Courtesy IAAF,
Regards,
WK

IAAF Golden League moves to Stade de France this Friday
Szabo plans revenge over Russians in front of 50,000 track fans

4 July 2001

50,000 spectators are expected at the magnificent Stade de France, in
the St Denis region of Paris, for the second stage of the IAAF Golden
League on Friday.

Many of the best athletes in the world are aiming to earn a share of the
IAAF Golden League Jackpot (50kg of gold) on offer to those who can win
at five out of the seven meetings. Among the Rome winners who will be
back in action in Paris are Maurice Greene and Marion Jones in the 100m,
Morocco’s Hicham El Guerroui in the 100m, and Hailu Mekonnen (ETH) who
takes on his countryman Million Wolde and the Kenyans Richard and
Benjamin Limo in the 5000m.

In the 110m hurdles and long jump, two Cuban Olympic champion make their
first appearance in the Golden League, Anier Garcia and Ivan Pedroso.

But above all, the 50,000 spectators will be cheering on their national
heroes: Mehdi Baala in the 1500m, Jean Galfione and Romain Mesnil in the
pole vault, Christine Arron in the 100m, Linda Fergat in the 100m
hurdles and above all, 1997 World Champion Stephan Diagana in the 400m
hurdles. The European record holder will be hoping to recover his form
after a long
period of misfortune, and his test in Paris, against the Olympic
champion Angelo Taylor, will be particularly demanding.

In the women’s 1500m, Violeta Beclea-Szekely (ROM) and Suzy Favor
Hamilton (USA) will start as favourites with Natalya Goralova and 1997
world champion Carla Sacramento (POR) also in contention.

Another highlight will be the women’s 3000m where the brilliant Romanian
Gabriela Szabo, will be looking to gain revenge after being soundly
beaten in Rome by Olga Yegorova and the rising star Yelena Zadoroznhaya,
who could be a dark horse for gold at the World Championships in
Edmonton.

ENDS