News14 Apr 2008


Rawlinson to start European campaign in Ostrava – IAAF World Athletics Tour

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Jana Rawlinson of Australia celebrates as she crosses the finish line to win the Women's 400m Hurdles Final (© Getty Images)

Ostrava, Czech RepublicWorld 400m Hurdles champion Jana Rawlinson of Australia will commence her campaign on the European circuit this summer at the Golden Spike of Ostrava on 12 June 2008, an IAAF Grand Prix status meeting as part of the IAAF World Athletics Tour.

The double global gold medallist (Paris ‘03 and Osaka ‘07) will compete at meetings in USA meetings in May.

"I am very excited about starting my European season in Ostrava in this Olympic year.  I hope to put on a good performance and will be happy to be introduced to the crowd again as the World champion," confirmed Rawlinson.

The hope is that Rawlinson can attack the meet record of Romanian Ionela Tirlea which has stood at 53.87secs since 2003 but that will not be an easy task early in the season, as is testified by the three serious tries were have previously been organized in the past with the likes of Yulia Pechonkina or Lashinda Demus unsuccessful.

2007 World junior cross country champion and this year’s senior bronze medallist Linet Masai of Kenya who will debut at 10,000m in Ostrava, a race which has been set up to assist with qualifying for the Beijing Olympics. Her manager Ricky Simms confirmed Masai “wants to have the option to decide to run the 5000m or 10 000m in the Olympic Games.  Based on last year the 10,000 m was easier to get a medal in than 5000m.” In fast race she might be able to attack the World junior record 30:31.55 of Chinese Xing Huina.

Alfons Juck for the IAAF

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