4th International Athletics PSD Bank Meeting Duesseldorf 2009 - Fourth edition boasts 20 World medallists – Robles injured

One Olympic champion, one Olympic silver medallist, seven World champions and another 12 World medallists and six European champions head the field of entries of the approximately 150 athletes at the “4th International Athletics PSD Bank Meeting Duesseldorf 2009” at Arena Sportpark in Duesseldorf on February 13.

Thus, Meeting Director Marc Osenberg has once again managed to attract an international top-class field of entries to the capital of North Rhine-Westphalia – despite the withdrawal of Dayron Robles due to injury (hamstring inflammation). “Though it’s not a serious injury, a start here in Duesseldorf is unfortunately not possible”, explained World record holder Robles at a press conference at the athlete’s hotel Tulip Inn Duesseldorf Arena. “Therefore I’ve ended my indoor season. I’ll now fully concentrate on the outdoor season.” However, the 22-year-old athlete will nevertheless attend the meet on Friday night: “Of course I’ll be there. I want to write autographs for my fans and to support my team-mates.”

The solid field of entries is headed by Russia’s 800m 2004 Olympic and
2001 World Indoor champion Yuri Borzakovsky and 2008 Olympic silver medallist in the 800m, 24-year-old Ismail Ahmed Ismail (Sudan), signed-on by Meeting Director Marc Osenberg at short notice.

Among the highlights of the fourth edition of the meeting, that will again be promoted by “sportAgentur” Duesseldorf and with PSD Bank Rhein-Ruhr eG in its fourth year as sponsors, are first and foremost the two decisions in the triple jump, the women’s 60m hurdles and the men’s pole vault with Germany’s “old hands” Tim Lobinger (36) and Danny Ecker (31) as well as their young contenders Raphael Holzdeppe (19), U20 World record holder and Olympic eighth-placed, World student champion Alexander Straub (25) and Tobias Scherbarth. Last weekend in Stuttgart, 23-year-old Scherbarth set up a new personal best (5,76m) duping the entire German pole vault elite.
He intends to repeat this feat again in Duesseldorf.

The women’s 60m hurdles event will then see a revenge of the successful trio of the 2008 World Indoor Championships in Valencia: World champion Lolo Jones will compete against compatriot and World runner-up Candice Davis as well as Cuba’s bronze medallist Anay Tejeda.

“I’m sure that the 17-metres mark is within reach”, explained Marc Osenberg with regard to the men’s triple jump, for the first time in the four year-long history of the “International Athletics PSD Bank Meeting Duesseldorf” part of the men’s competition programme. Right away, Osenberg achieved to attract international top athletes to Duesseldorf: World silver medallist and Olympic sixth-placed Jadel Gregorio (Brazil), World bronze medallist Walter Davis (USA), the 2005 World fifth-placed Karl Taillepierre of France as well as Germany’s Charles Friedeck, 1999 World Indoor and Outdoor champion. The same holds true for the women’s triple jump with World champion Yargelis Savigne (Cuba) and World Indoor bronze medallist Maria Sestak (Slovenia).

The competition programme in Duesseldorf comprises a total of twelve disciplines – the men’s 60m, 400m, 800m, 5000m, 60m hurdles, triple jump and pole vault and the women’s 60m, 600m, 1500m, 60m hurdles and triple jump.

The past two editions of the meeting at the Arena Sportpark have both been assessed as the 7th best indoor meeting world-wide. The 2008 PSD Bank Meeting even ranked higher than events in New York, Boston or Athens.

As Germany’s highest-ranked meeting, boasting the coveted “EAA status” of the European Athletics Federation, it still figures among the top three meets. In 2009, numerous athletes will surely benefit of the event as an important indicator for the upcoming World Championships in Athletics in Berlin on August 15-23. TV station Eurosport will broadcast live (20:00-22:00 hrs) on the competition day.

Only a small number of tickets are left and can be purchased via “d:ticket” - hotline at 01805-644332. This is why the organisers cannot guarantee that tickets will be available on site.

The top stars at a glance
 
Olympic champion (1):
Yuri Borzakovsky (RUS)

Olympic silver and bronze medals (1)
Ismail Ahmed Ismail (SUD)

World champions (7):
Yuri Borzakovsky (RUS)
Lolo Jones (USA)
Angela Williams (USA)
Yargelis Savigne (CUB)
Charles Friedek (GER)
Tim Lobinger (GER)
Jamaal Torrance (USA, relay)

European champions (6):
Charles Friedek (GER)
Danny Ecker (GER)
Tim Lobinger (GER)
Tobias Unger (GER)
David Gillick (IRL)
Gregory Sedoc (NED)

World silver and bronze medallists (12):
Yuri Borzakovsky (RUS)
Tim Lobinger (GER)
Angela Williams (USA)
Jadel Gregorio (BRA)
Walter Davis (USA)
Danny Ecker (GER)
Tobias Unger (GER)
Tahesia Harrigan (BVI)
Tetjana Petljuk (UKR)
Candice Davis (USA)
Anay Tejeda (CUB)
Maria Sestak (SLO)

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