Sally Pearson of Australia crosses the line in the women's 100 metres hurdles final (© Getty Images)
9 September 2011Seven recently crowned World champions will be heading to Zagreb for the 61st edition of the Boris Hanzekovic Memorial on Tuesday (13) - an IAAF World Challenge Meeting - topping what is arguably the finest collection of talent ever assembled in the Croatian capital.
Usain Bolt, who defended his 200m crown in Korea and anchored the Jamaican 4x100m Relay quartet to a 37.04 World record, returns to action in the 100m where he will face, among other others, Kim Collins of St. Kitts and Nevis, the surprise bronze medallist in Daegu.
The women’s 100m features 100m champion Carmelita Jeter, who also collected 200m silver and 4x100m Relay gold for the USA. The sprint programme also features Kirani James, the teenager who raced to 400m gold in Daegu.
The sprint hurdles have long been the signature event in Zagreb, and will again figure prominently. The women’s race features Australia’s World champion Sally Pearson, whose sensational 12.28 victory in Daegu was one of the finest performances of the championships. She’ll take on Olympic champion Dawn Harper, who collected bronze in Korea.
In the men’s 110m Hurdles, World champion Jason Richardson will square off against World record holder Dayron Robles, who was disqualified in the Daegu final, and U.S. record holder David Oliver, who is looking to bounce back from a sub-par performance in Daegu.
The vociferous sell-out standing room only crowd will pay particularly close attention to the women’s High Jump where Croatian heroine Blanka Vlasic will take on Russian Anna Chicherova who beat her to Daegu gold.
And on the infield, Japan’s Koji Murofushi, who dominated the proceedings in Daegu, will clash with bronze medallist and Olympic champion Primoz Kozmus of Slovenia in the Hammer Throw.
Bob Ramsak for the IAAF
Ed. Note: Look for a full meeting preview from Zagreb on Monday.
