10.06.2010

Lapierre on course for heavyweight clash

World indoor long jump champion Fabrice Lapierre will tonight continue his IAAF Diamond League charge when he steps out in Round 4 of the world’s premier athletics series in Rome, Italy.

Following his win in the first of seven men’s long jump competitions on the all-new Diamond League calendar in Shanghai (CHN) last month, 26-year-old Lapierre will enter tonight’s meet as the early leader of the lucrative Diamond Race and the man to beat on the runway in Rome.

Lapierre, who claimed the IAAF world indoor title in Doha (QAT) in March and took out the Australian crown with a jaw-dropping leap of 8.78m (w:3.1) in Perth the following month, continued his stellar start to the year by posting a season’s best leap of 8.30m (w:0.0) to win his maiden Diamond League crown in Shanghai ahead of US world title-holder Dwight Phillips (8.18m, w:-1.3) and Chinese representative Xiongfeng Su (8.06m, w:0.2).

The Texan-based New South Welshman will again come face-to-face with 2004 Olympic and three-time world champion Phillips in Rome tonight, as well as reigning Olympic and 2007 world champion Irving Saladino (PAN), who makes his Diamond League debut after withdrawing from the Shanghai meet with a hamstring injury.

Also travelling to Rome for tonight’s clash are world championships finalists Brian Johnson (USA) and Chris Tomlinson (GBR), but it is the showdown between the reigning Olympic, world and world indoor champions that is set to captivate the Rome crowd.

With a win over Phillips already under his belt this season, Lapierre will enter tonight’s meet looking to stretch the tape even further to again overcome the flying American and get the early jump on Saladino.

“I’m feeling great and I’m confident I can go out there and produce an even better result than in Shanghai,” Lapierre said.

“I’m feeling pretty good at the moment so I’m very confident I can beat Dwight again in Rome. It will only take what I’ve already been doing this year to win it, so if I remain consistent there’s no reason why I won’t beat the last two Olympic and world champions.”

With six Diamond League long jump competitions still to come ahead of the Commonwealth Games in New Delhi, India, in October, Lapierre is confident his current form will hold him in good stead for the Commonwealth titles.

“As long as I stay fit and injury-free my form will keep going for the rest of the year,” Lapierre said.

“I’m only going to jump in the Diamond League meets so there’s plenty of rest in between each competition, which is good.

“The Diamond League is very important, it’s my sole focus right now and it will put me in a good position leading up to the Commonwealth Games and give me a chance to show the world my standing in the event before the Games begin.”

Three rounds into the all-new Diamond League competition and with the first of seven men’s long jump events run and won, Lapierre sits atop the long jump leaderboard with four points to his name, just ahead of Phillips (two points) and Su (one point).

Lapierre will fly the flag solo for Australia in Rome tonight before world, Olympic, world indoor and Commonwealth Games champion Steve Hooker (pole vault), Olympic silver medallist Sally Pearson (100m hurdles) and national 5000m and 10,000m champion Eloise Wellings (5000m) take over the Diamond League action in New York (USA) on Saturday, June 12.

IAAF Diamond League – Round 4
Rome (ITA)
Thursday, June 10

20:45PM (04:45AM Friday, June 11 AEST)
Long jump: Fabrice Lapierre