by Larry Eder
Genzebe Dibaba, photo by Hasse Sjogren/Deca Text & Bild
Here is our piece on Genzebe Dibaba as she prepares to run in Stockholm for the WR! Thanks to Jonas Hedman.
Globen-galan, Stockholm, Sweden, 17 February 2016
Dibaba is looking for a third consecutive World record in Stockholm
The third stop on the IAAF World Indoor Tour will take place in Stockholm on Wednesday 17 February and the big star is 1500m World record holder Genzebe Dibaba who will run the mile. She is aiming for her third straight World indoor record in the Ericsson Globe Arena after 8:16.60 at 3000m in 2014 and 14:18.86 at 5000 m last year.
Genzebe Dibaba, 25, had a great year in 2015 with a World record at 1500 m of 3:50.07 in Monaco and finally became World outdoor champion when winning the distance in Beijing with an amazing last 800 m in 1:57 and then took bronze at 5000m.
In Stockholm she will run one of two races before the World Indoor championships in Portland and her goal is the 26 year old mile World indoor record of Romania’s Doina Melinte, 4:17.14. On February 19, she will run the 3000 meters.
“I am really happy with what I accomplished in 2015 and I am in good shape now too. I really like Sweden, the fast track in Ericsson Globe and I have really been able to fulfill my dreams here,” says Genzebe Dibaba.
Swedish 1500m star Abeba Aregawi was supposed to be in the race too but had to withdraw because of back problems.
“She is a great runner and it’s sad that she won’t be in the race, but I don’t think it will effect my chances to break the record.” said Dibaba of Aregawi.
After the Stockholm meet Dibaba’s main focus is the World Indoor championships on March 18-20.
“I will probably run both 1500 and 3000m in Portland but will make a final decision after tomorrow, ” noted Dibaba.
Another runner in coach Jama Aden’s training group who is aiming for a World indoor record in Stockholm is the regaining World indoor champion at 1500m, Ayanleh Souleiman.
“My training has gone very well and I am ready to break the 1000m record of 2:14.96. For the World Indoor championships I am thinking about both 1500 and 3000m but will probably choose the shorter distance,” says Souleiman.
The forever young Collins
Kim Collins will turn 40 in April but that hasn’t stopped him from being the fourth fastest at 60m in the World this winter with 6.53.
– I think I am in 6.4 shape and hopefully I can improve my PB tomorrow, says Collins who run his fastest time so far, 6.47, last winter.
He will face Mike Rodgers who’s second on the world list with 6.52, but not World Championships bronze medallist Trayvon Bromell who missed his flight and won’t show up in Stockholm.
– I have met Mike many times during the years and I am sure it will be another good race!
At the press conference on Tuesday Collins was sitting next to Swedish youth sprint star Irene Ekelund, 18, who won the World Youth championships at 200 m in 2013 and got the silver at the World Junior championships in Eugene two years ago. The big age difference add some perspective. Collins couldn’t remember what his 60m PB was in 1997, the year Ekelund was born, bu he had an advice to her and countryman sprinter Odain Rose who was joining them on the stage.
– Just be yourself. Be the best you that you can and don’t try to copy any other runner.
Asked about his own future Collins said:
– I will compete for Saint Kitts&Nevis in the World Indoor championships and then my goal is the Olympic Games in Rio.
Looking for a fifth victory
Swedish long jumper and 2014 World Indoor bronze medallist Michel Tornéus is living less than six miles from the Ericsson Globe Arena and has visited the meet since he was a kid. Globen-galan will be his first meet of the year and he really have a great record here with four wins during the last five years.
– It’s always special to compete in front of my home crowd! I like to get right into the heat and meet the best jumpers rather than start with a low key meet, says Tornéus who won the Euro Indoor championships last year in 8.30 which was a world lead and national record.
The Globen-galan starts at 6.20 local time which is 9.20 US Pacific Time.
Jonas Hedman
Meet’s website
http://www.globengalan.se/
Entry lists
http://212.247.216.72/
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