Rotich to seek three-peat at Mercedes Benz Classic Mile
Posted Wednesday, 2 May, 2007
CAMBRIDGE, ONTARIO - Organisers of the Mercedes-Benz Classic Mile are thrilled to announce that Kenya’s outstanding miler, Laban Rotich, will attempt to win the event for the third consecutive year.
The fourth edition of this world class competition is scheduled for Saturday, June 16th, 2007 at Galt Collegiate Institute, Cambridge.
Rotich, whose personal best time of 3:47.65 makes him history’s tenth fastest miler, will be accompanied this year by his younger brother, Shedrack Korir, himself a world class middle distance runner. The pair will attempt to break the four minute barrier with the victor earning a 2007 Mercedes Benz sedan for his efforts.
A year ago Rotich narrowly held off Cambridge’s own Nate Brannen in a thrilling tactical race. The 38 year old had set a competition record of 3:58.8 two years ago in his initial Cambridge appearance.
Shedrack Korir, 28, has recently earned a living as a skilled pacemaker on the European circuit but made an enormous breakthrough last season when he won both the Kenyan championships 1,500m title and also recorded a time of 3:31.96 for the distance. That is roughly equivalent to a 3:50 mile!
The Mercedes-Benz Classic Mile commemorates the anniversary of Sir Roger Bannnister’s first sub four minute mile on a similar, crushed brick track at Oxford University. Hundreds of athletes, literally spanning four generations, will line up this year and test themselves over this classic distance.
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