Athletissima 2009 Super Grand Prix at Lausanne today!
#1
Ryan From Flotrack
July 7 at 10:36am
Hey everyone. I am just sitting in the media room at the meet hotel about to throw a video up. Just wanted to let you know about the meet today cause it looks like it will be awesome! A lot of great match up along with the most exciting athlete in the world....Usain Bolt. Check some of these out....
(More can be read in the IAAF write up - http://www.iaaf.org/GP09/news/kind=100/newsid=51558.html)
Men's 100
Asafa Powell, coming off a win in Oslo, is looking for a better start out of the blocks this time. He'll need it as he'll face one of the best in the US in Michael Rodgers. Its Mike's first race since the trials and you got to think he's itching to get after it. Don't sleep on Travis Padgett though (legal PR 9.89). He finished fourth at USAs for the second year in a row so he'll have something to prove.
Men's 200
Featuring the greatest sprinter of all time, Usain Bolt. Bolt makes his first appearance since the Jamaican trials, but won't have an easy race as Shawn Crawford is coming off a wind-aided 19.73 at USAs. Either way, the track should be on fire for this one! Also watch the world's best 400 meter runner, LaShawn Merritt, as he drops down to the deuce.
Men's 800
Start list shows Bernard Lagat on the list. Lagat had a free pass to World's in the 1500 & 5k and only chose to run one round of the 800 at USAs (1:48). Canada's Gary Reed will be in the race and looking to run fast. Tops in this field will be Mohammed Al Salhi of Saudi Arabia who has a season best of 1:43.66. Rabbit will be going through the quarter in 49.50.
Men's 1500
The pace will be no joke today as rabbits are scheduled to go through at 55, 1:52, 2:20 (1k), 2:49 (1200). Familiar names here are Nate Brannen (running 3:53 mile in Oslo), Alistair Cragg (3:38 Oslo), and Robb Myers. Myers, who people had high hopes for the US team, failed to make the 1500 final at USAs and will be looking to rebound. Tops in this field is #4 ranked in the world Belal Mansoor Ali who has run 3:33.12 this season. If anyone can hang on to the pace then we may see a new world leader.
Men's 3k
The top three times in the world this year have come from three Kenyans - Eliud Kipchoge (7:28), Thomas Pkemei Longosiwa (7:30), and Edwin Cheruiyot Soi (7:31). All three will be there today. Pace is set to go 2:30 through the first K and staying at 60s up to 2k (5:00). Should be a battle with one to go.
Men's 110 Hurdles
We'll see the Cuban Olympic Champ Dayron Robles at it as he'll look to lower his season's best of 13.04. He'll be facing a strong group of Americans lead by Berlin team members David Payne (13.12) and Aries Merritt (13.15). Dexter Faulk from the US who ran 13.13 earlier this season, is looking to bounce back after only running 13.80 in Oslo.
Men's 400 Hurdles
Kerron Clement dodged a sharp Bershawn Jackson at the US Champs as he had a free pass to World's, but not today. The two will go at it and they will be joined by #2 ranked Isa Phillips (48.03) of Jamaica.
Men's Field Events
LJ - World Leader Dwight Phillips (USA) who jump over 28 feet into a headwind will headline the event. Dwight has three of the top five jumps in the world this year.
PV - Six of the top seven vaulters in 2009 are scheduled to compete. The big name in this one is Olympic Record Holder and Gold Medalist Steve Hooker of Australia. He doesn't come in ranked #1 however. He'll have to get through France's Renaud Lavillenie who has a season best of 6.01 meters.
HJ - Jesse Williams (USA) comes in as the #2 ranked jumper (2.34) in the world but failed to make the World team after a dissappointing 4th place finish at USAs. He'll be looking to show his talent but Ivan Ukhov of Russia has also jumped 2.34 this season. They will be joined by seven others who have jumped between 2.30-2.33.
Women's 100
Three of the top five sprinters in the world will go at it! Shelly-Ann Fraser (JAM), Carmelita Jeter (USA), and Alexandria Anderson (USA, NCAA Champ) have all run 10.88 to 11.02 respectively. However, the Olympic Gold Medalist Fraser ran her 10.88 into a -1.7m/s headwind.
Women's 200
Another race that will not disappoint. Allyson Felix, Bianca Knight and Muna Lee for the USA. Kerron Stewart and Shericka Williams of Jamaica. If you want to play up the USA/Jamaican rivalry, this is the meet to do so.
Women's 800
#3 ranked Yulyia Krevsun (UKR, 1:58.62 SB) will face off with #7 Ekaterina Kostetskaya (RSA, 1:59.43 SB) as the only two in the field running under 2:00 in 2009. US Champ Hazel Clark will look to break 2 for the first time this season as the pace is set to go in 57.00 through 400 meters.
