Thursday 14 September 2006
Athens, Greece - Krisztina Papp (HUN) and Sabrina Mockenhaupt (GER) have been called up to compete for Team Europe in the 3000m and 5000m respectively at the IAAF World Cup in Athens this weekend. This follows the withdrawal of Jo Pavey (GBR) and Susanne Wigene (NOR).
FULL TEAM AT
http://www.iaaf.org/WCP06/news/Kind=2/newsId=36231.html
Wednesday 13 September 2006
Athens, Greece - A total prize purse of $2,972,000 will be paid by the IAAF at this weekend’s 10th IAAF World Cup in Athletics, Athens, Greece (16 -17 September 2006)
(all amounts are in US$)
Places / Prize*
Individual events
1st 30,000
2nd 15,000
3rd 10,000
4th 7000
5th 5000
6th 3000
7th 2000
8th 1000
Relay events
1st 30,000
2nd 20,000
3rd 10,000
4th 8000
5th 6000
6th 5000
7th 4000
8th 3000
Any Athletes surpassing a World Record in the World Cup of Athletics will be awarded US $100,000.
All prize winners must undergo and clear the usual anti-doping procedures.
The performances of the host team Greece are not part of the prize money structure. For example, if a Greek athlete finishes fourth, then the athletes in the five places behind are rewarded with prize money as if they had finished fourth, fifth, sixth, seventh and eighth.
Wednesday 13 September 2006
Athens, Greece - Two years ago it was Fani Halkia who electrified Athens Olympic Stadium with her dramatic victory in the 400m Hurdles. As the Athletics world converges on Athens once again this weekend, another Greek full lap hurdler will try to steal the show when he makes his final appearance of the year.
“I think that everybody right now will try to beat me,” said Periklis Iakovakis, after his win at last weekend’s World Athletics Final. “To stop my (momentum) at the moment. We will see.”
The 27-year-old certainly has the finest momentum in his event at the moment. After his commanding victory at the European Championships in Gothenburg last month, Periklis followed up with a scintillating 47.92 win in Zurich and another victory in Monaco two days later, before his triumph in Stuttgart where he equalled his clocking from Zurich.
“I had a really good rhythm inside my mind, the sense for the hurdles, for the pace, the race, for everything,” he said in Stuttgart. “And that worked perfectly on the track.”
It seems to have been working quite adequately all season as well. The World Junior champion in 1998, Periklis began to deliver on that promise he showed as a teen with a surprise bronze medal at the 2003 World championships, improving to 48.17 that year. He reached the semi-finals at the 2004 Olympics and 2005 World championships, and finally found the consistency he’d been seeking in 2006.
In just his second race of the year, he dipped under 48 seconds for the first time, lowering his national record to 47.82 in Osaka, finishing second to World champion Bershawn Jackson. In his following nine competitions, he won all but three, again finishing second to Jackson in each.
He returned the favor at both Zurich and Stuttgart, but refuses to accept that he is currently the event’s No. 1.
“Zurich was just like a big final, the best were there,” he said after the Swiss meeting, “And I’m verry pleased about the result. There is nothing more than a Golden League. It’s an important meeting. But it’s not a World championship and it’s not an Olympic Games.”
“Of course it was a boost,” he added. “I knew that Bershawn wouldn’t be in his best shape because he had an injury problem in the hamstring in the end of July, and I could suppose that he would be 95 percent, more or less. I did my race, and I won, and that’s it.”
His biggest thrill of the year came when winning the European title, he said, but admitted that he was a little disappointed with his performance.
“I was in my best shape ever in my life, but I just made a mistake and I ran very hard the first 300,” he said. “I was ready to run very, very fast in Gothenburg. I was ready to run a national record. Easy 47 seconds. I just didn’t react the way I should have in the race.”
Competing on the track that hosted the last Olympic Games, Periklis said that his season finale is a a very important one. Is he ready to go faster in Athens?
