Silas Kiplagat after striking Commonwealth 1500m gold (© Getty Images)
The ExxonMobil Bislett Games will again host the time honoured “Dream Mile” when the Samsung Diamond League heads to Oslo on 9 June for the second sector of the European tour.
The Dream Mile has become a Bislett tradition and this year’s field will again provide not only an intriguing competitive contest but also an opportunity for athletes to achieve some really fast times in one of the oldest recognised distances on the schedule.
Of the sixty nine World records/bests at Bislett stadium, four have been established in the Mile and another three at 1500m …… a healthy percentage of the overall total. However, it is the names of previous competitors and winners that evoke the fondest memories of great mile races at Bislett. Names like Coe, Cram, Ovett, Aouita, Walker, Morcelli, El Guerrouj and Cacho spring to mind, along with recent stars Kiprop and Lagat.
A look at the World All-Time list gives quick indication of just how many quality Mile times have been established in the Dream Mile. From the top 50 performances of all time in the mile a staggering 36% of those times have occurred in the Oslo’s Bislett stadium.
This year's already stellar field (see below) has been further enhanced by the confirmation that two very exciting athletes will join the classy field.
Kenyan champion Augustine Choge, a prolific winner on the European circuit, will be a very welcome addition to the race. He has a lifetime best of 3:50.14 for the mile but at 1500m has posted a best time of under 3:30 and is keen for a new personal best at the mile distance. A remarkably versatile athlete, Choge is competitive at all distances from 800m to 5000m. Choge has tasted victory in many major meets including Monaco, Shanghai and Doha, and he is well known for aggressive running which will be suited with the pace that will be provided.
Saudi Arabia’s Mohammed Shaween is also now a confirmed starter. He was outstanding in Hengelo where took a surprise victory in the very fast time of 3:31.82 for the 1500m, currently the third fastest time in the world in 2011.
Both athletes have had previous experience at Oslo’s Bislett stadium and desperately want to add the Dream Mile title to their ever growing list of victories.
With brilliant pacing expected from Kenyans Vickson & Collins Cheboi (winner of the 1500m in Rabat on Sunday), the presence of Choge and Shaween enhances a top quality field.
Kenya’s Olympic 1500m champion Asbel Kiprop returns to defend his “title” but he will be given no easy passage as the challengers will be coming thick and fast. Young Kenyan Nixon Chepseba has won two Samsung Diamond League meets so far this season and has his sights set on closing in on Noah Ngeny’s national record of 3:43.40, which is the second fastest performance of all time.
The world’s fastest 1500m runners from last season Silas Kiplagat of Kenya (3:29.27) and Morocco’s Amine Laalou (3:29.53) will both be looking for new personal bests well under three minutes and fifty seconds. Laalou was particularly impressive at the Penn Relays where his fast finishing Mile leg took Morocco to a surprise victory. Another Kenyan, William Biwott Tanui returns to the track where two years ago he established a new World Junior Mile record of 3:49.29.
Previous winner Briton Andy Baddeley and rising Australian talent Jeff Riseley will all be toeing the start line looking for seriously fast times. That should be ensured by the challenging pace set by Collins Cheboi of Kenya. Cheboi recently returned to the Samsung Diamond League circuit in fine form after winning one of the oldest races on all calendars, the “Herb Hederman” Mile at Australia’s Stawell Easter Carnival.
Samsung Diamond League
