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Aus Track - Kenyans and Chinese on show - admin - 07-02-2008 As the world counts down to the Beijing Olympics, 21 nations will be represented at next weekend's Sydney Grand Prix with Kenya and China confirming their athletes to compete on our shores over the next three weeks. They will join the world’s fastest man Asafa Powell, and reigning world and Olympic 400m champion Jeremy Wariner, who will commence their Olympic campaigns at the Sydney Olympic Park Athletic Centre on Saturday, February 16. In other news, John Steffensen has entered the meet in Sydney, however he has informed Athletics Australia that he is still concerned about his troublesome hamstrings and would like to delay a decision on lining up for the 400m until closer to the event. Steffensen would require an exemption from the selectors if he were to miss the crucial Olympic qualifying event. The distance fields will be boosted by the inclusion of four quality Kenyan runners, who will also compete at the World Athletics Tour in Melbourne (February 21) and at the National Championships in Brisbane (February 28 – March 1) - Leonard Kibet (800m/1500m), Bernard Kiptum (1500m), Shadrack Kosgei (1500m/3000m/5000m) and Collins Kosgei (3000m steeplechase/5000m). With a personal best of 8:14:32, Collins Kosgei (pictured winning in Melbourne in 2005) will be branded with the tag of favourite in the 3000m steeplechase in Sydney, with Youcef Abdi (NSW), Martin Dent (ACT) and Peter Nowill (QLD) all providing strong competition. The three other Kenyans are expected to give Collis Birmingham (VIC), Jeff Riseley (VIC), Ryan Gregson (NSW) and Jeremy Roff (NSW) a run for their money in the 1500m. The Kosgei boys will inject another dose of African might in the much-anticipated 5000m clash between Craig Mottram and Ethiopians Tariku Bekele and Abreham Feleke in Melbourne. All four Kenyan runners hail from the Eldoret region, the scene of the ethnic revenge attacks set off by December’s presidential elections which caused hundreds of fatalities and provoked thousands to flee their homes. Australia’s 2006 3000m steeplechase champion Youcef Abdi, who will also compete in Sydney this weekend, travelled to the riot-engulfed town in early December to benefit from the altitude training at 2500m and was fortunate to escape unharmed. Lucas Sang, a member of Kenya’s 1988 Olympic team, was attacked and killed when walking home in Eldoret on January 1. Team China rarely leave their shores to compete overseas, and in an Olympic year when the spotlight will be firmly focused on their capital city, will send a nine-member contingent to compete in Sydney and Melbourne. Xiaoxiao Huang, who finished fifth behind Jana Rawlinson at last year’s world titles, headlines the team and the contest over the sticks between the 23 year-old and Jamaican Melaine Walker will provide one of the highlights of the Sydney meet. In Melbourne, Aimin Song (PB - 65.33m) and Taifeng Sun (PB - 64.98m) are expected to push young gun Dani Samuels (PB - 60.63m) in the discus, whilst in the women’s 3000m steeplechase, Zhenzhu Li (PB – 9:32.35) and Yanmei Zhu (PB - 9:32.36) will provide valuable competition for Tassie’s golden girl Donna MacFarlane (PB - 9:25.05). Sydney Athletics Grand Prix Date: Saturday, February 16, 2008 Time: 6:45pm Venue: Sydney Olympic Park Athletic Centre