AFP
10 June 2000 – Turin, Italy - Cuban long jump legend Ivan Pedroso and Australia's two
time 400m world champion Cathy Freeman both braved storms which had disrupted their trips
to win their respective events at the IAAF Grand Prix at the new Primo Nebiolo stadium.
Pedroso, arriving from Seville where he had won on Friday, missed his flight connection but the three-time outdoor world champion pointed to a different climatic phenomenon as the real problem.
"Above all it was the change in climate that bothered me because it was really hot in Seville," he claimed.
The 27-year-old, who is also a four-time world indoor long jump champion, added that the tight programming hadn't bothered him either and that jumping regularly was part and parcel of the profession - he underlined this with a jump of 8.39m.
Freeman conversely admitted to being put out by a long wait at the airport.
However, she won her race in 51.20 seconds catching Jamaican rival and great friend Sandie Richards, who she had deprived of world gold by a whisker in 1997, on the home straight.
"It's my first race in Europe and I wanted to see where I was up to," the 27-year-old commented.
The Olympic silver medallist added that she had been happy to work with coaching guru John Smith in Los Angeles, who had constantly reminded her of French Olympic 200 and 400m champion Marie Jo Perec, whom he had looked after for a spectacularly unsuccessful two year period.
"The event needs her," she added in reference to Perec and the 400m.
"I think that if she does make a return it's because she knows she can compete. I'd love to take her on," added Freeman, who in 1992 became the first Aborigine to represent Australia at an Olympic Games.
Leading Results
Men
100m (0.0):
1. Dejy Aliu (Ngr) 10.17
2. Dennis Mitchell (USA) 10.26
3. Leonard Myles-Mylls (Gha) 10.27
4. Greg Saddler (USA) 10.29
200 m (0,4 m/s):
1. Alessandro Cavallaro (Ita) 20.48
2. Stéphane Buckland (MRI) 20.54
3. Patrick Stevens (Bel) 20.57
4. Andre Domingo da Silva (Bré) 20.59
400 m:
1. Tyree Washington (USA) 45.66
2. Hendrik Mokganyetsi (AfS) 46.07
800 m:
1. Wilson Kirwa (Fin) 1:45.95
2. Andrea Abelli (Ita) 1:46.43
3000 m:
1. David Chelule (Ken) 7:43.10
2. John Korir (Ken) 7:43.35
110 m hurdles (0,6 m/s):
1. Anier Garcia (Cub) 13.25
2. Allen Johnson (USA) 13.55
3. Tony Dees (USA) 13.63
4. Florian Schwarthoff (All) 13.76
400 m hurdles
1. Eronilde de Araujo (Bré) 49.22
2. Samuel Matete (Zam) 49.69
Long jump
1. Ivan Pedroso (Cub) 8,39 m
2. James Beckford (Jam) 8,20
3. Vladimir Maliyayin (Rus) 8,17
4. Kareem Streete-Thompson (Cay) 8,12
5. Moursal Hatem (Egy) 8,12
Hammer throw
1. Tibor Gecsek (Hon) 79,24 m
2. Loris Paoluzzi (Ita) 78,85
3. Koji Murofushi (Jap) 77,62
4. Balasz Kiss (Hon) 76,60
5. Vladimir Maska (Tch) 76,41
6. Igor Astapkovich (Blr) 75,98
Pole vault
1. Evgueni Smiryagin (Rus) 5,40 m
2. Rodion Gataullin (Rus) 5,40
Women
200 m (0,1 m/s):
1. Pauline Davis (Bah) 23.12
2. Nora Ivanova (Tur) 23.37
3. Oksana Ekk (Rus) 23.40
4. Fatima Yusuf (Ngr) 23.40
400 m:
1. Cathy Freeman (Aus) 51.20
2. Sandie Richards (Jam) 51.38
3. Jitka Burianova (Tch) 51.69
800 m:
1. Simona Ionescu (Rou) 2:02.08
2. Larisa Mikhailova (Rus) 2:02.18
100 m hurdles
1. Rosa Rakotozafy (Mad) 13.15
2. Lacena Golding (Jam) 13.18
3. Angela Atede (Ngr) 13.33
4. Dawn Burrel (USA) 13.34
400 m hurdles
1. Sandra Glover (USA) 54.65
2. Monika Niederstatter (Ita) 56.40
3. Natalya Torschina (Kzk) 56.46
Long jump
1. Fiona May (Ita) 6,94 m (0,1 m/s)
2. Lisset Cuza (Cub) 6,58 (1,0 m/s)
3. Tunde Vaszy (Hon) 6,50 (0,9 m/s)
High jump
1. Inga Babakova (Ukr) 1,97 m
2. Monica Iagar-Dinescu (Rou) 1,95
3. Zuzana Hlavonova (Tch) 1,93
4. Viktoria Styopina (Ukr) 1,93
