Bekele targeting 10,000m World record in Eugene

Eugene, Oregon, USA — Kenenisa Bekele, the reigning World and Olympic champion in the 10,000m and the World record holder in the event, is hoping to make his first-ever outdoor appearance in the United States a memorable one.

The 2004 Olympic Champion at 10,000m will attempt to set a new standard for that distance during the Prefontaine Classic on Sunday, 8 June at Hayward Field. His current mark is 26:17.53, set at the Memorial Van Damme in Brussels in 2005.

“The record is not easy,” said Bekele's manager, Jos Hermens, from his office in the Netherlands. “But this is an absolutely serious attempt. His training is going well, and he is 100% ‘go’ for the record.”

Because the margin for error is so small with a record so good, the race will be held at 9:30 a.m. on Sunday, before the start of the other events at the 34th annual Prefontaine Classic.

“We compiled 20 years of data about wind conditions, humidity, temperature –you name it,” said meet director Tom Jordan. "The conditions are slightly better during the morning than the evening, and Kenenisa will have the thousands of Hayward Field fans behind him.”

The 25-year-old Ethiopian is no stranger to records or to medals. In addition to his 10,000m mark, Bekele holds the 5000 mworld record of 12:37.35, and has won gold medals at 10,000m at the last three World Championships.

Besides the attempt on the World record, a mark that is likely to fall is the record for the best 10,000m on American soil, currently held by Kenyan Abraham Chebii at 27:04.20 from 2001. The first sub-27:00 run in the U.S. is also in jeopardy.