The IAAF
Grand Prix Final takes a bow
IAAF
11 September
2002 - Monte Carlo – The 18th IAAF Grand Prix Final, which takes
place at the Stade Charlety in Paris, on Saturday, marks a very special moment
in the history of the IAAF World Athletics Series, created over a decade ago.
As of next
year, the IAAF Grand Prix Final will be re-named as the IAAF World Athletics
Final with a complete programme of individual events. This transformation was
agreed by the IAAF Council in order to give athletes the chance to compete in
the Grand Prix circuit every year and not every other year, as it has been the
case up until now, and also to create a fitting climax to each season. As of
next year, an athlete’s position in the IAAF World Rankings, not the IAAF Grand
Prix standings, will determine entry to the World Athletics Final.
But before
undergoing such a major revolution, the IAAF Grand Prix Final will maintain its
original format for this year’s edition. A total of 18 disciplines will be held
in just over three hours, with a maximum of $2,456,000 available in Prize Money.
The IAAF
Grand Prix Final will make its return to Europe after two successful editions
held in Doha 2000 and Melbourne 2001. The 2002 edition will also mark a return
to the Stade Charlety, in the South of Paris, where the 10th edition
of this event was held back in 1994.
That edition
saw the crowning of two legends of our sport, 1500m runner Nouredine Morceli (ALG)
and Jackie Joyner-Kersee (USA) as Overall Champions. Morceli was awarded
$100.000 prize money after tallying 78 points, well ahead of Samuel Matete (ZAM)
and Mike Conley (USA). It wasn’t as easy for ‘JJK’, who ended her season with 72
points, which was the same total as Svetlana Dimitrova (BUL) and Sonia
O’Sullivan (IRL). But JJK long jumped 7.21m on that day, which was worth more
points (1235) than her rivals and so she became the first heptathlete to win the
Overall Grand Prix.
Of all the
names mentioned above, only Sonia O’Sullivan is still competing as an athlete
and while the Irish star will not be in Paris this weekend, a few other athletes
who have equally conquered this test of time will step out into the Stade
Charlety again, a testament to the longevity of all their careers.
In Paris in
1994, Jonathan Edwards, who was 28 at the time, finished 8th in the
men’s Triple Jump final. He is more than likely to do better this time despite a
poor showing recently in Brussels. Stéphane Diagana who finished 3rd
at the 400m hurdles in 1994, will represent the best chances for the French
hosts to step on the podium this year – although France’s European 200m Champion
Muriel Hurtis who was not a member of the ‘class of 94’, will also have hopes in
the 100m.
Jon Drummond
(3rd in the 100m in 1994) and Igor Astapovich (2nd in the
Hammer Throw in 1994) will also return to the French track.
Among the
women, Zhanna Pintusevich – then in 1994 still running under her maiden name
Tarnopolskaya - finished fifth in the 100m in 11.16, a time she should easily
better next Saturday. While, in the Discus Throw, Belarus’ Ellina Zvereva will
try and do better than her third place finish 8 years ago.
With even
more to prove are Regina Jacobs (USA) and Tatyana Shikolenko (BLR), who in 1994
finished last in the 1500m and the Javelin Throw respectively, and will no doubt
be aiming to set the record straight in Paris less than a year before the IAAF
World Championships take place in the French capital.
