Above: Ethiopia’s Kenenisa Bekele, pictured here in AFP
photo as he celebrates winning the men’s 10,000m final
at the “Bird’s Nest” National Stadium during the 2008
Beijing Olympic Games on August 17, 2008, “rebuffed the
challenge from his American rival Bernard Lagat (Friday in
Paris), finishing the 3000m contest in 7:28.64. Lagat, who
had given the challenge everything he had, finished in a
personal best of 7:33.15 but was no match for his Ethiopian
rival. France’s Mourad Amdouni was third in a European
season’s lead of 7:37.50.” (Read more at european-athletics.org).

Source: Radio France Internationale
Kenenisa Bekele arrived in Paris this week hoping to significantly boost his bank balance later this year. A one-million-dollar jackpot is on offer for athletes who win an event at all six Golden League meetings during the season and, at the halfway stage, Bekele is the last man standing.

At Friday’s event in the French capital though, the Olympic champion and world-record holder over 5,000 and 10,000 metres will be presented with a different challenge. Unlike the previous meetings this year, there is no 5,000 metre race in Paris. Instead Bekele will have to win over 3,000 metres if his pursuit of the jackpot can continue. This means Bekele should face stiff competition from Kenyan-born US athlete Bernard Lagat at the Stade de France, but the 27-year-old is not too disappointed at having to run over a shorter distance. Read More.