Olympic bronze medallist Sanya Richards sets a season's best in the 400m (© Getty Images)
Zürich, SwitzerlandAnother impressive cast of athletics superstars will take centre state at the Weltklasse Zürich on 28 August, the fifth stop of the ÅF Golden League.
Both the favourites for Berlin and the stars who will be missing out on the upcoming World championships have already signed up for the 15 main events in Zurich, among them as many as 14 reigning Olympic Champions and 14 world leaders.
"We are proud to be able to present such a star-studded field of participants before the World Championships have even started. Weltklasse Zürich will in all likelihood live up to its reputation as the meeting with the strongest fields worldwide," said Meeting Director Patrick K. Magyar.
Almost every favourite for Berlin will be in Zurich five days after the championships; among them World record holders Yelena Isinbayeva (PV, RUS), Usain Bolt (100m/JAM), and Kenenisa Bekele (5000m/ETH), who had confirmed their participation early on. High hurdler Dayron Robles (CUB) is the fourth World record holder to join the illustrious line-up. In addition, 14 world leaders and 14 reigning Olympic Champions are already on the start lists for the meeting’s programme of 15 events. The only Olympic Champion missing will be Tia Hellebaut from Belgium who retired from athletics at the end of last year.
Strong fields across the board
"There is no doubt that we have signed many soon-to-be Berlin champions and medallists already,” said athlete coordinator Bettina Borner. “But as always, we have reserved spots for possible championship surprises, and will confirm further top stars during the world championships."
Zurich’s philosophy is to invite as many top performers as possible, rather than concentrating on one or two famous names. Nevertheless, Weltklasse Zürich rarely lacks any big names.
100m superstar Usain Bolt, for instance, will run against his fellow countryman and strong opponent Asafa Powell, who had set a World record in Zurich in 2006. In the women’s High Jump, all athletes who have already cleared the 2m mark in 2009 will be competing, including the German World championship hopeful Ariane Friedrich and Zurich serial winner Blanka Vlasic of Croatia. With Sanya Richards, a further athlete used to winning in Zurich will face Olympic Champion Christine Ohuruogu (GBR) in the 400m. Some of the duels to be expected have become legendary already, such as the ongoing competition between the two US top favourites for the World championships Lashawn Merritt and Jeremy Wariner, or the friendly rivalry between the two Scandinavian javelin stars Andreas Thorkildsen (NOR) and Tero Pitkämäki (FIN). The start list of women’s 100m includes three top contenders for World championship medals: world leader Kerron Stewart (JAM), US champion Carmelita Jeter, and Olympic Champion Shelly Ann Fraser (JAM).
Focus on fast middle and long distance races
Last year, the long journey from Asia made it difficult for middle and long distance runners to perform at their best. “This year, travel will not represent such a burden", Borner pointed out. “The athletes will be in top shape immediately after the World championships, and they will be looking for fast races.”
The line-up will be impressive: In the men’s 800m, for instance, Wilfred Bungei, who is Olympic champion, but not on the Kenyan world championship team, will give it his best. In the 1500m, three athletes confirmed for Zurich have already run sub 3:30 times this year, Olympic Champion Asbel Kiprop (KEN) being one of them. In the 5000m, running superstar Kenenisa Bekele (ETH) will aim at demoralizing his opponents with his blazing speed once again. Traditional Zurich highlights are the men’s 3000m SC, and the women’s 1500m which will include top favourite and Swiss resident Maryam Jamal (BRN).
Janine Geigele (organisers) for the IAAF
Both the favourites for Berlin and the stars who will be missing out on the upcoming World championships have already signed up for the 15 main events in Zurich, among them as many as 14 reigning Olympic Champions and 14 world leaders.
"We are proud to be able to present such a star-studded field of participants before the World Championships have even started. Weltklasse Zürich will in all likelihood live up to its reputation as the meeting with the strongest fields worldwide," said Meeting Director Patrick K. Magyar.
Almost every favourite for Berlin will be in Zurich five days after the championships; among them World record holders Yelena Isinbayeva (PV, RUS), Usain Bolt (100m/JAM), and Kenenisa Bekele (5000m/ETH), who had confirmed their participation early on. High hurdler Dayron Robles (CUB) is the fourth World record holder to join the illustrious line-up. In addition, 14 world leaders and 14 reigning Olympic Champions are already on the start lists for the meeting’s programme of 15 events. The only Olympic Champion missing will be Tia Hellebaut from Belgium who retired from athletics at the end of last year.
Strong fields across the board
"There is no doubt that we have signed many soon-to-be Berlin champions and medallists already,” said athlete coordinator Bettina Borner. “But as always, we have reserved spots for possible championship surprises, and will confirm further top stars during the world championships."
Zurich’s philosophy is to invite as many top performers as possible, rather than concentrating on one or two famous names. Nevertheless, Weltklasse Zürich rarely lacks any big names.
100m superstar Usain Bolt, for instance, will run against his fellow countryman and strong opponent Asafa Powell, who had set a World record in Zurich in 2006. In the women’s High Jump, all athletes who have already cleared the 2m mark in 2009 will be competing, including the German World championship hopeful Ariane Friedrich and Zurich serial winner Blanka Vlasic of Croatia. With Sanya Richards, a further athlete used to winning in Zurich will face Olympic Champion Christine Ohuruogu (GBR) in the 400m. Some of the duels to be expected have become legendary already, such as the ongoing competition between the two US top favourites for the World championships Lashawn Merritt and Jeremy Wariner, or the friendly rivalry between the two Scandinavian javelin stars Andreas Thorkildsen (NOR) and Tero Pitkämäki (FIN). The start list of women’s 100m includes three top contenders for World championship medals: world leader Kerron Stewart (JAM), US champion Carmelita Jeter, and Olympic Champion Shelly Ann Fraser (JAM).
Focus on fast middle and long distance races
Last year, the long journey from Asia made it difficult for middle and long distance runners to perform at their best. “This year, travel will not represent such a burden", Borner pointed out. “The athletes will be in top shape immediately after the World championships, and they will be looking for fast races.”
The line-up will be impressive: In the men’s 800m, for instance, Wilfred Bungei, who is Olympic champion, but not on the Kenyan world championship team, will give it his best. In the 1500m, three athletes confirmed for Zurich have already run sub 3:30 times this year, Olympic Champion Asbel Kiprop (KEN) being one of them. In the 5000m, running superstar Kenenisa Bekele (ETH) will aim at demoralizing his opponents with his blazing speed once again. Traditional Zurich highlights are the men’s 3000m SC, and the women’s 1500m which will include top favourite and Swiss resident Maryam Jamal (BRN).
Janine Geigele (organisers) for the IAAF
