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Event organizer Arjan Pathmamanoharan is hoping to bring the women's world record for 10,000m to the Dutch city of Utrecht in 2009. Pathmamanoharan has secured financial the backing to offer a 100,000 Euro (USD 158,000) bonus to the women who can beat the 15 year-old standard of China's Wang Junxia set in Beijing in 1993: 29:31.78. Wang's mark remains the only sub-30:00 10,000m clocking by a woman.
"The organization will invite the best athletes as Lornah Kiplagat, Tirunesh Dibaba, Ejegayehu Dibaba, Meseret Defar, Paula Radcliffe and Vivian Cheruiyot for this spectacular event, in which they can win the bonus of 100,000 Euro," Pathmamanoharan explained in a press release.
The meeting will be held in June, but the exact date has not been selected. Pathmamanoharan will coordinate the date with the Dutch federation, but he said that Saturday, June 13, was the likely date.
Utrecht has been an excellent venue for running the 10,000m in the last few years. In 2007 two of the top-3 times in the world were set in Utrecht, and five sub-32:00 minute marks were recorded in total. In 2005 there were two sub-31:00 marks in Utrecht and six marks under 32:00.
"The circumstances on this track in June are mostly good: no wind and a pleasant temperature, around 15° to 20° C (59° to 68°F) degrees at the time of running," commented Pathmamanoharan.
NOTE: Athletes, managers and coaches interested in finding out more about this event should contact Pathmamanoharan at a_patje@hotmail.com or +31-6-2706 1421 --Ed.
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