Gatlin snatches half a million prize in Moscow Challenge

Last night’s Challenge, with just eight athletics events and seven musical interludes by top Russian acts was carefully choreographed and timed to provide a neat, roughly three hour slot for TV. It was never intended to be just another track and field meeting, but a brave effort to provide a musical and sporting entertainment that would entertain, not only the normal sports fan but ordinary members of the public looking for a night out with a difference.

From the athletes’ point of view, the other significant component of the Moscow Challenge was an attractive prize money structure that offered at least $50,000 to each winner, money for every other placed athlete, and an incredible $500,000 jackpot for the winner of the men’s 100m. More of that later…

With no fewer than 14 national sponsors and State Television also involved as a partner, production values were also extremely high. Around 50 TV cameras were employed, a special concert stage and lighting rigs were built on one of the bends, and 1500 young track fans, were placed right on the in-field, with the aim of giving the runners and jumpers an even bigger boost during each lap.

The promoter’s aim was to stage only those events that would be capable of thrilling the Moscow crowd and, inevitably, that meant events where Russia has top athletes.

In the women’s Long Jump, the silver medallist from Paris, Tatyana Kotova tried to gain her revenge on Eunice Barber (FRA), only for both women to lose out to World Triple Jump champion Tatyana Lebedeva, who took a surprise victory with 6.82m to become the first Russian winner of the night. Barber was second with 6.72m and Kotova had to be content with third place and a modest 6.64m.

In the men’s 800m the talented Yuriy Borzakovskiy was up again against the finalists from the World Championships in Paris, and his even-paced race left him with much to do down the home straight, as he chased down Kenya’s Wilfried Bungei, who had taken the field through 400m in 51.99. For the pleasure of the crowd, Borzakovskiy began his usual late dash for the line, just edging ahead of Bungei at the finish, after a 54.68 last lap. A time of 1:46.67 may not be spectacular but the 30,000 crowd loved the run nonetheless.

In the women’s High Jump, which has been so outstanding this season, two Russians Marina Kuptsova and Yelena Yelesina engaged in a close, but low key contest with Kajsa Bergqvist (SWE) and two Ukrainians Vita Palamar and Inga Babakova. In the end, with the chilly night stiffening up some clearly weary limbs, Palamar was the only woman to clear 1.96m at her third attempt. Bergqvist and Kuptsova both cleared 1.92m.

But it was not just about home crowd favourites since Hicham El Guerrouj (MAR) had been booked to run the 1500m, and, not surprisingly since he has recently recovered from a cold, made hard work of his win in 3:36.48. After going through 800m in 1:57 and hitting the bell at 2:42:02, the Moroccan did not pull away with his usual assurance, and Kenya’s Paul Korir, who has run 3:30.72 this season, sensed the champion was vulnerable. As both men ran shoulder to shoulder down the home straight, it seemed that Korir was heading for a famous victory (El Guerrouj last lost a 1500m race at the Olympic Games in Sydney in 2000), but the Moroccan found an extra reserve of strength and edged ahead to cross the line in 3:36.43 - just five 100ths of a second ahead of Korir. Alex Kipchirchir was third with 3:38.43.

In the first event of the night, the all-conquering Mozambican Maria Mutola, the only athlete ever to win the Golden League Jackpot outright, made sure of her 16th successive win in 2003 last night, despite being harried by Jo Fenn (GBR) and the emerging Moroccan Mina Ait Hammou over the first lap. As usual though, she pulled strongly away down the final straight to complete another victory in 1:58.82. Hammou was second in 1:59.39 with fast-finishing Canadian Diane Cummins clinching third with 2:00.38.

Sweden’s Christian Olsson, World Champion and world leader with 17.77m, was as imperial as ever in the Triple Jump, effectively winning the contest in the first round by clearing 17.27m, and then improving to 17.34m with his next attempt. Way back in second place was Walter Davis (USA) who cleared 16.91m while Dmitry Valyukevich (BLR) was third with 17.57m.

With only five athletes in each field event, and the horizontal jumpers having four attempts, a top choreographer was hired to direct the action, pointing both cameras and crowd to where the excitement was hottest. With so few events on the schedule, there was no chance of an event being lost in the rush. Each attempt was cheered by spectators, and the jumpers making the most of their time in the spot light.

The women’s 100m race was won by Chryste Gaines (USA) who continued her recent hot streak by beating athletes like Kelli White (USA), Zhanna Block (UKR) and Christine Arron (FRA). She earned her $75,000 first prize with an impressive late surge, stopping the clock at 10.98, ahead of Arron (11.18) and White (11.21).

The men’s 100m, had been billed as the crowd pleasing finale, not surprisingly since the field were chasing a first prize of $500,000, which is the biggest single jackpot ever offered on the track. World champion Kim Collins (SKN) was left in the blocks by World record holder Tim Montgomery but it was Justin Gatlin (USA) who powered into the lead from 50 metres, to win in 10.05 and become an instant semi-millionaire. With a final flourish, the Moscow Challenge ended with all eight event winners draped in special cloaks and gold crowns, and paraded around the track by horse drawn chariots, as fireworks exploded overhead.


IAAF