“Even without Marion, Paris 100m final will be fast,” says Zhanna Block

Hello Everybody,

Who says Track & Field is boring? There is always some news coming out of our sport.

First I would like to congratulate Paula Radcliffe for her incredible run in the London Marathon this weekend where she once again broke the World best.

Also I would like to congratulate Marion Jones and Tim Montgomery on the announcement of a child on the way. I must say I was shocked by the news. I wish them the very best and I am sure Marion will be a great mother. Although I do not know her very well off the track, I am certain she’ll be a fantastic mother.

I can see she is a person who does everything 100% and I am sure she will do a great job raising a child. I am very confident that she will be back for the Olympics and know she will be ready to run as she always is when she steps on the track.

People have been asking me how this affects me. Well, to be honest it does not change my approach to the season, as anybody who understands about the women's 100m knows there are now many people who can run sub 10.9 on a given day.

I truly believe even without Marion it will take a sub 10.8 race to win in Paris.

As for the World Indoors it was great to win as it helped me to become the first woman to win a World title in all the short sprint events.

But the problem with the Indoors is that outdoors comes so fast afterwards, and you really do not have time to enjoy it as it is back to work straight after it’s over.

I am now already working hard trying to prepare for another big outdoor season. Debbie Ferguson has already run 10.97 legal and that should be an indication that the women's 100m will not be short of excitement in 2003.

As for my first competition, I am not sure yet where or when it will be but I plan to be ready when the time comes.

Best Wishes,
Zhanna