Beijing to host track stars next month

A strong contingent of Olympic medalists, led by Grenadian Kirani James, the London Games men's 400m gold winner, and Jamaican Asafa Powell, a men's 4x100m gold medalist, have been invited to compete in the 2013 IAAF World Challenge Beijing on May 21 at the Bird's Nest, venue of the 2008 Beijing Olympics.

The challenge, organized by the Chinese Athletics Association and the Beijing Municipal Sports Bureau, is serving as a test run for the 2015 World Athletics Championships in Beijing, in accordance with IAAF requirements and championships practice. Beijing will host another challenge in 2014.

Other big names invited to the Chinese capital include Justin Gatlin of the US, the London Games men's 100m bronze medalist, Jason Richardson of the US and Matthias de Zorzo of Germany, winners of the 110m hurdles and the men's javelin at the Daegu World Athletics Championships in 2011, Anna Chicherova of Russia, the women's high jump champion at the London Olympics, Carmelita Jeter of the US, winner of the women's 100m at the Daegu championships, Kellie Wells of the US, bronze medalist in the London Games 100m hurdles, and Mariya Abakumova of Russia, the Beijing Olympics' women's javelin silver medalist.

China will have athletes competing in the men's hurdles, high jump, long jump, 5,000m walk and women's javelin, high jump and shot put.

The challenge features 23 events including 19 official and four demonstration competitions. The official events include the 100m, 200m, 800m, 110m hurdles, long jump, high jump, javelin, 3,000m steeplechase, triple jump and pole vault for men, and 100m, 200m, 100m hurdles, 1,500m, high jump, javelin, hammer, shot put and long jump for women. The demonstration events are the men's and women's 5,000m walk, men's shot put and women's pole vault.

More than 230 athletes will compete for total prize money of $440,000, including $100,000 for breaking world records.

(China Daily 04/17/2013 page23)