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Top attractions in the
Hurdles
Apart from
Lashinda Demus' double, the
men's 400m Hurdles promises
to be a fast and close race,
with Jamaica's 2004 Olympic
runner-up Danny McFarlane
and Panama's Olympic
finalist Bayano Kamani
leading the field.
Defending
champion Javier Culson, who
improved his Puerto Rican
record with 48.87 secs
earlier this month in
Kingston, is one of the top
bets for a home win in
Ponce.
Jamaica's Ian
Weakly, Belize's Jonathan
Williams and USA' 2007 Pan
American Games bronze
medallist LaRon Bennett are
also top contenders.
In the 110m
sprint hurdles, 2007 Osaka
World Championships bronze
medallist David Payne of the
USA will make his season
debut against his fellowmen
Marlon Odom, Aubrey Herring
and Robby Hughes, as well as
Canada's Olympic finalist
Charles Allen and Jamaica's
Richard Phillips.
The women's
100m Hurdles race also
expects to be fast with
USA's 2006 World Indoor
Championships fourth place
finisher Danielle Carruthers
and 2006 European Cup bronze
medallist Aurelia Trywianska
of Poland. Haiti's 2005 CAC
champion Nadine Faustin and
Jamaica's Andrea Bliss
cannot be left out in the
reckoning either.
Given his great early season
form, long jumper Funmi
Jimoh (USA) could produce
her first seven-meter leap
in Ponce. Jamaica's two-time
CAC champion and Area record
holder (7.16) Elva
Goulbourne and Chelsea
Hammond could push her to
that goal. Canada's 2003 Pan
American Games bronze
medallist Alice Falayie is
also in the line-up.
In total,
over 100 athletes from 24
countries will compete in 18
events (10 men and eight
women): 100m, 200m, 400m,
400m hurdles and Long Jump
for both. Men will also
contest the 1,500m, 110m
hurdles, both relays and a
national Pole Vault
competition, while women
will race over 800m, 100m
hurdles and the 4x100m
relay.
The 3rd Ponce
Grand Prix, organized by
CACAC President and IAAF
Coaches Commission chairman
Victor Lopez, will offer
cash incentives to the top
six in each discipline, as
well a bonus for a Puerto
Rican national record and
fast times in 11 track
events and good marks the
Long Jump.
The city
previously hosted the 1975
CAC Champs and the 1993 CAC
Games.
Javier Clavelo
Robinson for the IAAF
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