Alia Saeed and Betlhem Belayneh have a busy schedule ahead of them as the Emirati runners prepare for the Rio 2016 Olympics.
Saeed’s timing of 31:10.25, which she ran in the 10,000m at the Dubai President’s Cup last month, is the second fastest time in the world this year, although it should be noted that many athletes are just getting their season started.
The reigning Asian champion is set to compete in the 5,000m in a meet in Nancy, France, in June before returning to her training base in Barcelona, where she will stay until the end of the month.
Saeed will then run a 10,000m in Sweden on June 28, in a meet that is expected to feature world and Olympic champion Tirunesh Dibaba.
Two meets in Barcelona in July could potentially pit Saeed against the younger Dibaba, Genzebe, before heading to the Rio Olympics in August.
Saeed trains regularly with Genzebe in both Addis Ababa and Barcelona. Saeed, who turns 25 next week, is also scheduled to compete in the Brussels leg of the Diamond League post-Olympics on September 9.
Meanwhile, 1,500m and 5,000m Asian champion, Belayneh – nicknamed Betty – will pick up her Rio preparations by contesting the IAAF World Challenge in Beijing on May 18, before returning to Barcelona for training until the Diamond League in Stockholm on June 16.
A 5,000m in Barcelona and a 3,000m in Casablanca will round off her prep before she flies to Rio.
Betty’s 8:44 run in the 3,000m from February 2016 is the fourth-fastest time run this year indoors.
Elsewhere, Al Ahli Club honoured its track and field squad for sweeping all domestic titles this season – the zonal league, the nation-wide league and the President’s Cup. In a ceremony, club CEO Ahmed Khalifa Hammad applauded the stars for bringing home the silverware.
“What our track and field teams achieved is a natural extension to all the accolades won by all our squads in every sport,” said Hammad. “Unlike other clubs that solely focus on football, Al Ahli gives attention to all disciplines.”
