Abeylegesse Of Turkey To Compete In Women's 1,500-meter Qualifying Round

ATHENS - Elvan Abeylegesse of Turkey will compete in women's 1,500-meter qualifying round at the 28th Summer Olympic Games in Greek capital Athens on Tuesday.
Turkey National Olympics Committee Secretary General Nese Gundogan submitted confirmation that Abeylegesse wanted to compete in women's 1,500-meter qualifying round to the organization committee. Officials noted that she would run in this race.
Sports foundation ENKA executive board chairman Sinan Tara said that Abeylegesse and he discussed the issue once again, noting that she decided to compete in the race.
Turkish Athletics Federation Chairman Mehmet Yurdadon earlier told the A.A correspondent, ''Abeylegesse is so sorry about her result in overnight's women's 5,000-meter final. She could not sleep whole night and eat anything. She cannot be successful on these conditions. Therefore, she will not compete in today's 1,500-meter qualifying round.''
Women's 5,000-meter world-record holder Abeylegesse finished 12th in women's 5,000-meter final last night. Meseret Defar of Ethiopia won the race while Isabella Ochichi of Kenya took the silver, and Tirunesh Dibaba of Ethiopia the bronze.
21-year-old Abeylegesse set her world record of 14:24.68 at the Golden League in Bergen city of Norway in June 2004.
(EÖ-AÖ) 24.08.2004