News19 Jul 2008


Paul Kipsiele Koech to make World record attempt in Heusden

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Paul Kipsiele Koech in the Steeplechase in Stuttgart (© Getty Images)

HeusdenZolder, BelgiumIt was a firm announcement from Paul Kipsiele Koech at the press conference Friday (18), but the Kenyan looked very serious and determined when he talked about Sunday’s 3000m Steeplechase (20 July).

“I will run at the KBC Night of Athletics as if it were the Olympic Games. My first target is to break my personal best of 7:56.37, but that would bring me close to the World record of 7:53.63. The pace will be set to break Saif Saaeed Shaheen’s World Record.”

The KBC Night of Athletics is one of a select group of Area meetings at which points can be acquired by athletes to qualify for the IAAF / VTB Bank World Athletics Final, to be held on 13-14 September in Stuttgart, Germany.

Broken Olympic dream for Paul Kipsiele Koech

Paul Kipsiele Koech holds the best performance of 2008 in the 3000m steeplechase with 8:01.85. “Definitely, I was well prepared and in good form for the Kenyan trials. I felt I was the strongest athlete in the race when I went into the lead on the last water jump. I was pushed…lost balance. I stumbled into the third lane and only managed to finish fourth. I was taken away by an ambulance.”

This fact is a huge disappointment for the Kenyan who also failed to qualify as a world leading performer for the World Championships in 2007, and he is now trying to turn his frustration into determination to perform.

The early pace will be set by James Kosgei who is due to pass the 1000m mark in 2:38. Paris Golden League winner Tareq Mubarak Taher will try to carry Koech through to 2000m in World record pace of 5:15. “I will be alone in the ultimate laps of the race”, admits Koech, “but the crowd will push me ahead.”

With the help of his management office Golazo, Paul Koech raises funds for the Kapchepkoro school in the Rift Valley. “This is where I went to school as a young kid. The classrooms don’t meet the necessary standards anymore. Education is very important and I want to help the community where I live. I started running 11 years ago in Kapchepkoro. People then thought that I was crazy or confused. Now there are more than fifty young athletes who train with me. One of our prospects even qualified for the World Junior Championships in Bydgoszcz this year.”

Strong fields in middle distance and distance running

There is an equally strong line up in the Women’s 3000m Steeplechase. USA Olympic qualifiers Anna Willard and Jennifer Barringer face Korene Hinds and Mardrea Hyman from Jamaica.

More than 20 athletes figure on the start list for the men’s 5000m, 8 of which have a sub 13:10 personal best. The 2007 KBC Night winner Ahmed Baday (MOR) will be challenged by Silas Kipruto (KEN), Ali Abdosh (ETH) and Sultan Khamis Zaman (QAT). The race will be dedicated to Tom Compernolle who died in a car accident recently at the age of 33. The Belgian athlete won the 5000m in Heusden-Zolder in 2002 and competed in the 2004 Olympic Games on the distance.

Ismail Ahmed Ismail is the favourite in the men’s 800m, but Nadjim Manseur (ALG) and Ismael Kombich (KEN) will not make life easy for the 24 year old Sudanese. Gary Reed from Canada is an interesting outsider in this race.

The women’s 1500m is headed by Amy Mortimer (USA) and Georgie Clark (AUS), but the race promises to be very compact, while the men’s metric mile will be very tight as well, with Kamel Boulahfane (ALG), Mohammed Shaween (KSA), Mansoor Ali Belal (BRN), Suleiman Simotwo (KEN) and Juan Van Deventer (RSA) on the track.

Tough sprinting test for Gevaert

Local star and Belgian sports icon Kim Gevaert gears up for her last competition before Beijing. In front of her home fans Gevaert will compete in both the 100m and the 200m. The 100m is a true test for Gevaert as she lines up against Bahamian Chandra Sturrup, and USA’s Carmelita Jeter, Angela Williams and Melissa Barber, and Emma Ania from Great Britain.

LaVerne Jones-Ferrett (IVB) and Shalonda Solomon (USA) are the main opponents for Gevaert in the 200m.

The men’s sprints gather John Capel (USA), Kendall Stevens (USA) and Dwight Thomas (JAM) in the 100m and Marvin Anderson (JAM), Brian Dzingai (ZIM) and Chris Williams (JAM) in the 200m.

Howard challenges Hellebaut in the High Jump

The women’s High Jump is also eagerly awaited by the Belgian fans. Tia Hellebaut is gradually building up towards her best form and she faces a tough challenge from the American champion Chaunte Howard. In Paris Hellebaut edged out Howard crossing the bar at 1.97m against 1.94m for the American. Svetlana Radzivil (UZB) and Nicole Forrester (CAN) will also be in the battle for the honours.

There are more than a handful of favourites in the men’s Pole Vault. Derek Miles (USA), Oleksandr Korchmid (UKR) and Romain Mesnil (FRA) are only a few of them. 2004 Olympic champion Tim Mack is also amongst the competitors. Dana Veldakova (SVK) and Shani Marks (USA) in the Triple Jump and Dylan Armstrong (CAN) and Russell Winger (USA) in the Shot Put are some of the other athletes to watch on the infield.

There is only one thing that the organisers are worried about and that is the weather forecast. “The weather is chilly and sometimes wet in Belgium these days,” says Meeting Director Christophe Impens. “We have already changed the time schedule. All sprint events have been moved early in the program in order to avoid the evening cold. The Men’s 3000m steeple will also advance in the program.” As usual a capacity crowd will fill the stadium “De Veen” in Heusden-Zolder and national television provides live coverage.

Ivo Hendrix for the IAAF

Click here for the Meeting website

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