Christian Cantwell wins in Melbourne (© Getty Images)
Paul Kipsiele Koech from Kenya, the 2004 Olympic Games bronze medallist in the 3000m Steeplechase is returning to the meeting where last year he finished one lap too early. He hopes at 46th Golden Spike in Ostrava on 27 June the same mistake by one of the officials will not be repeated.
“My plan for Ostrava this year is to attempt a fast race, maybe even to break the stadium record. As for what happened last year, it was something bad in my career. So I hope the race organizer will do something to ensure that the mistake does not happen again,“ Koech said in a message for the organisers.
The meet record is 8:06.14 from 2002 by another Kenyan Wilson Boit Kipketer and since then the attempt to break it has been staged every year, and Koech has indicated his good shape indoors when he bettered his 3000m best to 7:33.46 in Birmingham last month.
Four times below 8mins in his career (best of 7:56.37 in 2005) and it will be his third Ostrava participation (in 2003 he was second in 8:07.98). Last year, he was second at World Cup in Athens and won 5 steeplechase races including World Athletics Final and the African Championships.
The men‘s Shot Put at this IAAF Grand Prix meeting of IAAF World Athletics Tour - looks like being a star attraction. 2006 World Indoor champion 2006 Reese Hoffa was already confirmed but now so too are two more American giants, 2004 World Indoor gold medallist Christian Cantwell and Dan Taylor.
"I am excited to finally compete in a meeting that I have heard so many great things about! I feel confident about extending the record as well," said Cantwell. The meet record is 21.64 back from 1987 by Czech Remigius Machura. The American who was the furthest putter in the world this winter (21.88) has outdoor and indoor bests of 22.54 and 21.95m respectively from 2004.
Alfons Juck for the IAAF
Already confirmed names
Men
Shot Put: Reese Hoffa (USA, World Indoor champion 2006)
Hammer: Ivan Tikhon (BLR, World and European champion)
Women
100m Hurdles: Michelle Perry (USA, World champion 2005)
Hammer: Tatyana Lysenko (RUS, European champion 2006, World record holder)
