Rome: a dream 100 metres and exciting battles

The top stars of tomorrow’s Compeed Golden Gala in the historic Olympic Stadium talked to the International media at the Ata Hotel, the Meeting Headquarters of the meeting. 
Anna Riccardi, Meeting Director of the 32nd edition of the Italian leg of the Samsung Diamond League, informed the media on the latest news on the eve of what is expected to be another exciting edition of the major Italian meeting.
“It’s a difficult period fror Italy. The earthquake tragedy struck our country. The Fidal and the Coni Servizi are aware of the tragedy and we want to show our solidarity to all victims affected by this terrible  situation. 2012 was a difficult year because of the economic crisis but thanks to the strength made by the Organizing Committee we have assembled a very good line-up with exciting competitions not only in the 100 metres. Some head-to-head battles will be a true preview of what we expect to see at the Olympic Games in London. Rome welcomes again International athletics in a special venue like the Olympic Stadium in the fantastic backdrop of the Foro Italico Park. We are optimistic about attracting good crowd and keeping the same standard as last year when nearly 48000 spectators filled the stadium.”

Then it was time for the athletes to talk about their expectations about tomorrow and the Olympic season.

Men’s 100 metres
The 100 metres sprint will certainly grab the headlines of the evening at the Olympic Stadium with Usain Bolt, Asafa Powell, Christophe Lemaitre and Kim Collins.
Asafa Powell will run in his favourite Olympic stadium for the eighth time. “I like everything of Italy, its culture, its food and Italian people. The only thing I do’t like is that I don’t speak Italian. Training is going well without injuries. So far it has been a good season and I am definitely in good shape. I just focus on my own race and on the finish-line. Hopefully I am going to run faster than in my first race in Shanghai. I am working very hard and I am confident.”
Asked about the current level of 100 metres this season where five men dipped under 9.90, Powell said: “It’s the Olympic year, so it’s not a surprise that there are so many fast times. The Jamaican Trials will be very tough with so many sprinters able to make the Olympic team and just three spots to qualify for London.”
Kim Collins, former 100 metres world champion in Paris 2003 and world bronze medallist in Daegu in the 100 metres and the 4×100 relay, is in top shape after finishing second last week in Ostrava behind Usain Bolt. “I took the best decision in my life to continue running after initially giving up with athletics. I feel that there still good years ahead of me.
Collins is not surprised at all about the fast times run so far this year. “The Olympic Games are the mother of all races, so it’s not a surprise that there are so many sprinters able to run under 10 seconds” Asked if he feels if he can beat Bolt one day, Collins said: “If he runs slower, I may manage to beat him!”, said Collins.
Christophe Lemaitre will run his third Golden Gala after finishing second to Powell in 2010 and third last year. “Tomorrow’s race will be useful to gauge my current shape and my level of preparation. I am planning to run in the 100 metres and the 4×100 relay but I will not defend my 200 metres European title. I think that with a good preparation I can break the 200 metres European record set by Pietro Mennea (19.72 set in 1979). Asked if he had idols when he was a child, Lemaitre said: “I had no idols because I did not practice sport seriously before starting with athletics.”

Men’s 400 metres hurdles:
Bershawn Jackson, 2005 World Champion in Helsinki and Olympic bronze medallist in Bejing 2008. How do you feel and what do you expect ?
“I am excited to run in Rome. It will be a good preparation for the Olympic Trials which are going to be more difficult than the Olympic Games. The first thing is to make the US team for the Olympic Games. To make my dream possible I have first to qualify. Hopefully I will run a good race but I don’t stress too much on times.”
David Greene: Jackson will take on World, European and Commonwealth champion David Greene, who won last year in Rome and the Samsung Diamond League circuit.
“I have a fond memory of last year in Rome. People are lovely. Rome is just preparation. I am not in PB shape. I am lucky to have the opportunity to compete at the Olympic Games in my country”
Greene is coached by hurdles guru Malcolm Arnold. “My coach has an amazing record  He pushes us hard in training. The Welshman played football for Swansea City until he was 17. “Football is my passion and I grew up supporting Manchester United but I keenly follow Swansea. I follow every match on television. About not taking part at the European Championships in Helsinki and not defending his title in Helsinki, he said: “I definitely don’t plan to compete in Helsinki. I think many Britons will give a miss to the European Champs.

Men’s pole vault: 
Renaud Lavillenie got off to a flying start to his season by winning in Ostrava on Friday with 5.90. “The weather was not ideal because there was a lot of wind but I felt in good shape.
The Frenchman will be aiming at repeating his last year’s win in Rome. “I have a good memoryfrom last year’s Golden Gala in Rome. I enjoyed the great atmosphere. I won with 5.83 and I want to do something similar tomorrow. After Rome I will compete in Oslo and I will defend my European title in Helsinki. I want to be consistent at 5.85 level but all depends on the weather. I want to win the Diamond League for the third time”

Women’s 800 metres:
South African Caster Semenya, 2009 World champion and world silver medallist in 2011, made her international season last week in Ostrava where she finished second behind Olympic gold medallist Pamela Jelimo. They will renew their battles tomorrow at the Olympic Stadium.
What about you shape?
“I feel great and I am looking forward to Tomorrow. I am focused on inning and the time will come. I love competing in Italy. I have already run in Rovereto and Milan and I have a good memory of competing in Italy.

Women’s 5000 metres:
Double 5000 and 10000 metres world champion Vivian Cheruiyot will square off against Meseret Defar in a re-match of the exciting 3000 metres race at the Diamond League meeting in Doha where the Kenyan narrowly edged out the Ethiopian after a thrilling battle.
“I didn’t run a fast time in Doha.  I expect to do my best and hopefully we run a fast time. It’s good to run against very good people. Rome will be my last race before the Trials where I have to run and reach the top-three to qualify for the Olympic Games”
Meseret Defar will be gunning for a re-match against her Kenyan arch-rival. “I was not at 100% in Doha. I don’t expect a fast race tomorrow. Rome will be a qualification race for the Olympic Games and I need to be in the top three.

Men’s 3000 metres steeplechase:
Ezekiel Kemboi will pursue a very fast time in the men’s 3000 metres steeplechase which promises to be a great race. “It will my second time in Rome. I finished second here in 2009 and I am aiming at a 7:55 tomorrow. Rome will be a test to prepare for the Olympic Games”, said Kemboi.

Women’s 100 metres
Olympic 100 metres champion Shelly Ann Fraser will line-up in Rome against her fellow Jamaican sprinters and is looking forward to run in a country she loves. “I share the same passion for Italy as Asafa. I love everything in Italy apart from travelling by plane which I don’t like very much.

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