Shanghai DL News: Gatlin, Rudisha and Oliver speak

David Rudisha, photo by PhotoRun.net

SHANGHAI NEWS

SHANGHAI (CHN): Justin Gatlin has said the ankle which he rolled in the off-season is improving, informs AP. “Every day it’s gotten stronger and better. I think if I had to roll my ankle, the best time was to roll it in the off-season or fall, so now getting into competition, I just need to worry about keeping my muscles loose and be able to perform well,” he said ahead of the Shanghai Diamond League where he will contest the 100m.

SHANGHAI (CHN): 800 m World record holder David Rudisha is aiming to break the meeting record of 1:44.63 in Shanghai on Saturday, informs AFP. “I’m also looking forward to improve from my last time in Australia. I’m looking forward for something like 1:43-and-a-half,” he said. Rudisha ran 1:44.78 in Melbourne and 1:44.89 in Perth in March.

SHANGHAI (CHN): Ruswahl Samaai has said he is not in peak shape despite topping the world long jump rankings with 8.34, informs Independent Online. “My coach (Jenny Kingwill) and I planned to jump 8.30 and more at the nationals, but we were not yet at that stage of going all out in terms of my speed training. So that’s why I’m not in peak form as yet, as the Olympics is the main focus,” he said. Samaai will compete in Shanghai where he faces the likes of Jeff Henderson and the top Chinese jumpers.

SHANGHAI (CHN): The main press conference of the IAAF Shanghai Diamond League on May 13th, can be followed online via a live stream. The athletes who will attend the press conference are 110m hurdlers Aries Merritt (world record holder), David Oliver (2013 World Champion) and Omar McLeod (world leader and World Indoor Champion). Renaud Lavillenie (Olympic Champion pole vault) will also attend the press conference. China will be represented by Zhang Peimeng and Xie Zhenye who won the silver 4x100m medal at the World Championships in Beijing.