“I know that I am in good shape,” he said. “You never know. Your body knows that you’re in good shape, but you never know when it could explode and run something very very, fast.”
Bob Ramsak for the IAAF
Friday 15 September 2006
It is a great pleasure for me to be here with you in the great city of Athens for the 10th edition of the IAAF World Cup in Athletics, the only major international athletics competition for teams, which will take place this weekend in the magnificent Olympic Stadium.
Greece’s contribution to our sport has been immense, not only because our sport was born in this country many thousands of years ago, but because the current Olympic era, with athletics at its heart, also started in Athens in 1896 with the first Games of the modern era. Of course, we all have vivid memories of 2004, when the Games returned to Athens in such impressive fashion, but we should also not forget that in 2005, we had a magnificent 100m world record by Asafa Powell at the Athens Super Grand Prix meeting.
All these great memories mean that the World Cup, which takes place every 4 years, is even more eagerly awaited than ever. So what is the World Cup?
Quite simply, it is the only IAAF competition which is exclusively for teams and offers the athlete, and the spectator, the chance to see gifted solo players – working hard for their own orchestras – battling for points on behalf of their colleagues. The points range from 9 for first place down to 1.
You will see the representatives of Africa, Americas, Asia, Europe, Oceania, up against single nation teams from France (men), Poland (women) Russia (men and women) USA and the host nation of Greece.
In 1977, when the first edition of the World Cup took place in Dusseldorf, it was the only IAAF track competition outside of the Olympic Games, which, until 1983, was still being considered as the official IAAF World Championships. Since then, even though the IAAF has greatly developed its programme, the World Cup has held its unique appeal. There is nothing quite like following a team – but the individual results achieved can also be outstanding and three world records have been set at the World Cup. The records were: Men’s 4x100m relay by the USA in 1977, and two others, the women’s 4x100 mark set by the GDR in 1985 (41.37) and the woman’s 400m mark of 47.60 set by Marita Koch also in Canberra.
The reigning team champion in the Men’s Competition is Africa, who will be looking to secure an unprecedented fifth consecutive men’s World Cup victory here this weekend. But this points-based competition is about far more than just winning. It draws together an essentially individual sport, engendering an unparalleled team spirit, bonding disparate athletes and nations into continental units in an exciting team competition. It is these qualities which make the IAAF World Cup in Athletics a unique force for good in world sport.
The European and African teams were selected during the recent Area Championships – which took place this year during the same time period. I saw with my own eyes that both competitions, in Gothenburg and Mauritius respectively, went extremely well. The IAAF’s aim is to strengthen Area competitions, and make them not only attractive to up-and-coming athletes but also important to the stars as well, because by competing “at home” they are really putting something back into the sport.
Although it is a Team Competition, there is also close to US $3 Million of Prize Money based on placings. This ranges from $30,000 for first place to $1,000 for 9th (and $2,000 in the case of the relays).
Finally, I would like to use this opportunity, at the last major IAAF track and field competition of the year, to thank you all for your support for our sport in 2006. We have faced some tough challenges, like the loss of our General Secretary Istvan Gyulai in March, and a number of high profile doping cases this summer, but we have continued to fight hard for the good of Athletics. Thanks to our athletes, we have had excellent competitions all year, with outstanding events at the Commonwealth Games, the World Indoor Championships, the World Junior Championships as well as the World Athletics Final, while we can only be delighted by the success of the new IAAF World Athletics Tour, and the Golden League series, which continues to showcase our sport each year. I am looking forward, with a lot of optimism, to 2007, when with the support of our athletes, we will make the next edition of the IAAF World Championships in Athletics in Osaka a tremendous success.
Thank you for your attention!
Lamine Diack
Friday 15 September 2006
Athens, Greece - Andreas Thorkildsen revisits the scene of his breakthrough to the world’s elite this weekend when he steps onto the javelin run-up at the Olympic stadium in Athens for the 10th IAAF World Cup in Athletics.
