2007
Sanchez vs. Jackson, Robles vs. Moore
OSTRAVA (June 20): One week before IAAF World Athletics Tour Grand Prix Meet Golden Spike of Ostrava (June 27) last stars have been announced. At 400 m Hurdles current Olympic Champion Felix Sanchez will run against current world champion Bershawn Jackson.
„Ostrava is a great place to run. This race sort of marks the start of the second phase of my season-but the most important- the drive towards Osaka. My season started well with a 45.3 flat 400 and a good 48.7 400H in very strong winds. Then I had some hamstring trouble in the race in Osaka. But now everything is great. I ran a PR over 800H (2.10) last week and have had some very close to PR 350s. I am really looking forward to the race and can’t wait to run well and under 48 secs,“ said Jackson who will run only 400 m flat at US Nationals. As a wild card holder at 400mHurdles he must not finish in top three, just to compete at the championships.
Dominican star Sanchez will have in Ostrava his first hurdles race of the year.
„I’m feeling good strong and I’m working on my speed now. I had a minor set back a
month ago with my left foot near my toe so I had to take 2 weeks off. I’m not
where I want to be. I’m slightly behind, but I’m feeling better the best I have
felt in the last 3 years. I remember the first crystal spike that I won in 2003. I have vivid memories of Bekele attempting the world record in 2004. My goal is to run
a solid race execute my race plan of course win. Time is not important and
getting my 3rd crystal spike! I’m just glad to be back in good form and being
able to compete is so exciting it has felt like an eternity since I have been
healthy, now it is time to return the excitment back to the 400h and continue my
dominance where I left off after two years of injuries,“ said Sanchez. He is the meet record holder since 2003 with 48.10.
The 110m Hurdles race will be the presentation of new generation. Young Cuban Dayron Robles (13.00) is looking forvard to fast times and will clash against Golden League winner Anwar Moore. Also coming are other new US hurdlers David Oliver (13.14) and winner from Doha David Payne (13.12). Both current European Champions Stanislav Olijars (LAT, outdoor) and Gregory Sedoc (NED, indoor) will have it tough. It remains open who from this US hurdlers will be the lucky qualifier after their national, if any at all? In Ostrava definitely 13.12 meet record by Allen Johnson from 2004 is the target.
World record attempts
Already on Tuesday June 26 in hammer competition the in-form Tatyana Lysenko will compete. Then in main programme Yelena Isinbayeva will show her potential in Pole Vault and Meseret Defar wants to attack her own global mark from Oslo at 5000 m. In pre-programme legendary Haile Gebrselassie will attempt the one hour world record with posibility to clock the global mark at 20 000 m distance.
GOLDEN SPIKE 2007 HIGHLIGHTS IN BRIEF
Men
100 m: Fast Brits Jason Gardener, Craig Pickering and Mark Lewis-Francis against Continental champions Joshua Ross (AUS) and Olusoji Fasuba (NGR). Also in the field this year quick Churandy Martina (AHO).
800 m: World indoor champion Wilfred Bungei against Olympic winner Yuriy Borzakovskiy. Will they break 1:44?
5000 m (Emil Zatopek Memorial): World record holder Saif Saeed Shaheen withdrew due to knee injury and will be replaced by world leader Tariku Bekele (ETH) and last year Golden League winner from Oslo Isaac Songok (KEN). Already before annouced were World cross and road Champion Zersenay Tadesse and World Cup winner Craig Mottram.
Steeple: World leader Paul Kipsiele Koech hopes to break the meet record and emerging name Halil Akkas from Turkey dreams about european record
High Jump: Olympic winner Stefan Holm is in great shape, but also Russian rivals headed by Yaroslav Rybakov and Andrey Tereshin (both 234 last weekend).
Shot Put: Clash of two bests in the world, US giants Reese Hoffa against Christian Cantwell.
Hammer Throw: World and European Champion Ivan Tikhon wants to proove his number one position in the world.
Women
800 m: Jolanda Ceplak will battle against current European champions Oksana Zbrozhek (indoor) and Olga Kotlyarova (outdoor) from Russia.
5000 m: Olympic winner Meseret Defar wants to attack her own global mark from Bislett Games. Is it possible?.
100 m Hurdles: Last two world champions Michelle Perry and Perdita Felicien are hoping for new meet record (12.65).
400 m Hurdles (Jan Slanina Memorial): World record holder Yulia Pechonkina runs for new meet record (53.87), but her rivals like former World Champion Jana Rawlinson, Americans Sheena Johnson and Sandra Glover and European champion Yevgeniya Isakova will make it tough for her.
Pole Vault: Yelena Isinbayeva, you cannot have something more. But also meet record holder Stacy Dragila comes.
Javelin Throw: Something for home fans. Czech record holder Barbora Spotakova will have chance for revenge after Goteborg loss to European Champion Steffi Nerius.
Hammer Throw: World record holder Tatyana Lysenko. Will she be in the position to challenge her own global mark 78.61 m?
In the pre-programme apart of one hour race also high quality female discus with World Champion Franka Dietzsch and European Champion Darya Pishchalnikova. Ostrava home athlete Denisa Scerbova would want to proove her improvements in Long Jump. Coach Jan Zelezny will send his young boys into solid javelin competition and unbelievable Merlene Ottey will show her still excellent speed at 100 m.
Programme:
Monday June 25 the „Chocolate spike“ will be held (an unique event for school boys and girls who are competing in running events – about 1000 children)
Tuesday June 26 as in last year hammer competitions for men and women will be held
Wednesday June 27 the main event (pre-programme from 5 pm, main programme from 8 pm)
The events:
Men – 100 m (Istvan Gyulai Memorial), 800 m, 5000 m (Emil Zatopek Memorial), 3000 m Steeple, one hour track race, 110m Hurdles, 400 m Hurdles, High Jump, Shot Put, Javelin Throw, Hammer Throw
Wom – 100 m, 800 m, 5000 m, 100 m Hurdles, 400 m Hurdles (Jan Slanina Memorial), Pole Vault, Long Jump, Discus Throw, Javelin Throw, Hammer Throw
Results from past editions and all-time lists at www.zlatatretra.cz
International TV rights are handled by:
AMI/TV Sales
Mr. Robert Pickles
e-mail: rpickles@advisers.org
For any questions or other informations please contact:
Alfons Juck
Meeting Manager
Tel 421-905347901
Fax 421-2-45640311
e-mail: ajuck@rainside.sk