Kratochvilova and Ceplak (background) at Ostrava press conference (© Courtesy of Photos, Golden Spike Meet Ostrava.)
Ostrava, Czech RepublicIt is a rare occasion indeed to find sitting at one table the outdoor and indoor world record holder for the women's 800m. Jarmila Kratochvilova from the Czech Republic (1:53.28 in 1983) and Jolanda Ceplak of Slovenia (1:55.83 indoors in 2002), were the guests today at a press conference to promote the IAAF Super Grand Prix Meeting of Ostrava to be held on 12 June 2003.
Kratochvilova, who took an impressive 400m (world record, 47.99) and 800m double at the inaugural World Championships in 1983, was keen to find out what Ceplak’s own 400m potential might be.
“Not better than 52 seconds," answered the Slovenian.
"Yes, we are different types of 800m runners, I came up from 400m with a time of under 48 seconds and she is coming down from 1500m," said Kratochilova, who admitted, "yes, it is nice to see on the screen or in the papers that my name is still there after 20 years.”
“But I think the time is right to break the record. I wish all the runners success in attacking the time. I think Jolanda could be one of them. I would not be sorry, the only thing is that I want to be part of it, on the stands or even down on the track," said Kratochilova, who is now the successful coach to Ludmila Formanova, the 1999 World Indoor and Outdoor Champion.
Kratochvilova´s average ten best races (1:55.988) is still far better then Ceplak´s (1:57.486), but the Slovenian runner should have many more years of racing to come.
Ceplak made her way to Ostrava from Vienna, Austria, where is she presently training on her favourite track.
"Yes, I want to be successful during the indoor season. I have in my plan at this moment three races before the World Indoor Championships. They should be in Glasgow, Birmingham and Karlsruhe.”
”At the world indoors I will do my best to achieve the best possible result. I know it will not be easy, as my rival Maria Mutola is also heading towards the championships. As it looks now, the only competition where we will meet indoors will be the championships. I was able to beat her last indoor season in Gent and I like running indoors, so who knows. But definitely I want a medal from there.”
“This is my priority, medals not records. Of course, I must admit I would be happy also with the record. It looks so easy, to run two 57 second laps and one second faster, and we have it. I never saw Jarmila´s record but I studied the splits. It is not impossible. I’m training very hard, maybe not as hard as Jarmila, but I think it is nearly like men's training."
Ceplak will have her first outdoor competition of the 2003 summer season in Ostrava with the aim of achieving a fast time. "It is always very important to start the season with a good time. I’m looking forward to Ostrava as I competed here once in 1995 as a junior," she said.
About the future she admitted that for 2003 the 800m is the absolute priority, "but I want to have one fast 1500m race to better my personal record and go close to 4 minutes.”
However, at the 2004 Olympics she might think about the 800/1500 double. "I always said that Svetlana Masterkova, because of her Atlanta double was my favourite athlete," confirmed Ceplak.
The organisers in Ostrava are hoping that she will be able to break the meeting record, which has been held by Milena Strnadova (TCH) 1:57.92 since 1986. Ceplak will even bring her own “rabbit” - Lwiza John from Tanzania - who is also a training partner.
Even now when covered by snow, the rebuilding of the Ostrava Vitkovice stadium - new track, and stands for media and VIP - continues in preparation for next year’s IAAF Super Grand Prix meet
As well as Ceplak’s appearance, last November it was also announced that Morocco’s Hicham El Guerrouj, the 2002 IAF Athlete of the Year, will contest his first ever senior 5000m at the meeting.
Alfons Juck for the IAAF