Haile Gebrselassie's 12:41.86 World record at Letzigrund - 13 August 1997 (© Getty Images)
15 August 2006As the site of 23 World records, Zurich's Letzigrund stadium truly holds a mythical stature in the history of the athletics. To help commemorate those thrilling achievements, a slew of the past stars who provided some of those historic moments will converge on the Swiss city as the IAAF Golden League resumes on Friday 18 August when the Weltklasse meeting will be held in the "old" Letzigrund for the final time.
One of the several magical evenings that Letzigrund has given the athletics world came on 13 August 1997 when three World records fell in the course a few hours: Wilson Kipketer's 1:41.24 in the 800 metres, Haile Gebrselassie's 12:41.86 over 5000 metres, and Wilson Boit Kipketer's 7:59.08 in the 3000m Steeplechase.
In addition to the global marks, 250 national records, including 58 for Switzerland, have fallen over the years at Letzigrund. Several of these illustrious record breakers have been invited to participate in a special farewell ceremony that will cap what will surely be another unforgettable Weltklasse evening.
Just a few of the invited athletes, both record breakers and other legends of the sport include: German legends Martin Lauer and Armin Hary, who broke the 110m Hurldes and 100 metres World records in 1959 and 1960 respectively; Dane Wilson Kipketer, still the standard bearer in the 800 metres; Pole Vault legend Sergey Bubka; Sebstian Coe, who set World records in both the 1500 and Mile in Zurich; 110m Hurdles legends Greg Foster, Renaldo Nehemiah and Colin Jackson; sprinters Evelyn Ashford, who set a 100 metres World record in Zurich in 1984, Carl Lewis, Frank Fredericks and Don Quarrie; long jumper Heike Drechsler; and 2004's double Olympic champion Hicham El Guerrouj.
Several Swiss stars of the past are also expected to attend the ceremony, including Peter Laeng, Bruno Galliker, Urs Kamber, Philippe Clerc, Heinz Müller, Rolf Bernhard, Werner Günthör, Pierre Délèze, Markus Ryffel, André Bucher, Meta Mathys-Antenen, Anita Protti, Cornelia Bürki, Sandra Gasser and Anita Weyermann.
With all the athletes still in the hunt for a piece of the IAAF Golden League Jackpot scheduled to compete on Friday, another scintillating chapter may yet be added to the “old” Letzigrund mystique.
Bob Ramsak for the IAAF
