16th February 2010

World Two Mile Bid

 

16 February 2010

Double Olympic Gold Medallist Tirunesh Dibaba and World 5,000m Champion Vivien Cheruiyot will battle it out for the two-mile World Record at the forthcoming Aviva Grand Prix in Birmingham on 20th February.

Dibaba, Beijing Olympic champion over 5,000m and 10,000m, is no stranger to setting world records. The Ethiopian is the world outdoor record holder over 5,000m and set a world junior record for the 3,000m at the NIA six years ago.

She said: “I’m looking forward to competing in the UK again after I won the 5,000m at the Aviva London Grand Prix last year. I know it will be a tough race in Birmingham but I’m feeling on good form and expect to run well. Vivien Cheruiyot is a great athlete so I’m sure it will be a fast race.

The world’s best time for two miles, 9:06.26 minutes, is held by Dibaba’s arch rival, fellow Ethiopian Meseret Defar, and is within reach for both Dibaba and Cheruiyot.

Although Cheruiyot, who picked up gold in Berlin last year, has never beaten Dibaba on the track before, she is looking forward to the race.

She said: “I’m really excited about racing in Birmingham, my training has been great and I am looking forward to racing against Dibaba.

“I am the World Champion, she is the Olympic Champion – we’ll be pushing each other all the way so I’m hoping for a quick time and hopefully a world record. Birmingham has good memories for me as I won the 3,000m event here last year in a Kenyan Record. I’ll be aiming for another victory this weekend.”

Prior to this world-record attempt, a unique concept will kick-start the action at the National Indoor Arena for the Aviva Grand Prix this year, when BMX riders and inline skaters take on British High Jumpers in an Extreme High Jump exhibition.  At 12.30 spectators can witness for the first time the meeting of polar opposites traditional athletics and extreme sports; this short event promises to push the boundaries of the High Jump as the rules are swapped for tricks and stunts.

Tickets for the Aviva Grand Prix at the National Indoor Arena, Birmingham on Saturday 20th February are available by phone on 08000 556 056 or online at www.uka.org.uk