The Ethiopian will race over 3,000 metres, the distance at which he won his only world indoor title in 2006, at the Feb. 20 Grand Prix at the National Indoor Arena (NIA) where he has run three of his five personal best times on the indoor circuit.
“Five years ago I broke the world record in the 5,000 at the NIA and I also broke the 2,000 and two-mile records at the same arena so it’s definitely a track I enjoy running on,” Bekele said in a statement from the organisers.
The three indoor world records he set in Birmingham all still stand and the Ethiopian’s familiarity with the track gives him good reason to believe he can claim another mark. “Now I hope to break my fourth world record there, this time in the 3,000,” added the 27-year-old. “However, it will be a tough record as it’s a very quick time to beat.”
Bekele’s personal best is almost six seconds slower than the world record set 11 years ago by Kenya’s Daniel Komen in 7:24.90.