It is two years since (then 22 and only ranked 13th in the world) the Norwegian swept aside all his rivals to lift the Olympic title on an occasion that he himself described at the time as “totally insane”.
To his credit, though, he did throw a lifetime best of 86.50m to back up his wins that season in Stockholm and London. It was the first glimmering of a consistency that has become his trademark.
Consistent, stronger but feeling tired
Since then, Thorkildsen has consolidated his position as the world’s number one, taking silver in the Helsinki World Championships and this year lifting the European title. Last weekend he also clinched the World Athletics Final for his tenth win of the season that has seen him break the 90m-barrier three times, leaving his PB at 91.59m.
The season started for the man from Kristiansand in Doha on 12 May and, understandably maybe, he is beginning to detect signs of weariness. “I feel as though my body is showing signs of being just a little bit tired,” he told Norwegian daily Aftenposten. “It hurts in some places. It’s time for a rest,” he said, looking forward to a post-World Cup holiday.
Not that tiredness was particularly noticeable in Stuttgart as he launched the spear to 89.50m, his fifth longest mark of the season. “I don’t think I’ll be in much better form this weekend,” he said, looking forward to the World Cup where he represents Team Europe.
Coach Åsmund Martinsen has also detected the signs of a long season. “I think we’ve switched over a little to the reserve tank,” he explained. “Recent results have come from his consistent technique. He is not as strong as he was in Doha in May.”
After giving up his part-time job at The Bank of Norway, Thorkildsen has had more time for training and the results from the winter showed that he was approaching 2006 stronger than ever. His new bench-press record now stands at 180 kilos, 10 more than his previous total. His rivals would have to deal with a fitter, more experienced athlete from now on. “Obviously, I’m proud of my record this year,” said Thorkildsen. “It’s been an unbelievably good season for me.”
Goodbye to a legend
It has also been an historic one in terms the retirement of one of the greats of the event, Jan Zelezny. It was in Athens two years ago that Thorkildsen denied the Czech a fourth Olympic title and this year the Norwegian took the only title to evade Zelezny, European gold. “It is almost a pity that Jan is retiring,” admitted Thorkildsen. “He has shown this season that he can still mix it at the top.” In Gothenburg, the 40-year-old gambled everything on the first round and picked up bronze, a remarkable performance.
Gothenburg also represented the end of the Steve Backley era since he had won all four previous editions of the European Championships. In more senses than one, Thorkildsen was the present and future of the javelin, at the forefront of a new generation.
It is hard to see where he goes from here, though there are reports that he has at least Zelezny’s longevity in his sights, if not his World record of 98.48m which has stood for ten years. “There’s a long way to go before we get that far,” admitted Martinsen. “We’re not thinking of it. What we are concentrating on is improving where we can.” For his part, Thorkildsen believes there are not many things he needs to put right, apart from some technical improvements.
Michael Butcher for the IAAF
Friday 15 September 2006
Athens, Greece - The 10th edition of the IAAF World Cup in Athletics takes place in Athens, Greece, on Saturday 16 and Sunday 17 September. Here is a preview of some of the action expected in the MEN’S EVENTS.
NB: Preview is based on the provisional ENTRY lists. START LISTS will not become available until after the Technical Meeting has taken place on the evening of Friday 15 September (meeting commences at 1800hrs local time – 1500hrs GMT).
Sprints
With co-World record holder Asafa Powell stating he will only be taking on relay duties for the Americas squad this weekend -despite what the current entry list reads -, the spotlight in the 100m will shine on Tyson Gay as the 23-year-old American concludes a stellar campaign during which he’s emerged as the year’s finest all-around sprinter. If his admittedly problematic first half is up to snuff, the race will be one for second. Leading the chase should be European double dash champion Francis Obikwelu and the top Frenchman, Ronald Pognon. A wildcard is Andrey Yepishin, who was the surprise runner-up at the European championships after his 10.10 Russian record.
