Saif Saaeed Shaheen of Qatar celebrates winning the 3000m steeplechase (© Getty Images)
The Qatar Super Grand Prix which takes place in Doha, Qatar tomorrow (14 May) marks the first of this year’s seven IAAF Super Grand Prix meets.
Men's events- Intriguing 3000m
On the men’s side of the programme the headlines look set to be penned around the men’s 3000m. There is a confrontation between 'home' favourite Saif Saaeed Shaheen (QAT), the World Steeplechase champion and the fastest over 5000m last summer, and Eliud Kipchoge (KEN), the World senior champion and World Junior record holder for 5000m.
To this intriguing duel the organisers have added the staying power and lightning sprint finish of Kenyan Abraham Chebii who vanquished both Gebrselassie and Bekele in Rome last year, 2001 World champion Richard Limo, former double World Cross winner John Kibowen…. The list of top quality runners stretches throughout the 22-man line-up, and as such there is the genuine prospect of an exceptionally fast and entertaining race.
Said-Guerni faces Bungei
At 800m there is also an intriguing clash between the world’s fastest in 2003, Wilfried Bungei of Kenya, and Algeria’s surprise World champion Djabir Said-Guerni. Bungei unfortunately fell ill at the time of the Kenyan World championships trials last year and as such never made it on to their squad for Paris, while the Algerian stole a surprise win in the Stade de France having been over looked by most, despite the fact that he already had a World (1999) and Olympic (2000) bronze to his credit.
Another unexpected face on the medal podium in Paris last summer was that of Greece’s Periklis Iakovakis who took the World bronze medal in the 400m Hurdles, and should surely be a credible Olympic threat this summer on home turf. In Doha he has an early test of form amongst generally low key opposition.
World Indoor 400m champion Alleyne Francique of Grenada was also a revelation to many this winter when he took his title, and he should again lead the men’s one lap tomorrow.
Australia’s Patrick Johnson the fastest sprinter of 2003, and USA’s Justin Gatlin the former World Indoor 60m winner, along with Nigeria’s World Cup victor Uchenna Emedolu, and USA’s Shawn Crawford provide the interest in the men’s dash.
Class 1500
The 1500m boasts Kenya’s World Indoor champion Paul Korir, and Isaac Songok who were respectively fourth and tenth at the outdoor World championships last summer, and their compatriot Alex Kipchirchir who was the eight fastest in the world in 2003 with a new personal best of 3:31.42 (previous PB 3:32.95).
Songok, the 2001 World Youth champion improved his personal best of 3:34.20 to 3:31.54 in 2003, while Korir was an even greater revelation last season improving from 3:39.18 down to 3:30.72 (PB) when coming third in the Brussels Golden League meet.
Zelezny
The men’s field is essentially all about the Javelin, where three-time Olympic champion Jan Zelezny faces Paris World silver and bronze medallists Andrus Varnik (EST) and Boris Henry (GER), and current world leader American Breaux Greer (86.83).
Women's events
The women’s half of the draw pitches Paris champion Kelli White against fellow American Chryste Gaines in the 200m.
Jolanda Ceplak, the fastest ever women indoors at 800m will of course be the feature of the two laps in Doha.
In the 3000m Steeplechase Poland’s former World record holder Justyna Bak takes on World Junior record holder Catalina Oprea of Romania.
Competitive 3000m
In the flat 3000m, Elvan Abeylegesse of Turkey who won the 5000m at the inaugural IAAF World Final in Monaco last September heads the starters along with World Junior Cross Country champion Meselech Melkamu (ETH). There are also the more experienced heels of 1996 Olympic 10,000m champion Fernanda Ribeiro (POR), Leah Malot (KEN) and Merima Denboba (ETH), in what should be a very competitive 16 women race.
India’s Anju Bobby George the World Long Jump bronze medallist faces fellow Paris finalist Valentina Gotovska of Latvia, and World Triple Jump runner-up Francoise Mbango-Etone (CMR), while World and European silver medallist Marina Kuptsova of Russia heads the High Jump line-up.
Two former World champions, Germany’s Franka Dietzsch (1999) and Russia’s Natalia Sadova (2001) are the choice of the Discus which also includes Czech Vera Pospisilova who was fifth in Paris last summer.
IAAF
