Kenenisa Bekele and Bernard Lagat, Greece, 2009, photo by PhotoRun.net.
As your favorite blogger grabs an early morning espresso and some clean clothes, it is early on Friday morning in Frankfurt. Off to Birmingham today, and tomorrow: some amazing races. Bernard Lagat will be racing 1,500 meters. Bekele wants a crack at the 3,000m WR (7;24.90). On this track, that will be something to see. Mr. Bekele also knows that lurking a few steps behind will be one Augustine Choge, who is running brilliantly this year! Watch for our live coverage on Saturday (twitter and runblogrun.com).
BEKELE VS SHAHEEN, RYBAKOV IN HIGH JUMP
BIRMINGHAM (GBR): Ethiopian legend Kenenisa Bekele will face a tough field at Saturday´s Aviva Grand Prix in Birmingham. In the 3000 m race also steeple world record holder Saif Saed Shaheen will run. Bekele did not compete since his cross-country loss early in January in Edinburgh. Shaheen won 3000 m in Karlsruhe end of January with 7:43.44. The Ethiopian announced he wants to chase the world indoor record of Daniel Komen (7:24.90 in 1998). Also in the field olympic steeple gold medalist Kenyan Brimin Kipruto and British European medalist Mo Farah. World leader at 3000 m Augustine Choge (7:31.75) and double World champion Bernard Lagat will be also there, but they will run the 1500 m. Another top highlight men´s high jump will have two medalists from Berlin World Championships. Winner Yaroslav Rybakov of Russia and Poland´s bronze medalist Sylwester Bednarek. British champion Samson Oni will have the chance to clear 230 for first time this winter.