Kajsa Bergqvist celebrates her 2.01m victory in Gävle (© Hasse Sjögren)
Zagreb, CroatiaCompelling field event matchups, several World and Olympic medallists along with some key individual stars are the highlights as the IAAF Grand Prix season continues at the 55th annual Hanzekovic Memorial on Monday evening (11 July) at the Sportspark Mladost in Croatia's capital.
Kirkland racing off the back of Golden League win
Named to honour Croatian inter-war hurdler Boris Hanžekoviæ, the hurdles fields are usually the key attractions at this nation's finest international athletics meeting, and this year's edition will be no different.
The women's 100m hurdles field is particularly strong, led by American Anjanette Kirkland, the surprise winner of Friday night's Golden Gala in Rome with a season's best 12.57. Americans Lolo Jones and Danielle Carruthers, and Jamaicans Vonette Dixon and Delloreen Ennis-London fill out the field.
The men's event was hurt with the withdrawal of quadruple world champion Allen Johnson, who pulled out of his last two meetings - Lausanne and Rome - with a slight calf strain. But Athens finalist Maurice Wignall of Jamaica, South American record holder Redelen dos Santos of Brazil, and Anselmo da Silva, another Brazilian prospect, should make for a compelling contest.
Czech Jiri Muzik, American Joey Woody and Jamaicans Kemel Thompson and Ian Weakly are the key names in the men's 400m Hurdles.
Collins on the rebound?
The men's 100 features reigning World champion Kim Collins (SKN), hoping to rebound from disappointing eighth place finish in Rome on Friday night. Collins arrives in the Croatian capital with a modest 10.25 season's best, but does have a wind-assisted 10.02 to his credit from Eugene. Americans Coby Miller, Monzavious Edwards and Bernard Williams are also slated to start, along with Jamaican Patrick Jarrett, and Slovenia's double sprint winner from the Mediterranean Games, Matic Osovnikar. The women's shorts dashes are led by Jamiacan Aileen Bailey in the 100 and Americans Stephanie Durst and Crystal Cox in the 200.
Ceplak heads middle distance line-up
Jolanda Ceplak leads the field in the 1000 meters. The Slovenian Olympic bronze medallist in the 800 is hoping to find her race rhythm after a nagging achilles injury slowed her in Lausanne and sidelined her from the Golden Gala 800. Ukraine's Nelya Neporadna and American Jen Toomey, after PB 4:06.24 in Rome, will be prime contenders, while Anne Shadle, this year's NCAA indoor/outdoor mile and 1500 champion, makes her first professional start.
The women's 1500 looks to be a tactical affair, with Ethiopians Birhane Hirpassa and Yimenashu Taye leading the chase. But with several entrants still chasing Helsinki qualifiers, including U.S. runner-up Amy Mortimer, organizers are promising a fast pace.
The men's 3000 features the host's strongest middle distance star, Brank Zorko, tussling with a slew of kenyans, including Justus Kiprono, Hillary Chenonge and David Kiplak, Moroccan Mohammed Amyn, and Abiyote Abate of Ethiopia.
Local attention will be drawn to the men's shot put, where national record holder Edis Elkasevic is the class of the field. The 22-year-old student at Auburn University extended Croatia's national record three times already this year, most recently with his 20.88 effort to win the NCAA title on 10-June and again to 20.94 with his win in Velenje. In his last outing, he captured the Mediterranean Games title. Slovak Mikuláš Konopka and Slovenia's Miran Vodovnik, with season's bests of 20.61 and 20.30 respectively, should provide the strongest challenge.
Phillips vs Moffit vs Beckford
The men's Long Jump features Athens Olympic gold and silver medallists Dwight Phillips and John Moffit. Phillips, also the reigning World champion, reached a season's best 8.39 with his winning effort at Rome's Golden Gala on Friday night. Jamaican James Beckford, the reigning world silver medallist, will compete for the first time since winning his national title last month.
Bergqvist consistent over 2 metres
While national hero Blanka Vlasic is sidelined with knee problems, the women's high jump nonetheless figures prominently on the programme. Kajsa Bergqvist, who has returned to competition this spring after an injury with three two metre efforts, leads the field here. Veteran competitors Venelina Veneva of Bulgaria and Vita Palamar of Ukraine are in the line-up as well.
Moreno to contend with local heroine
As in previous recent editions, the women's Hammer Throw provides a star-studded affair for Croatian talent Ivana Brkljacic. The 22-year-old extended her national record to 71 meters even with her win at the European Throwing Cup in March. Here she'll face Olympic silver medallist and reigning World Champion Yipsi Moreno of Cuba, who'll contest her fourth competition of the year, as well as Manuela Montebrun of France. The 25-year-old Montebrun has won four of her five competitions his year, including her last in Padova, with a season's best 73.20.
Another sell-out crowd is expected, but the weather forecast, calling for thunderstorms and temperatures in the upper teens celsius, may dampen the performances.
Bob Ramsak for the IAAF