|
The the long winter chill has yet to fall on Eastern Europe, and organizers of Ostrava's Golden Spike are already filling in their start list slots for their 46th edition on June 27, 2007.
Michelle Perry, the reigning world champion in the 100m hurdles, is the first athlete committed to the meet, the premiere annual athletics gathering in eastern Europe. Despite being denied a spot on the U.S. World Cup team after finishing third at the U.S. Championships in last June, Perry bounced back with a vengeance later in the summer, winning 10 of her 11 subsequent races, including Golden League victories in Zurich and Brussels. In Lausanne in early July, she produced a world-leading 12.43 performance, equalling her personal best from 2005.
Next year's later date --the meet has been held in late spring for the last dozen years-- could provide better weather conditions, and Perry said she was looking forward to the prospect.
"I've set standards extremely high for 2007," said Perry, a former heptathlete who didn't turn to the hurdles full-time until 2005. "I look forward to a golden season. I expect to run well in Ostrava. Provided with good conditions, the meet record is definitely a possibility." The current meet record of 12.65 was set by Jamaican Brigitte Foster in 2003.
Later in the summer, the eastern Czech city will play host to the IAAF World Youth Championships.
|
Know someone else who's interested in running and triathlon?
