2001 World 800m Final - Wilfred Bungei heads Andre Bucher (© Getty Images)
Two of Europe's best 800m runners, Jolanda Ceplak of Slovenia and Russian Borzakovskiy will participate in “Tsiklitiria” IAAF Super Grand Prix, which will be held in Trikala, Greece on June 24th. The top Greek meeting, which is not being held in Athens this year because of preparations for the 2004 Olympics, is organised by Panellinios A.C.
Ceplak has run in the colours of the organising club in the European Clubs Championships, and is holder of the World indoor record for 800m (1:55.82 - 2002), which she established when talking the European Indoor championships crown in Vienna. She also strode to the outdoor continental title last August in Munich.
On the 12 June in Ostrava, Ceplak ran to an impressive 1:57.76 world season’s lead.
In the men’s 800m, Russia’s enigmatic Yuriy Borzakovskiy will participate. The 22 year-old Russian, who was World Indoor champion in 2001, has a season’s best of 1:43.93 but in that run in Seville (7 June) and in his second summer outing (in Ostrava), he had to give best to world season’s leader, Wilfred Bungei of Kenya.
Bungei, who always runs in wrap-around sun glasses, is the World silver medallist both indoors and out, and is currently the hottest two lap property on the circuit. All three of Bungei's summer outings in 2003 have been under 1:44 – 1:43.05 Hengelo 1 June; 1:43.62 Seville 7 June; 1:43.24 Ostrava 12 June.
On the infield, three time World and Olympic Javelin champion Czech Jan Zelezny will be the star of the night, on his first ever appearance at the Tsiklitiria meet.
Russian Sergey Makarov, the Olympic bronze medallist and 2002 European runner-up, and the current 2003 world season lead with 90.11m, should be the Czech World record holder's greatest competitor.
Finland’s 1999 World champion and the runner-up in 2001, continues his comeback from a major shoulder operation which caused him problems throughout 2002. So far the 28 year-old Finn has thrown in one competition in 2003, with a best release of 83.30m.
Germany’s Boris Henry, 88.11m this summer, is also in the field but unfortunately injury still prevents the return of Greek hero Kostas Gatsioudis, the World bronze medallist.