Cheptegei Aims to Break 3000m World Record in the 60th Golden Spike in Ostrava
Trackstaa previews the 60th iteration of the Golden Spike in Ostrava as a world-class field lines up in this historic event. Watch here.
All eyes will be on Ostrava, in the Czech Republic for the Continental Gold Tour, this evening as distance running sensation, Joshua Cheptegei aims to break Daniel Komen’s 3000m world record (7:20.67). In what would be an unprecedented triple, given that Cheptegei already holds the world records in both the 10,000m and the 5000m.
Komen’s record, set in 1996, has stood undefeated for 25 years and is widely regarded as one of the most impressive world record’s ever. Anyone with any athletics knowledge, would struggle to bet against Joshua Cheptegei, but even the great Ugandan will need to be at his mesmerising best to break that record. Especially as his current 3000m PB stands at 7:33.26.
Reading the splits from Komen’s special performance in Rieti in 1996 puts this monumental challenge in some context. Komen passed through 1500m in 3:38.6, the mile in 3:54.7 before running the second half of the race in 3:42.1. Of all Cheptegei’s world record attempts this is perhaps the most difficult. Fortunately, he’ll be ably assisted by Australian record holder, Stewy McSweyn, himself a 7:28 man, who will be using his pacing duties as preparation for the star-studded 1500m race at the Gateshead Diamond League on Sunday.
Whilst Cheptegei will no doubt receive the most attention, he’s not the only world class athlete on show. World record holder in the Pole Vault, Mondo Duplantis will also be competing with the Swede looking to further cement his dominance of the sport ahead of his tilt for Olympic gold later this year. He’s unlikely to have it all his own way, however, with double-world champion Sam Kendrick trying to upset the party.
Genzebe Dibaba, the world record holder, starts as outstanding favourite in the 1500m whilst US sprinting sensation, Sha’Carri Richardson, with her jaw-dropping top-end speed and fresh off her victory at the Golden Games in Mt SAC and ahead of her 100m Gateshead Diamond League debut, runs in the 200m.
Cheptegei’s Ugandan compatriot, Jacob Kiplimo runs in the 10,000m and his performance will be very interesting to watch given that he’s many people’s dark-horse for the Olympic 10,000m title.
For British fans, a host of elite British athletes are also competing, including Jake Wightman and Max Burgin in the 800m whilst Keely Hodgkinson, the European indoor 800m gold medalist, competes in the women’s 8. Completing the British representation is Jessie Knight, Lina Neilson, Dai Green and Chris McAlister in the 400m hurdles with Phil Norman running in the 3000m steeple.
Away from the track, the field also looks incredibly exciting with, German, Johannes Vetter attempting to better his season’s best 91.50m. Elsewhere, Hugues Fabrice Zango competes in the triple jump against Christian Taylor, the former setting an astonishing indoor triple jump world record back in January.
How can I watch?
Most fans, including those in the UK, can watch the event streamed live on YouTube at this link:
For some, this is unfortunately blocked with US rights held behind the F******k paywall. For full details of how to watch in your country, click here: https://www.letsrun.com/news/2021/05/how-to-watch-joshua-cheptegeis-3000-meter-world-record-attempt-2021-golden-spike-ostrava-tv-streaming-information-2/