News11 Jul 2006


Shaheen joins Bekele, Songok and Kipchoge in Rome 5000 - IAAF Golden League

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Saif Saaeed Shaheen contemplates his near miss at the World Steeplechase record in Athens - the 6th fastest run of all-time (© courtesy of Tsiklitiria.org)

Saif Saaeed Shaheen, the World record holder in the 3000m Steeplechase, has joined the star-studded 5000m cast that has been assembled for the Borotalco Golden Gala meeting - IAAF Golden League - in Rome on Friday (14 July).

The 23-year-old Kenyan-born Qatari displayed solid early season form in his outdoor debut at the Athens Super Grand Prix 'Tsiklitiria - OPAP' last week where he won his specialty in blazing 7:56.32, the sixth fastest performance ever.

The dominant force in his event over the past three seasons, Shaheen indicated earlier this year that he would contest a variety of events this year, and is reportedly thrilled about his prospects in Rome's Stadio Olimpico. His personal best of 12:48.81 in the 5000m came in Ostrava's Golden Spike in 2003 when he upset Hicham El Guerrouj, a performance that made him the event's sixth fastest ever.

Shaheen's appearance will fill out an already strong field, that includes World record holder Kenenisa Bekele of Ethiopia and Isaac Songok, the respective winners of the Paris and Oslo legs of the Golden League 2006. In Oslo (2 June), Songok produced a stunning kick that Bekele simply couldn't respond to. Last Saturday in Paris (8 July), Bekele bounced back with a world-leading 12:51.32 effort, while Songok opted for the 1500m where he clocked a notable 3:31.85. Songok is also the world's fastest this season in the 3000m after his 7:28.98 performance in Doha in mid-May.

Kenyan Eliud Kipchoge, the 2003 World champion and Olympic bronze medallist, will return to action as well after a month's break. In his last outing, Kipchoge decisively defeated Songok in the 3000m at the Norwich Union British Grand Prix in Gatehead on 11 June.

Tariku Bekele, Kenenisa's younger brother, is also in the field on the heels of his 12:55.69 Ethiopian junior record in Paris, where he finished fourth. The preliminary entry list also includes Boniface Kiprop, who set a Ugandan national record of 12:57.60 in Paris; Augustine Choge, the Commonwealth Games champion, and Kenyan Benjamin Limo, the reigning World Champion.

The only certainty to emerge from the Rome clash is this one: one of the previous Golden League winners will be knocked out of the chase for a share of the $500,000 section of the IAAF Golden League Jackpot which is on offer for anyone achieving five out of six meeting wins in the series.

Bob Ramsak for the IAAF

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