by Larry EderDue
“DISTANCE NIGHT IN EUGENE”
For years the cognescenti have
said, “Imagine if the Prefontaine Classic distance races could be run in the
evening at Hayward Field when there is little or no wind.” Imagine no more, as
“Distance Night in Eugene”
will be held on Friday, June 3rd, the evening before the 22 other
events in the Eugene Diamond League meet on June 4th.
The Friday
night events, which will be free to the public, feature the strongest distance
fields ever assembled on American soil.
- Diamond League Women’s 5,000 Meters.
-Turinesh Dibaba, Ethiopia.
World recordholder at 14:11.5, ranked No. 1 in the world by Track & Field News magazine last
year, reigning Olympic champion at 5k & 10k.
-Vivian Cheruiyot, Kenya.
Reigning World Champion, fastest in the world last year, ranked No. 2 by T&FN.
-Shalane Flanagan, USA.
Former American recordholder, Olympic bronze medalist in Beijing at 10k, has run the 2nd
fastest 10k of this season, in great shape.
-Sally Kipyego, Kenya.
OTC Elite athlete followed up her No. 7 in the world rankings last year
with this season’s fastest 10k (30:38.35), just ahead of Flanagan.
-Gulnara Samitova-Galkina, Russia.
World recordholder and Olympic Champion in the Steeplechase, can run 5k,
too, with a best of 14:33.13.
-Linet Masai, Kenya.
Reigning World Champion at 10,000 meters, ranked No. 5 in 2010 at 5k, with
the 4th-fastest time of the year,
-Pauline Korikwiang, Kenya.
Ran the 2nd fastest 10k in the world last year, ranked No. 7 at
that distance.
-Kara Goucher, USA. Bronze medalist at 10k in 2007 World
Championships.
Rarely,
outside of an Olympic Games or World Championships Final, can athletes of this
caliber be seen running head-to-head.
- Men’s 10,000 Meters
-Zersenay Tadese, Eritrea.
The 8th fastest 10k runner of all-time, one of 6 in the race who
has run under 27-minutes (26:37.25), silver medalist in the 2009 World
Championships. Tadese wants to run his life-time best in the 10k in Eugene!
-Imane Merga, Ethiopia.
Ranked No. 1 in the world last year at 5000, winner of the World Cross
Country Championships in March (12k).
-Sileshi Sihine, Ethiopia.
Two-time Olympic and 2-time World
Championships silver medalist at 10k, has won a total of six (!) medals at 5k
and 10k, lifetime best of 26:39.69.
-Paul Tanui, Kenya.
Silver medalist at the 2011 World Cross Country Championships.
-Leonard Komon, Kenya.
Ran the fastest 10k ever on the road
last year (26:44), has a track best of 26:57.08, ready to run fast on Distance
Night.
-Matthew Kisorio, Kenya.
Fourth at World Cross.
-Abebe Dinkesa, Ethiopia. Lifetime best of 26:30.74.
-Joseph Ebuya, Kenya.
2009 IAAF World Cross Country Champion.
-Moses Masai, Kenya.
2009 World Championships bronze
medalist at 10k, lifetime best of 26:49.20.
-Micah Kogo, Kenya. 2008
Olympic 10k bronze medalist, lifetime best of 26:35.63.
-Teklemarian Mehdin, Eritrea.
2009 silver medalist at IAAF World Cross Country Championships.
-Dennis Masai, Kenya.
2010 World Junior 10k gold medalist, brother to Linet and Moses. There’s talent in that family!
With times run
this season playing a major role in the selection of the World Championships
teams for Ethiopia and Kenya,
virtually every athlete from those countries with a legitimate chance to make
their teams at the 10k distance will be in this race.
- 25-Kilometer & 30-Kilometer
It has been
30 years since Toshiko Seko of Japan
set the world records at these distances, 1 hour 13:55.8 for 25k (15.53 miles) enroute
to a 1 hour 29:18.8 clocking for 30k (18.64 miles). Aiming to set world records
at these IAAF-recognized distances are Asbel
Kirui, who has run a 1:00:11 half-marathon and 2:05:04 marathon, and who
will be shooting for the 25k mark; and Moses Mosop of Kenya, whose track
credentials are impeccable (12:54.46 for 5k & 26:49.55 for 10k), and whose
road credentials are even more impressive (2:03:06 at Boston this year, 2nd
fastest marathon ever run). He will be challenging the 30k world record…that’s
75 laps of the Hayward Field!
And if that
is not enough distance racing for you, be sure to see the men’s 2-Mile and men’s Steeplechase during the Prefontaine Classic on June 4th !
(Entrants in those races will be released in the coming days.)
5000 Meters (WOMEN)
Tirunesh Dibaba (Ethiopia)
Vivian Cheruiyot (Kenya)
Shalane Flanagan (USA)
Linet Masai (Kenya)
Sally Kipyego (Kenya)
Kara Goucher (USA)
Wude Ayalew (Ethiopia)
Pauline Korikwiang (Kenya))
Gulnara Samitova-Galkina (Russia)
Megan Wright (Canada))
Emebet Anteneh (Ethiopia)
Mercy Cherono (Kenya)
Korene Hinds (Jamaica)–pace
10,000 METERS
(MEN)
Zersenay Tedese (Eritrea)
Sileshe Sihine (Ethiopia)
Imane Merga (Ethiopia)
Paul Tanui (Kenyan)
Leonard Komon (Kenya)
Abebe Dinkesa (Ethiopia)
Joseph Ebuya (Kenya)
Moses Masai (Kenya)
Micah Kogo (Kenya)
Teklemariam Mehdin (Eritrea)
Dennis Masai (Kenya)
Aylele Abshero (Ethiopia)
Abera Kuma (Ethiopia)
Daniel Salel (Kenya)
Lucas Rotich (Kenya)
Kidane Tadese (Eritrea)
John Kemboi Cheruyiot (Kenya)
Shawn Forrest (Australia)
Reid Coolsaet (Canada)
Matthew Kisorio (Kenya)
Ali Mahboob (Bahrain)
Josphat Bett (Kenya)
Ali Abdosh (Ethiopia)
Mike Kigen (Kenya)
Abdi Abdirahman (USA)
Dejene Gebremeskel (Ethiopia)
