Where Your Dreams Become Reality
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Where Your Dreams Become Reality |
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World Cup Day 1 Distance Report By Bob Ramsak (c) 2006 Race Results Weekly, all rights reserved September 16, 2006 ATHENS -- With his convincing win in the 5000 meters, Saif Saaeed Shaheen's quest for a double victory this weekend got off to a flying start on the first day of the 10th IAAF World Cup in Athletics at Athens Olympic Stadium. Shaheen, the world record holder in the 3000m steeplechase, took control of the conservative pace with a surge to the front at the 3000m point, with Kenyan Mike Kigen and American Matt Tegenkamp following closely. The pace slowed again, until Tegenkamp, this year's U.S. breakthrough racer, took the lead with two laps to go. Half a lap later, Shaheen surged to the front again, and this time for good en route to a relatively easy-looking 13:35.30 win. "It's not about time," said Shaheen. "The most important thing was to win." Kigen, who was initially entered in the 3000 but who was part of a late hour switch when Kenenisa Bekele opted for entry to Sunday's shorter race, passed the American but was never a threat to the Kenyan-born Qatari. Midway through the final turn, it briefly appeared that Tegenkamp would pass Kigen, but the Kenyan's closing speed prevailed. Kigen reached the line in 13:36.19, with Tegenkamp a few steps behind in 13:36.83. "I actually wanted to take this opportunity to beat Kenenisa Bekele," said Shaheen, "but he withdrew before the race." Shaheen returns in his specialty on Sunday and indicated that he may pursue a similar double at next year's World Championships. While the pace in the 5000 was predictably tactical, the tempo in the 1500 was downright slow. New Zealand's Nick Willis was the reluctant leader, passing through the 800 in a pedestrian 2:19.20; predictably the entire field was still in contention. With the pace picking up midway through the third lap, Alex Kipchirchir eventually made his move for the win with just over 300 meters to go. Ivan Heshko briefly gave chase, but couldn't match the Kenyan's closing speed, which propelled him to a brisk 49.52 final lap en route to his 3:52.60 win, well ahead of the Ukrainian's 3:53.33. Willis hung on for third (3:54.76), with American Gabe Jennings fourth (3:55.09). Jennings, in his first national appearance since the 2001 World Championships, said the slow initial tempo suited him perfectly, but despite recent speed work, couldn't muster the energy for a better finish. "I just didn't have the courage today," he said, adding that he "got crazy" on Friday when running a pair of 23-second 200s in training. "I should have saved that for today." When she took the lead at the bell, there was little doubt that Tirunesh Dibaba would succeed compatriot Berhane Adere as the World Cup champion in the 3000. As she began to leave the field in her wake, the only question that remained was how fast her closing lap would be. About 58 seconds later, she crossed the line in 8:33.78, nearly 11 seconds ahead of Briton Yvonne Murray's 8:44.32 competition record set in 1989. Poland's Lidia Chojecka was the lone runner to try to chase Dibaba, and was rewarded with a runner-up finish in 8:39.69, ahead of quick-closing American Kara Goucher (8:41.42). Australian Eloise Welling, who led much of the race until Dibaba took over, held on for fourth (8:41.78). In a battle pitting many of the season's premiere two-lap titans, it was Cuba's world champion Zulia Calatayud who produced the strongest home stretch drive to succeed four-time winner Maria Mutola as World Cup champion. Holding off Kenya's African champion Janeth Jepkosgei, the 26-year-old became the first winner for the Americas since her compatriot Ana Fidelia Quirot won in Barcelona in 1989. The World Athletics Final winner crossed the line in 2:00.06, a mere 3/100s of a second ahead of Jepkosgei. "This is another important win for my career," said Calatayud, who will end her season this weekend. "I am not satisfied with the time but what is important in the victory." European champion Olga Kotlyarova couldn't reproduce the kick with which she took gold in Gothenburg, and finished third in 2:00.84. Rebecca Lyne, the first Briton to ever contest the event at the World Cup, was fourth in 2:00.97. After Day One's 20 events, Europe has a narrow two point lead over the U.S. in the men's team battle with 76 points. Four-time defending champions Africa are third with 61 points. In the women's competition, the Americas squad and defending champions Russia are tied with 65 points, with Europe third (60). 21-year-old Sanya Richards produced the evening's most spectacular performance when she crushed the American record in the 400, clocking 48.70, breaking Valerie Brisco's 48.83 standard that had stood for 22 years. Despite organizers' early week worries and low initial ticket sales, more than 30,000 spectators turned on a nearly ideal evening for athletics. Competition resumes on Sunday at 16:15 with the women's hammer throw and concludes with the men's 4x400 relay.
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Cross Country Spikes 10% off Injured?
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