Caribbean world champions set for IAAF World Finals

Tonique Williams-Darling from the Bahamas celebrates
with her national flag after she won the women's 400
meters in 49.55 during the 10th IAAF World 
Championships at Olympic Stadium in Helsinki, Finland
on Wednesday, August 10, 2005. (Photo by Mark Love/
Youngs Photoreflect Images)

by Gary Smith
Caribbean Net News Correspondent

Friday, September 9, 2005

MONACO, France: Four Caribbean world champions are set to compete at the 3rd IAAF World Athletics Final, a two day meeting in Monaco, France, which starts Friday. 

The four regional champions down to compete this weekend are Trecia Smith from Jamaica in the women’s Triple Jump, Cuba’s Osleidys Menendez, the record holder in the women’s Javelin, Zulia Calatayud in the 800m as well as Bahamian Tonique Williams-Darling in the women’s 400. 

Smith and Lebedeva got at it again

Fresh from her one million dollar jackpot prize last weekend, Russia’s Tatyana Lebedeva will resume her triple jump rivalry with Smith, who missed the 2005 at 'ISTAF Berlin meeting in Germany due to an injury.

Both athletes shares the best performances the season with 15.11m and if Smith is 100-percent and Lebedeva is still hungry, it will be one of the top events at the meeting. Cuba’s world medallist Yargelis Savigne and former Cuban jumper Yamilé Aldama are also slated to compete.

Richards vs. Williams-Darling in women’s 400m

World and Olympic champion Tonique Williams-Darling and Jamaican-born American sprinter Sanya Richards are set to continue their battles when they come face-to-face in the women’s 400m.

The two has been dominating the event since the beginning of the season and the IAAF top list has proven it. Out of the 19 sub-50 seconds times ran this season, the two have 14 of the top times and completely dominate the top ten list of performances.

Richards hold the fastest time this season with 48.92, but failed the capture the world title, as Williams-Darling showed her experience in taking the event in 49.55.

Calatayud and Menendez go for more glory

Cuba’s Zulia Calatayud has timed her peak well this season and her victory in the women’s 800m in Helsinki came as a surprise to many.

The Cuban will have to hold off the challenges of world leader Tatyana Andrianova of Russia, Morocco’s Hasna Benhassi and Mayte Martinez of Spain if she is to win the race again.

Osleidys Menendez is the firm favourite to win the women’s javelin, following her performances leading up to the World Finals.

Apart from the world champions, the Caribbean will also be represented by World Championships 100-metres silver medalist Michael Frater of Jamaica, countryman Dwight Thomas, Olympic double gold medallist Veronica Campbell and Bahamas’ Chandra Sturrup, the world leader in the women’s 100m.

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