Cherono celebrates in Ostrava after defeating El Guerrouj (© Pavel Lebeda)
At the penultimate IAAF Golden League meeting of 2003, Weltklasse Zurich on Friday (15 August), the 20 years-old Kenyan born runner Stephen Cherono will attempt to break the World Steeplechase record. What better way to say farewell to Kenya and hello to Qatar for whom, in an agreement between the Kenyan and Qatari authorities, Cherono has been cleared to compete with immediate effect.
Cherono has also changed his name as part of the arrangement, and will now be known as Saif Saaeed Shaheen but for the clarity of this interview we will temporarily stick to his former name.
NB. Cherono is the fastest man in the world this year at 5000m (12:48.81 after beating Hicham El Guerrouj in Ostrava) and at the 3000m steeplechase (8:04.75 in Stockholm).
QUESTION - Stephen Cherono, you are talking about breaking the World Steeplechase record in Zurich. Why did you choose Zurich for this attempt?
“One thing with Zurich, is that in the last five years or so the weather has been always very nice. Zurich is the best place I ever came across. I like Zurich so much. I would rather miss the other meets but go for Zurich. This is the best place for running fast times. Whenever I go there I want to perform well.”
“The organization there is excellent. I have never seen something like that. In Zurich they are holding you like an egg. And the crowd is cheering you all the way. I am looking forward running there this Friday.”
QUESTION - I heard you saying several times the event you like most is the 1500m...
“I like 1500 m, you know. But there is one major problem: at my home steeplechase is a family affair. My oldest brother Christopher Koskei was World champion in 1999 and Abraham Cherono is in the Kenyan team for Paris. Even my younger sister Jennifer is running steeplechase. I have to do what is the family tradition.”
QUESTION - At the moment you are number 1 in the world at 5000 m and the steeplechase. An amazing season so far...
“So far (the 2003 season) was not good and not bad. I expected something like 7:58 in Paris, but unfortunately the weather was bad. In Stockholm I wanted to run below 8 minutes, but this time the pacemakers didn’t do a good job. In Ostrava when I run the 5000m I was aiming 12:50. I did not expect to beat the great El Guerrouj, I was not thinking about this. Of course, winning a 5000m race in front of him is nice, but I don’t think this is a great achievement. Being an Olympic champion is a better achievement than running a fast time.”
QUESTION - The way it looks you might have to wait until 2008 before you will be allowed to run at the Olympics after changing your citizenship from Kenya to Qatar. But 2008 is very far away...
“Not too far as long as you keep focused. Many athletes when they get money they disappear after a few years. For me it will be different. Money will never change my life. My aim is to run for a long, long time. Only an injury could stop my running career but not money or anything else. My brother Christopher is not a good example for me: He was using the money, buying big cars and then he got finished.”
QUESTION - People say money is the main reason why you decided to change your citizenship. Will you get one million US-$ as has been reported?
“It is not true. Only this: Qatar will pay 1000 dollar every month, even after my retirement. In Kenya there is nothing like that. Qatar is a country with a lot of opportunities.”