While Gay attracted much of the spotlight over the half lap this summer, his training partner Wallace Spearmon, the reigning World championships silver medalists, will try to steal some of it back. The young American displayed strong late season form in Stuttgart with a 19.88 personal best behind Gay, and is the man to beat here. World junior record holder Usain Bolt, who’s also run 19.88 this season, is expected to do justice to the Americas team, while both Obikwelu and Pognon will be doubling back in the 200 as well.
World and Olympic champion Jeremy Wariner may not be in the race, but that doesn’t mean it won’t be a fast and fiercely fought contest over 400m. Over the past month, African champion Gary Kikaya and U.S. runner-up LaShawn Merritt have gradually emerged from Wariner’s shadow, with Kikaya edging Merritt 3 to 2 in head-to-heads this year. Both produced personal bests in Stuttgart last weekend; Merritt 44.14 and Kikaya 44.10, an African record.
Middle & long distances
Olympic silver medallist Mbulaeni Mulaudzi of South Africa has been on a tear over 800m in recent months. The 26-year-old has won his last five races, all against stiff competition, and produced a world-leading 1:43.09 in Rieti. The World Athletics Final winner is clearly the man to beat. Giving it a try will be Canadian record holder Gary Reed, Youssef Saad Kamel of Bahrain, European Champion Bram Som and U.S. champion Khadevis Robinson, all of whom have dipped under 1:44 this summer.
Kenyan Alex Kipchirchir has won gold at every major competition available to him this year - Commonwealth 800, African 800/1500, World Athletics Final 1500 – and looks well poised to conclude his season with a World Cup 1500m win for Africa as well. Though inconsistent since, Ivan Heshko, Ukraine’s World Indoor champion, handed the Kenyan a defeat at the Paris Golden League race, and could be a factor here.
Since winning the 3000m at the 2002 World Cup, Australian Craig Mottram has gradually evolved into one of the world’s most solid all-around distance talents. Back to defend, he’ll face Kenyan Mike Kigen and Spain’s European champion Jesus Espana.
It can be argued that one of the hardest working athletes on the circuit this summer has been 5000/10,000m record holder Kenenisa Bekele. More often than not, he’s faced fresh-legged challengers nearly week-in and week-out, and with a pair of exceptions, emerged victorious on each occasion. News is that the Ethiopian is ill but if he does toe the line his season-capper won’t be made any easier with Saif Saaeed Shaheen in the field, well-rested after skipping the World Athletics Final to prepare for his 5000/Steeplechase double here. This could be the showdown of the weekend.
For his part, Shaheen, who had dominated his favoured event in recent years, is facing his most difficult weekend. In the 3000m Steeplechase, he’ll be up against Paul Kipsiele Koech, the African champion, who has also run under eight minutes this season.
Hurdles
Olympic champion Liu Xiang returned to international competition in spectacular fashion last weekend in Stuttgart with a scorching 12.93 performance, showing that his 12.88 World record from July was hardly a fluke. But chasing him in Stuttgart was the young talent Dayron Robles who, still only 19, equalled the Cuban record at 13.00. Another fast race should be expected.
Periklis Iakovakis provides the most promising prospect of a home win for Greece. A sub-48 performer for the first time this year, Iakovakis cruised to the European title last month, before taking wins in Zurich, Monaco and again last weekend in Stuttgart. U.S. champion Kerron Clement is the world’s fastest this year at 47.39, but has struggled to find that form again.
Jumps
All but three competitors in the High Jump have cleared at least 2.30m this season, promising one of the deepest competitions of the weekend. Despite his runner-up finish in Stuttgart, the man to beat remains Russia’s European champion Andrey Silnov, also the world leader at 2.37. Czech Tomas Janku (2.34), jumping for team Europe, has come the closest.
Although he couldn’t finish higher than fifth at the World Athletics Final, Steven Hooker still has the best late season momentum in the Pole Vault, particularly after his 5.96m win in Berlin two weeks ago, to arrive in the Greek capital as the front runner. Four others have jumped higher that 5.80 this season, led by South African veteran Okkert Brits.
