Kenenisa Bekele (ETH) (© Getty Images)
Ethiopian Kenenisa Bekele, the World record holder for 5000m and 10,000m will be racing against Australia’s Craig Mottram on Sunday 15 July in Sheffield’s Don Valley stadium at the Norwich Union British Grand Prix, a Grand Prix status meeting as part of the IAAF World Athletics Tour 2007.
The Ethiopian who is looking for his third consecutive World 10,000m title in Osaka, Japan next month will run the 3000m distance facing stiff competition from double World Cup 3000m winner Craig Mottram and European Cross Country champion Mo Farah.
Bekele was a DNF at the World XC this spring and except for a 8:13.51 win over Two Miles in Hengelo on 26 May has been competitively inactive since that cross country drama.
The level of the challenge which faces the Olympic 10,000m champion in Sheffield should not be underestimated as Mottram famously beat Bekele last year in a sprint finish over 3000m in Athens at the World Cup. The Australian also saw off Kenenisa's brother Tariku plus much of the rest of Africa's elite when winning a beautifully executed 5000m race at the IAAF World Athletics Tour meeting in Ostrava on 27 June.
“I'm not running too many races this year, so to allow me more recovery time and ensure that I’m always running at my best,” said Bekele.
“I relish the opportunity to run against a class field, like Craig Mottram and Mo Farah , it will help me with my World Championship preparation.”
“My focus is now to have a great summer, starting with the Norwich Union British Grand Prix in Sheffield, where I know I will be competing with strong competitors.”
“It will be my first race at the Don Valley stadium and I am really looking forward to it. I am feeling good and looking forward to the challenge.”
Zarah Al-Kudcy and Chris Turner for the IAAF
