NATIONAL NEWS - Ethiopian middle and long-distance runner and IAAF world athlete of the year Genzebe Dibaba will try to break the world indoor mile record at the Globen Galan meeting in Stockholm on February 17.

But now there is more incentive following the news that Ethiopian-born Abeba Aregawi, currently representing Sweden internationally, has been added to the field at the IAAF World Indoor Tour meeting.

Aregawi succeeded Dibaba as the world indoor champion over 1 500m. But last year, Dibaba succeeded Aregawi as the world champion outdoors over the distance. The two athletes also occupy the first two spots on the world indoor all-time list for 1 500m.

While Dibaba is the world record-holder indoors and outdoors for the metric mile, Aregawi leads Dibaba in career head-to-heads, 5-3. But this will be their first indoor clash.

Dibaba is the sister of three-times Olympic champion Tirunesh Dibaba and Olympic silver medallist Ejegayehu Dibaba

Aregawi’s winter training in Ethiopia has gone so well that she was keen to join Dibaba in her attempt to beat the world indoor mile record of 4:17.14, set 26 years ago by Romania’s Doina Melinte.

The Swedish record of 4:32.49 is definitely within reach for Aregawi, as she was almost 10 seconds faster than that at the IAAF Diamond League final in Brussels last year.

World indoor silver medallist Axumawit Embaye is also in the field, along with world junior silver medallist Gudaf Tsegay and World Championships 800m and 1 500m finalist Rababe Arafi.

IAAF World Indoor Tour calendar:
February 6 – Karlsruhe Indoor Meeting (Karlsruhe, GER)
February 14 – New Balance Indoor Grand Prix (Boston, USA)
February 17 – Globen Galan (Stockholm, SWE)