Michelle Perry of the US celebrates winning gold in the 110m Hurdles (© Getty Images)
When the gun sounds for the start of the women's 100m Hurdles at Oslo’s Exxon Mobil Bislett Games on Friday, 2 June, the top nine hurdlers in the world will set off on their quest for a slice of the $1 million IAAF Golden League Jackpot.
Michelle Perry, the reigning world champion and ranked No. 1 in the IAAF World Rankings, heads the list. The 27-year-old American, who made a spectacularly successful switch to the sprint hurdles from the Heptathlon in Helsinki last year, clocked a notable, if slightly wind-aided 12.61 (w +2.3) to win at the adidas Track Classic in Carson, California, in her season's debut last weekend.
In Oslo, she'll face Jamaicans Brigitte Foster-Hylton and Delloreen Ennis-London, respectively ranked No. 2 and 3 in the world. Ennis-London edged her compatriot for silver in Helsinki last summer by the narrowest of margins, with each stopping the clock at 12.76. Foster-Hylton returned the favor in March at the Commonwealth Games where she struck gold while Ennis-London had to settle for bronze. Foster-Hylton has a 12.65 to her credit this year, while Ennis-London clocked 12.74 to win in Doha earlier this month.
The field also includes Germany's Kirsten Bolm who produced a stellar campaign in 2005, capped by a near-PB 12.59 in London and a fourth place finish in Helsinki, while Olympic champion Joanna Hayes will be looking to bounce back from her Helsinki disqualification. Swede Susanna Kallur, ranked No. 5 in the world, will also start, along with a pair of recent World champions: 2003 winner Perdita Felicien of Canada and American Anjanette Kirkland, the winner in Edmonton in 2001.
This year there are eleven designated IAAF Golden League Jackpot events, and athletes who win at any five of the six meetings will share a purse of $500,000, while an additional $500,000 is on offer to be shared by athletes who succeed in winning their event a sixth time.
Click on the title below for the original Jackpot announcement:
New Jackpot, New Opportunities – IAAF Golden League
2006 IAAF Golden League Events:
Men: 100m, 400m, 1500m, 3000/5000m, Long Jump, Javelin Throw
Women: 100m, 400m, 3000/5000m, 100m Hurdles, High Jump
IAAF Golden League - Dates and venues in 2006:
Friday 2 June, OSLO, NOR
Saturday 8 July, PARIS, FRA
Friday 14 July, ROME, ITA
Friday 18 August, ZURICH, SUI
Friday 25 August, BRUSSELS, BEL
Sunday 3 September, BERLIN, GER
Bob Ramsak for the IAAF
