PSD Bank Meeting 2011: World-class entries on long distance

5,000 m: Koech in the footsteps of Gebrselassie / 1,500 m: World record trio to compete

The athletics arena at Arena Sportpark went crazy when Kenyan Paul Kipsiele Koech crossed the finishing line clocking 13.02,95min in the 5,000m at the fifth PSD Bank Meeting last year. The then 28-year-old 2004 Olympic bronze medallist in the 3,000m obstacles had surpassed himself. Only three athletes had ever been faster in the 5,000m indoors: Ethiopians Kenenisa Bekele and Haile Gebrselassie and Kenyan Daniel Komen.

About one year later, on February 11, 2011, Koech will be back in Dusseldorf, and again compete in the 5,000m at the 6th International Athletics PSD Bank Meeting organised by sportAgentur Düsseldorf GmbH. Among others, he will meet 24-year-old US American Galen Rupp, who finished fifth in the 3,000m at the World Indoor Championships; 10,000m European bronze medallist Daniele Meucci (Italy), and about half a dozen further Kenyan athletes. “The men’s 5,000 metres will be one of the evening’s highlights”, promises Meeting Director Marc Osenberg.

The Dusseldorf crowds will also be enthralled by the runners from Kenya in the 1,500m. Three of the Kenyan World record team in the 4x1,500m relay will compete: Biwott Tanui, Geoffrey Kipkoech Rono and last year’s winner Augustine Chogo. Four of the top 5 in the 1,500m at the PSD Bank Meeting 2010 have also entered this year: In addition to the Kenyan trio, Ethiopia’s Mekonnen Gebremedhin, who came fourth at the World Indoor Championships. German competitors are Christoph Lohse, the 2008 German indoor runner-up who finished seventh last year in Dusseldorf, and the current German national runner-up, Moritz Waldmann.

The TV sports channel Eurosport will broadcast two hours live from the capital of North-Rhine Westphalia on February 11 between 19:30 and 21:30 hrs CET.

Tickets can be purchased at www.psd-bank-meeting.de and at d:ticket as well as at the hotline +49- 1805 - 644332. Ticket for children and juveniles under 18 cost 10, for adults 16 Euros. The tickets are also valid for public transport to and from the Arena. The Athletics Arena has a total capacity of 2,000 people and has been regularly sold out on Fridays since the first Indoor Meeting.

***********************************************************

The media accreditation questionnaire can be downloaded at www.psd-bank-meeting.de or can be ordered from Gehring Sport & Medien by e-mail [email protected] or by telephone at +49-212/88021841.