Tomorrow's IAAF grand prix final in Melbourne will boast 31 Sydney Olympic medal winners and 43 world championship medallists. Every one of its 19 events carries a $50,000 first prize.
World 1,500 metres champion Hicham El Guerrouj may need to break his own world record of three minutes 26.00 seconds if he is to topple US hurdler Allen Johnson for the men's overall title and the $100,000 first prize. Moroccan El Guerrouj is in superb form after his recent 3:26.12 in Brussels, and the $100,000 incentive for a world record in the grand prix final could be just the spur needed.
Switzerland's 800 metres world champion Andre Bucher and American long jumper Kevin Dilworth are equal second in the standings, two points behind Johnson, who is on 80 points. El Guerrouj is fourth on 76 points, but admitted that he is focused on breaking the world record. "I think I will be able to get to 3:24. I would like to have a fast race tomorrow if I can, although there is a handicap of having no fast pacemakers," he said.
US sprint queen Marion Jones will not be involved in the women's competition, as the 100 metres is not on the programme. Romanian world 1,500 metres silver medallist Violeta Szekely leads the women's overall standings with 92 points from Mozambique's Olympic and world 800 metres champion Maria Mutola on 81.
A total of $2,974,000 is awarded throughout the series. Athletes score points for their placings in events and for setting world records during the grand prix series. The top eight athletes in each discipline are invited to the grand prix final, with fields of 10 in the 1,500 and 3,000 metres and the 3,000 metres steeplechase.
Controversial Russian athlete Olga Yegorova's 5000 metres win in Berlin on August 31 secured her a share of the $470,000 Golden League jackpot with her fifth victory in the seven-race series. El Guerrouj, Johnson, Szekely and Bucher also won shares in the jackpot. Marion Jones also secured her share with five victories in the 100 metres.
Filed by Greg McKevitt
