Daniel Kipchirchir Komen wins big in Brussels (© Getty Images)
Daniel Kipchirchir Komen opens his season at the KBC Indoor meeting in Gent next Sunday (8). The Kenyan was the quickest in the world at 1500m both indoors and outdoors. The battle between Komen and fellow Kenyans Haron Keitany and Suleiman Simotwo promises to become one of the highlights of the programme. A very strong field, headed by Russian Pavel Gerasimov, gathers in the Men’s Pole Vault.
The KBC Indoor is an IAAF Indoor Permit meeting
Kenyans favoured in the 1500m and 3000m
The expectations for the men’s 1500m are very high. Daniel Kipchirchir Komen, who actually has a training base in Belgium, will try and run a very fast race Sunday. However, Komen will face a tough challenge from fellow Kenyans Haron Keitany, the 2008 World Athletics Final 1500m winner who won in Moscow (1 Feb) over 1000m, and Suleiman Simotwo. The organisers provide high level pace setting by 800m specialist Ismael Kombich and by Rueben Bett.
There is more Kenyan interest in the 3000m with Robert Sigei, Jonas Cheruiyot and Edwin Kipkorir prominently figuring on the starting lists. Steeplechasers Tareq Mubarak Taher from Bahrain and Nahom Mesfin from Ethiopia have the potential to disturb the Kenyans in this event. Last year’s winner Khaled Belabbas from France can not be ruled out either.
Belal Mansoor Ali is the favourite in the 800m with a line up that mainly consists of youngsters. The 21-year old athlete from Bahrain will be opposed to 22-year-old Marcin Lewandowski from Poland.
Gerasimov heads a strong field in the men’s Pole Vault
The main contenders in the 60m dash are Andrey Yepishin from Russia, Anson Henry from Canada and Brasilian Vicente de Lima, who finished third last year in Gent. Shamar Sands scored an emphatic win at 60m Hurdles in Glasgow (31 Jan) last week and therefore the athlete from the Bahamas is the clear favourite in Gent. Marcel Van der Westen from the Netherlands may well be his main opponent.
The High Jump is up for grabs with Oleksandr Nartov (UKR), Jamie Nieto (USA), Kabigo Kgosiemang (BOT) and Vyatcheslav Voronin (RUS) to be estimated as equally strong.
The Pole Vault is probably the strongest event on the infield in Gent. Tobias Scherbarth from Germany, Steven Lewis from Great Britain and Pavel Gerasimov from Russia recently scored impressive wins in Leverkusen, Manchester and Moskva respectively. But Damien Dossevi from France, Lars Börgeling from Germany and Alhaji Jeng from Sweden are all capable to upset the pre-event favourites.
Priscilla Lopes-Schliepp returns to Gent
Priscilla Lopes-Schliepp convincingly won the 60m Hurdles in Gent in 2008. After her race the Canadian declared that she was aiming for an Olympic medal and that is what actually happened in Beijing. Lopes-Schliepp can not afford to make any mistake with Olympic finalist and Briton Sarah Claxton in the lane next to her. Local challengers Eline Berings and Elisabeth Davin will try and rise on the occasion.
At the age of 38 Chandra Sturrup is still a world class sprinter. Michelle Lewis from the USA and Tahesia Harrigan from the Virgin Islands will need to bring out their best if they want to beat the Bahaman veteran in the 60m. The 200m is not an indoor championship event anymore but the line-up does include two Olympic gold medal winners. Yuliya Guschchina and Yuliya Chermoshanskaya were members of the Russian winning 4 x 100m relay team in Beijing. Olympic silver relay medalist Elodie Ouedraogo counts on massive local support in this race.
The Mile features Potuguese Jessica Augusto versus Natalya Yevdokimova. The Russian heads the 1500m seasonal Top Lists. In the Shot Put Nadine Kleinert from Germany faces Misleydis Gonzales from Cuba.
The absence of the now retired Tia Hellebaut and Kim Gevaert does not affect the enthusiasm of the Belgian audience. Tickets are already sold out and national television will provide live coverage. Athletics is still hot in Belgium.
Ivo Hendrix for the IAAF
