Maria Mutola of Mozambique in action in the women's 800m semi-final (© Getty Images)
This weekend no less than 16 European countries hold their national championships, and so the organisers of the KBC Flanders Indoor which takes place this Sunday (26) have found themselves faced with a true Rubik's cube when trying to establish a competitive field for this IAAF permit meeting.
"Some athletes are Melbourne bound to compete in the Commonwealth Games and the US championships are taking place,” confirmed Event Manager Wilfried Meert. “On top of that, the Russian athletes who earned their spot in the World Championships team are not allowed to compete abroad. But the absence of French, German and Spanish athletes remains the most disturbing fact." Anyway, the high quality of the annual KBC Flanders Indoor hardly seems to be have been affected by this scenario.
Mutola eager to face the Russians in their home country
Maria Mutola is the meeting’s main attraction. At a press conference this week the 6 times World Indoor 800m champion from Mozambique confirmed her ambition to aim for another World title in Moscow next month.
"My campaign starts here in Gent next Sunday,” said Mutola. “I just need a few races to arrive in my best shape in Moscow. I set new goals every year and I try to achieve them. That’s what sports is all about."
Mutola's only race so far in Glasgow four weeks ago is no reference. She finished second in 2:02.58 and was beaten there by Yulia Chizhenko (RUS). "I suffered from a calf injury and had to be carried off the track, I couldn't walk anymore. Since then, I have been training very well and I feel ready for the challenge. The Russians will be very strong, but I have the experience. Facing them at home will be a difficult task but I'm looking forward to it. Sunday, I will be happy to break the 2 minutes barrier, in ideal race conditions I can finish in around 1:58."
The Gent organisers will offer Mutola good practice: the Russian Svetlana Cherkasova already ran 1:58.34 this year and her compatriots Irina Vashentseva and Mariya Shapaeva can help her forge the right tactics. Brigitta Langerholc (SLO) and Laetitia Valdonado (FRA) are also on the starting list.
Local crowd awaiting Gevaert’s victory
In her first race of the season, last week at Birmingham, Belgium’s two-time European Indoor 60m champion Kim Gevaert finished second in 7.20 behind Cristine Arron (FRA).
"I came very fast off the blocks and I felt so relieved that I didn't run as aggressively as I wanted in the latter part of the race,” confirmed Gevaert. Coming into Birmingham and facing tough opposition, I was concentrating very much on my starting action and dropped some concentration later on. Unlike previous years, I've only taken up specific speed work a few weeks ago. My main goals for 2006 lie with the European Championships in Göteborg next summer on the 200m. That's why there has been a stronger emphasis on general physical preparation during wintertime."
World Indoor Championships silver medallist Gevaert is one of the most popular sports stars in Belgium and she will get massive support from her fans. "It's always a pleasure for me to run at the KBC Flanders Indoor in Gent. The people are so nice and thankful, I always try my best for them. I will only decide Monday if I travel to Moscow, it depends on how competitive my shape proves to be."
Delphine Atangana (CMR), Endurance Ojokolo (NGR) and Joyce Maduaka (GBR) will be contesting second place, well that is what the local fans hope and believe!
Oprea flirts with World Indoor record
“I have the record on my mind. It’s my main objective for this season, along with the gold medal in Moscow,” said triple jumper Marian Oprea (ROM) after winning the Balkan Indoor Championships on Wedesday in Athens. Oprea heads the world indoor season lists with a 17.74m effort on 18 February in Bucharest. The World Indoor record of 17.83m, jointly held by Alicer Urrutia (CUB) and Christian Olsson (SWE) may well be in danger in Gent. “Jadel Gregorio (BRA) and Daniel Burkenya (RUS) are engaged to set the competition on fire”, confirmed Meert.
On the runway next to the Triple Jump, a high class field also gathers for what promises to be an enthralling men’s Pole Vault competition. Spas Bukhalov (BUL) and Oleksandr Korchmid (UKR) may be the event favourites but at least four or five other vaulters, such as Aleksandr Averbukh (ISR), Giuseppe Gibilisco (ITA) or Laurens Looije (NED) can claim victory. Local favourite Kevin Rans will be competing on what is his training runway and will be loudly cheered. Rans equalled the national record recently in Donetsk with 5.70m, and would be delighted to shine in front of his fans.
Strong field in the 3000m
1500m specialists Adil Kaouch (MOR), Elkanah Angwenyi (KEN), Tarek Boukensa (ALG) and Laban Rotich (KEN) line up in the 3000m. It will be interesting to watch how Ali Saidi Sief (ALG), will try to handle this injection of speed in the 3000m. Halil Akkas (TUR) could be the outsider to spring a surprise in this field and Joeri Jansen (BEL) once more hopes to play his trump card on a track where he has never let his fans down.
“I was on a training camp in Kenya and did a lot of endurance training,” confirmed Jansen. “It’s my lifetime first 3000m, but I’m not scared by the distance at all.”
In the 800m Joseph Mutua is the clear favourite, but should not underestimate 2005 winner Arnoud Okken (NED) and World Junior champion Majed Saeed Sultan (QAT).
National championships rematch in the 400m
“He has excellent form, but he made one error after the other”, said Cedric Van Branteghem’s coach last Sunday, after his athlete was narrowly beaten in the 400m by 17-year-old Kevin Borlée who posted a Belgium national junior record in 46.87. Carlos Santa (DOM) and Osmar Barbosa Dos Santos (BRA) will be in the mix in an exciting rematch that may earn World Championship tickets for both Belgians at 400m.
In the 200m, 2005 winner Guus Hoogmoed (NED) will oppose Tim Abeyie (GBR) but one can not count out Kristof Beyens (BEL) either.
Anson Henry has specially flown back from Canada to face Mark Findlay (GBR) and Anatoliy Dovgal (UKR) in the men’s 60m. Meeting director Christophe Impens expects a lot from Vicente De Lima (BRA). “He ran 6.67 in Eaubonne the other day and there definitely is more to come from the Brazilian.”
Vlasic in the form of her life
“Do expect the bar to be raised at a World record height”, Blanka Vlasic told the meeting organisers. The Croatian has been jumping to phenomenal heights in recent training sessions after lifting her personal best in competition to 2.05m in Slovakia two weeks ago. On Sunday, Vlasic hopes to be pushed by Vita Styopina (RUS), who cleared 1.99m earlier this year. Tia Hellebaut (BEL) has also reached peak form and will want to offer the local fans a special surprise.
”Olesya Chumakova (RUS) is a 4:04 performer on the 1500m this year, but we invited her to pace the 3000m”, says Meert. “That’s how confident we are that Jo Pavey (GBR) is able to break the 8:40 mark on the distance. In fact, that’s the schedule she’s set for.” Yelena Sidorchenkova will try to hang on to the gruelling pace. The Russian finished in 5th place (8:47.19), in last weekend’s awesome Russian national championship race where Shobukova set the World record. 2000 Olympic champion Nouria Mérah-Benida (ALG), now 35-years-old will also test her form as well.
Ivo Hendrix for the IAAF
More information on http://www.sport.be/kbcindoor/2006/eng/
