Berlin Distance Recap: Jelimo Goes Sub 1:55 in Berlin
By Bob Ramsak
(c) 2008 Race Results Weekly, all rights reserved
June 1, 2008
BERLIN If you thought Pamela Jelimo might have been a one-hit wonder,
think again. The Kenyan teenager put on another display at this
afternoons FDK-ISTAF meeting which showed that she just might become
the best 800m runner ever.
In what was apparently just her fifth outing over the distance, Jelimo
forged into territory the world hasnt seen in nearly 11 years with her
jaw-dropping 1:54.99 run in front of more than 67,000 spectators at
Berlins cavernous Olympic Stadium in the AF Golden League series
kick-off. Only five women have ever run faster, and now Jelimo, who
confirmed after the race that shes still just 18, has already
supplanted legend Maria Mutola as the African record holder.
This one was a bit more difficult then Hengelo, she admitted,
referring to the 1:55.76 performance at the FBK Games last weekend
which put her on the global map. It was much more tough. But Im glad
that I improved by a second.
Jelimo, along with Ukraines world indoor silver medallist Tetyana
Petlyuk, were the only runners in a solid field to follow the
pacesetter from the gun, and by the time they reached the half in just
over 55 seconds, Jelimo suggested that she became a little impatient
with the pacemaking she characterized as slow.
The pace maker crossed 400m in about 54 or 55 seconds, she said,
which means I crossed in about 55 or 56 seconds. So I had to continue
more quickly.
After her ambitious third 200m briefly put her on world record pace,
she slowed dramatically down the homestretch, but still won by four
seconds, a margin seemingly unheard of at this level.
As I was once a sprinter, maintaining speed for 400 metres is simple to me. But now continuing is a little more difficult.
Jelimo was a late entry into the race indeed, the lane assignments
were revised several times after her entry before the gun finally
soundedbut she didnt so hastily announce that her next race would
come at Oslos ExxonMobil Bislett Games next Friday where she could
continue the chase for a slice of the $1 million Golden League Jackpot.
More likely is a return home to Kenya.
Because I ran in Hengelo I then decided to run in Berlin because I
wanted another good race. And I wanted more exposure before going back
home and preparing more for the Olympics. Going to the Olympics
requires more exposure and experience, so this race makes the Olympics
more possible. Now we are preparing for the Olympics, and the
qualifications. And this race showed that we can do even better.
Ukrainian Yuliya Krevsun was second with reigning world champion Janeth
Jepkoskei, Jelimos training partner, a distant third (1:59.13) in her
first outing of the year. The first seven across the line all dipped
under two minutes, but in reality seemed to be in a different race.
- Masai outguns T. Bekele in 5000m, solid outing for Choge in 1500m
After his decisive kick from Tariku Bekele in the mens 5000, Kenyan
Moses Masai gave himself a nice 22nd birthday present. Masai, who
chased the faster Bekele brother in the Memorial Van Damme 10,000m last
year, reached the line in 12:50.55, a world leader and new ISTAF meet
record. The previous record, 12:53.19, was set by Haile Gebrselassie 13
years ago. Tariku Bekele stopped the clock in 12:52.45, a career best,
with Ugandan Moses Kipsiro third (12:54.70). 18-year-old Ethiopian
Abreham Cherkos was fourth (12:57.56), also under 13 minutes.
Another world lead came in the mens 1500m. Comfortably gliding away
from a small pack of pursuers down the home straight, Augustine Choge
made his victory in the metric mile look fairly straightforward and
fairly easy. With his 3:31.73 in the bank, hes now a double world
leader after his his season-pacing 7:32.01 in the 3000m from Doha.
Daniel Kipchirchir Komen was second in 3:31.91, edging Shedrack Korir
(3:31.99) to complete a Kenyan podium sweep. Abdelaati Iguider of
Morocco, the previous world leader, was fourth, producing a new career
best 3:32.10.
Clutching his left hamstring, Ivan Heshko dropped out about 1000m into the race.
In the mens 800m, Abraham Chepkirwok outclassed South African Mbulaeni
Mulaudzi in a spirited stride-for-stride homestretch battle, reaching
the line in 1:44.53, setting a new Ugandan national record. The
previous standard, 1:44.55, was set by Julius Achon 12 years ago.
Polands Pawel Czapiewski, the 2001 world championships bronze
medallist, kicked to victory in the B race, clocking 1:45.19.
Sylvia Kibet surprised even herself when she kicked away from Priscah
Jepleting (15:06.77) to win a somewhat sluggish womens 5000m in
15:05.09. After the pacemaker dropped out the pace slowed down and no
one was willing to push it.
Taking advantage of the slowed pace, American Jen Rhines broke from the
crowded pack of 12 and into the lead briefly with a little over a lap
to go, and eventually finished fifth in 15:09.40.
Elsewhere, Lashawn Merritt produced a major upset after his dramatic
homestretch victory over Jeremy Wariner in the 400m, and Croatias
world high jump champion Blanka Vlasic won her event with a 2.03m leap,
to collect her 25th consecutive victory, currently the longest in the
sport.
The six-meet AF Golden League series continues in Oslo on Friday.
