Monday 22 May 2006
Monte-Carlo - When the six meeting IAAF Golden League series commences in Oslo on 2 June with the Exxon Mobil Bislett Games, World and Olympic 400m champion Jeremy Wariner will certainly figure high on the short list of favourites to claim a slice of the $1 million IAAF Golden League Jackpot.
Wariner, still just 22, has been the event’s preeminent force since winning the Olympic title in Athens less than two years ago. Since his Athens triumph, Wariner has been virtually unstoppable, capped by a World championship in Helsinki last August in 43.93 when he became the event’s seventh fastest ever. Already the fastest in the world this year after his 44.12 in Waco, Texas, last month, the lanky Texan underscored his early season form with a 20.19 performance in the 200m yesterday (21) at the adidas Track Classic in Carson, California, his second personal best over the half lap this spring.
Jeremy Wariner of the US celebrates winning gold in the 400m
(Getty Images)
Among the challengers in Oslo - and elsewhere this summer as well – are several adversaries that are well known to Wariner. Canadian Tyler Christopher will aim to pick up where he left off last season, when he ended his breakout season with a bronze medal in Helsinki. Discounting last year’s World Athletics Final where a minor injury forced Wariner to jog through the finish, Briton Tim Benjamin is the last man to have beaten him. Training partner Darold Williamson has bested Wariner as well in the past, and both will be in the Oslo field. Defending champion Gary Kikaya of the Democratic Republic of Congo will return as well, on the heels of a pair of quick recent victories in Vera Cruz and Belem. Lashawn Merritt, the 2004 World Junior champion and still a teenager, is the young season’s second fastest (44.67), and will also make the trip to the Norwegian capital.
Women’s 400m
American Monique Henderson and Amy Mbacke Thiam of Senegal top the women’s field. Henderson, a finalist in Helsinki who joined the sub-50 club last summer, clocked 50.83 earlier this month at the Jamaica International meeting, while Thiam will arrive in Oslo after a strong win in Belem on Sunday.
Amy Mbacké Thiam of Senegal, a season’s best in Belem
(Wander Roberto Oliveira/CBAt)
A strong trio of Russians will also compete in Oslo, led by Svetlana Pospelova, the reigning national champion outdoors and European champion indoors. Natalya Antyukh, last year’s European Cup winner, and two-time World Indoor Champion Natalia Nazarova, fill out the Russian contingent.
This year there are eleven designated Golden League Jackpot events, and athletes who win at any five of the six meetings will share a purse of $500,000, while an additional $500,000 is on offer to be shared by athletes who succeed in winning their event a sixth time.
Click on the title below for the original Jackpot announcement
New Jackpot, New Opportunities – IAAF Golden League
2006 IAAF Golden League Events:
Men: 100m, 400m, 1500m, 3000/5000m, Long Jump, Javelin Throw
Women: 100m, 400m, 3000/5000m, 100m Hurdles, High Jump
IAAF Golden League - Dates and venues in 2006:
Friday 2 June, OSLO, NOR
Saturday 8 July, PARIS, FRA
Friday 14 July, ROME, ITA
Friday 18 August, ZURICH, SUI
Friday 25 August, BRUSSELS, BEL
Sunday 3 September, BERLIN, GER
Bob Ramsak for the IAAF
http://www.iaaf.org/GLE06/news/Kind=2/newsId=34750.html