from AAI website Lisa Dobriskey is determined to round off the best year of her career by defending her Bupa Great North Mile title around the NewcastleGateshead Quaysides on October 4. Dobriskey had a tremendous boost prior to her return to the North East with a thrilling win in New York’s Continental Airlines Fifth Avenue road mile on Sunday in a superb time of four minutes 18.6seconds.
That was the second fastest time ever achieved in the world famous race’s history when Dobriskey became the first British winner since Paula Radcliffe’s success 11 years ago.
Now the 24-year-old Kent runner who narrowly missed out on the Olympic 1500metres bronze medal last month is gearing herself up for one final big effort when coming back to the north east next week.
“I’ve got one race left in Newcastle – I’ve got the Bupa Great North Mile on October 4,” said Dobriskey after narrowly beating US Number One Shannon Rowbury with her spectacular finishing speed in the “Big Apple.”
“So I’ve got just a tiny bit more to go. But that was hard,” she added after her close confrontation with Rowbury who placed seventh in the Olympic final.
“And then I’m going to have a couple of weeks completely off, and then some easy running. It’s all quite light, really, up until Christmas.”
Dobriskey who also won 1500m at last month’s Aviva British Grand Prix in Gateshead, will face a much tougher field than she did a year ago headed by Kenya’s Janeth Jepkosgei.
Last year’s world 800m champion and Olympic silver medallist is flying in from her Kenya base and her presence should ensure a fast early pace to ensure she doesn’t jump the field in the closing stages.
Spectators will also have the opportunity of watching teenager Stephanie Twell who is so highly rated she is already being compared as a better talent than Radcliffe was at that age.
“Steph’s the world junior 1500m champion and then just missed out on a place in the Olympic final,” said Andy Caine the event’s Elite Athletes Manager.
“She has also just been voted European Athletics Rising Star 2008 and deserves the accolade after what has been a memorable year by anyone’s standards.”
The men’s mile will see Olympic 1500m silver medallist Asbel Kiprop in action and he will be joined by fellow Kenyan Brimin Kipruto, winner of the 3000m steeplechase title in Beijing.
Mo Farah the European 5000m runner-up two years ago after that performance in Gothenburg stepped down to shorter distance and shocked the opposition with his surprise win.
Now he is hoping for a repeat against a strong field which also includes local international Nick McCormick.
The women’s two miles features Kenyan Vivian Cheruiyot who finished second in last year’s race which was over the metric equivalent distance of 3000m, while Helen Clitheroe and Emily Pidgeon head the British challenge.
Olympic 5000m and 10000m gold medallist Kenenisa Bekele and Kenyan rival Eliud Kipchoge will be joined in their two miles race by Kenyan junior Levi Matebo second behind the great Ethiopian star over 3000m at last month’s Aviva British Grand Prix in Gateshead
The Bupa Great North Run will be televised live on BBC ONE from 9.30am to 1.30pm on Sunday 5th October. Highlights programme on BBC TWO at 5pm.