The Long Jump promises to be a delightful skirmish, with Golden League Jackpot winner Irving Saladino, also the world leader at 8.56m, topping the field. Commonwealth and African champion Ignisious Ghaisah of Ghana, Italy’s European champion Andrew Howe, and Mohamed Salman Al Khuwalidi of Saudi Arabia have all proven to be fiercely competitive throughout the season.
American Walter Davis, the World indoor and outdoor champion, and Romanian Marian Oprea, each reached their 2006 bests of 17.73m and 17.74 respectively indoors, and are looking to end their seasons on an up note here, particularly Davis, who won the title in 2002 after a very long collegiate and domestic campaign. Brazil’s Jadel Gregorio could mount a challenge as well.
Throws
In the Shot Put, American Reese Hoffa, the World indoor champion, and Germany’s Ralf Bartels are the class of the field, and should battle for top honours. In the Discus, Lithuanian Virgilijus Alekna is in a class of his own here, as is Norway’s Andreas Thorkildsen in the Javelin Throw. Anything short of a win for the pair of Olympic champions would be a major upset.
The Hammer Throw features Japan’s Olympic champion Koji Murofushi, who has pieced together an unbeaten campaign in seven competitions this season. Second in the 2002 World Cup, his primary rival this time will be European champion Ivan Tikhon, who finished second to the Japanese in Stuttgart last weekend.
Bob Ramsak for the IAAF
Friday 15 September 2006
Athens, Greece - The 10th edition of the IAAF World Cup in Athletics takes place in Athens, Greece, on Saturday 16 and Sunday 17 September. Here is a preview of some of the action expected in the WOMEN’S EVENTS.
NB: This Preview story is based on the provisional ENTRY lists. START LISTS will not become available until after the Technical Meeting has taken place on the evening of Friday 15 September (meeting commences at 1800hrs local time – 1500hrs GMT).
Sprints
Unbeaten in her last seven races, Jamaican Sherone Simpson is the odds on favourite to add another 100m victory to that streak. A consistent sub-11 performer and this year’s world leader at 10.82, the 22-year-old hasn’t lost since finishing second to two-time defending World Cup champion Marion Jones in Paris, who has declared today she will not run having ended her season. European champion Kim Gevaert has run 11.04 this season, but physically and emotionally drained from her triumph in Gothenburg, she’ll be pleased with a podium finish here.
After a personal best 22.17 for second at the World Athletics Final last week, American Sanya Richards comes to the Greek capital favourite as a strong bet to take home a 200 / 400m double. Her stiffest competition in the 200m looks to be Cydonie Mothersill of the Cayman Islands, while Gevaert will toe the line as well.
In the 400, Richards, a Golden League Jackpot winner and undefeated over the distance this season, will have one last rematch with the year’s No. 2, Bulgaria’s European champion Vanya Stambolova. The latter, whose season peaked in Gothenburg, is appearing to tire while the former, who followed her perfect six-for-six Golden League campaign with an impressive outing in Stuttgart, still appears quite energized even with autumn approaching. Jamaican Novlene Williams, a sub-50 runner this season, could be a factor as well, while Olympic 400m Hurdles champion Fani Halkia of Greece has decided to test herself over the flat.
Middle & long distances
Commonwealth and Africa Champion Janeth Jepkosgei of Kenya has produced the best all-around season, along with the year’s fastest performance, her 1:56.66 national record in Lausanne. In Athens, she’ll be looking to avenge her loss to Cuba’s World Champion Zulia Calatayud from Stuttgart. Russia will be solidly represented as well, with European champion and Zurich winner Olga Kotlyarova returning to action for the first time in nearly a month.
The 1500m is expected to be a thrilling clash between World and European champion Tatyana Tomashova and world leader and World Athletics Final winner Maryan Yusef Jamal of Bahrain. In a runaway victory in Stuttgart last weekend, Jamal handily dispensed with Tomashova’s usually strong finishing drive. Can Tomashova take revenge?
