USATF Preview: Ostrava GP
Posted Thursday, 12 June, 2008
The IAAF World Athletics Tour will resume on Thursday in Ostrava, Czech Republic with the Golden Spike Grand Prix. Athletes to watch include Jeremy Wariner, Lolo Jones, Candice Davis, Terrence Trammell, David Payne, Michael Rodgers and John Capel. Jamaican Usain Bolt, who set the world record in the 100m at the Reebok Grand Prix on May 31,will also be in attendance.
Two-time World Outdoor champion Jeremy Wariner, who holds an Olympic gold medal in the 400m, will be competing for the first time in the 300m. In his last race before the U.S. Olympic Team Trials - Track and Field, Wariner will be chasing Michael Johnson's World best of 30.85.
A two-time Olympic silver medalist, Trammell will compete in his specialty, the 110m hurdles, and the 100m. Trammell is fresh off a win in the 110m hurdles at the Reebok Grand Prix with a time of 13.11, his best of the season. Trammell will be racing alongside 2007 World Outdoor Bronze medalist David Payne, who was fourth at the Reebok Grand Prix in a season's best of 13.38.
In the 100m, Trammell will face 2008 U.S. Indoor champion Michael Rodgers and 2003 World Outdoor 200m champion John Capel in the 100m. Rodgers snagged a second place finish at the California Invitational Relays in May with a time of 10.06. Capel will be doubling in the 100m and 200m, running against Bolt in the 200m. This will be Bolt's first appearance in the 200m this season.
Reigning World Indoor Champion Lolo Jones will be racing alongside 2008 World Indoor silver medalist Candice Davis in the women's 100m hurdles. Jones currently has the second-fastest American time in the 100m hurdles for this season with her time of 12.57 from the Berlin Grand Prix on June 1. Davis is not far behind with a season best of 12.71, which she ran at the adidas Track Classic on May 18.
Fans can watch the meet on www.wcsn.com beginning at 1:00 p.m. ET on Thursday, June 11. For more information and complete results, visit www.IAAF.org.