Next Sunday, 3 May, will see the start of the IAAF's 1998 Grand Prix I season,
with the Grand Prix Brasil de Atletismo in Rio de Janeiro.
Attention will doubtless be focused on the men's 100m event, with the first major meeting of the season for Canada's world record holder over the distance, Donovan Bailey. During a preparatory meeting in the country last week, Bailey was trounced over the distance by Chilean sprint champion Sebastian Keitel, who crossed the line 3-hundredths of a second ahead of the Canadian to finish in 10.10. Bailey, who was reportedly suffering from a minor injury to his left foot at the time, will doubtless seek to wipe out the memory of this defeat in Rio, but will have to cope with strong opposition from Jamaica's Michael Green, Bruny Surin (CAN), Vincent Henderson (USA), Claudinei da Silva (BRA) and Deji Aliu (NGR).
Keitel will also be competing in Rio, but this time is entered in the 200m, where he will be facing up againts America's Allen Johnson and Kevin Little. Aliu and Claudinei da silva will also run in this race.
Noureddine Morceli will be making his debut appearance this year in the 1500m, where he should start favourite in a field including Kenyans Stephen Kipkorir, Benson Koech, David Lelei and Jonah Birir.
In the women's events, Inger Miller and Chryste Gaines from the USA will clash with Russia's Natalia Voronova, Juliet Cuthbert (JAM), Christy Opara (USA) and local favourite Katia dos Santos in the 100m and 200m (excepting Christy Opara who is running only in the former). Charity Opara (NGR) and Jearl Miles(USA) will be duelling in the 400m.
Hot favourite for the 100m hurdles, Jamaica's Michelle Freeman, lining up against her, compatriot Dionne Rose, Melissa Morrison (USA), Svetlana Dimitrova (BUL) and Dawn Bowles (USA), whilst Italy's Fiona May, bronze medallist in Athens 97, will face stiff competition in the long jump from Niki Xanthou (GRE), Athens 97 silver medallist.
Full results will be published on the IAAF web site.
