Walter Dix of the USA sprints to victory in his men's 200 metres semi final during day seven (© Getty Images)
American 200m aces Walter Dix and Wallace Spearmon will face off in their specialty event at the 51st Golden Spike in Ostrava on 25 May.
The event, contested at this IAAF World Challenge meeting for the first time since 2010, will see the multiple World and Olympic medallists Walter Dix and Wallace Spearmon chasing not only each other, but the current meet record of 19.83 set by Usain Bolt in 2008.
"I'm really looking forward to running for the first time in Ostrava. I enjoyed a nice relaxed race in Mt. Sac and look to try and continue as the season progresses towards London. Hopefully I can lower the meet record in the 200m there," said Dix, who set his 19.53 personal best last year in Brussels. Dix will run only one 200m race before Ostrava, in Doha.
"I am really looking forward to racing in Ostrava for my first time and to running a great 200 metres," said Spearmon who leads the current world lists with 19.95. His only pre-Ostrava 200m race will come this weekend at the Drake Relays.
Local interest in this race will focus on young Czech talent and Daegu semifinalist Pavel Maslak (20.63 PB) who might attack the national record of 20.60. During the indoor season Maslak improved the long standing Czech 400m indoor record, was fifth in Istanbul at the World Indoors and is considering his options before the European Championships in Helsinki and Olympic Games in London between the 200m and 400m.
Other high profile duels in Ostrava include Caster Semenya and Pamela Jelimo in the 800m, Barbora Spotakova and Maria Abakumova in the Javelin Throw, and Betty Heidler vs Anita Wlodarczyk in the Hammer Throw.
The biggest star of the meet will be Usain Bolt running his first race (100m) of the Olympic year in Europe.
Organisers for the IAAF
The event, contested at this IAAF World Challenge meeting for the first time since 2010, will see the multiple World and Olympic medallists Walter Dix and Wallace Spearmon chasing not only each other, but the current meet record of 19.83 set by Usain Bolt in 2008.
"I'm really looking forward to running for the first time in Ostrava. I enjoyed a nice relaxed race in Mt. Sac and look to try and continue as the season progresses towards London. Hopefully I can lower the meet record in the 200m there," said Dix, who set his 19.53 personal best last year in Brussels. Dix will run only one 200m race before Ostrava, in Doha.
"I am really looking forward to racing in Ostrava for my first time and to running a great 200 metres," said Spearmon who leads the current world lists with 19.95. His only pre-Ostrava 200m race will come this weekend at the Drake Relays.
Local interest in this race will focus on young Czech talent and Daegu semifinalist Pavel Maslak (20.63 PB) who might attack the national record of 20.60. During the indoor season Maslak improved the long standing Czech 400m indoor record, was fifth in Istanbul at the World Indoors and is considering his options before the European Championships in Helsinki and Olympic Games in London between the 200m and 400m.
Other high profile duels in Ostrava include Caster Semenya and Pamela Jelimo in the 800m, Barbora Spotakova and Maria Abakumova in the Javelin Throw, and Betty Heidler vs Anita Wlodarczyk in the Hammer Throw.
The biggest star of the meet will be Usain Bolt running his first race (100m) of the Olympic year in Europe.
Organisers for the IAAF
