Marion Jones wins Golden League Jackpot share (© Allsport)
Monte Carlo - Hicham El Guerrouj and Marion Jones have a lot in common. They are both undefeated this year - Marion’s winning streak dates back to her defeat to Zhanna Pintusevich-Block in Edmonton’s 100m World Championships final on 6 August 2001, whereas Hicham’s last loss was to Noah Ngeny in Sydney’s 1500m final on 29 September 2000.
They both claimed a share of the 2002 IAAF Golden League Jackpot after winning seven consecutive times in their respective events. They are both leading the IAAF Overall - and individual Event - Rankings and they are both currently in the lead of the IAAF Grand Prix Overall Standings.
Will there be a repeat of 1998 when both Hicham and Marion won their first ever Grand Prix Overall titles? Will they both stand on the podium on Saturday afternoon to receive an extra $150,000 Prize Money? ($100,000 for the Overall Title and $50,000 for winning the Individual Event).
The odds are obviously in their favour but there are two athletes - two hurdlers in this instance - who will certainly not bet on them.
In the men’s Overall Standings, Hicham El Guerrouj has a total of 92 points - the maximum score an athlete can reach in a season - but is currently level with Felix Sanchez (DOM) who also amassed 92 points throughout the season. If both were to win their event in Paris, the Overall Grand Prix winner would be determined by the Scoring Tables. The tables favour El Guerrouj. His season's best 1500m of 3:26.89 would score 1289 points, which corresponds to a 400m hurdles time of 46.54, substantially quicker than the world record in that event! The seasonal best of Sánchez, 47.35, scores 1251 and is the equivalent of 3:29.59 for 1500m, a time which El Guerrouj - whose birthday it will be on the day of the final - has bettered three times in 2002.
On a performance level, El Guerrouj seems to maintain a little edge over Sanchez but winning the race will be vital.
In the Women’s Overall Standings, Marion Jones has a five-point lead - 92 to 87 points - over compatriot Gail Devers whose defeats in Zurich and Berlin could end up costing her more than just the Golden League Jackpot.
Although unlikely, statistically there is a slight chance that Devers can catch up with Jones on Saturday. If Jones finishes third in Paris - and Devers wins her event, then the hurdler will finish one point ahead of the sprinter.
Since Jones is undefeated so far this year, this scenario seems unlikely but as the saying goes, you never win a race until you cross the line first.
