Kutre Dulecha (ETH) (© Getty Images)
For Ethiopian runner Kutre Dulecha, Budapest could not have come at a better time.
Having recorded the world's leading 4:01.90 in the 1500m in Karlsruhe, Germany just over a fortnight ago, the 25-year old believes that she is in the kind of form to challenge for the title in 1500m at this weekend's 10th IAAF World Indoor Championships in Athletics, Budapest, Hungary (5 - 7 March).
"I am very delighted with my current form," she says. "However, I can say that this is only a start for me and I have not yet started running the way I know I can."
Sydney upset
Yet, Dulecha sees Budapest as another stepping stone in her comeback from two years out of competition. Having entered the women's 1500m final at the Sydney Olympics as one of the favorites, she finished a disappointing fourth behind Moroccan Nouria Benida-Merah.
"I was very upset when I finished fourth in Sydney 2000 in the 1500m," she painfully recalls. "I was well prepared for the Olympics and had convinced myself that if I did not win, at least I would get a medal."
Maternity leave
She then took some rest after Sydney to have a son, Hailegebriel.
"My husband (Melaku) saw that I was really down in spirit and suggested that I take a break and for us to have our first child the coming year (a son named Hailegebriel)," she recalls.
While many people expected her to retire, and despite talk that she had ruined her chance of hitting the big-time by taking maternity leave, the three-time All-African Games 1500m champion surprised everyone by making a determined comeback.
"I do not have any regrets about taking time off and never will," she says confidently. "I did not start training quickly after maternity leave because my husband advised me that it would not be wise for me to start training quickly since he feared that I would get injured too soon."
But despite her cautious re-entrance into competition at the beginning of 2003, the 1997 World Championships 1500m Bronze medallist did not find it too easy at first. She won the 1500m at the Addis Ababa Municipal Championships in comfortable style in May, but sixth in Paris and ninth in Rome at the IAAF Golden League meetings did not particularly help her confidence. Then after she failed to qualify for the World Championships final in Paris, she knew that something had to be done.
Increased training
"After Paris, I had to do something with myself," she said. "I increased my training load. I had not been used to training in the afternoons and so I started to train both in the morning and afternoon."
And the results only speak for themselves. In October, Dulecha won her third All-African Games title in Abuja, Nigeria and then finished a close second in the 1st Afro-Asian Games held in Hydrabad, India.
She has since moved to the indoor circuit in 2004 where her performances have been equally impressive. Apart from her African record and world leading time in Karlsruhe, she also won the 1500m in Athens.
Form guide will not count
Dulecha, who turns 26 during the Olympic Games in Athens in August, attributes her resurgence in form to hard work and advice from her coach.
"I worked really hard and my coach Captain Tizazu Wubshet has played a key part of my good form," she says. "He checks up on me continuously and devotes his free time to ensure that I get things right. He trains me when ever I want and seeing his commitment, it really pushed me to work harder this season."
However, the 2000 World 4km Cross Country senior women's champion is very well aware that when she steps onto Budapest's Sportarena Indoor track this weekend in the 1500m, good form does not count for anything.
"I am very delighted with my current form," she says. "But as far as I am concerned, anyone who has her track suit on at the gun will be my challenger and I cannot rule out anyone. Every time I step on the track, I run with determination. I want to get the best result that I can get."
Erasing Sydney from he mind
Dulecha's main aim this year will be getting a good result at the Athens Olympics and perhaps erasing memories of Sydney four years ago.
"This year, I want to in only few outdoor races before the Olympics because I do not want to be tire myself so easily," she reveals. "My main aim is of course taking part in the Olympics and hopefully erasing the disappointment of Sydney 2000. With the help of God and in the near future, I want to have Ethiopia's flag raised high at the Olympics."
For this weekend at least, that bigger dream will have to remain on hold as Budapest awaits Dulecha. While her modest ambitions remain getting a good result in the Hungarian capital, this gutsy Ethiopian athlete will also be hoping to show just why she is considered as her country's top middle distance runner.
10th World Indoor Championships in Athletics, Budapest:
the Women's 1500m begins on Friday 5 March....
