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As Golden League kicks off, Dream Mile, Defar the focus of attention

Posted June 14th, 2007 at 6:03 PM by Bob Ramsak

Section: News & Results, Track & Field

Craig Mottram Oslo A strong field in the men’s Dream Mile and a possible world record assault by Meseret Defar will steal the focus of attention as the 2007 IAAF Golden League kicks off at the ExxonMobil Bislett Games on Friday.

The Dream Mile, the meeting’s signature event, annually lures many of the world’s top milers, and this year’s is no exception. This year’s field includes an intriguing match-up between a pair of runners who brought some impressive momentum to the Norwegian capital: Daniel Kipchirchir Komen of Kenya and Australia’s Craig Mottram.

At last Sunday’s Prefontaine Classic in Eugene, Ore., Komen took down a solid field in the mile with a blazing 3:48.28, the year’s fastest. Mottram also dispensed with an all-star field over two miles, clocking a national record 8:03.50. Only Daniel Komen and Haile Gebrselassie have ever covered the distance faster.

“For this point in the season that was good running,” said Mottram, the two-time IAAF World Cup champion in the 3000m. “I spent five or six weeks at altitude in Flagstaff, and it’sall part of getting ready for the World Championships. I haven’t lost sight of that. There’s still a lot of time and a lot work to be done before the World championship. The race last week was a great result. And the race tomorrow will be another step in the right direction.”

In 2005, the 26-year-old’s 3:49.98 Australian record in Oslo was also a step in the right direction. Less than a month later, he took bronze in the 5000 at the World Championships in Helsinki.

“Tomorrow night’s going to be very tough to win,” Mottram said. “We’ve got a great field, it’s always loaded. That’s why it’s called the Dream Mile. There’s always great athletes and that’s why it’s a big challenge to win. Tomorrow night will be no exception. It’s going to be a great race.” [NOTE: For more with Mottram, please see my story for the IAAF at http://www.iaaf.org/GLE07/news/Kind=2/newsId=39103.html .]

Besides Komen, who was last year’s fastest in the 1500 and the defending Bislett Games champion, the field also includes Kenyan Alex Kipchirchir, arguably last season’s finest miler.

Last month, Olympic 5000m champion Meseret Defar opened her outdoor season on the track with a 9:10.47 world best over two miles. This weekend, just a little more than a year after lowering the world record to 14:24.53, the 23-year-old Ethiopian will be making another crack at the mark. Race time conditions of 20 C. (70 F.), may not be on her side.

Also on the middle and long distance schedule is the women’s 1500m led by Nataliya Tobias of Ukraine and Kenyan Viola Kibiwot who have each dipped under 4:06. In the women’s 3000m steeplechase, Eunice Chepkorir, another Kenyan, is by far the fastest in the field after her 9:25.84 in Neerplet, Belgium, on June 2. Of interest in the men’s 800 is the appearance by 18-year-old Ugandan Abraham Chepkirwok, the reigning world junior bronze medalist who has taken two of three races this spring, including Hengelo where he took down perennial speedster Wilfred Bungei and European champion Bram Som.

With the U.S. championships beginning next weekend, few Americans –zero in the middle & long distance events— chose to spend this weekend in northern Europe.

This year, on the men’s 1500 –in Oslo’s case, the Dream Mile, and not the additional 1500m race—is among the 10 Golden League events. Others are the men’s 100m, 110m hurdles, triple jump and javelin throw, and the women’s 100m, 400m, 100m hurldles, high jump and pole vault. The series was modified this year to a winner takes all format, with wins in each of the six meets required to take a share of the $1 million jackpot. Should no athlete win at all six, than those with five victories will split $500,000.

NOTE: Photos - Craig Mottram at the pre-meet press conference at the annual Strawberry Party hosted by Oslo’s Mayor at the Oslo City Hall. Photo by Bob Ramsak.