Assuming this is the official Maurie Plant Memorial Race thread, here's what Kenyan journalist Elias Makori posted about it on Instagram:
Team Ingebrigtsen vs Team Cheruiyot (Maurie Plant Memorial Virtual Race): Norway’s Ingebrigtsen brothers - Henrik, Filip and Jakob – are an exceptional distance running trio.
So determined they are to crush the myth that East Africans were destined to dominate middle and long distance races on the track (and road), that they have dared Kenya’s world beaters to a virtual, 2,000-metre race to be run simultaneously in Nairobi and Oslo (Bislett) on June 11.
The Ingebrigtsens will enjoy a slight advantage as they have already been in training much longer then their Kenyan opponents – led by Commonwealth 1,500 metres champion Elijah Manang’oi and world champion and Diamond League winner Timothy Cheruiyot.
The Norwegian triumvirate will also have the advantage of running practically at sea level (just 37 metres in Bislett), while their Kenyan rivals will be high up at 1,795 metres.
Some race facts from the organisers:
- This will be the first virtual race at such level in the history of athletics;
- Team Ingebrigtsen runs at Bislett while Team Cheruiyot will run in Nairobi; - The race will be shown on international TV as a split screen competition; - Both teams will start with five runners and will have to finish with three; - The winner of the match will be the team with the best overall time for three runners, but the individual times will count as well;
- Steve Cram will do the commentary for what’s now being referred to as “The Impossible Games”. (Note: Steve Cram holds the European record over the 2,000m distance at 4:51.39 which the Ingebrigtsen brothers will also be trying to break on June 11). Who are you putting your money on?
Of course, I say: Go Team Cheruiyot!!!!
Interesting.