Tomorrow in ZurichWill the stars reveal their influence on the race for the million Dollar jackpot?
10 August 1999 - Monte Carlo – Maksim Tarasov, the formidable Russian pole vaulter, world leader with 6.05 metres, declared on 4 August after winning in Monte Carlo’s Louis II stadium with a 6 metre vault: "Winning a Golden League discipline is extremely difficult, as now, each of the seven meetings on the circuit has become a mini World Championships."
This and no other was the intention of the organisers and the IAAF when it was decided,
just over one year ago, to introduce a new initiative whereby the entire structure of the
Grand Prix circuit would be reorganised and invigorated. This aim has apparently been
achieved not only as Tarasov’s valuable opinion proves, but above all by the growth
of attention from the public and the media.
In Zurich – where the fifth stage of the Golden League is set to take place – an extraordinary number of champions will be filing into the stadium to take up their positions. Amongst them, the four contenders in the one million-Dollar jackpot: Wilson Kipketer (DEN), Bernard Baramasai (KEN), Marion Jones (USA) and Gabriela Szabo (ROM).
Kipketer – having obtained the best result of the season in Monte Carlo, running the 800m in 1:42.57 – will once again have to fight off Kenyan Japheth Kimutai’s attack, and at the same time keep an eye out for South Africans Hezekiel Sepeng and Johan Botha. With a new confidence in his step with every race that passes, Kipketer is gradually starting to resemble, with his superb agile running style and freshness, the athlete who two years ago brought the world record down to 1:41.11.
The same could be said of Bernard Barmasai, 3000 metres steeplechase world record holder (7:55.72) who, also in Monte Carlo on 4 August, ran only 3 seconds short of that performance. In Zurich, Barmasai will most especially have to contend with his fellow Kenyans whilst it should be interesting to follow the battle between the European champion, Damian Kallabis (GER) and Spaniard Eliseo Martin.
Of the two women remaining in contention for the jackpot, the task may be somewhat more difficult for Gabriela Szabo than for Marion Jones. The American sprinter, after her 10.80 for 100 metres in London, should have no difficulties in obtaining a fifth, consecutive victory over 200m. Szabo on the other hand will have to be as sharp as a needle over 3000m, using all her resources and brilliant middle distance talents, most especially her stamina and kick, to win ahead of athletes of calibre such as Zahra Ouziz (MAR), Fernanda Ribeiro (POR), Paula Radcliffe (GBR), Tegla Loroupe (KEN), Maria Pantyukhova (RUS) and Olga Yegorova (RUS).
In Zurich tomorrow every event will reflect the electrifying atmosphere which, commencing in exactly ten days from today will be felt in Seville throughout the 7th IAAF World Championships in Athletics.
Maurice Greene, 100m world record holder, will be lining up at that same distance against Ato Boldon (TR), Bruny Surin (CAN) and Obadele Thompson (BAR). At the slightly longer distance of 200m, Frankie Fredericks will be looking to repeat his world title triumph in Stuttgart '93, racing against Ato Boldon, Francis Obikwelu (NGR) and once again the young talent from Barbados, Obadele Thompson, who has achieved 20.09 this year.
As well as in the sprints something extraordinary may occur in the middle distances, with Hicham El Guerrouj (MAR) pitched against emerging phenomenon Noah Ngeny (KEN) at 1500m. The last time this pair met – in Rome on 7 July – the mile record was broken. Maybe this time it will be turn of the 1500m? The possibilities are many, and the entry list for this race reads like the final line up for any World Championship competition with Noureddine Morceli (ALG) and the Spanish trio of Fermin Cacho, Andres Dias and Rey Esteves.
Haile Gebrselassie (ETH) and Salah Hissou (MAR) will be reunited over 5000m, with Benjamin Limo (KEN) another serious contender in a race that may be even more tactical than that for establishing a world record.
No tactics however in the long jump. One of Spain’s greatest hopes for a medal in Seville, Yago Lamela will confront Ivan Pedroso (CUB) and James Beckford (JAM). If he is victorious against such strong opposition his chances of obtaining a world title later this month should know no boundaries.
Thus a very special day tomorrow for world-wide athletics where we cannot ignore the influence of the stars. Will they be as impressed with our heroes who, for the first time in the history of our sport, will challenge each other on the day of a total eclipse of the sun? Will the sky will reveal her mysterious and intriguing influence on man’s accomplishments?