Women's 1500
Just as in the men's race, if the women can hang with the pace we'll see the fastest time of 2009. (Scheduled splits - 62.50, 2:06.00, 3:09.00) World #1 and Pre Champ Gelete Burka (3:58 SB) will headline the field. #5 Christin Wurth-Thomas (USA) is having the best season of her career and wants to continue the trend by breaking 4:00. Hannah England of Great Britain and the 2008 NCAA Champ, has been running well this season running PRs of 4:05 and 1:59. Look for her to pop a good one. Watch for Yusuf Jamal (BRN) who has a PR of 3:56 but has yet to run the 1500 so far this year, she's run 1:59 for 800. For NCAA stud, Sally Kipyego will also be in the race along with Canadians Malindi Elmore and Hikary Stellingwerff.
Women's 100 Hurdles
Olympic and US Champ Dawn Harper will be running her first race since USAs. She'll be greeted by Olympic Bronze Medalist and current #1 Priscilla Lopes (CAN) who's run 12.52 so far this year. Lolo Jones, still coming of from set backs earlier in the year is scheduled to run. Danielle Carruthers (USA), Sally McLellan (AUS), Michelle Perry (USA), and Brigitte Foster-Hylton (JAM) who are all currently top ten in the world are schedule to run. Should be one of the most competitive hurdle races of the year.
Women's 400 Hurldes
Its USA vs Jamaica once again as #1 ranked Lashinda Demus (53.78 SB) and #3 Melanie Walker (54.70 SB) will go at it. Tiffany Ross-Williams (USA) will also be racing and has the ability to take down both. Anastasiya Rabchenyuk (UKR) who has run 54.74 this season will also be there.
Women's Field Events
TJ - Cuba's Yargelis Savigne has the top 5 furthest jumps of the year with a best of 14.97. Yamilé Aldama (SUD, 14.48) and Dana Veldáková (14.43) will be her biggest challenges.
JAV - World Ranked #1 and #2 will go head to head. Christina Obergföll of Germany (68.59) and Barbora Špotáková (CZE, 68.23).
Check out the Flotrack Coverage here - http://www.flotrack.org/videos/coverage/view/235252-athletissima-2009-lausanne
Watch it LIVE on Universal Sports at 1:50pm EST - http://www.universalsports.com/mediaPlayer/media.dbml?id=151577&catid;=-2&sid=13055&db_oem_id=23000
(More can be read in the IAAF write up - http://www.iaaf.org/GP09/news/kind=100/newsid=51558.html)
Men's 100
Asafa Powell, coming off a win in Oslo, is looking for a better start out of the blocks this time. He'll need it as he'll face one of the best in the US in Michael Rodgers. Its Mike's first race since the trials and you got to think he's itching to get after it. Don't sleep on Travis Padgett though (legal PR 9.89). He finished fourth at USAs for the second year in a row so he'll have something to prove.
Men's 200
Featuring the greatest sprinter of all time, Usain Bolt. Bolt makes his first appearance since the Jamaican trials, but won't have an easy race as Shawn Crawford is coming off a wind-aided 19.73 at USAs. Either way, the track should be on fire for this one! Also watch the world's best 400 meter runner, LaShawn Merritt, as he drops down to the deuce.
Men's 800
Start list shows Bernard Lagat on the list. Lagat had a free pass to World's in the 1500 & 5k and only chose to run one round of the 800 at USAs (1:48). Canada's Gary Reed will be in the race and looking to run fast. Tops in this field will be Mohammed Al Salhi of Saudi Arabia who has a season best of 1:43.66. Rabbit will be going through the quarter in 49.50.
Men's 1500
The pace will be no joke today as rabbits are scheduled to go through at 55, 1:52, 2:20 (1k), 2:49 (1200). Familiar names here are Nate Brannen (running 3:53 mile in Oslo), Alistair Cragg (3:38 Oslo), and Robb Myers. Myers, who people had high hopes for the US team, failed to make the 1500 final at USAs and will be looking to rebound. Tops in this field is #4 ranked in the world Belal Mansoor Ali who has run 3:33.12 this season. If anyone can hang on to the pace then we may see a new world leader.
Men's 3k
The top three times in the world this year have come from three Kenyans - Eliud Kipchoge (7:28), Thomas Pkemei Longosiwa (7:30), and Edwin Cheruiyot Soi (7:31). All three will be there today. Pace is set to go 2:30 through the first K and staying at 60s up to 2k (5:00). Should be a battle with one to go.
