Oslo, Norway - Outstanding long distance running has always been a tradition in Oslo with the World records in the women’s 5000m by Meseret Defar and Tirunesh Dibaba in the last two years the most recent results to resonate around Bislett’s famous sporting cauldron.

Now in 2009 after an absence of two years the men’s 5000m is again included in the programme at the ExxonMobil Bislett Games in Oslo, Norway, on Friday 3 July, one of the ten events eligible for the $1 Million ÅF Golden League Jackpot in 2009.

The 5000m is in many respects returning to one of its spiritual homes, to a stadium which has witnessed so many races of legend including World records at the distance by Dave Moorcroft and Said Aouita.

Olympic 5000m and 10,000m champion and World record holder, Kenenisa Bekele of Ethiopia will be the major draw in the starting line up in 2009. However, the last time the Ethiopian competed at the Bislett stadium he tasted one of his rare track defeats at the hands of Isaac Songok in 2006 when he finished second, comprehensively out-sprinted in the home straight of the 5000m, 12:58.22 to the Kenyan’s 12:55.79.

Bekele, the winner over 5000m at the year’s first ÅF Golden League meeting in Berlin on 14 June (13:00.76) of course has victory and the Jackpot in mind, but after an injury troubled autumn and winter following his double triumph at the Olympics in Beijing he perhaps remains vulnerable by his usually invincible racing standards.

Bekele who holds the World record with 12:37.35 will face a starting list that contains no fewer than ten other athletes who have personal bests of under 13 minutes for 5000m. Long standing rival and countryman Sileshi Sihine whose best is 12:47.04, and one of Bekele’s great cross country rivals Zersenay Tadese of Eritrea (12:59.21) who will move back down in distance having tried the marathon this spring, will be two of the top names to tackle Bekele in Oslo.

Leading the Kenyan charge among others will be Abraham Chebii (12:52.99) a previous winner at Bislett who was second to Bekele in Berlin, Moses Masai (12:50.55) and Olympic bronze medallist Edwin Soi (12:52.40).

Chris Turner for the IAAF