The 3000m and 5000m feature the Ethiopian duo of Tirunesh Dibaba and Meseret Defar, whose thrilling duels over the course of the summer were perhaps the highlights of the year in the distance events. This weekend though, they’re in different events, and both look very difficult to beat. Dibaba is in the 3000, in which she finished second behind Defar last weekend in Stuttgart, and Defar’s in the 5000, the event in which she set a World record 14:24.53 early this summer.
The 3000m Steeplechase has European champion and World Atletics Final winner Alesia Turava of Belarus representing Team Europe against African champion Jeruto Kiptum, and world leader Wioletta Janowska (9:17.15) of Poland.
Hurdles
The 100m Hurdles features a pair of women with 12.48 season’s bests to their credit – U.S. champion Ginnie Powell and Jamaica’s Commonwealth champion Brigitte Foster-Hylton. Despite her long and extremely busy season, Powell won her first race since the U.S. championships when she beat a solid field at Berlin’s ISTAF two weeks ago, so a bit of momentum could be on her side. European champion Susanna Kallur is also looking to end her season on a high note.
The 400m Hurdles features the second face-off between Russia’s World champion Yuliya (Pechonkina) Nosova, and U.S champion Lashinda Demus. Since finishing second to the Russian in Helsinki last year, the American has become the event’s dominant force. Nosova, the World record holder at 52.34, returned from injury in good form last month with a 53.14 performance, this year second only to Demus’s 53.02.
Jumps
With one exception, the jumps are clearly Russian territory. World and Olympic champion and World record holder Yelena Isinbayeva tops the Pole Vault field as she sets out to collect yet another major title. World leader (7.11) Ludmila Kolchanova, the European champion, is the class of the field in the Long Jump, with Australian Bronwyn Thompson (6.97) the closest on paper this year. In the Triple Jump, Tatyana Lebedeva is undefeated in seven competitions this season, and won’t be to eager to end that streak on the same Athens track where she couldn’t finish higher than third in her strongest event. Hrysopiyi Devetzi of Greece, the Olympic silver medallist in the Triple Jump, will contest both leaps this weekend.
The lone exception to Russian dominance in the jumps this season in the High Jump, where Belgian Tia Hellebaut, the European champion, has been perhaps the most consistent jumper in a fiercely competition event. Carrying Russian hopes in Yelena Slesarenko, who won Olympic gold here two years ago.
Throws
Valerie Vili of New Zealand, has twice thrown 20.20m this season, and arrives in Athens as the Oceania squad’s best hope for a win, She’ll face stiff competition, however, from Natallia Khoroneko of Belarus and Cuban Yumileidi Cumba.
Similar to the men’s Discus Throw, Franka Dietzsch is the overwhelming favourite on the women’s side of the programme, but she’ll have to get by Russian Darya Pishchalnikova, who upset the German for top European honours in Gothenburg. In the Hammer Throw, Tatyana Lysenko, the World record holder, is a strong favourite, as is Germany’s Steffi Nerius in the Javelin Throw.
Bob Ramsak for the IAAF
Friday 15 September 2006
Athens, Greece - The IAAF Press Conference on the eve of the 10th World Cup in Athletics was held today at the Divani Caravel Hotel in Athens.
In attendance were IAAF President Lamie Diack; Pierre Weiss, IAAF General Secretary; Georgios Orfanos, Greek Minister of Culture and Sports and LOC President; Minos Kyriakou, IAAF Council Member and President of Greek Olympic Committee; and Vassillios Sevastis, President of Greek Athletics Federation.
The athletes in attendance were: Meseret Defar (ETH), Team Africa; Dayron Robles (CUB), Team Americas; Liu Xiang (CHN), Team Asia; Valerie Vili (NZL), Team Oceania; Francis Obikwelu (POR), Team Europe; Sanya Richards (USA), Team USA; Periklis Iakovakis (GRE), Team Greece; and Fani Halkia (GRE), Team Greece.
