BERLIN, Sept 6, 2007 (AFP) - World champion Christine Ohuruogu faces a stiff challenge over 400 metres as American Sanya Richards chases her million dollar dream (730,325 euros) at Berlin’s Golden League meeting on September 16.
Britain’s Ohuruogu, 23, took gold in the one-lap event at the world championships in Osaka with a personal best of 49.61 seconds, just days after completing a suspension for missing three out-of-competition drugs tests.
But Richards is the fastest woman in the world this year over 400 metres after running 49.52 in Paris earlier this season.
And the United States sprinter only needs wins at Friday’s Golden League meetings in Zurich, Brussels on September 14 and Berlin next weekend to claim her share of a million dollars.
The jackpot is shared among athletes who win in their event at all six Golden League meetings in a season, and Richards has already gone three from three so far.
Other potential candidates who could share the bumper pay-out are world champion pole-vaulter Russian Yelena Isinbayeva and American hurdler Michelle Perry.
In Berlin, Ohuruogu will also be up against fellow-Brit Nicola Sanders, who took silver, and Jamaica’s Novlene Williams, bronze, as well as world 400metres hurdles champion Jana Rawlinson from Australia.