Genzebe Dibaba targets mile world record in Stockholm - global update
The Globen Galan IAAF World Indoor Tour meeting in Stockholm is set to see three world record attempts on Wednesday.
Having set world records at 3000m and 5000m on the Stockholm track, Genzebe Dibaba will be looking to smash Doina Melinte’s 26-year-old world indoor mile record of 4:17.14. Dibaba has never contested a mile on the track and with Abeba Aregawi a late withdrawal due to a back injury, the Ethiopian will go head-to-head with the clock.
In the 1000m, Ayanleh Souleiman faces Elijah Manangoi and will launch an attack on Wilson Kipketer’s world indoor record of 2:14.96 run in 2000, while Abdalelah Haroun, who broke through with a 45.39 400m in this meet last winter, will be looking for the world indoor 500m mark of 1:00.09 set by Brycen Spratling last year.
Other middle distance highlights include Adam Kszczot, Amel Tuka and Mohamed Aman in the 800m and a 3000m featuring Ethiopia’s Yomif Kejelcha and Yenew Alamirew against Kenyans Paul Kipsiele Koech and Isaiah Koech.
Leading names in the 60m include American Mike Rodgers and former world champion Kim Collins. In the 200m, Irene Ekelund faces Jeneba Tarmoh and Michelle-Lee Ahye, while two-time world 400m hurdles champion Zuzana Hejnova headlines the 400m flat.
Good fields have been assembled for the women’s pole vault and long jump. Fabiana Murer, Nikoleta Kyriakopoulou, Angelica Bengtsson and Wilma Murto are set to contest the former, while the latter should see another head-to-head between world medallists Shara Proctor and Ivana Spanovic. Likewise, world medallists Fabrice Lapierre and Wang Jianan will compete in the men’s long jump against home favourite Michel Torneus.
Elsewhere, in-form Tim Nedow is the favourite in the men’s shot put, while Ruth Beitia and Marie-Laurence Jungfleisch are the favourites in the high jump.
Brazil's 2011 world pole vault champion Fabiana Murer has confirmed that she will retire at the end of the year, informs the IAAF.
“In 2009 I was thinking I would retire in 2014, but when Rio got the Games I decided to continue my career until 2016 because I want to feel the experience of competing in my home Olympics.”
Genzebe Dibaba is considering a 1500m and 3000m double at the World Indoor Championships in Portland, informs the IAAF.
“I will probably double but I will decide after this meeting,” she said, speaking ahead of the Globen Galan meet in Stockholm.
Her training partner Ayanleh Souleiman is set to compete in one event and will probably opt for the 1500m.
Sam Kendricks and Shawn Barber will go head-to-head in the pole vault for the second time in five days at the Athlone International meet on Wednesday after the American beat the world champion at the IAAF World Indoor Tour in Boston, 5.77m to 5.67m.
Barber’s team-mate and fellow world medallist Melissa Bishop will headline the 800m before racing in Glasgow on Saturday. The women’s 1500m boasts a strong field including Nancy Chepkwemoi from Kenya, Mary Cain from the USA and a strong German contingent led by world steeplechase bronze medallist Gesa-Felicitas Krause.
Other standout events include Sharika Nelvis vs Kristi Castlin in the 60m hurdles and Olesya Povh vs Barbara Pierre in the 60m flat.
World indoor champion Pavel Maslak is the headline name in the 400m in his indoor opener of the year.
A record 13,000 runners will take part in the Seville Marathon on Sunday.
The event incorporates the Spanish Championships but one noteworthy withdrawal is Alemayehu Bezabeh who was due to make his debut.
Bahamian Jamal Wilson won the 12th edition of Ostrava indoor high jump meet with 2.26m. He tried once at a meeting record height of 2.33m but stopped afterwards due to a hip problem.
Seven athletes cleared 2.22m. In second was Sylwester Bednarek and third was Mathew Sawe who broke the Kenyan indoor record.
The best result in other events at the meeting was by Slovak Alexandra Bezekova who improved to an overall PB of 23.64 in the women's 200m.
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