Liu Xiang (CHN), Team Asia:
Thoughts on competing in his second World Cup, four years after not finishing in Madrid:
“This is my second time in the world cup. I still remember what happened four years ago. At the time I was very young, and felt a lot of pressure. At the same time there were great athletes there, like Allen Johnson, Anier Garcia, and Colin Jackson. So I was very nervous and didn’t do very well. My start was very slow and I tried to catch up but made many mistakes so I didn’t finish the race. This time coming to Athens is very nice, particularly coming to the same stadium where I won the Olympic championship.”
His thoughts on the young Cuban phenom Dayron Robles (seated beside him):
“He’s a very young athlete and he’s done exceptionally well this year. He’s been running so well in so many different races. And he ran 13.00 in Stuttgart. And I hope he can continue to improve further. And I hope we can help each other improve together in all of our competitions.”
After another fast time in Stuttgart last weekend (12.93), what is the possibility of a World record this weekend?
“Frankly, I’d love the break the World record again. A lot of people saw me run fast in Stuttgart, and I did that quite easily, and I didn’t go all out in that race. So I saw that there is a possibility to improve and to run better than that in Stuttgart.”
“But to be able to break the record is not so easy. It depends on many factors, so you can’t predict in which race the record can be broken. In any case, I don’t want to put that pressure on myself. I just want to be relaxed in the race and enjoy my second World Cup.”
“Now the level of the event is very high and there are a number of competitors who are very good. Any of them can be the World record breaker or the World champion. I just want to keep doing my best.”
On competing in the World Cup, a continental or team competition:
“Competing for Asia, I feel that I have even more responsibility. I feel bad about how I performed in Athens and really want to do well this time. I also always say that I am not only from China, but from Asia.”
Does he collect coins?
“No, I never collected coins. I’m not good at saving money. I only know how to spend money.”
Dayron Robles (CUB), Team Americas:
Still just 19, won the World indoor silver, and equalled the Cuban national record of 13.00. Are you surprised by your progress this year?
“I’m overwhelmed by my silver medal in Moscow, and also being on top of the world rankings, so this is really a big surprise for me.”
Your career goals?
“I’d like to become the Olympic champion and the World record holder but actually, Xiang is a great athlete. I don’t know how low he can get the world record, and how much room he’ll give to me to replace his outstanding career.”
On competing in the World Cup, a continental or team competition:
“We don’t have the chance to compete in the world cup every year. Everyone comes with the goal to compete for their continent or team. We spend the entire season together with our compatriots from Brazil, and Panama, and now we get to compete as a team. And finally, my teammate Anier Garcia won the World Cup in 2002 so I want to try and match that result.”
Meseret Defar (ETH), Team Africa:
Her thoughts after a remarkable season in which she set the World record in the 5000m and capping her campaign at the World Cup:
“The Olympic Games here in Athens was the starting point for me and I’m very happy to be back.”
On competing in the World Cup, a continental or team competition:
“I just want to do my best for Africa.”
Valerie Vili (NZL), Team Oceania:
On her experience in competing in the World Cup in 2002 as a 17-year-old:
“When I went to Madrid I had just won the World juniors, and it was my first international competition where I was facing the big guns. I was really young, I didn’t know what was going on, but the experience I gained gave me a big motivation to continue in the sport. I threw a massive PB and national record that just blew me away, really. It was just a great experience, especially competing for Oceania and not so much for just New Zealand.”
Could this be your first major senior title?
“That’s definitely the plan. The opposition will be pretty tough to beat. Natallia (Khoroneko) from Belorus will be very tough.”
You’ve twice hit 20.20 this season, an Oceania Area Record. What short of shape are you in now?
“I’m now in the best shape that I’ve ever been and definitely major improvements over the years especially since the last world cup so I;m looking for something big this weekend.”
On competing in the World Cup, a continental or team competition:
“I want to try and improve my fifth place from Madrid, and it’s definitely a great honour and great feeling to compete for Oceania.”
