Hungary, USA and Germany biggest delegations in
Debrecen
IAAF Release
11
July 2001 - Debrecen - Among the 166 teams present in Debrecen the biggest delegation is
obviously the Hungarian team. As host of this second edition, the Hungarian Athletic
Federation entered 39 boys and 37 girls. The President of the Hungarian Federation
announced at this morning press conference that their ambitions were to conquer “1
gold medal and 1 other medal no matter the colour.”
And indeed, Hungary and the local supporters in Debrecen will have a great chance of winning a title in the person of 17 year old József Horváth who leads the 2001 World Youth lists. Following the great national tradition of hammer throwers, Horváth threw a personal best of 68.46m last March. His performance is almost 2 metres better than that of any other competitor in Debrecen but Horváth will have to handle the pressure of competing in his first major international competition on his home soil.
The second biggest delegation in Debrecen will be that of the USA. The 53 Americans who will be present in Hungary will try and do better than the four gold medals, two silvers and one bronze that the USA team won in Bydgoczsz two years ago.
17 year-old Angel Perkins who will double up in the 100m and 200m sprint races tops America’s chances for a gold medal. Her teammate Allyson Felix (16 years old) will also double in both the 100m and the 200m for what could be the second sprint double after Jamaica placed Veronica Campbell and Lisa Sharpe in the first two positions of the women’s 100m in Bydgoczsz two years ago.
Germany’s delegation in Debrecen counts 46 members – 23 boys and 23 girls. Discus thrower Robert Harting is likely to be German’y’s best chance for a gold medal. His personal best of 63.70m, established this year, places him among the favourites for gold in the event. Germany can also count on javelin thrower Till Siegling (68.35m) and all round athlete Kamghe Gaba (5657 points in the Octathlon) who will also compete for a medal in Debrecen.
Spain has entered 41 athletes – 24 boys and 17 girls – and will be counting on 17 year old Berta Castells to medal. With a personal best of 61.62m Castells is second in this year’s World Youth lists in the women’s hammer throw but in the absence of China’s Yang Meiping in Debrecen, she has the best performance of any of the participants here in Debrecen.
Biggest delegations in Debrecen:
Hungary 76 athletes (39 boys+37 girls); USA 53 (27+26); Germany 46 (23+23); Spain 41 (24+17); South Africa 38 (22+16); Mexico 35 (22+13); Japan 33 (20+13); Russia 31 (13+18); Slovenia 30 (16+14); Ukraine 28 (11+17); Belarus 25 (13+12); Great Britain 25 (12+13); Slovakia 25 (14+11); Chinese Taipei 25 (14+11); Canada 24 (13+11); Australia 23 (13+10); Croatia 23 (11+12); Cyprus 23 (13+10)
