46 | August 2 - 8, 2010
Aviva London Grand Prix athletics special
Ones to watch
PROUD: Jones
Veronica Campbell-Brown, is too large to overcome in the final in Zurich, despite double the points being on offer. The two-time world bronze medallist has a personal best of 10.64, which is the fourth fastest time ever and makes her the second fastest woman outright. The Bahama’s Chandra Sturrup and Jamaica’s Sherone Simpson pose the biggest threat to putting an end to Jeter’s winning streak in London.
ASAFA POWELL JAM (100M) The reigning Commonwealth champion will be taking with him to the track in Crystal Palace the joint fastest time this season. The Jamaican speedster will be arriving in London determined to walk away with first place ahead of his long-term rival, American Tyson Gay, who took the win at the first of the UK’s Samsung Diamond League meets in Gateshead last month. Powell is still the man to beat and is seen as the main threat to 100m world record holder, Usain Bolt, after clocking the fastest time of the year of 9.82s in Rome in June, of which only Bolt has equalled this season. PHILLIPS IDOWU GBR (TRIPLE JUMP) Britain’s reigning world champion and top male athlete will be competing against a strong global field with his main competitor being the young Frenchman Teddy Tamgho, who replaced Idowu as the world indoor champion in March (Idowu was absent due to the birth of his second child) and currently holds the world-lead jump of 17.98. With an impressive performance at Gateshead last month against Cuban rival Alexis Coppello, Idowu is promising great things after winning gold at the European Championships in Barcelona.
10 things you didn’t know about Lolo Jones… AHEAD OF the Aviva London Grand Prix, we speak to American hurdler Lolo Jones on 10 things you never knew about her... but you do now. Who would play you in a movie? Oh, I get this a lot. The older Lolo or the younger Lolo? Current Lolo? That’s Rashida Jones
VIVIAN CHERUIYOT KEN (5000M) Last year’s world championship 5000m gold medallist will be taking to the track in a strong field at Crystal Palace but is still listed as the favourite to cross the line first. The Kenyan picked up silver in the 3000m at the world indoor championships in Doha this year and currently holds the fastest time in the world across the 5000m, following an outstanding performance in Paris. Cheruiyot is second place in the Samsung Diamond Race behind Ethiopian Sentayehu Ejigu and has the chance in London to decrease the gap. CARMELITA JETER USA (100M) Jeter has enjoyed a fantastic season and will arrive at the Aviva London Grand Prix as the first athlete to have won any of the Diamond Races as her margin of 11 points, over nearest rival
What makes you proud? Proud? Wow, that’s a really difficult question. I guess running a perfect race or representing my country to the best of my abilities. I try not to be too proud though, I don’t want to be arrogant. When was the last time you cried? After my last race in Ostrava when I ran 12.85 I was pretty upset. It’s athletics, that’s what I love about my job. It’s fine for people to know that I cried; I had a terrible race and felt like I got hit in the gut. But then I win, and rebounding is cool. TIRUNESH DIBABA ETH (5,000M) Ethiopia’s Dibaba currently sits in third place in the Diamond League rankings, four points behind close rival Vivian Cheruiyot of Kenya. As well as being the reigning 5,000m and 10,000m Olympic champion, Dibaba is also the 5000m world record holder. She faces tough competition from Cheruiyot in London as the Kenyan is currently on superlative form, triumphing in her most recent Diamond League race in Paris in a world lead time of 14:27.41.
What’s your favourite meal? Just to eat whatever, if I’m not on a diet. I like wings, greasy wings! What would you do if you were not a professional athlete? I’d be a sports reporter, probably. I did Eurosport last year for the World Championships and I never thought I’d like it, but I loved it. It’s actually kind of weird, I’m kind of glad I got
hurt to see that I really like sports reporting. Who’s your best friend in athletics? Chaunte Howard Do you have any superstitions? No, none. What’s your most prized possession? My Bible. How old were you when you got into athletics? Middle school, I was 12 or 13. Who’s the first person you phoned after the World Indoors? Oh, that’s a good one. My coach. He wasn’t there because he’s a college coach and I called him because in the semi-final I was cursing him out because I almost did not make the final and so I was screaming and I was a wreck. And then I called him and was screaming because I was happy. * Tickets for the Aviva London Grand Prix at the Crystal Palace August 13 and 14 are available by phone on 08000 556 056 or online at www.uka.org.uk