With no woman having achieved a sub-11 performance at the event since the 2009 edition \u2013 and with the weather forecast to be advantageous conditions – the athletes embraced the pressure to run fast in the Bislett Stadion during the sixth leg of the worldwide IAAF Diamond League series. <\/p>\n
World 100m and 200m silver-medallist, Murielle Ahoure looks most likely to surpass the clocking following her impressive 10.81 lifetime best performance when placing second at the Eugene IAAF Diamond League last month. <\/p>\n
The 27-year-old Ivory Coast sprinter \u2013 who claimed 200m victory in the 2012 event \u2013 revealed:<\/p>\n
\u2013 I\u2019m really excited to have started the season later than usual and I\u2019m blessed to be here.<\/p>\n
\u2013 The time doesn\u2019t matter to me so much tomorrow, though. I base myself between Houston, Texas and here in Oslo \u2013 I\u2019ll actually move over here in July.<\/p>\n
The two-time world indoor 60m runner-up and current world number one over the distance spoke of recent personal best, which followed second place in the Doha IAAF Diamond League:<\/p>\n
\u2013 I was surprised to run so fast but I executed the race properly. Experience is everything \u2013 I\u2019ve been preparing the best I can so I hope to stay healthy, run more personal bests.<\/p>\n
The runner-up over 100m in Oslo\u2019s 2013 event, Ahoure continued:<\/p>\n
\u2013 Beijing (the IAAF World Championships in August) is my big goal so this is a good stepping stone and I\u2019m hopeful to run well there.<\/p>\n
Her closest challenge will arrive in the form of Jamaica\u2019s double Olympic 200m champion, Veronica Campbell-Brown, who will be making her debut appearance in the city.<\/p>\n
The 33-year-old four-time world sprint champion \u2013 with a resume which includes the 2007 world 100m title \u2013 has a superb 10.76 best which dates back to 2011 and she recently placed fourth in the Shanghai IAAF Diamond League:<\/p>\n
\u2013 I\u2019m happy to be here \u2013 it\u2019s been a long time coming, I can\u2019t believe this is my first time, Campbell-Brown explained.<\/p>\n
\u2013 I\u2019m excited \u2013 the weather\u2019s supposed to be good and so I\u2019m hoping to run my best 100m of the season so far.<\/p>\n
\u2013 It\u2019s such a technical event and it will be a very good competition so I hope we \u2013 and I say \u2018we\u2019 \u2013 can go under 11-seconds.\u201d<\/p>\n
With regards to Beijing and the possibility of her doubling up over 100m and 200m, she continued:<\/p>\n
\u2013 The plan\u2019s to run both the 100m and 200m at the Jamaican trials and I\u2019m hopeful to run well in them both at the World Championships.<\/p>\n
\u2013 It\u2019s all about continuing to work hard and constantly improve. Track and field\u2019s my passion so I work hard for both events \u2013 I hope to see the results I know I\u2019m capable of soon.<\/p>\n
Meanwhile, Norway\u2019s finest – Ezinne Okparaebo spoke ahead of her tenth competitive outing at the Bislett Games.<\/p>\n
The 27-year-old 2009 European indoor 60m silver medallist has an 11.10 lifetime best and after claiming fourth place in March\u2019s European indoor 60m final, she is keen to impress outdoors as well: <\/p>\n
\u2013 Competing in front of my home crowd is special, I\u2019m very excited to be here,\u201d revealed the 2012 winner. <\/p>\n
\u2013 I\u2019m aiming for the 11.32 Beijing IAAF qualifying standard. I\u2019ve trained very well but it\u2019s only my third race of the season, though I hope to deliver a good run.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
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