Javier Culson joins the sub-48 club in Ponce (© Fernando Neris)
Puerto Rican star Javier Culson will return to his hometown where he has run his fastest time so far as he is billed as the main attraction of the 5th Ponce Grand Prix, to be held on Saturday (14) at the Francisco `Paquito` Montaner stadium.
Last year, the 2009 World Championships silver medallist ran his personal best and only sub-48 second in the 400m Hurdles thus far with a superb 47.72 to please a packed stadium of local fans supporting Puerto Rico’s only athletics medallist in a global event.
The 26-year-old opened his 2011 campaign over the barriers last weekend in Guadeloupe, where he ran 48.73 and beat USA’s Angelo Taylor by more than a second.
Earlier this year, he improved his personal bests at 400m (46.15) and 800m (1:49.97), as part of his preparation for the IAAF World Championships in Daegu later this summer.
In Ponce, he will meet his closest rivals last year: USA’s Michael Tinsley (48.46) and Trinidad and Tobago’s Jehue Gordon (48.47), who was fourth at the 2009 Berlin Worlds.
Jamaica’s 2004 Olympic runner-up Danny McFarlane hopes to give his season a good head start after finishing fifth last year. His fellow countryman Markino Buckley (PB of 48.26) is also confirmed.
The women’s race features 2008 Olympic runner-up Shenna Tosta, who opened her season last weekend in Guadeloupe with 55.92.
In total, over 140 athletes from 22 countries, including 20 World and Olympic medallists, will contest 14 events, seven for both men and women. Both will compete in 100m, 200m, 400m, 400m Hurdles and Long Jump, as well as the sprint hurdles.
Fast times expected in the sprints
Fresh off his impressive world leading 200m (19.96) in Kingston, Jamaican Nickel Ashmeade will now run the 100m against top men like USA’s 2004 Olympic and 2005 World champion Justin Gatlin, Trell Kimmons, fellow countrymen and two-time World junior champion Dexter Lee, as well as Trinidad and Tobago’s World and Olympic relay medallist Keston Bledman.
The women’s race promises a showdown between USA’s 2005 World champion Lauryn Williams, 2006 World Indoor champion Me'Lisa Barber and Bahamas’ multiple World and Olympic medallists Debbie Ferguson-McKenzie.
With such a deep field, both meet records (10.11 and 11.15) are certainly under serious threat.
The women’s 400m race is highly expected with three sub-50 second runners: 2007 World Championships bronze medallist Novlene Williams-Mills, 2010 Ponce winner Natasha Hasting and 2010 runner-up Deedee Trotter.
Such rivalry could well produce the first sub-51 second time in Ponce on Saturday.
The men’s race is equally of high calibre with 2004 Olympic and two-time Jeremy Wariner looking to erase the upset defeat last year. One week after his first sub-45 second run of the season, Wariner is ready to take on his fellow countrymen Jamaal Torrance, the 2010 World Indoor bronze medallist and third in Ponce in 2010 and Lionel Larry, as well as Briton Michael Bingham and Trinidad and Tobago’s 2009 World Championships bronze medallist Rennie Quow.
Many sprinters will double up in the 200m. In the longer distance, the men will be joined by Panama’s 2009 World Championships runner-up Alonso Edwards.
The women’s 200m features 2010 World Indoor 400m champion and 2010 winner Debbie Dunn and Jamaica’s three-time World Championships relay medallist Aleen Bailey.
Fellow Jamaican Vonette Dixon, who has run three World Championships finals, will be the girl to beat in the sprint hurdles. USA’s Trevor Quinley will defend his 2010 victory in the Long Jump.
The national program will start at 5pm, followed by the international one an hour later.
As a distinctive feature in the Ponce Grand Prix, Puerto Rico’s traditional plena music will join the athletics festival between events.
