Alfons Juck for IAAF
18 June 2001 – Praha – The series of high quality meetings in Central Europe continues on Monday, 18 June in the Czech Capitol Praha with the 8th edition of the Josef Odlozil Memorial (the 1500m silver medallist at the 1964 Olympic Games and finalist of the 1968 Mexico Games, who died in September 1993).
The assembled cast includes several of the world’s best multi-eventers in a special triathlon (110m Hurdles, shot put and 200m). Decathlon world record holder Roman Sebrle and former record holder Tomas Dvorak will face Olympic Champion Erki Nool and silver and bronze medallists from the 2001 World Indoor Championships Jon Arnar Magnusson (Iceland) and Lev Lobodin (Russia).
At Strahov stadium (location of the 1978 European Championships) good crowds are expected to watch the local heroes. In other events several other well known names will make an appearance.
The high hurdles will see world record holder Colin Jackson of Great Britain who has been competing a lot recently, and who could break the 13.30 barrier for the first time this year.
In the 400m hurdles Olympic Games silver medallist Hadi Al-Somaily (Saudi Arabia) will face local hero and 1997 World Championship finalist Jiri Muzik.
The women’s pole vault should also provide interesting viewing with seven competitors from the Sydney final. World Indoor Champion Pavla Hamackova is looking to win, but a strong German group composed of Ryshich, Buschbaum and Humbert will provide stiff competition and since Athens, the former European record holder Anzhela Balakhonova (Ukraine) will be the names to beat.
In men’s races at 800m, 1500m and 10,000 m strong groups of Kenyans will be lining up. Good times are expected in the women’s 800m with World Indoors bronze medallist Helena Fuchsova running against Tina Paulino, Stella Jongmans, Irina Mistyukevich and Larisa Mikhaylova, all with bests under two minutes.
