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BRUSSELS -- News, notes and a preview for this evening's Memorial van Damme Golden League meeting in the Belgian capital.
Notebook:
-- The meet sold out this year on the morning of the women's 100 meter final at the European Championships, prior to Kim Gevaert's first of two dash titles in Gothenburg, and before Tia Hellebaut's surprise win in the high jump. "We could have easily sold 10,000 more tickets," said meet director Wifred Meert. The increased interest caused other problems as well. "Half the Belgian government wants to come now and we don't know how to seat people," Meert said, explaining that there simply aren't enough VIP seats available
-- The results of the annual auction are in: Asafa Powell purchased the painting on which the meet poster was based, paying 5000 euros. "He recently bought a new house and wants to begin decorating it with artwork," said Meert.
-- This year's meeting marks several significant milestones, all of which will be celebrated in front of a crowd of 47,000 at the Stade Roi Baudouin: it's the competition's 30th anniversary, it will mark the 100th anniversary of the Belgian Olympic Committee, and a special race has been added to the program to remember a Belgian quartet that set a world record in the 4 x 800 relay 50 years ago.
-- Meeting organizers had asked the city of Brussels to help pitch in for a new track this year. The budget didn't allow for it, but a compromise was reached, resulting in a new 100 meter straight.
-- Spotted last night: world and Olympic champion Kenenisa Bekele eating out... at McDonald's.
-- Current conditions: The morning and slight afternoon rains have seemed to move on. Currently at the stadium, partly cloudy skies, with the stadium enjoying some sunshine.
Event-by-event overview --
MEN –
100m:
Asafa Powell continues his unbeaten season and his quest for a share of the Golden League Jackpot. On the heels of his world record equalling 9.77 in Zurich seven days ago, the Jamaican is the clear favorite. From the field assembled here, Americans Leonard Scott and Marcus Brunson have come closest, while Shawn Crawford, who nabbed his first win of the season in Monaco last weekend, is looking to salvage the season with a strong outing here.
200m:
In terms of head-to-heads, the half-lap could be the race of the meet. Tyson Gay, besides Powell the hottest sprinter of the past two months, starts in lane 5, with world-leader Xavier Carter and Wallace Spearmon to the outside in lanes 6 and 7. Jordan Vaden, in lane 4, is still looking for his sub-20 form from June. Carter flew his parents, two sisters and a brother to Brussels for the race.
400m:
Jeremy Wariner resumes his pursuit of a share of the Golden League Jackpot after win No. 4 in Zurich. There, he had company longer than in any other race this season, and here both men who did the chasing, African champion Gary Kikaya and American LaShawn Merritt, will resume their pursuit of Wariner. Said Kikaya: "No one is invincible."
1500m:
A big field --counting pacesetters, 21 in all-- with Kenyan Alex Kipchirchir and world champion Rachid Ramzi playing the key role. Ramzi, wanting to produce a fast performance, has promised that he'll follow the brisk pace.
Pace: Geoffrey Rono 1:51.5 through 800, Elkanah Angwenyi 2:47.5 through 1000.
5000m:
When the season began, Kenenisa Bekele said that he would take a break from concerted assaults on his own world records, choosing instead to pursue a slice of the Golden League Jackpot. When he lines up for the evening-capping 5000, Bekele said he just may take a shot at his two-year-old 12:37.35 world record.
"If my shape is good, and if the weather is perfect, then why not?" Bekele said. "Of course, this year I wanted to focus on the Golden League and the jackpot. Tomorrow is the first time that I might try for a record."
After finishing second in the six-meet series opener in Oslo in early June, Bekele has bounced back to claim victories in Rome, Paris and Zurich to remain alive in the hunt for a share of $500,000.
Last year, Bekele capped the Belgian Golden League fixture with a 26:17.53 world record in the 10,000, assisted by his younger brother Tariku, who guided him through the first 5000 in 13:09.19, just shy of the 13:07 target they had set. Tariku returns this year as well, on the heels of his world junior title over the distance in Beijing last week, and is eager to once again help set the tempo for his older brother.
"I will try for 60 to 60.5 seconds per lap," 19-year-old Tariku Bekele said. "I think this is good for a record pace."
Their chief competition includes Kenyan Augustine Choge, this year's winner at the Commonwealth Games, and perennial threat Eliud Kipchoge, the 2003 world champion.
Pace: Roberto Garcia 2:30 for 1000, Tariku Bekele 5:02 and 7:35 through 2000 and 3000
10,000m:
The 10,000, a regular staple in Brussels, is nonetheless a lesser draw minus Bekele, and this year will open the main evening program. 10 of the 18 fastest-ever performances in the event have come on this track, including world records by Salah Hissou, Paul Terget, and Bekele.
No one has yet dipped under 27 minutes in the event this year, but with few top notch 10,0000s contested on the international circuit, that's a situation that's likely to change here. Top entrants in the field include Uganda Boniface Kiprop and Sammy Kipketer of Kenya.
Pace: Ivan Hierro 2:30 for 1000 and 5:18 for 2000, Mark Kiprop 7:58 for 3000, Joseph Kosgei 10:38 and 13:18 for 4000 and 5000
3000m S/C:
Saif Saaeed Shaheen will take another stab at his 7:53.63 world record in the steeplechase set on this track two years ago, his last assault this year. He's fallen a little short in each of his two races this year, clocking 7:56.32 in Athens in July and 7:56.54 in Zurich a week ago, respectively the sixth and ninth fastest performances ever. The main problem the 23-year-old Kenyan-born Qatari is encountering this year, he said, is to find adequate pacemakers to help with the effort.
