All eyes on Asafa Powell as blue ribbon events start tomorrow
Melbourne, Mar 18 (UNI) Though the last minute withdrawal by former 100m world champion Kim Collins of St Kitts and Nevis and South African Mbulaeni Mulaudzi (800m) has weakened the field, athletics, the blue ribbon event of the Commonwealth Games which starts here tomorrow, is next only to swimming in world-class stature.
While Collins had to opt out because of a groin injury, South African Mblaeni Mulaudzi, the world champion and the man who finished second to Kenyan Wilfred Bungei in Moscow withdrew because of torn achilles.
And that is not derived from the presence of world record holder Jamaican Asafa Powell as many would like to believe. Powell will be the centre of attraction but then he will have plenty of company, notably from Australian Patrick Johnson, the fastest man in 2003 with his 9.93 seconds for the dash, team-mate and silver medalist at the last World championships Michael Frater.
Meanwhile, despite the withdrawal of Paul Radcliffe of England due to injury, the Commonwealth Games track and field programme remains high-class. It has attracted many of the top-notch athletes from around the world as was to be expected, though the proximity to the World Indoor Championships that concluded last Sunday in Moscow and the World Cross Country Championships scheduled in Fukuoka next month, has not helped matters.
The most encouraging news in recent days was the one relating to three of the newly-crowned world indoor champions, Bungei (800 metres), Alleyne Francique of Grenada (400 metres) and Maria Mutola of Mozambique (women's 800 metres) confirming for the Games.
In the absence of Mblaeni Mulaudzi, Bungei's main competitors could be his own team-mates, John Litei and Alex Kipchirchir.
Traditionally, the Games athletics competitions have revolved around the Australian-English rivalry. That should continue at the MCG as well, but one cannot forget the African presence nor the Caribbean domination of the sprints and relays.
The 123-strong Australian squad should be expected to dominate across the board. Led by distance runner Craig Mottram and 400 metres hurdler Jana Pittman, the Australian team looks strong on paper. Mottram would renew his battle from the last World championships with Kenyan Benjamin Limo.
The Aussie had won a surprise bronze in the 5000 metres in Helsinki where Limo won the gold.
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