Megan Metcalfe Headlines 2007 Mercedes Benz Mile Field Press Release *To see a video of Megan's Kip Keino Mile run victory click here CAMBRIDGE, ONTARIO ---- June 5th, 2007--- The field for the elite women’s race at the 2007 Mercedes-Benz Classic Mile is shaping up to be one of the most competitive on Canadian soil.
Two time Canadian 5,000m champion Megan Metcalfe of Edmonton has confirmed she will tackle the race in her buildup to the IAAF World Athletics Championships in Osaka, Japan. With a best 1,500m time of 4:11.06 she is has her eye on beating the 4:30 time and so claiming a brand new Mercedes Benz car.
Metcalfe has begun her 2007 season with some fine performances including a personal best 5,000m time of 15:15.73. On form she is expecting to represent Canada at this summer’s IAAF World Athletics Championships in Osaka, Japan.
Lemlem Bereket who finished 3rd in last year ‘s Canadian Senior Championshps 800m final - a result that wasn’t entered into the record books as she is still a citizen of Eritrea - will challenge Metcalfe. She is the fastest of the entrants over 800m with a personal best of 2:04.37. The 19 year old has also been focusing on beating the 4:30 standard in Cambridge.
Bereket represented her native country at the 2003 IAAF World Youth Athletics Championships in Sherbrooke, Quebec finishing 4th in the 1,500m final. Once the event was over she asked for refugee status. Since then she has been living in Montreal, completing her high school studies in English and French, and preparing to become a Canadian citizen.
This year she switched coaches and is putting more emphasis on her distance training which should translate into a fine performance over the full mile distance.
The Mercedes-Benz Classic Mile is scheduled for Saturday June 16th, 2007 on the crushed brick track at Galt Collegiate Institute, Cambridge.