Cathy Freeman after winning the 400m at the 1997 IAAF World Championships (© Getty Images)
With the Northern Hemisphere still in the grips of winter (mild though it has been in most of Europe this year), and most of us thinking about the remainder of this year's cross country and indoor athletics season, Melbourne is already under starter's orders for the inaugural meeting of this year's IAAF Grand Prix circuit.
Although it bears the garb of a Grand Prix II meeting, Melbourne will, nonetheless attract a panoply of the great athletes who filled last year's season with so many thrilling moments.
Whilst most of the local spectators will be rooting for Australia's sweetheart, Aboriginal 400m world champion Cathy Freeman, the crowd will have their money's worth with the organisers announcing the presence of four individual world record holders: Maurice Greene (USA) - 60m indoors, Donovan Bailey (CAN) - 100m , Daniel Komen (KEN) -3,000 and 5,000 outdoors and indoors, Emma George (AUS) - pole vault and a number of Olympic and world champions, including Americans Marion Jones, Allen Johnson and Charles Austin.
Cathy will be running in the 400m in Melbourne tomorrow and will be trying her chances in the Sydney permit meeting on Saturday, where she will be competing against her compatriot Melinda Gainsford-Taylor and Marion Jones in the 200m!
Full results of the Melbourne Grand Prix will be published on the IAAF web site on Wednesday 25 February.
