http://www.atletikadubnica.sk/AM/AM_index_en.htm18 medalists including five individual winners, Robles vs. RichardsonDUBNICA: The biggest one day meet in Slovakia, the 9th Athletics Bridge in Dubnica will offer a superb fields for September 15th. In total 18 medalists from Daegu will compete with the addition that hammer world champion Koji Murofushi will be a guest of honour there. In the list four individual winners (Williams, Adams, Richardson, Lysenko, Kemboi) added by four gold medalists in relays (Frater, Merritt, Torrance, Nixon). Special highlights mens hurdles with Robles-Richardson revenge, men´s 100 m with five sub 10 sprinters and both hammer throw competitions. In every one of 13 events a meeting record attack is possible.
9th Athletics Bridge, Dubnica nad Vahom, EA Classic meeting, top athletics one day meet in Slovakia
EVENT BY EVENT PREVIEW
MEN
100 m: First ever sub 10 in Slovakia? Relay world record holder and world champion Michael Frater, Indoor world and European champion Dwain Chambers, Beijing medalist and 9.85 this year Richard Thompson and Daegu hero and twice bronze medalist Kim Collins of St. Kitts. In total four sprinters with sub 10 bests.
400 m: 2008 olympic winner and 2009 world champion LaShawn Merritt is back and after silver in Daegu and gold in relay he goes to smash the meet record 45.86. Also running other two Daegu relay gold medalist Jamaal Torrance and Greg Nixon against 2009 world medalist Renny Quow of Trinidad.
Steeple: Ever fast Paul Kipsiele Koech, the fresh Diamond Race winner is going to break the meet record by a big margin, his aim is to run under 8:10. But meet record holder and double world champion Ezekiel Kemboi will be also there. Their Zurich duel will be repeated. Interesting to watch Conseslas Kipruto, the new young star from Kenya who won the World U17 gold medal in July in France. It will be his debut in a fast senior race.
110m H: The top highlight. World record holder and olympic winner Dayron Robles runs against two hurdlers who were on the podium in Daegu which he missed after beeing disqualified. Gold medalist Jason Richardson and bronze winner Andy Turner of UK.
High Jump: World Champion Jesse Williams with bronze medalist Trevor Barry competing with World indoor champion Ivan Ukhov of Russia. Organizers are hoping they will be able to attack the meet record of 232 set by Stefan Holm in 2008.
Hammer Throw: World champion Koji Murofushi will be in the stands as honorary guest. But 2nd, 3rd and 4th will fight on the ground - Krisztian Pars with Primoz Kozmus and Markus Esser. Pars will be at the meeting for 8th time in a row, that means he missed only the first edition in 2003. In summary he won three times, has two second places and one third and one fourth.
WOMEN
100 m: Will the female runners still have the shape to attack the meet record of 11.25 ? Contenders fastest current European and Daegu only European finalist Ivet Lalova against Jamaican relay silver winner Sherone Simpson and Ukrainian European indoor champion and Daegu bronze relay winner Olesya Povkh. Solid shape is also expected from 2009 relay world champion Aileen Bailey and another Jamaican Schillonie Calvert who was fast recently in Rieti. In special race two legends of athletics will run, the ever young Merlene Ottey against French Christine Arron.
200 m: Lalova, Simpson, Povkh, Bailey all back for second clash of the day.
800 m: Russian World finalist from Daegu Yulia Rusanova against the clock, here many last minute withdrawals. Still the hope to break meet record of 2:01.41 exists.
Pole Vault: Two Daegu finalists Czech Jirina Ptacnikova and Cuban Yarisley Silva with two high quality Russians Aleksandra Kiryashova and Tatyana Polnova should be the guarantee that the meet record 447 will go.
Long Jump: World silver winner Olga Kucherenko of Russia is the favorite, but seven metres jumper Olga Zaytseva who needs to show something after she failed to qualify in Daegu to the finals is also in top shape after winning in Rieti.
Shot Put: World Champion Valerie Adams will attack her own meet record from last year 20.37 m.
Hammer Throw: Another revenge after Daegu world champion Tatyana Lysenko vs. world record holder and silver medalist Betty Heidler of Germany. Also in the field fourth placer from Korea and former world champion Yipsi Moreno of Cuba.
