Ndereba tests self over 5,000 metres in Osaka
Alastair Himmer
Marathon world record holder Catherine Ndereba is running in the 5,000 metres at the Japan Grand Prix on Saturday to give herself an idea of what distance she will contest at the Commonwealth Games in July.
The Kenyan, who set her world best of two hours 18 minutes 47 seconds in Chicago last October, told reporters on Friday that she did not rule out running in the 5,000 or 10,000 metres in major competitions in the future.
"I never really look beyond the end of the year. Basically, I am using Osaka to see if I will run either the 5,000 or the 10,000 at the Commonwealth Games in Manchester," she said.
Women's marathon world record holder Catherine Ndereba of Kenya hugs her daughter Jane
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"I ran my first-ever 10,000 metres in Mito (Japan) last week and this is only my second track meet of the year, but I will be looking for a personal best in the 5,000." Her best time in the shorter distance is a modest 15 minutes 27.84 seconds.
Ndereba is the only world record holder competing at Expo Stadium on Saturday in the second IAAF Grand Prix event of the season, following Rio De Janeiro last weekend.
However, the appearance of American Tim Montgomery, who finished second behind Maurice Greene in a personal best 9.85 seconds at the world championships in Edmonton last year, will add spice to the men's 100 metres.
BARE-CHESTED
Montgomery, part of the U.S. 4x100 relay team that won gold and then caused controversy with their bare-chested victory celebrations at the 2000 Sydney Olympics, will be tested by compatriot Shawn Crawford, third in the 200 in Edmonton.
The anticipated showdown with Olympic bronze medallist Obadele Thompson has not materialised after the late withdrawal of the Barbados sprinter.
The Japan Grand Prix has also been hit by the decision of Olympic 110 metres hurdles champion Anier Garcia of Cuba and American Angelo Taylor, who won gold in the 400 metres hurdles in Sydney, not to travel to Osaka.
Mark Crear of the U.S., who has silver and bronze medals from the 1996 and 2000 Olympics, was a late replacement in the 110 metres hurdles.
Japanese interest will focus largely on world silver medallist Koji Murofushi as he attempts to beat world and Olympic champion Szymon Ziolkowski of Poland in the hammer throw for the second year running here.
"This is a big year for me with the European Championships in August. A European gold medal is what I need," said Ziolkowski. "I have a world championship and Olympic gold so to add a European gold would be great."
