Christian Cantwell unleashes a 21.76m effort in Modesto (© Kirby Lee)
Olympic champions Yelena Slesarenko and Osleidis Menéndez and World indoor champions Yargelis Savigne and Christian Cantwell are just a few of the names on the slate for the Meeting de Atletismo Madrid 2008 – IAAF World Athletics Tour - meeting on 5 July 2008.
In her last competition, Slesarenko, 26, finished second to Blanka Vlasic at the World Indoor Championships in Valencia. Her 2.06m PB was set in the Olympic final in Athens. Among others, she’ll face Spanish record holder Ruth Beitia in the Spanish capital.
In addition to her indoor crown, Savigne leapt to the World Triple Jump title in Osaka last summer, and is among the favourites for the Olympic title in Beijing. The 23-year-old Cuban is undefeated in four starts this spring, and has already reached 14.81m with her victory at the Moscow Open last week.
Cantwell, who took his second World indoor title in Valencia in March, is no stranger to the Madrid meeting, winning there in 2006. His 22.54 career best from 2004 ranks him No. 8 among throwers all-time, and no one has put the shot farther since.
He’s won of five of his six meets since Valencia, topped by his 21.76m effort in Modesto, the year’s second farthest throw.
Menéndez is the reigning Olympic champion in the Javelin Throw, and extended her own World record in the event to 71.70m when taking her second world title in Helsinki in 2005.
Bob Ramsak for the IAAF
