Countdown
The official announcement today that athletes who break world records at IAAF World Series events will receive awards of up to $100,000 in addition to the Competition Awards recently introduced, raises a number of intriguing possibilities with regard to the IAAF World Indoor Championships in Paris on March 7-9.
Thanks to the new record programme, winners in Paris will make $50,000 by breaking an official world record (subject to ratification under IAAF rules) as well as $50,000 for the victory (the women’s pole vault, as a new event, offers 50% of the standard awards). Among those athletes who have confirmed their participation at the World Indoor Championships, a number seem likely to profit based on current form:
MEN
1500m
Hicham El Guerrouj (MAR) The talented young middle distance runner has already broken two world indoor records this season. He ran 3:31.18 for 1500m in Stuttgart and 3:48.45 for the mile in Ghent. Originally, El Guerrouj was doubtful about competing in Paris because of an injury but he has recently confirmed he will run the 1500m.
3000m
Ethiopia’s Haile Gebrselassie has shown extraordinary range indoors this year breaking the 5000m world record in Stockholm (12:59.04), running 7:31.27 for 3000m, 3:32.39 for 1500m and even trying his hand at 800m. With steeplechase ace Moses Kiptanui and 1992 Olympic 5000m champion Dieter Baumann also in the race Gebrselassie’s 3000m world record (7:30.72) could well tumble. Kiptanui himself has predicted a fast paced rather than tactical race in Paris.
800m
Wilson Kipketer, who ran 1:41.83 outdoors last year, has not run at all indoors this season but is saving himself for a big performance in Paris. The long-standing 800m world record of 1:44.84 set by Paul Ereng in 1989 seems well within Kipketer’s capabilities.
60m hurdles
Olympic 110m hurdles champion Allen Johnson has vowed to break Colin Jackson’s world record
for that event this summer. Both men contest the 60m hurdles in Paris and although Jackson is currently leading the world lists with 7.46 (his WR is 7.30) newcomer Anier Garcia of Cuba beat him in Birmingham. Sparks seem sure to fly …
Long Jump
1996 proved a huge disappointment for Cuba’s Ivan Pedroso who, recovering from injury, saw Carl Lewis steal the limelight with his historic Olympic victory. Now back to his best form Pedroso jumped 8.60m in Lievin and has an added incentive to try and break the 8.79m world indoor record set back in 1984: it belongs to Carl Lewis ….
WOMEN
Without doubt, the star event of the women’s programme in Paris will be the pole vault. Making its first appearance at an IAAF World Championships, this event promises to highlight the extraordinary talent of Australia’s former circus acrobat Emma George. Currently waiting to see if her indoor world record of 4.40m will be ratified, George has taken advantage of the Southern Hemisphere summer to improve the outdoor world record first to 4.50m and then to 4.55m (awaiting ratification). With George set to meet international rivals like Ezster Szemeredi of Hungary (4.32m indoors), Daniela Bartova of the Czech Republic (4.31m indoors) and Vala Flosadottir of Iceland (4.20m indoors) for the first time in world class competition, the indoor record is likely to fall. Because the women’s pole vault is a new event, competition awards and record bonuses are 50% the usual amount. Nevertheless, the Paris champion still stands to make $50,000 for winning gold with a world record height.