This time around Spaniard Cesar Perez will pace the first three laps, while the search continues for the second who can assist with the 5:15 to 5:16 pace for 2000 meters that Shaheen has requested.
"There aren't too many candidates for sure," said meet director Meert.
[For more on Shaheen, please see my story for the IAAF ]
Pace: Cesar Perez 2:36.5 for 1000 and 3:56.0 for 1500; 2nd pacer likely to be Qatari Jamal Bilal Salem
4 x 800m Relay:
In lieu of a men's 800, traditionally one of the year's fastest, organizers have pieced together a star-studded cast to challenge the 7:03.89 world record in the 4 x 800, set by the formidable British quartet of Steve Elliott, Gary Cook, Steve Cram and Sebastian Coe. The Kenyan foursome --Wilfred Bungei, Ismael Kombich, Joseph Mutua and William Yiampoy-- look to be the strongest, and will take on teams from Qatar, Spain, and the U.S., along with mixed squads from Benelux countries and an "all-star" international quartet. The U.S. squad includes David Krummenacker, Khadevis Robinson, Sam Burley and Jebreh Harris. To challenge the mark, 1:45 legs will be required, a difficult task in unpaced races.
Long Jump:
The year's standout jumper, world leader Irving Saladino, goes for GL win No. 4; chief competition again includes Mohamed Salman Al-Khuwalidi of Saudi Arabia, and Ghanaian Ignisious Gaisah. Dwight Phillips pulled out with injury and returned to the U.S., while European champion Andrew Howe is skipping the meet to be fully rested for Sunday's meet in Rieti, Italy.
Javelin:
After being knocked out of the jackpot hunt last weekend in Zurich, the best Olympic champion Andreas Thorkildsen can hope for here is to get some measure of revenge against Finn Tero Pitkamaki.
WOMEN –
100m:
Jamaica's double world leader Sherone Simpson, the winner in Rome and Zurich, is going for GL win No. 3, and arrives in Brussels heads and shoulders above the field. The Marion Jones case comes into play here in terms of the GL Jackpot chase. Should Jones's B test for EPO come back positive, she would face disqualification, from the Paris race, where she beat Simpson, putting the Jamaican into the hunt for the five-for-six Jackpot chase.
200m:
This race will be the favorite for the sell-out crowd, with European double dash champion Kim Gevaert making her first appearance at home since her Gothenburg double. Admittedly tired on Sunday after her 11.34 in Monaco, A modest field here will help with her recovery.
400m:
Like Wariner, her training partner, Sanya Richards continues her jackpot quest, and like Wariner, her stiffest challenge should come from her closest pursuers in Zurich, European champion Vanya Stambolova and Jamaican Novlene Williams.
800m:
The women's 800 is expected to be hotly contested, with a solid field led by world champion Zulia Calatayud of Cuba, Russians Svetlana Cherkasova and Svetlana Klyuka, and African champion Janeth Jepkosgei.
Pace: Tatyana Levina 56.0 for 400
5000m:
Tirunesh Dibaba continues her quest for a perfect six-for-six record in the Golden League this year. Her chase was made easier last weekend when flight complications kept Meseret Defar, the recently-minted world record holder who defeated Dibaba at the African Championships earlier this month, from reaching Zurich. This time, Defar, who clocked 14:24.53 at Icahn Stadium on New York's Randall Island in June, has reached her destination. Isabella Ochichi, the Olympic silver medallist, is also in the solid field.
Olga Komyagina 2:52.00 through 1000, 5:46 through 2000, and 8:40 through 3000
100m Hurdles:
World champion Michelle Perry leads the field here, with European champion Susanna Kallur, young American Virginia Powell and a resurgent Perdita Felicien expecting to challenge.
Pole Vault:
Yelena Isinbayeva returns to the sight of one of her world records, her 4.92 follow-up to 4.91 from the 2004 Olympic Games. After recent competitions, Isinbayeva has said she's been pleased with the way she's adjusted to her technical changes this year, and may be ready to return to her world record collecting. Pole Anna Rogowska returns to competition after two months away, and U.S. champion Jen Stuczynski is set to compete before the biggest crowd ever in her career.
High Jump:
European champ Tia Hellebaut will be the crowd favorite, but is a minor question mark, still not fully recovered by a cold that slowed her last weekend in Zurich. Zurich winner Venelina Veneva and world champion Kajsa Bergqvist are again expected to be in the mix for the win, while Croatia's Blanka Vlasic decided to skip the meet. Tired, she preferred to be full rested for her upcoming appearance at home in Zagreb on Thursday.
Jackpot chase summary:
In all, four athletes --Asafa Powell, Americans Jeremy Wariner and Sanya Richards, and Tirunesh Dibaba-- remain in contention in the hunt for the Golden League jackpot's top prize, while Kenenisa Bekele and Panamanian long jumper Irving Saladino are still alive for five victories. Winners of five of the six events will share a $500,000 prize pot; winners of all six will share and additional $500,000.
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