Asafa Powell's 9.77 in Zurich (© Getty Images)
The focus of the athletics world turns to Belgrade on Tuesday where 2006 World Athlete of the Year Asafa Powell will finally be making his eagerly-anticipated 2007 debut at the Artur Takac Memorial in the Serbian capital.
“I'm very excited because this is my first race but I can't tell you precisely what I would expect to run,” Powell said. “I guess everyone is eagerly waiting to see what Asafa Powell can give them. I'm aiming to see what I can offer them.”
Powell ‘planning’ a sub-10
Sidelined by tendonitis of the knee in April, the 100m World record holder was forced to postpone appearances at the Mt. Sac and Penn Relays in April, and the Jamaican International in Kingston earlier this month.
“I'm planning to go under 10 seconds, I don't know how fast, but I would love to do it - even 9.99 seconds will do.”
Last year Powell twice equalled the 9.77 World record he first set in Athens in 2005, produced a single season record 12 sub-10 second clockings, and won 16 straight finals before ending his season in somewhat undramatic fashion with a false start disqualification in Yokohama two weeks after winning the World Athletics Final.
“I was injured for a couple of weeks but I've now recovered from the tendonitis. My coach has a plan which I have to work with and that's why I am here.” His coach, Stephen Francis, wanted Powell to contest a 100m race prior to his upcoming appearance in the 200m at the Prefontaine Classic in Eugene on 10 June.
His primary challenge in the Serbian capital will likely come from a man who made the trip from Jamaica with him, notably Michael Frater, the 2005 World Championships silver medallist.
Also in the field is Churandy Martina of the Netherlands Antilles, who took a dominating victory at the Penn Relays last month in 10.09 and more recently, the winner in Hengelo in 10.14.
Briton Jason Gardener will make his first start solo start since claiming his fourth European indoor 60m title in March, as will Slovenia’s Matic Osovnikar, last year’s surprise bronze medallist at the European Championships in Gothenburg.
100m debut for Simpson, comeback for Lalova
The women’s 100m features another anticipated debut, that of Sherone Simpson, last season’s top sprinter. The 22-year-old made a big splash in 2006, winning 12 of her 14 starts in 100, while producing the world’s quickest times of the year in both dashes with 10.82 and 22.00 career bests. The Jamaican will bring a nine-race unbeaten streak to Belgrade.
The race also features the comeback of Bulgarian Ivet Lalova, who will be making her first 100m start since breaking her leg in a freak accident during a warm-up in June 2005. Just prior to her injury, Lalova, who stunned the athletics world with her 10.77 performance in 2004, won the 100 in Ostrava in an impressive 11.03 in cold and rainy conditions at Ostrava’s Golden Spike.
Perrenial Bahamian speedster Chandra Sturrup is also in the field, along with Americans Stephanie Durst and Miki Barber.
Solid fields throughout the programme
Organisers of the meeting, this year celebrating its second edition, have pieced together solid fields to commemorate the life of Artur Takac, an Honorary IAAF Life Member, who played a pivotal role in the development of the sport in Europe and the world after World War II.
The men’s 400 field is lead by Angelo Taylor, the 2000 Olympic 400m Hurdles champion who has forged a strong comeback trail this spring. Unbeaten in six races thus far this season, he recently lowered his career best on the flat 400 to 44.35. 2004 Olympic silver medallist Otis Harris is also in the field, hoping to recapture some of the form that helped produce the U.S. podium sweep in Athens.
World leader Wilfred Bungei leads the 800, a few days after his defeat in Hengelo at the hands of Ugandan teenager Abraham Chepkirwok. William Yiampoy and Alfred Kirwa Yego, along with defending Belgrade champion Kevin Hicks round out a notable field. Kenyans look to dominate the 5000, with Shadrack Kosgei (13:01.12), Bernard Kiplagat (13:09.14) and Mark Kiptoo (13:10.45) leading the charge.
Americans Robby Hughes and Aubrey Herring lead the field in the110m Hurdles while four men with career bests of 2.32 or higher will compete in the High Jump: Russians Pavel Fomenko, Alexei Dmitrik and Vyacheslav Voronin, and Briton Germaine Mason.
The Shot Put features Ukraine’s Olympic Champion Yuriy Bilonog while the Javelin Throw field is topped by 2004 Olympic silver medallist.
On the women’s side of the programme, Slovenia’s Olympic bronze medallist Jolanda Ceplak, also the World indoor record holder, tops the field in the 800. Serbian Sonja Stolic will face strong opposition in the 1500m, where she’ll face Briton Helen Clitheroe, Kenyans Viloa Kibiwott and Irene Jelagat.
The 100m Hurdles could be a face-off between American Danielle Carruthers and Angela Whyte of Canada, while American Becky Breisch and Yelena Antonova lead the field in the Discus Throw.
Tribute to a sporting legend
Takac, who had a long and distinguished career with the IOC, IAAF and EAA, went missing at the end of January 2004 during a family ski holiday in Kopaonik, the highest mountain in central Serbia. Although 86, he had been an expert ski enthusiast all his life, but in bad weather conditions, after riding a ski lift to the 2000m summit of Kopaonik, failed to return.
His body was not found until June of the following year, and in July of 2005, he was given a VIP funeral in Belgrade attended by friends from several international and Serbian sporting organisations he had served with distinction.
Live internet broadcast
The meeting will be webcast live via its website at www.beomeeting.com.
Bob Ramsak and David Martin (Press Association) for the IAAF
