Track And Field Stars Converge In Boston

Submitted by Rickshaw :: Fri Jan 28, 2005 10:22 am

The Reebok Boston Indoor Games kick off tomorrow, featuring some of the world's best track and field athletes. From the heptathlon to the shot put, 60m to 3000m, competition will be fierce thanks to the number of heavy hitters competing in the games. If you live in the northeast, it might be worth a drive up to Boston this weekend to watch. The rest of us will have to be satisfied with the limited coverage on ESPN, or wait for results in the news. Ah, the suspense!

5K and 10K world record holder Kenenisa Bekele will be headlining the 3000m event. It will be Bekele's first race since the tragic death of his fiancee, 2003 World Youth 1500m champion Alem Techale, who died of an apparent heart attack earlier this month. Bekele is likely to receive a warm welcome from Boston's large Ethiopian community. His victory isn't assured, however, with several other strong contenders in the 3000m, including American record holder Tim Broe.

In the heptathlon, Olympic gold medalist Carolina Kluft is expected to dominate. In a press conference, Kluft called the heptathlon world record set by Jackie Joyner-Kersee “probably unbeatable,” but added: “I will try to do my best to be as good as I can. How far I can go, I have no idea.” Kluft will also compete in the long jump, her best single event.

The games will be held at the Reggie Lewis Track and Athletic Center in Boston, from 5:30 to 8:00 on Saturday, and will be broadcast on ESPN from 5:00-6:30 on Sunday. The top athletes will be competing for cash as well as finishing places. Any athlete setting an American record on the track will receive $10,000, and a world record will be good for $25,000.