSCOW - Setting up what Eliud Kipchoge acknowledged was going to be this weekend’s “race of champions” at the 11th IAAF World Indoor Championships, all the key players in the men’s 3000m advanced easily to Sunday afternoon’s eagerly anticipated final.

Kipchoge, the 2003 World champion at 5000m, and reigning world and Olympic champion Kenenisa Bekele, were barely winded after winning the two morning heats, clocking 7:52.57 and 7:54.85 respectively, in their first appearances at a world indoor championship.

“I didn’t have to use too much energy,” Kipchoge said.

“It was okay, no problems today,” Bekele said.

Behind Kipchoge in the stronger of the two heats, Bekele’s younger brother Tariku (7:52.58), two-time world steeplechase champion Said Saaeed Shaheen (7:52:85), and Ireland’s European indoor champion, Alistair Cragg (7:53.74) all automatically advanced.

In a blanket finish in the second heat, Moukheld Al-Outaibi of Saudi Arabia, Shadrack Korir of Kenya (each in 7:55.14) and Adil Kaouch of Morocco followed the Ethiopian into Sunday’s final.

Running in just his second indoor race, Shaheen admitted he’s still getting used to the format.

“It’s very different from outdoors, “ said the Kenyan-born Qatari, whose only previous indoor race was his 7:39.77 Area record at the Asian Indoor Championships last month. “The pushing, spiking, just too many things happening.”

But whatever will come to pass in the final, Shaheen said he was prepared. Refusing to reveal even the most minute detail of his race plan, Shaheen did say that he does expect the Bekele brothers to act in concert.

“That could be to my advantage,” he said, but refusing to elaborate. “I am in very good condition. For or slow will be good for me.”

Kipchoge echoed his former compatriot’s sentiments.

“Anything that will happen on Sunday, I will be there. I’m really prepared because on Sunday it will be the race of champions.”

“Sunday won’t be a race for a fast time, but it will be a race for a medal,” Bekele said. “All the top athletes are here. Shaheen and Kipchoge will be my main challengers, but the other athletes, like the Moroccans, should not be overlooked. Also,” he added with a smile, “my brother too is not an easy opponent.”

Have the pair discussed their race plan?

“Yes, yes,” he confirmed. “Maybe we will make the race fast. Or,” he added, “maybe not.”

The championship record of 7:34.71 was set by Haile Gebrselassie in 1997.

The remaining four qualifiers all advanced from the faster first heat – Gunther Weidlinger of Austria, Halil Akkas of Turkey, Tareq Mubarak Taher of Bahrain, and Russian Pavel Naumov.

After leading briefly in each of their heats, Americans Jonathan Riley (7:59.30) and Steve Slattery (8:17.15) struggled, and did not advance.

“The pace just felt hard the whole way,” said Slattery, who was fifth at the national championships last month. “It was good to get the opportunity to compete, but I really felt that one of the other guys would have represented better.”

The lone middle or long distance events scheduled for today’s evening session are the first round races in the men’s and women’s 800. In the men’s race, Russia’s Olympic champion Yuriy Borzakovskiy is the heavy favorite, while in the women’s world leader Olga Kotlyarova (1:57.51) and Natalya Tsyganova (1:59.18) represent the host nation’s rich stable of half-milers. Maria Mutola, winner of the last three editions, will be aiming for her seventh world indoor title.

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