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GDYNIA, Poland: World Athletics President Sebastian Coe said on Friday that he embraced new track technology that features pacemaker lights, a system used to great effect on two impressive world records last week.
Ugandan Joshua Cheptegei (10,000 meters for men) and Ethiopian Letesenbet Gidey (5,000 meters for women) broke two long-standing records in Valencia.
Both sports had a team of metronomic pacemakers around them that used Wavelight technology, a visual time guidance system on the track that lights up to indicate the world record pace.
“You have to innovate, there’s no question about that,” Coe said in Gdynia, Poland, ahead of Saturday’s world half-marathon races.
While acknowledging that a balance had to be struck, Coe argued that technological advancements were paramount in attracting new audiences.
“You need to create a connection and the key connection is understanding,” said the two-time 1500m Olympic gold medal winner for Great Britain, who set 12 career world records.
“I think it is very important that we use innovation so that we can promote and foster understanding.
“Rhythm lights that I have no problem with. Our one-day meetings are about entertainment and I think that Wavelight, which allows people in the stadium, people on TV, to understand a little more about the incredible talent, the incredible speeds that our competitors run at actually lends to the kind of understanding that I want. “
Coe also argued that pacemakers had been around for decades, notably citing Roger Bannister’s first mile in less than four minutes as a “pacing event.”
Saturday’s races see Cheptegei again seeking gold after an exceptional couple of years, although the half marathon is the athlete’s longest distance to date.
The Ugandan claimed the world cross-country title in Denmark and world gold in 10,000 meters on the track in Doha last year.
Cheptegei opened the coronavirus-hit 2020 season with a world record in the 5km road race, in Monaco, in February.
He then cut 1.99 seconds off Bekele’s 5,000m world record, setting an impressive 12: 35.36, also in Monaco, in August, before cutting six seconds off Bekele’s 10,000m world record when he clocked 26: 11.00 in Valencia the last week.
“I feel good, I feel recovered and ready for the race,” Cheptegei said of his debut start.
If Cheptegei emerged victorious out of 122 competitors, he would become the second man in history after Moroccan Khalid Skah to win world titles in cross country, track and on the roads.
“I have been training well for the 5,000m, the 10,000m, but now it’s the half marathon,” said the 24-year-old.
“I know it comes a few days after the world record, but I think I am a very talented person and I can say that it will be a good challenge for me.
“I’m hungry for the title. I’ve shown it in cross country, I’ve shown it on the track, I’ve shown it when it comes to attacking records, so the only thing now is to win a special title on the roads.
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