MOUTH WATERING HEAD TO HEADS AT BISLETT GAMES

Reaching the heights

In the men’s pole vault, the current World Champion, Shawn Barber (CAN) and Olympic Champion and world record holder Renaud Lavillenie (FRA) go head to head in one of the most eagerly awaited events.

With six Diamond Trophies already, the experienced Lavillenie currently leads the Diamond Race with 16 points jumping his season’s best 5.83m in Shanghai to take third place.

Meanwhile, Shawn Barber has jumped 5.91m in Austin in April.  However the current world lead is Sam Kendricks following his 5.93m in Beijing in May.

Speaking ahead of tomorrow’s event:

Renaud Lavillenie said:

 “I have had a good break since Eugene as I was quite tired but I now feel ready for competition.  I am very happy to be back in Oslo and my goal is to jump well.

“I am doing well in training so now I need to transfer this to the competition.  I need to find my rhythm but I do still have time for more training.  After Oslo I intend to jump in Stuttgart and at the London Anniversary Games.  I will then stay in France until I travel to Brazil. 

“My goal for tomorrow will be to win and maintain the Diamond League lead.  I would like to jump 5.80m or maybe more.

“I plan to go from here back to France to watch the football team in their first match of the Euros on Friday evening. For France this is bigger than just football because of the terrible events of last year.  My finals at the European Championships are on the Friday evening so if France reach the final of the Euros I could get to watch it!”

Shawn Barber said:

 “I have never been to Oslo but I have watched the Games on TV so I am very much looking forward to competing here and jumping with these guys. 

“My technique is good right now although I am having a few problems on the runway but this can be fixed.  It is better that these problems are now, early in the season. 

“This is my first season on the tour and I am really enjoying it. Travel is hard and my coach has NCA obligations so I have to come on my own and coach myself. 

“I feel we [Lavillenie and Barber] both have the potential to take the world lead tomorrow from Kendricks. 

“Jumping 6m is really hard.  Last year when the bar went up to 6m my jumps suffered so this year my mindset is to have fun and jump high.”

A sprint finish

The women’s 200m brings the exciting prospect of the one and two from last year’s World Championships in Beijing.  World Champion Dafne Schippers, the Dutch heptathlete turned sprinter, and silver medallist, Jamaican Elaine Thompson both run for the first time in Oslo. Earlier this year at the World Indoor Championships in Portland, Schippers took the silver and Thompson the bronze medal.

With their focus for the season very much on Rio they explained their very different routes after tomorrow’s meeting.

Dafne Schippers said:

“With the European championships in my home country this will be my preparation for Rio although I will only run the 100m and relay in Amsterdam. I am lucky we have no Olympic trials in the Netherlands.  For me, the Euros will be my trial.

“I am very happy with my progress so far.  It is all a process towards the Olympics.  I hope I can run my best time this season tomorrow and have fun. Sub-22 is possible but it will depend on the weather.

Asked about breaking the meeting record, 21.94 from Gwen Torrence (USA), Schippers replied “we will see!”

Asked if she misses the heptathlon, Schippers said “It is nice to focus on sprinting and have more time to focus on the starts.  It is very tough on your body and mind when doing all the events.

“I think I am best at 200m because I am a slow starter but I really enjoy both.”

Elaine Thompson said:

“For me it is home for the Jamaican trials after tomorrow’s race.  I have not decided yet about whether it will be 100m and 200m.  My coach and I will decide after tomorrow. 

“I would like to get a season’s best tomorrow and really challenge and execute the race well.  My main focus is Rio so I am not too worried about breaking 22 seconds although I am always happy to be surprised!

“We (Schippers and Thompson) are both young and it is great to have good competition.  Every time we meet one another I learn more.”

In tomorrow’s race Thompson and Schippers also face competition from European silver medalist, Jodie Williams (GBR), Kimberley Hyacinthe (CAN) and Ivet Lalova-Collio (BUL).

Youth challenges experience

In the men’s 100m, evergreen Kim Collins, St Kitts and Nevis, in the form of his life at 40 years old, will be challenged in the 100m sprint by 25 year old Ameer Webb (USA) and 21 year old Andre de Gasse (CAN), the bronze medallist from last year’s World Championships.

The three have never competed together in the same race.

Kim Collins, who ran a PB in Germany earlier this year in 9.93, said:

“I really don’t know what the fuss about being 40 is.  I have been doing this all my life! My body is used to the fact that every October I start training and every January I start competing. I look at me and my body.  I have started some stretching, some Pilates and some yoga and this has really helped me and my flexibility.  I make sure my diet is good and I get rest then I know my body is in top shape.  I had to keep up with these older women in my Pilates an yoga classes – they were better than me and it gave me the drive to be stronger and better.

“It is the same when you step on the track.  No matter who is against you, you want to win, regardless of age you want to win.  I haven’t lost the drive for success.  I feel well, I am running well and I was amazed to run a PB at 40.

“I love running against the younger guys because they have to run a PB to beat me!”

Andre de Grasse is looking forward to his first race in Oslo.  He said:

“It is my first time in Norway and Oslo which is a beautiful city. I had a few hiccups earlier in the season but I have time to put this right. 

“I have a month and a half until my Olympic trials and I would like to run both sprints if I am able to qualify. Last year I was tired from college races but this year I feel fit and ready.

“I raced Jimmy [Vicault] in the first round of the world championships.  He is an excellent sprinter and I look forward to meeting him again but, for tomorrow, I hope we can challenge his world lead.

Ameer Webb is also excited to be in Oslo following his successful Diamond league appearance in Rome where he secured fourth place with a personal best of 9.94.  He said:

“In Rome my work started to pay off.  My focus now is on the trials back in the US which is like a mini Olympics.  It is all about how we execute the race tomorrow. I have been running well since a change of training group and I am training with Andre [de Grasse].  We have a very special group.  I expect a tough race tomorrow.”

Others likely to challenge for places in the 100m include Frenchman Christophe Lemaitre and Michael Rodgers of USA.