Wariner in debut, Yelena eyes record

OSAKA – Jeremy Wariner makes his Osaka debut today confident he can chase down Michael Johnson’s 400 metres world record, while pole vault queen Yelena Isinbayeva aims for her own slice of history.

Newly crowned 100m champion Tyson Gay is also in action in the 200m as he looks for a rare sprint double. Six gold medals are on the line, including the men’s discus, 3 000 steeplechase amd 400m hurdles, and the women’s pole vault, long jump and 800m.Wariner, the reigning world and Olympic 400m champion, ran 43.50 seconds at the Stockholm Super Grand Prix three weeks ago and is rapidly closing on Johnson’s 1999 mark of 43.18.”He knows the record will be broken one day and he hopes it will be by me,” said Wariner, but he also knows the competition in Osaka will be tough.”The competition this year is stronger than ever before.Going into the meet, my first goal is to defend the title and if the world record comes it will be there,” he said.The championships, which enter their fourth day Tuesday, are yet to see a record and organisers will be hoping the ultra-confident Isinbayeva will oblige, as she has so many times before.The Russian holds the current world record of 5.01m and has 20 indoor and outdoor records to her name.She considers herself unbeatable and believes she is getting better.”Technically I’m getting better.I’m more confident.My grip is much higher now and I always look forward to jumping higher than before,” she said.”It was very hot for me and I needed to wait more than two hours to jump.But I’m used to doing this so I focused on that single jump,” she added after easily qualifying.”I think in the finals I can jump really high, believe me, the pole vault area is good.”A record is unlikely but 14 years after winning her first world title, Mozambique athlete Maria Mutola will be the crowd favourite in the 800m final.Despite being 34, Mutola still has what it takes and qualified third fastest behind Janeth Jepkosgei of Kenya (1:56.84) and Morocco’s Hasna Benhassi.”I already have three world outdoor titles, but I’m still looking for another one if I can,” she said.”It would mean a lot to me because it will likely be my last world championships.”Gay will back up from his 100m victory over world record holder Asafa Powell to attempt the sprint double – a feat achieved only by fellow Americans Maurice Greene and Justin Gatlin.Despite timing 19.62 in June – second only to Michael Johnson’s 1996 world record Gay played down his chances in the draining Osaka heat.”It’s going to be tough.Some of the other guys are going to be pretty much fresh.I’m just going to try to stay relaxed, do some of the early rounds and get through to the finals,” he said.In other races, African runners are set to dominate the men’s 3 000m steeplechase final, with Ezekiel Kemboi warning the Kenyans would help each other to ensure they win gold.”In the final we Kenyans will run as a team, not as individuals.we want to be the best,” he said.With defending champion Bershawn Jackson crashing out in the heats, the men’s 400m hurdles is there for the taking.Jackson was considered a hot favourite and his failure to qualify opens the door to Poland’s Marek Plawgo, American James Carter and Jamaica’s Danny Mcfarlane.Nampa-AFPSix gold medals are on the line, including the men’s discus, 3 000 steeplechase amd 400m hurdles, and the women’s pole vault, long jump and 800m.Wariner, the reigning world and Olympic 400m champion, ran 43.50 seconds at the Stockholm Super Grand Prix three weeks ago and is rapidly closing on Johnson’s 1999 mark of 43.18.”He knows the record will be broken one day and he hopes it will be by me,” said Wariner, but he also knows the competition in Osaka will be tough.”The competition this year is stronger than ever before.Going into the meet, my first goal is to defend the title and if the world record comes it will be there,” he said.The championships, which enter their fourth day Tuesday, are yet to see a record and organisers will be hoping the ultra-confident Isinbayeva will oblige, as she has so many times before.The Russian holds the current world record of 5.01m and has 20 indoor and outdoor records to her name.She considers herself unbeatable and believes she is getting better.”Technically I’m getting better.I’m more confident.My grip is much higher now and I always look forward to jumping higher than before,” she said.”It was very hot for me and I needed to wait more than two hours to jump.But I’m used to doing this so I focused on that single jump,” she added after easily qualifying.”I think in the finals I can jump really high, believe me, the pole vault area is good.”A record is unlikely but 14 years after winning her first world title, Mozambique athlete Maria Mutola will be the crowd favourite in the 800m final.Despite being 34, Mutola still has what it takes and qualified third fastest behind Janeth Jepkosgei of Kenya (1:56.84) and Morocco’s Hasna Benhassi.”I already have three world outdoor titles, but I’m still looking for another one if I can,” she said.”It would mean a lot to me because it will likely be my last world championships.”Gay will back up from his 100m victory over world record holder Asafa Powell to attempt the sprint double – a feat achieved only by fellow Americans Maurice Greene and Justin Gatlin.Despite timing 19.62 in June – second only to Michael Johnson’s 1996 world record Gay played down his chances in the draining Osaka heat.”It’s going to be tough.Some of the other guys are going to be pretty much fresh.I’m just going to try to stay relaxed, do some of the early rounds and get through to the finals,” he said.In other races, African runners are set to dominate the men’s 3 000m steeplechase final, with Ezekiel Kemboi warning the Kenyans would help each other to ensure they win gold.”In the final we Kenyans will run as a team, not as individuals.we want to be the best,” he said.With defending champion Bershawn Jackson crashing out in the heats, the men’s 400m hurdles is there for the taking.Jackson was considered a hot favourite and his failure to qualify opens the door to Poland’s Marek Plawgo, American James Carter and Jamaica’s Danny Mcfarlane.Nampa-AFP