WORLD 800 metres record holder with 1 minutes 41.11 seconds, and former three-time World Championship gold medallist Wilson Kipketer, will deliver the special lecture at the Gibson Relays ‘Technical Corner’ ahead of the 34th staging of the local relay carnival.

Chairman of the Gibson Relays organiser committee, Neville ‘Teddy’ McCook, made the disclosure during yesterday’s launch of the annual meet, which is scheduled for February 27 at the National Stadium.

“We were trying to get him from last year (2009) because the president of the JAAA had indicated to us that they wanted to developed middle- and long-distance running. I think we have a responsibility to assist in this direction and we felt that we could get Wilson Kipketer here,” McCook said.

The 37-year-old Kenya-born Kipketer, who also represented Denmak, is now an IAAF Ambassador.

“It was difficult towards the end of last year and so we thought that this was an opportune time, since we have a technical corner each year with the lecture geared towards an area of development needs as per the JAAA’s (programme),” added McCook, who also serves as president of the North America Central America and Caribbean Athletics Association.

He indicated that the Gibson Relay ‘Technical Corner’ will be staged at GC Foster College in the week leading up to the meet.

During his illustrious career, Kipketer broke the 800m world record on five occasions — three times outdoors and two times indoors. He won the World Championship title in 1995, 1997 and 1999), as well as two Olympic medals — silver in Sydney 2000 and bronze in Athens in 2004.

“We’re looking forward to his presence here and what he can contribute to the sport,” McCook said, noting that the former middle-distance superstar will also visit Cuba before attending the Cross Country championships in Trinidad and Tobago.