Men's 110 Hurdles
We'll see the Cuban Olympic Champ Dayron Robles at it as he'll look to lower his season's best of 13.04. He'll be facing a strong group of Americans lead by Berlin team members David Payne (13.12) and Aries Merritt (13.15). Dexter Faulk from the US who ran 13.13 earlier this season, is looking to bounce back after only running 13.80 in Oslo.
Men's 400 Hurdles
Kerron Clement dodged a sharp Bershawn Jackson at the US Champs as he had a free pass to World's, but not today. The two will go at it and they will be joined by #2 ranked Isa Phillips (48.03) of Jamaica.
Men's Field Events
LJ - World Leader Dwight Phillips (USA) who jump over 28 feet into a headwind will headline the event. Dwight has three of the top five jumps in the world this year.
PV - Six of the top seven vaulters in 2009 are scheduled to compete. The big name in this one is Olympic Record Holder and Gold Medalist Steve Hooker of Australia. He doesn't come in ranked #1 however. He'll have to get through France's Renaud Lavillenie who has a season best of 6.01 meters.
HJ - Jesse Williams (USA) comes in as the #2 ranked jumper (2.34) in the world but failed to make the World team after a dissappointing 4th place finish at USAs. He'll be looking to show his talent but Ivan Ukhov of Russia has also jumped 2.34 this season. They will be joined by seven others who have jumped between 2.30-2.33.
Women's 100
Three of the top five sprinters in the world will go at it! Shelly-Ann Fraser (JAM), Carmelita Jeter (USA), and Alexandria Anderson (USA, NCAA Champ) have all run 10.88 to 11.02 respectively. However, the Olympic Gold Medalist Fraser ran her 10.88 into a -1.7m/s headwind.
Women's 200
Another race that will not disappoint. Allyson Felix, Bianca Knight and Muna Lee for the USA. Kerron Stewart and Shericka Williams of Jamaica. If you want to play up the USA/Jamaican rivalry, this is the meet to do so.
Women's 800
#3 ranked Yulyia Krevsun (UKR, 1:58.62 SB) will face off with #7 Ekaterina Kostetskaya (RSA, 1:59.43 SB) as the only two in the field running under 2:00 in 2009. US Champ Hazel Clark will look to break 2 for the first time this season as the pace is set to go in 57.00 through 400 meters.
Women's 1500
Just as in the men's race, if the women can hang with the pace we'll see the fastest time of 2009. (Scheduled splits - 62.50, 2:06.00, 3:09.00) World #1 and Pre Champ Gelete Burka (3:58 SB) will headline the field. #5 Christin Wurth-Thomas (USA) is having the best season of her career and wants to continue the trend by breaking 4:00. Hannah England of Great Britain and the 2008 NCAA Champ, has been running well this season running PRs of 4:05 and 1:59. Look for her to pop a good one. Watch for Yusuf Jamal (BRN) who has a PR of 3:56 but has yet to run the 1500 so far this year, she's run 1:59 for 800. For NCAA stud, Sally Kipyego will also be in the race along with Canadians Malindi Elmore and Hikary Stellingwerff.
Women's 100 Hurdles
Olympic and US Champ Dawn Harper will be running her first race since USAs. She'll be greeted by Olympic Bronze Medalist and current #1 Priscilla Lopes (CAN) who's run 12.52 so far this year. Lolo Jones, still coming of from set backs earlier in the year is scheduled to run. Danielle Carruthers (USA), Sally McLellan (AUS), Michelle Perry (USA), and Brigitte Foster-Hylton (JAM) who are all currently top ten in the world are schedule to run. Should be one of the most competitive hurdle races of the year.
Women's 400 Hurldes
Its USA vs Jamaica once again as #1 ranked Lashinda Demus (53.78 SB) and #3 Melanie Walker (54.70 SB) will go at it. Tiffany Ross-Williams (USA) will also be racing and has the ability to take down both. Anastasiya Rabchenyuk (UKR) who has run 54.74 this season will also be there.
Women's Field Events
TJ - Cuba's Yargelis Savigne has the top 5 furthest jumps of the year with a best of 14.97. Yamilé Aldama (SUD, 14.48) and Dana Veldáková (14.43) will be her biggest challenges.
JAV - World Ranked #1 and #2 will go head to head. Christina Obergföll of Germany (68.59) and Barbora Špotáková (CZE, 68.23).
Check out the Flotrack Coverage here - http://www.flotrack.org/videos/coverage/view/235252-athletissima-2009-lausanne
Watch it LIVE on Universal Sports at 1:50pm EST - http://www.universalsports.com/mediaPlayer/media.dbml?id=151577&catid;=-2&sid=13055&db_oem_id=23000
reply
 #2 | Michael Carter July 7 at 6:26pm Looking through the results, kind of a dissapointing meet for team usa. I didn't see a lot of good performances that should have happened. |
