Sources:Great Run, Prefontaine Classic
Craig Mottram after his famous 3,000 metres victory ahead of Kenenisa Bekele in last year’s IAAF World Cup final, chases another success against the Ethiopian star at the Nike Prefontaine Classic.
Mottram in what promises to be a fast two miles contest on Sunday in Eugene, faces not only Ethiopia’s Olympic 10,000m gold medallist, but his equally talented younger brother Tariku, the world junior 5,000m champion.
Kenya’s Ben Limo the reigning world 5,000m title holder and Zersenay Tadesse of Eritrea who lifted the World Cross Country crown ahead of Kenenisa in March, also compete.
“I’ve raced Bekele a few times and only beaten him once, so of course I’d love to beat him again,” Mottram who has been training at altitude in the USA, told reporters.
The Commonwealth 5,000m silver medallist planning this August in Osaka to improve on the bronze medal he won at the 2005 World Championships, is again aiming for a top showing against his rival.
Mottram said: “Apparently he is not planning on running the 5km in Osaka so it will be more about my own confidence than planning a specific race plan to use against Bekele.
“I want to compete well and get used to the level of intensity I know to expect when you race the likes of Bekele.
“I’m only planning one 5k before Osaka and that’s in Ostrava,” taking place in the Czech Republic on June 27.
“Of course I want it to go well. I need races of this quality to condition me to be able to maintain the pace
“I’ll need to be competitive in Ostrava and to take my training to the next level in the final two months before Osaka.”
The two-year-old “Pref” meeting record of eight minutes 07.68seconds will be threatened while Mottram could challenge his national record of 8min 11.27sec.
He said: “The Australian record is not a target but I suspect there’s a good chance I’ll go under it if I achieve my aim of competing well against the Bekele brothers and the others.
“I’d be surprised if the race isn’t won under 8.10 and I expect to be right in it no matter what speed we race at.”