Saif Saaeed Shaheen comes out of the famous "Meraviglia Mill" - Cinque Mulini 2005 (© Lorenzo Sampaolo)
Milan, ItalyQatar's Saif Saeed Shaheen, World 3000m Steeplechase champion and World record holder, and Australia's Benita Johnson, World Cross Country champion, added a new chapter to the glorious history of the fascinating Cinque Mulini - IAAF cross country permit - race which was held yesterday in San Vittore Olona.
MEN – Shaheen falls but recovers to win by 4 seconds
Shaheen avoided a mid-race disaster when he fell shortly before the bell and won by four seconds over last year's Cinque Mulini champion Boniface Kiprop from Uganda and the Italian marathon running hero Stefano Baldini who became the first Italian since Gennaro Di Napoli in 1996 to reach the podium in the Cinque Mulini.
Poland's Rafal Wokik set the very early pace ahead of a four-man pack which included Boniface Kiprop, Shaheen, Baldini and Eritrea's Ali Abdakkah Afringi. Very soon Kiprop, the World Junior 10,000m record holder, closed the gap on Wokik and took the lead. As last year Kiprop, who won with an impressive front-running race, pushed the pace in the first two laps on this occasion ahead of Shaheen, Baldini and Afringi.
In the third lap Shaheen took the initiative and went to the front, taking a one-second lead over Kiprop, while Baldini lost the ground and dropped to fourth place. The Qatari clocked 17:39 at the end of the third lap, and increased his lead during the following lap and seemed to have the win in his hands with a gap of about 13 seconds over Kiprop.
However the scenario changed dramatically shortly before the bell when Shaheen fell and seemed to be in trouble as the incident allowed Kiprop to close the gap. Shaheen's winning position seemed to be under threat as he dramatically slowed down but he found just enough strength to recover from the accident to hold on to the victory with a four-second gap over Kiprop. Shaheen crossed the finish-line in 29:40 for the 10km course.
Individual and team short race gold is the aim
"I suffered from pains in my knee after the fall but it is not really serious. Despite the accident it was a perfect course for me. The very warm welcome from the spectators along the course helped me to finish first. I would like to come back here next year", said Shaheen.
"I will train three weeks in Kenya to prepare the World Championships in France. I want the gold in the short course and a medal in the team ranking for Qatar. I will run both 3000 metres steeplechase and 5000 metres on the track. My goal is to run 7:46-7:47 in the 3000 metres steeplechase this summer", concluded Shaheen.
"Shaheen will now return to Kenya where he is planning three weeks of hard training sessions. What makes Shaheen a great athlete is his ability to remain focused. He is able to peak his form in a very short period of time", said Shaheen's Italian coach Renato Canova.
Kiprop’s second place follows on from his win in 2004 and runner’s-up spot in 2003 in San Vittore Olona. "When Shaheen fell I really hoped to catch him and get the win in the last lap. But I am very happy with the race. I am preparing for the long course race in St.Galmier but my plan is also directed on running very fast on 5000 metres this summer ", commented Kiprop at the end of the race.
Stefano Baldini, third in 30:06 with a three seconds lead over the Kenyan Elias Chelimo, is continuing his career on a high after his Athens olympic success. " I thought to be more competive today. I struggled a bit when Shaheen changed gear and pushed the pace. I am no longer used to running cross country and changing the pace in this kind of competitions. However, I really enjoyed this race and I am happy with this test just three days after my return from Namibia. Now I am planning a second cross country outing next week at the Campaccio ", confirmed Baldini.
The much-awaited clash between Shaheen and the 3000 metres steeplechase olympic champion Ezekiel Kemboi did not take place because the latter was forced to drop out due to health problems.
WOMEN – Dominant run by Johnson
Benita Johnson, who last year became the first Australian to win a World Cross Country title, won the women’s 6km race yesterday by 15 seconds from Hungary's Aniko Kalovics, who was a late entrant to the starting list on the eve of the event.
Kalovics, European Cross bronze medallist in 2003, took the lead early on, setting a very fast pace in the first two laps. The Australian preferred to remain close on the heels of the Hungarian (who now competes for the Italian squad Cover Sportiva Mapei Verbania). But before the bell Johnson who is coached by Nick Bideau increased the pace and pulled away from Kalovics opening up a solid margin. The Aussie covered the 6km distance in 19:17.
Johnson, a former national field hockey player, secured her fourth win this season after Amorebieta, Hannut and San Sebastian, in what was her last European cross country race before returning to Australia next week. "I really enjoyed this fascinating race through the mills known for its history. Hopefully I would like to come back next year. I will return to Australia to run the 10,000 metres at the Australian Trials for the World Championships in Helsinki. I will prepare for my title defence in St-Etienne/St-Galmier with Sonia O'Sullivan in Australia. Of course I feel the pressure because a contingent of very strong runners will come to run against me but I am confident that I can beat the Africans there if I am in good shape and I push hard as I did today.”
”Today Kalovics showed that she is in good shape by pushing the pace in the first two laps. She showed that she can be a serious challenger in the future. I will also run the London Marathon on 17 April but my focus is on the track. I am planning a busy schedule on the track. To be better prepared for Helsinki I would like to compete in the Golden League and Grand Prix circuit next summer,” concluded Johnson.
Diego Sampaolo for the IAAF
Selected results
Men (10 km):
1 Saif Saeed Shaheen (Qatar) 29:40
2 Boniface Kiprop (Uganda) 29:44
3 Stefano Baldini (Italy) 30:06
4 Elias Chelimo (Kenya) 30:09
5 Ali Abdallah Afringi (Eritrea) 30:23
6 Mohammed El Hachimi (Morocco) 30:23
7 Glynn Tromans (Great Britain) 30:27
8 Rached Amor (Tunisia) 30:29
9 Christian Belz (Switzerland) 30:30
10 Vasyl Matvichuk (Ukraine) 30:36
Women (6 km):
1 Benita Johnson (Australia) 19:17
2 Aniko Kalovics (Hungary) 19:32
3 Rita Jeptoo (Kenya) 19:52
4 Sultan Simret (Eritrea) 20:38
5 Vincenza Sicari (Italy) 20:42
6 Martina Krahenbuhl (Switzerland) 20:46
7 Julia Bleasdale (Great Britain) 20:46
8 Livia Toth (Hungary) 20:53
9 Aine Hoban (Great Britain) 20:54
10 Monique Zimmer (Switzerland) 20:55
