Posted: May 11, 2006

Athletics: With Elusive Title In Hand, Bungei Eyeing More Fast Times

From David Monti

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

By Bob Ramsak

When Wilfred Bungei, perennially among the fastest 800 meter runners in the world, resumes competition this weekend in Doha, Qatar, he'll do so in somewhat unfamiliar territory: he will start with a world title under his belt.

The past three seasons, the 25-year-old Kenyan has been the world's fastest in the two-lap race, the second fastest behind World record holder Wilson Kipketer in 2002, and the fourth fastest in 2001. But he had fallen short of claiming a major title until his narrow victory over reigning world indoor champion Mbulaeni Mulaudzi at the World Indoor Championships in March.

"Now I really want to run more fast times," Bungei said after his victory in Moscow. "I want to run some more 1:42s. Hopefully even 1:41 this summer."

After his season's debut in Qatar, Bungei will headline the 800 at the Golden Spike Grand Prix in Ostrava, Czech Republic, on May 30, where he hopes to challenge the meet record of 1:43.24 he set in 2003.

"I want to promise spectators a very fast time," he said. "And I don't do that very often." Bungei has requested a pacemaker to take him through the first lap in 49.5 and 600 meters in 1:16. "Then I can attack my meet record."

The field will also include Asian Record holder Youssef Saad Kamel from Bahrain, the former Kenyan Gregory Konchellah, and Kenyan Alfred Kirwa, the 2004 world junior champion.

Organizers of the Czech meeting, this year's only eastern European stop on the World Athletics Tour, also announced that Tariku Bekele, he younger brother of World and Olympic champion Kenenisa Bekele, will make his first start in Ostrava, in the Emil Zatopek Memorial 3000. Adil Kaouch of Morocco, the silver medallist at 1500 metres at last year's World Championships, will be in the field as well. The 27-year-old was third in the short race at last month's World Cross Country Championships.

Hicham El Guerrouj, the double Olympic champion, will return to Ostrava as well, but he has yet to decide if he will race.

The World record holder at 1500 meters and the mile, El Guerrouj made his debut at 5000 in Ostrava in 2003, where he was defeated by Saif Saaeed Shaheen.

"I am in good training, but am still having difficulties to find the right motivation," said El Guerrouj, who hasn't raced since his historic 1500/5000m triumph in Athens. "But for sure I will come to honour the great Emil Zatopek."

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