Vlasic vs. Jelimo for Golden Jackpot

BRUSSELS, Belgium: High jumper Blanka Vlasic and 800 runner Pamela Jelimo face off at the Van Damme Memorial on Friday to win the Golden League's million-dollar jackpot, the richest prize in athletics.

Usain Bolt already has three of the biggest trophies this year because of his triple Olympic gold and world record feat in Beijing and will be looking to beat his 100 mark for the third time this season in his last dash before returning to Jamaica for a vacation.

Jelimo has reigned supreme over the 800 this season, appearing out of nowhere to win the first five of the six Golden League meets before capping it with a dominating performance in Beijing to win Olympic gold.

So Vlasic should not count on the Kenyan teenager to crack under the pressure at the final Golden League meet. Instead, the Croatian should make sure she handles the weight of expectations herself — for once.

If the two remain perfect in the six Golden league meets, they will split the US$1-million (€690,000) pot.

Vlasic came into the Olympics on a 34-competition winning streak, an overwhelming favorite to take gold. Yet she faltered when it counted, losing to Belgium's Tia Hellebaut in a close final, where a countback on 2.05 meters made the difference.

And Vlasic should have no doubt who the 50,000 fans at the King Baudouin stadium will root for on Friday.

Hellebaut overcame early season tendon trouble to peak at the right moment and give Belgium its only gold at the Beijing Games. After already winning the 2006 European title over the favored Vlasic, the Belgian proved again she was at her best where Vlasic seems to falter on big occasions.

Throughout the season, Vlasic had been chasing the golden jackpot, Olympic gold and a world record of 2.10 meters. She will be lucky to escape with a share of jackpot on Friday.

In the 100 meters, the three fastest men ever will line up against each other. Besides Bolt, looking to improve on his record of 9.69 seconds, meet organizer Wilfried Meert also contracted Asafa Powell, who matched the second fastest time ever of 9.72 on Tuesday, and world champion Tyson Gay, who ran a wind-aided 9.68 this summer.

The three also stand for the 10 fastest 100s ever run. Meet organizer Wilfried Meert said such a select field is unique. "This has never happened before," Meert said.

Bolt said he is no longer affected by a lingering cold and has overcome the jet lag of his intercontinental flight from Beijing. On top of that, he feels loose. He promised to give it his all, but can already look back on such an exceptional season that another record does not really matter.

"I want to stay injury free," he said, adding he will need a special warmup program in Belgian temperatures that might not exceed 16C (61F) on Friday night.

"I don't like the cold," he said.

Powell figures as his main threat after Tuesday's race, when he set a personal best by two-hundredths and was one-tenth faster than his previous season's best, run in Monaco before his relative loss of form on the Olympic stage where he finished fifth.

At least with Powell there, Bolt will likely have to run full speed the whole 100 meters on Friday.

While Bolt wants to avoid injury, Gay is seeking to come back from one. He hurt his hamstring in July and had not recovered sufficiently for the Olympics, where he was eliminated in the semifinals.

"I am not 100 percent," said Gay. "I don't know exactly what the outcome will be. I cannot make any promises."

One thing is sure, it will be goodbye for European sprint champion Kim Gevaert. After anchoring the Belgian relay to a surprise silver medal at the Olympics, she will run her last race before her home crowd.

"Make sure to bring some Kleenex," Meert said.

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