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News24 May 2000


European Grand Prix Circuit opens in Hengelo with return of Gebrselassie

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European Grand Prix Circuit opens in Hengelo with return of Gebrselassie

25 May 2000 – The small Dutch town of Hengelo will host the first meeting of the European Grand Prix circuit on Sunday with the Adriaan Paulen Memorial Meeting.

This IAAF Grand Prix II meet will be particularly significant as it signals the return to competition of the 10,000m World Champion, Ethiopia’s Haile Gebrselassie.

"The Emperor", as he is fondly known by his fans around the world, has been sidelined for six months following a tendon operation and will make a gentle return to competition in the 3000m in Hengelo.

Although Haile has been doing little speed work during his rehabilitation, concentrating rather on strength and light endurance training, he should not have too much to fear in Sunday’s line-up. His main challengers on the Dutch track are likely to be Kenya’s Richard Limo, Gebrselassie’s own young compatriot Milion Wolde and Brahim Jabbour from Morocco.

3000m steeplechase World Record holder Bernard Barmasai will also be starting his 2000 campaign in Hengelo, after a 1999 season that saw him win the overall Grand Prix after a disappointing fourth place in the World Championships in Seville. According to his manager Jos Hermens, Barmasai is in great form and has his sights set on an Olympic gold in Sydney.

In the men’s 1500m, rising star Japhet Kimutai (KEN) will be looking to repeat his recent victory in the Osaka Grand Prix, but the crowd in Hengelo will doubtless be rooting for their own Marko Koers, who will be battling to achieve the qualifying standard for Sydney.

Two members of the "six-metre club" are entered for the men’s pole vault competition: Germany’s Tim Lobinger and the competition favourite Okkert Brits from South Africa, who has a personal best of 6.03 against Lobinger’s 6.00.

There will be no shortage of competition in the women’s events either. In the 5000m, the field is headed by reigning 10,000m world champion Gete Wami, who will be matching her closing kick against fellow Ethiopian Ayelech Worku and Kenyans Lydia Cheromei and Rose Cheruiyot, both of whom are said to be in great early season shape .

In the field events, the reigning World Champion Astrid Kumbernuss (GER) will face her countrywoman Nadine Kleinert, who took silver in Seville, in the shot put, while in the discus Franka Dietzsch – gold in Seville – will compete against Seville bronze medallist Nicoleta Grasu from Romania and Natalya Sadova, who placed fourth in last year’s World Championships.

Results and a report from Hengelo will be published here on Sunday.

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