Christian Taylor wants a Meet record, by PhotoRun.net
Here is a piece from the Bauhaus Stockholm DL presser today, with special thanks to our friend in Stockholm, Jonas Hedman!
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Stockholm Diamond League Preview
Kendra Harrison thinks 12.0 (not a typo)
On Thursday 16 June Diamond League meet number eighth will take place at historical Stockholm Olympic Stadium where BAUHAUS-galan welcomes eleven Olympic champions, among others Christian Taylor (triple jump), David Rudisha (800m) and Renaud Lavillenie (pole vault). There are two world records in sight – women’s steeplechase and 100m hurdles – and the one to do it in the latter event is Kendra Harrison who missed the World record with just 0.03 in Eugene three weeks ago. She will race among others, Susanna Kallur who will run the 100m hurdles for the first time in several years.
Kendra, who has ten sibblings, combined the two hurdle distances until last year when she won gold at NCAA at the shorter one and silver at the other (12.56/54.09 PB) within 45 minutes in Eugene. After university she went professional and now is focusing completely on the high hurdles and has lowered her PB from 12.50 to 12.24 this season.
“Now I concentrate on the 100m hurdles because I wanted to do the indoors. I focus a lot on recovery, give myself time and days off, If I feel I need it. I also study my event looking at technique”, says Harrison.
“My goal is 12.0 and that’s what I aiming for at every training session. I have the speed for twelve flat but from a technical point of view I am not there yet”.
“It feels good to be so close to the world record. It puts it all in perspective and I am sure I will break it some day”.
Kenia will meet country women Queen Harrison and Nia Ali as well as world indoor record holder Susanna Kallur from Sweden.
Kallur’s first race in six years
Home star Kallur, 35, will run her first 100m hurdles race in six years at and she is confident about lining up with the best in the world despite a lot of injuries and several surgeries in her leg.
“It feels good to be back! I have been waiting for this every day for the last six years. I started running over hurdles as late as in March but had a great training camp in Florida in April. After a small surgery in my knee in the beginning of May everything has gone according to plan”, says Kallur.
The press conference took place on the stand of the Olympic Stadium from which Kallur has good memories.
“The last time I ran here was in 2007 and I won”.
“Tomorrow my focus will be just to enjoy the moment. My physical shape feels good, it’s the hurdle rhytm that’s the hard part after being away from the event for such a long time”.
Despite all the problems Kallur never stopped believe she could come back.
“I have never been close to quit the event. As long as I feel I can get back to my best I have no problem to motivate myself. Every one close to me also believe in what I do – my coach, manager and family.
The reason Kallur is still in the game spells Rio. She want to make another team but the Olympic qualifier is quit tough in Sweden.
“I need to run 12.80 before 11 July. I don’t know if I have to do it more than one’s but I will for sure give my all to make it.”
Taylor is aming for a diamond
Everyone who set a stadium record in Stockholm get a diamond and that’s the goal for Olympic triple jump champion Christian Taylor.
“I know it’s 17.93 and very old. Last time I competed here was in 2012 right after the Olympics. I brought my gold medal here and it was special to compete as reigning Olympic champion for the first time”, says Taylor.
“I think I am ready for 18 metres but I need some one to push me and I hope Teddy Tamgho is that person. My goal is definitely to break the stadium record”.
First start in Stockholm for Rudisha
World record holder at 800m, David Rudisha, will do his very first start at Stockholm Olympic Stadium and will face a strong field. Five runners has PBs below 1:43, among others Mohammed Aman, Pierre-Ambroise Bosse and Timothy Kitum.
“My training has been fantastic this year and I haven’t had any injury problems. Now I am finishing my training sessiona stronger and I am getting better every day. I did not go to Australia this winter as I use too, since I was still rebuilding after injury”, says Rudisha.
Lavillenie wants revenge
The last time Renaud Lavillenie competed in Stockholm was in 2014 when he failed to clear his opening height due to a difficult wind. That was the only meet he lost that season.
“I had a great indoor season and my goal for the summer is to win both the European championships and the Olympic Games. So far it’s been several meets with less good weather conditions which is a reason why my season best isn’t better than 5.83. But my plan is to be in better shape in July in order to peak at the Olympics in August”, says Lavillenie.
No matter than 83 world records have been set at Stockholm Olympic Stadium, but it’s 19 years since the last one (Wilson Kipketer’s 1:41.73 at 800m). Maybe it’s time for number 84 on Thursday evening!
Jonas Hedman
