Michalis Nikitaridis for IAAF
30 May 1999 - Ekaterini Thanou and Merlene Ottey were the shining stars of the international meeting of Rethymno. Thanou, Greece's female sprint champion and the world indoor champion over 60m, said Saturday she was ready to take on the world's best after stunning rivals at the invitational athletics meet on the island of Crete.
The 24-year-old Thanou breezed past Ottey and Nigeria's Endurance Ojokolo to clock a wind-assisted 10.77 seconds (2.3m/s)in the 100 meters. Ottey was second with 11"04.
``It was great. I hope I can take on an even bigger name now - even Marion Jones,'' Thanou said.
Jones, 23, was the world's top-ranked sprinter in the 100 and 200 meters, and top long jumper last year. Jones' best time for the 100 meters is 10.65 seconds.
Thanou, beaten by Ottey in 60 meters at an invitational in Athens three months ago, said she thrives on competition with big Names and that she feels ready to run these times even without the help of the wind. The world indoor champion went on to say that she plans to participate in 3 or 4 races before Sevilla'99, the first of the them planned for the next weekend, participating with the Greek National Team in the European Cup "Bruno Zauli".
The crowd also enjoyed a great discus competition, where Anastassia Kelesidou smashed the national record for Greece with 67.70 m, coming second after Romanian Nicoletta Grasu who improved her season best to 68.23 m, the second world performance for this year.
In the highlights of the meeting we should mention the 200 m men race where Petko Yankov won with 20.36. ahead of Deji Aliu (20.43.). The 400m Greek champion Costas Kenteris was placed 3rd, but he broke his personal best with 20.54. Svetlana Dimitrova was the winner of 100 m hurdles with 12.97, while Voula Patoulidou set a 200m personal best with 24.12.
Excellent performances for Anna Guevara (51.48), Danial Yahic (8.18m and a windy 8.27m), Lars Riedel (6489 m), the 20-year-old Christoforos Choidis (10.21) and Ioanna Volpanou who set a national juniors record in pole vault with 3.90m.
Complete results: http://www.athletix.gr
