TheFinalSprint.com - Track & Field, Marathons, Racing News, Training Advice, Elite Athlete Blogs, Interviews, Podcasts, Videos and More! - TheFinalSprint.com is the Premier Destination for Track & Field, Marathon, Cross Country, Olympic and Road Racing Enthusiasts.

TFS to Expand Writing Staff and Internship Program

Whether you are a seasoned veteran, an aspiring journalist, or even just a knowledgeable fan looking for a profitable hobby, we want to hear from you! Click here to apply today!

Shaheen joins June 27th Ostrava 5000m field

Posted May 17th, 2007 at 8:00 AM by Bob Ramsak

Section: News & Results

Saif Saeed Shaheen, the two-time world champion in the 3000m steeplechase, has joined the field for the 5000m at the Golden Spike Grand Prix in Ostrava, Czech Republic on June 27, organizers announced today.

In Ostrava’s 2003 edition, Shaheen, then running as Kenyan Stephen Cherono, made waves when he upset Hicham El Guerrouj in the Emil Zatopek Memorial 5000m, clocking a meeting record of 12:48.81, and still a personal best for the 24-year-old who now competes internationally for Qatar.

His appearance this year, the second for Shaheen following an outing over 2 miles at the Prefontaine Classic in Eugene on June 10, adds to a quality field which already includes Eritrea’s Zersenay Tadesse, the reigning world cross country and road running champion, and Australia’s Craig Mottram, the two-time World Cup winner and reigning world championships bronze medallist over the distance.

“Shaheen is really looking forward to coming back to Ostrava,” the athlete’s manager, Ricky Simms, told organizers. “He has fond memories of running 12:48 and beating Hicham El Guerrouj on his visit there. It would be great if he could set a new PB in Ostrava 2007″.

While remaining unbeaten in his specialty last year, Shaheen contested a pair of 5000 races in 2006 as well, finishing a close second to Kenenisa Bekele at Rome’s Golden Gala, where he clocked an Asian record 12:51.98, and again at the World Cup, where he captured a unique 5000/3000m steeplechase double win.

Wilfred Bungei of Kenya, the World indoor 800m champion, returns to Ostrava where he notched wins in 2003 and 2006. His 1:43.24 from 2003 is still the meet record, and after his world-leading 1:44.13 opener at the Qatar Super Grand Prix in Doha last weekend, a challenge to his meet record could be in the cards.

“Given how my training is going and that I ran 1:44:14 in my first outdoor race of the year, I’m very confident that I can run a 1:43 by end of June, if all the conditions, meaning the pace and weather, are good,” said Bungei, perennially among the quickest two-lap specialists in the world. “Maybe even a low 1:43. My aim in Ostrava is to run as fast as possible.”

Previously announced for the meet, annually the finest in eastern Europe, were 2004 Olympic steeplechase champion Paul Kipsiele Koech, and a strong trio in the women’s 800: Russians Olga Kotlyarova and Oksana Zbrozhek, the European outdoor and indoor champions, respectively, and Jolanda Ceplak, Slovenia’s world indoor record holder.