Francis Obikwelu (POR), Team Europe:
Doubling this weekend, as he did at the World Cup in Madrid four years ago, where he won the 200 and finished third in the 100. His memories from Madrid?
“It was my first representing Europe. It wasn’t that good in the 100 but I went into the 200 knowing it would be tough. I raced against Frankie (Fredericks of Namibia), and I knew it would tough, and I beat him so I was very happy. I think coming here and doubling again, it’s good to have that experience, but it’s going to be tough. I have Tyson Gay in the 100 and Wallace Spearmon in the 200, so it’s going to be very, very tough on me.”
On his main aim, the 100, the 200 or both?
“I think the more comfortable will be the 100. I want to run under 10 seconds again. It’s been a long season but I feel that I’m getting better.”
On competing in the World Cup, a continental or team competition:
“I’m very happy to be competing for Europe for the second time. I don’t know how quite to express myself, especially competing here in Athens where I have great memories. I’ll try to repeat that again.”
Sanya Richards (USA), Team USA:
With an undefeated season in the 400 and a big piece of the IAAF Golden League Jackpot, has this been a dream year for her?
“This has been more than a dream year for me. After having one loss last year (at the World championships in Helsinki where she finished second) I went back home and refocused and came out determined to have an undefeated season. And to have come this far is a major blessing. I really love Athens, I love this city, and really hope to have another great run and put on a great show.”
You’re doubling this weekend in 200 and 400. You ran a personal best 22.17 last weekend in Stuttgart (World Athletics Final) and another fast time, 49.25 in the 400. Do you think a sub-49 is possible?
“I hope so. I was talking to my dad and my coach, and they believe I can do it. I kind of came to this meet wanting to have fun. It’s a team meet, and it’s always great to be part of Team USA, but I’m going to go out there and do my best, and hopefully the weather conditions are great. I’m in lane 7 so I’ll have some nice big turns so hopefully I can do something special.”
On competing in the World Cup, a continental or team competition:
“I love being a part of a team, it’s an amazing feeling. Especially now, when we’ll be scoring points, it’ll be even more fun to track all the events and root for all your compatriots.”
Periklis Iakovakis (GRE), Team Greece:
On Greece hosting the World Cup at the Athens Olympic Stadium:
“We’re very excited. It’s a very important competition for us just two years after the Olympic Games. I believe we are ready as a team. This is the last big event of the season, and that makes it a little difficult. I really hope that the stadium will be full because I think we’ll put on a great show.”
Is a national record (47.82) possible before a home crowd?
“Because of the lane assignments, I’ll be in lane 1, which isn’t my favourite lane. But I feel good and hope that tomorrow evening everything will go smoothly. I’ll just try my best.”
On competing in the World Cup, a continental or team competition:
“Most athletes are thrilled to represent their country or continent. Maybe this should be held more often than just every four years.”
Fani Halkia (GRE), Team Greece:
On Greece hosting the World Cup at the Athens Olympic Stadium:
“This is very exciting for Greece. We have an entire team here and I think we’ll do very well. It’s an exciting opportunity and we’re all very enthusiastic.”
On why she chose to compete in the flat 400m instead of her specialty the 400m Hurdles, in which she captured Olympic gold here two years ago:
“This was a very difficult decision. I had some injury problems last year. I wanted to compete in more meetings after the European championships, but I put a lot of physical stress on my body after the championships, so I decided not to compete in the hurdles. It was a hard decision especially because I’ll be in my favourite stadium.”
On competing in the World Cup, a continental or team competition:
“It’s just perfect that such an event will be taking place again, especially in Athens at the Olympic Stadium.”
Bob Ramsak for the IAAF
Periklis Iakovakis (GRE, 400 mH) is out.
EDIT: his hamstring was bothering him in the last few days, but it wasn’t considered serious. In this morning’s training session though the problem got worse while hurdling and he decided to give it a miss.
Minas Alozidis (49.31, 09 Aug, Gothenburg, EC, semifinal and EC finalist, 7th) will take his place.