News15 May 2008


Tune to attack One Hour World record in Ostrava – IAAF World Athletics Tour

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Dire Tune's breakthrough in Boston (© Getty Images)

Ostrava, Czech republicAfter last year’s successful venture with Haile Gebrselassie the organizers of the "47th Golden Spike" in Ostrava in 12 June, a Grand Prix status meet as part of the IAAF World Athletics Tour 2008, will organize a similar try for women.

Recent Boston Marathon winner Dire Tune of Ethiopia will in the course of 60 minutes try to run more than the 18,340m achieved by Tegla Loroupe back in 1998 in Borgholzhausen, Germany.

"I am very excited for this opportunity to come to Ostrava and attempt to run the One Hour World record,” said Tune from the Ethiopian pre-olympic marathon camp where 7 men and 7 women have been invited. “I have started training again after winning the Boston Marathon and I feel good to go after the record. I am excited to run on the same track where Haile broke the record.”

Also competing is Romanian World and Olympic participant Alina Gherasim who could try to achieve the European record (currently 18,084m by Italian Silvana Cruciata back in 1981). The race will be staged in the pre-programme with begin at 5pm (main programme at 6.30pm local time).

Other new top names announced for the meet are World Indoor champion Tariku Bekele who will compete in the ‘Zatopek Memorial’ 5000m, a race which has already won here in 2006 when it was contested over 3000m. "I want try to run my best, it is a key race for my preparation to Olympic games," he said.

Bekele’s best is so far 12:53.81 and meet record is the 12:48.81 set by Stephen Cherono (later to become Saif Saaeed Shaheen) in his famous duel with Hicham El Guerrouj in 2003.

In the 110m Hurdles, USA’s Osaka silver medallist Terrence Trammell returns to Ostrava after his 2006 win where he will face the already announced Cuban Dayron Robles.

Other new names added are in the women’s Javelin Throw where home star and World champion Barbora Spotakova will face for first time this year her main rivals from Germany - European champion Steffi Nerius and European record holder Christina Obergfoll.

Alfons Juck for the IAAF

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