Season end with a poor World Athletics Final

September 16th 2003 - The World Athletics Final in Monaco this weekend marked the end of another good season for Simon, although he failed to impress on his last track race of the year. Having shown a consistently rising line over all his races this year (Zagreb 8.22, Stockholm 8.19, Paris 8.18 and 8.13, Brussels 8.09), Simon did not feel the power in his legs to run a decent race on the track which brought him the European record last year.

"My legs just did not have it today. Aerobically I must have been OK considering Brussels, but this was one of these few races where my legs felt very weak from the first lap onwards. There is few things you can do when you meet a barrier every 80 meters with those legs. I am disappointed, but accept that not evrey race can be a party", Simon laughed.

"With my sports hernia surgury this winter, the season has been much better than expected anyway. I am pleased to stop training now for a month, and evaluate how I will go into the Olympic campaign with my coach Bram Wassenaar and girlfriend Adrienne Herzog. Most people claim that I should make no changes to my program considering my results. However, I have always been very ambitious, and must say that I always want more and higher. A 7th place in the Olympics would certainly not make me happy. To do better, I have some improvements in mind for the upcoming winter, which I want to discuss with my coach first."

Race info

 1  Shaheen Saif Saaeed   QAT  7:57.38 (WL)
 2  Koech Paul            KEN  7:57.42 (PB)   
 3  Kemboi Ezekiel        KEN  8:11.79     
 4  Nyamu Julius          KEN  8:14.04     
 5  Tahri Bouabdallah     FRA  8:15.60    
 6  Martín Eliseo         ESP  8:16.38     
 7  Ezzine Ali            MAR  8:18.05     
 8  Martín Luis Miguel    ESP  8:23.66 
 9  Vroemen Simon         NED  8:26.97   
10  Cherono Abraham       KEN  8:35.67   
11  Boit Kipketer Wilson  KEN  8:36.52   
    Misoi Kipkirui        KEN  DNF   

A well deserved rest....and another exciting weekend ahead!

Ok, I admit, this wasn't the season end I have dreamed of. After 8.09 in Brussels, I had something else in mind than an anonymous 9th place in Monaco. But I accept I'm only human, and it's been enough for this years track season. I'll stop training for a month, let the body do it's healing, and enjoy some relaxing moments. Catch up with friends who I definitely miss during the season, have a few beers, and..... do some exciting stuff I like!

Next wekend will be exciting, with a road mile in Newcastle (UK) on Saturday night and a steeple chase clinic in my hometown of Delft on Sunday (14.30, sportpark Brasserskade). At 15.00, I will be honoured as Sportsman of the Year 2002 on the smae track in Delft, while the "double decathlon" will be in one of it's last events.

The double decathlon (or double pentathlon for women) is an event for the real tough ones. What to think of 20 track and field events in just 2 days??!! For info, check www.av40.nl and come to the track to cheer them on!

"Steeple" Simon

Pictures

Your reaction on this newsitem