Created in 2007 after the successful hosting of the Iberoamerican Championships in 2006, the Ponce Grand Prix joined the NACAC circuit and has become a favourite season opener or early season stop for many athletes in the Americas.
Javier Clavelo Robinson for the IAAF
Last year, the 2009 World Championships silver medallist ran his personal best and only sub-48 second in the 400m Hurdles thus far with a superb 47.72 to please a packed stadium of local fans supporting Puerto Rico’s only athletics medallist in a global event.
The 26-year-old opened his 2011 campaign over the barriers last weekend in Guadeloupe, where he ran 48.73 and beat USA’s Angelo Taylor by more than a second.
Earlier this year, he improved his personal bests at 400m (46.15) and 800m (1:49.97), as part of his preparation for the IAAF World Championships in Daegu later this summer.
In Ponce, he will meet his closest rivals last year: USA’s Michael Tinsley (48.46) and Trinidad and Tobago’s Jehue Gordon (48.47), who was fourth at the 2009 Berlin Worlds.
Jamaica’s 2004 Olympic runner-up Danny McFarlane hopes to give his season a good head start after finishing fifth last year. His fellow countryman Markino Buckley (PB of 48.26) is also confirmed.
The women’s race features 2008 Olympic runner-up Shenna Tosta, who opened her season last weekend in Guadeloupe with 55.92.
In total, over 140 athletes from 22 countries, including 20 World and Olympic medallists, will contest 14 events, seven for both men and women. Both will compete in 100m, 200m, 400m, 400m Hurdles and Long Jump, as well as the sprint hurdles.
Fast times expected in the sprints
Fresh off his impressive world leading 200m (19.96) in Kingston, Jamaican Nickel Ashmeade will now run the 100m against top men like USA’s 2004 Olympic and 2005 World champion Justin Gatlin, Trell Kimmons, fellow countrymen and two-time World junior champion Dexter Lee, as well as Trinidad and Tobago’s World and Olympic relay medallist Keston Bledman.
The women’s race promises a showdown between USA’s 2005 World champion Lauryn Williams, 2006 World Indoor champion Me'Lisa Barber and Bahamas’ multiple World and Olympic medallists Debbie Ferguson-McKenzie.
With such a deep field, both meet records (10.11 and 11.15) are certainly under serious threat.
The women’s 400m race is highly expected with three sub-50 second runners: 2007 World Championships bronze medallist Novlene Williams-Mills, 2010 Ponce winner Natasha Hasting and 2010 runner-up Deedee Trotter.
Such rivalry could well produce the first sub-51 second time in Ponce on Saturday.
The men’s race is equally of high calibre with 2004 Olympic and two-time Jeremy Wariner looking to erase the upset defeat last year. One week after his first sub-45 second run of the season, Wariner is ready to take on his fellow countrymen Jamaal Torrance, the 2010 World Indoor bronze medallist and third in Ponce in 2010 and Lionel Larry, as well as Briton Michael Bingham and Trinidad and Tobago’s 2009 World Championships bronze medallist Rennie Quow.
Many sprinters will double up in the 200m. In the longer distance, the men will be joined by Panama’s 2009 World Championships runner-up Alonso Edwards.
The women’s 200m features 2010 World Indoor 400m champion and 2010 winner Debbie Dunn and Jamaica’s three-time World Championships relay medallist Aleen Bailey.
Fellow Jamaican Vonette Dixon, who has run three World Championships finals, will be the girl to beat in the sprint hurdles. USA’s Trevor Quinley will defend his 2010 victory in the Long Jump.
The national program will start at 5pm, followed by the international one an hour later.
As a distinctive feature in the Ponce Grand Prix, Puerto Rico’s traditional plena music will join the athletics festival between events.
Created in 2007 after the successful hosting of the Iberoamerican Championships in 2006, the Ponce Grand Prix joined the NACAC circuit and has become a favourite season opener or early season stop for many athletes in the Americas.
Javier Clavelo Robinson for the IAAF
