News17 May 2004


Thiam to face Guevara, as injury rules out Fenton

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Amy Mbacke Thiam wins her 400m semi final (© Getty Images)

2001 World 400m champion and last year’s bronze medallist at the distance in Paris, Amy Mbacke Thiam of Senegal will replace an injured Lorraine Fenton as the main 400m opponent for Mexico’s World champion Ana Guevara at the 2004 Banamex Grand Prix Athletic Show, to be held at the Estadio Olímpico Universitario in this capital, on 22 May.

The 2001 World gold medallist, who lost her title to Guevara in Paris, where she finished third, clashed with the Mexican three times last year losing on each occasion, with Guevara last beating her at the World Athletics Final in Monaco, on 14 September 2003.

The 27-year old Senegalese has already had two outings at 400m this summer with a 51.89 win in Dakar on 3 April, and a second place finish in 51.40 in Bamako on 6 April.

High Hurdling record ambition

USA's Allen Johnson, the world's number one in the 110m Hurdles, aims to break the Estadio Olímpico Universitario's 35-year old stadium record (13.33), set by US William Davenport when he cinched the gold medal in the 1968 Olympic Games.

Last year, Johnson clocked 13.42 to dominate a close race ahead of her countrymen Duane Ross (13.43) and Ron Brammlet (13.47). Johnson is one of the six 2003 winners who will return to Mexico this year.

In Mexico this year, the quadruple World outdoor champion is expected to face strong opposition from Cuba´s Olympic champion Anier García, Yuniel Hernandez, Yoel Hernandez and USA´s Duane Ross.

Garcia has recently recovered from a slight muscle injury wich forced him to curtail his 2004 indoor season. The Island´s best chances now are Pan American championYuniel and 2003 Paris World finalist Yoel. Both Hernandez made it to the final at the 2004 World Indoor Champs in Budapest. The Cuban trio are currently training at high altitude in Guadalajara.

Ross, the 1999 World bronze medallist, wants to take revenge from his 2003 defeat. The field also features South Africa´s 2001 World indoor bronze medallist Shaun Bownes and Sweden´s Robert Kronberg.

World high jumping inspiration for local hope

In the Mexican capital last year, South Africa's Hestrie Cloete claimed one of her 17 victories. Last season saw her win her second World title in Paris and the World Athletics Final in Monaco. Her 2.06 winning jump in the French capital moved her up to fourth place in the all-time world lists, tied with Swede's Kajsa Bergqvist. Only Bulgaria's Stefka Kostadinova (2.09), Lyudmila Andonova (2.07) and Germany's Heike Henkel (2.07) have only jumped higher.

This season, the Germiston-born athlete has had three outings at home and has cleared 1.93-1.95.

Her presence will provide extra incentive to Romary Rifka, the 2003 Pan American Games silver medallist, who improved the Mexican record with a world leading 1.97 in Xalapa, on April 4.

The 33-year old mother from Poza Rica, Veracruz, hopes to reach the final in her Olympic debut and get closer to the 2.00-meter mark.

Only two Latin Americans belong to the exclusive 2.00-meter club: Cuba's Silvia Costa (2.04) and Ioamnet Quintero (2.01).

"Now I can focus more on my technique and I feel committed to performing well in the Olympics. I want to qualify for the final in Athens. If I improve my technique I can jump higher", she stated on the day of her record.

The entry list also features Cuba's 20-year old Yarianny Argüelles (1.89), the Pan American Games bronze medallist, and USA's Ifoma Jones (1.90). More athletes should be confirmed in the week leading up to the meeting.

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