News09 Jul 2009


Robles vs Johnson; Lagat and Shaheen to compete in El Guerrouj’s meeting in Tangiers

FacebookTwitterEmail

Bernard Lagat wins a slow, tactical 3000m in Stuttgart (© Getty Images)

9 July 2009Cuba’s Olympic 110m Hurdles champion Dayron Robles, USA’s World 1500m and 5000m champion Bernard Lagat and fellow American Allen Johnson, the former multiple global champion at the sprint hurdles, and Saif Saaeed Shaheen the World record holder for the 3000m Steeplechase will be the focus of attention at the second edition of the international meeting in Tangiers "International Tangier" which will take place on Sunday 12 July at the magnificent stadium Merchan in this cosmopolitan city.

World record holder Robles will face Johnson, the 1996 Olympic champion and in quadruple World champion (1995, 1997, 2001 and 2003) as well as Herring Aubrey (USAS), Mathiszik Willi (GER), Mihailescu Alexandru (Roum) and Kubaszewski Mariusz (POL) in the 110m Hurdles. Robles first runs tomorrow night in the Golden Gala in Rome, which is part of the AF Golden League.

In the 400m, the Bahamas’ Chris Brown, South African Paul Gorries and the Jamaican Jemaine Gonzalez are the standouts.

Bernard Lagat, a long term rival of Hicham El Guerrouj, the Athens Olympic champion at 1500m and 5000m, did not hesitate to accept the invitation of El Guerrouj, who is the President of the Local Organising Committee.

"Our rivalry on the track was combined with a friendship in life. I am proud of this invitation to this splendid country of Morocco and I hope to do my best to contribute to the success of this edition of the meeting," said Lagat.

Lagat takes on Bahrain’s Bilal Ali Mansour, the Algerian Tarek Boukensa, Kenyans Nicolas Kemboi and Suleiman Simotwo, and Morocco’s Abdelaâti Iguider, Mohamed Moustaoui and Youssef Baba.

The 3000m Steeplechase boasts Saif Saaeed Shaheen, the World record holder who takes on the Moroccans Abdelkader Hachlaf and Hamid Ezzine, younger brother of the former World silver medallist Ali Ezzine.

In the 5000m, Moroccan Hicham Bellani, the winner of the Mediterranean title recently will battle with the Kenyans Jacob Cheshari, Joseph Kosgei, Bernard Sang and Silas Kiprotu, as well as Eritrea’s multiple World Road Running champion Zersenay Tadese who won in Malaga recently in 13:07.

The 800m lines up Moroccan Amine Laâlou and the Algerian Antar Zarguelaine, the winners respectively at the 2009 Mediterranean Games of the 800m and 1500m titles, and the winner from Tuesday night’s cold and rainy Lausanne meet, Saudi Mohamed Al Salhi.

There are athletes representing 34 different nations in Tangiers and among the top female competitors are American Tianna Madison, the 2005 World champion in the Long Jump, and Morrocco’s Hasna Benhassi, the 2008 Olympic bronze and 2007 World silver medallist in the 800m, and her compatriot Meriem Alaoui Selsouli, the bronze medallist over 3000m at the 2008 World Indoor champs. Ethiopia’s in form Meselech Melkamu, who took the 3000m silver ahead of Selsouli, and more recently flew to the African 10,000m record, runs the 3000m.
 
“We dream about this meeting as being a true opportunity to accomplish qualification standards for the World championships of Berlin for athletes who are here from five continents. We are sure that this date, a month of World championships, fits perfectly with the planning and preparations of the most ambitious athletes," said El Guerrouj.

"The 2009 edition of the meeting of Tangiers will be especially the edition of solidarity because we sent out an invitation to our friends in Wheelchair racing and the Paralympics so that they join us. They will be able to participate with their events as an integral part of the meeting programme,” declared El Guerrouj who is a member of the IOC.

Mohammed Benchrif for the IAAF

Pages related to this article
Disciplines
Loading...