Two World Records Could Go Down at Brussels Diamond League
Two World Records Could Go Down at Brussels Diamond League
The final Diamond League meeting of the year, Memorial Van Damme in Brussels, will end the circuit on a high note this upcoming Friday, September 9. Olympic
The final Diamond League meeting of the year, Memorial Van Damme in Brussels, will end the circuit on a high note this upcoming Friday, September 9. Olympic gold medalists Conseslus Kipruto and Almaz Ayana have stated that they will attempt to break the world records the steeplechase and 5K, respectively. Based on how Kipruto and Ayana have performed this year, those records will be in jeopardy.
Men's Steeplechase
World record: 7:53.63
Record-holder: Saif Saaeed Shaheen of Quatar
Where/when: Brussels 2004
Kipruto's chances:
Pretty good. The 21-year-old is undefeated on the Diamond League circuit with a season's and personal best of 8:00.12 from Birmingham. He continued the momentum with an Olympic gold medal in Rio, where he ran 8:03.28 to beat runner-up Evan Jager's 8:04.28. Jager will also race in Brussels in an attempt to improve his American record of 8:00.45.
Kipruto's Olympic gold gave him the confidence to make his world-record intentions known to Daily Nation.
"It's almost two years since someone ran under eight minutes, and I feel Brussels is the right place when I am still in top form," Kipruto said. "I came close to dipping under eight minutes in Birmingham, but Brussels will be a good stage to wrap up with my second Diamond League trophy after 2013."
After finishing second to Kenyan rival Ezekiel Kemboi at the 2013 and 2015 World Championships, Kipruto is finally earning his place on top of the world stage, and potentially, the record books.
Women's 5K
World record: 14:11.15
Record-holder: Tirunesh Dibaba of Ethiopia
Where/when: Oslo 2008
Ayana's chances:
Damn good. The Ethiopian has come extremely close to breaking the record three times already. Most recently, she came close in Rome last July when she finished in 14:12.59--within a second of her fellow countrywoman's all-time mark. Prior to Rome, Ayana clocked a 14:16.31 in Rabat, and a 14:14.32 in Shanghai last year.
Ayana already owns the 10K world record. She blasted a 29:17.45 to shatter the previous mark of 29:31 set by China's Wang Junxia in 1993. Ayana not only broke the world record, but she did it in the Olympic final without a pacer, and on the most competitive stage.
After the 10K in Rio, audiences had mixed reactions about Ayana's record-shattering performance--the previous record-holder admitted to being part of Chinese state-sponsored doping. Ayana shut down any suspicions in her post-race interview with the media.
"Number one, I did my training. Number two, I praise the Lord. The Lord is giving me everything, every blessing," she said through an interpreter. "My doping is my training. My doping is Jesus. Otherwise, nothing. I'm crystal clear."
One more thing is clear: Ayana is currently in the best shape to endanger her world record.
Follow the record attempts with FloTrack's live updates and results from the Brussels Diamond League meeting on Friday, September 9.
Men's Steeplechase
World record: 7:53.63 Record-holder: Saif Saaeed Shaheen of Quatar
Where/when: Brussels 2004
Kipruto's chances:
Pretty good. The 21-year-old is undefeated on the Diamond League circuit with a season's and personal best of 8:00.12 from Birmingham. He continued the momentum with an Olympic gold medal in Rio, where he ran 8:03.28 to beat runner-up Evan Jager's 8:04.28. Jager will also race in Brussels in an attempt to improve his American record of 8:00.45.
Kipruto's Olympic gold gave him the confidence to make his world-record intentions known to Daily Nation.
"It's almost two years since someone ran under eight minutes, and I feel Brussels is the right place when I am still in top form," Kipruto said. "I came close to dipping under eight minutes in Birmingham, but Brussels will be a good stage to wrap up with my second Diamond League trophy after 2013."
After finishing second to Kenyan rival Ezekiel Kemboi at the 2013 and 2015 World Championships, Kipruto is finally earning his place on top of the world stage, and potentially, the record books.
Women's 5K
World record: 14:11.15Record-holder: Tirunesh Dibaba of Ethiopia
Where/when: Oslo 2008
Ayana's chances:
Damn good. The Ethiopian has come extremely close to breaking the record three times already. Most recently, she came close in Rome last July when she finished in 14:12.59--within a second of her fellow countrywoman's all-time mark. Prior to Rome, Ayana clocked a 14:16.31 in Rabat, and a 14:14.32 in Shanghai last year.
Ayana already owns the 10K world record. She blasted a 29:17.45 to shatter the previous mark of 29:31 set by China's Wang Junxia in 1993. Ayana not only broke the world record, but she did it in the Olympic final without a pacer, and on the most competitive stage.
After the 10K in Rio, audiences had mixed reactions about Ayana's record-shattering performance--the previous record-holder admitted to being part of Chinese state-sponsored doping. Ayana shut down any suspicions in her post-race interview with the media.
"Number one, I did my training. Number two, I praise the Lord. The Lord is giving me everything, every blessing," she said through an interpreter. "My doping is my training. My doping is Jesus. Otherwise, nothing. I'm crystal clear."
One more thing is clear: Ayana is currently in the best shape to endanger her world record.
Follow the record attempts with FloTrack's live updates and results from the Brussels Diamond League meeting on Friday, September 9.
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