Charlety Stadium Paris (© IAAF)
Monte CarloThe 18th IAAF Grand Prix Final, which takes place at the Stade Charlety in Paris, on Saturday, marks a very special moment in the history of the IAAF World Athletics Series, created over a decade ago.
As of next year, the IAAF Grand Prix Final will be re-named as the IAAF World Athletics Final with a complete programme of individual events. This transformation was agreed by the IAAF Council in order to give athletes the chance to compete in the Grand Prix circuit every year and not every other year, as it has been the case up until now, and also to create a fitting climax to each season. As of next year, an athlete’s position in the IAAF World Rankings, not the IAAF Grand Prix standings, will determine entry to the World Athletics Final.
But before undergoing such a major revolution, the IAAF Grand Prix Final will maintain its original format for this year’s edition. A total of 18 disciplines will be held in just over three hours, with a maximum of $2,456,000 available in Prize Money.
The IAAF Grand Prix Final will make its return to Europe after two successful editions held in Doha 2000 and Melbourne 2001. The 2002 edition will also mark a return to the Stade Charlety, in the South of Paris, where the 10th edition of this event was held back in 1994.
That edition saw the crowning of two legends of our sport, 1500m runner Nouredine Morceli (ALG) and Jackie Joyner-Kersee (USA) as Overall Champions. Morceli was awarded $100.000 prize money after tallying 78 points, well ahead of Samuel Matete (ZAM) and Mike Conley (USA). It wasn’t as easy for ‘JJK’, who ended her season with 72 points, which was the same total as Svetlana Dimitrova (BUL) and Sonia O’Sullivan (IRL). But JJK long jumped 7.21m on that day, which was worth more points (1235) than her rivals and so she became the first heptathlete to win the Overall Grand Prix.
Of all the names mentioned above, only Sonia O’Sullivan is still competing as an athlete and while the Irish star will not be in Paris this weekend, a few other athletes who have equally conquered this test of time will step out into the Stade Charlety again, a testament to the longevity of all their careers.
In Paris in 1994, Jonathan Edwards, who was 28 at the time, finished 8th in the men’s Triple Jump final. He is more than likely to do better this time despite a poor showing recently in Brussels. Stéphane Diagana who finished 3rd at the 400m hurdles in 1994, will represent the best chances for the French hosts to step on the podium this year – although France’s European 200m Champion Muriel Hurtis who was not a member of the ‘class of 94’, will also have hopes in the 100m.
Jon Drummond (3rd in the 100m in 1994) and Igor Astapovich (2nd in the Hammer Throw in 1994) will also return to the French track.
Among the women, Zhanna Pintusevich – then in 1994 still running under her maiden name Tarnopolskaya - finished fifth in the 100m in 11.16, a time she should easily better next Saturday. While, in the Discus Throw, Belarus’ Ellina Zvereva will try and do better than her third place finish 8 years ago.
With even more to prove are Regina Jacobs (USA) and Tatyana Shikolenko (BLR), who in 1994 finished last in the 1500m and the Javelin Throw respectively, and will no doubt be aiming to set the record straight in Paris less than a year before the IAAF World Championships take place in the French capital.
