We're proudly presenting our champions that have already met their Olympic entry standards.

All our athletes whose photos you've seen at the right animation are presented at a special page, where we very shortly intend to publish their own stories as well

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Our Athletes - Olympic candidates

Soonest possible we intend to publish all the relevant data of our National Team Members that have already met the Olympic entry standards. Many of them will tell you their own stories. Visit us again & read info below!

KINGSTON, Jamaica, July 22, (Reuters)

Merlene Ottey missed out on an automatic spot to run the 100 meters at the Sydney Olympics when she could only finish fourth in the Jamaica trials final on Friday night.

But she gets a second chance of making the Olympic squad on Saturday when she contests the 200 meters and she could also still make it as part of the relay team.

Ottey, 40, needing a top-three finish to guarantee selection for the 100 meters at the Games, ran 11.27 seconds in the final with Peta-Gaye Dowdie retaining her title in 11.19.

It was Ottey's slowest effort of the three appearances she made at the meet. She had clocked 11.09 in the first round Thursday and 11.15 in the semifinal earlier on Friday.

Dowdie, the U.S. Collegiate 200-metre champion, survived a tight finish, to beat 1999 world championship 200-metre silver medallist Bev McDonald (11.20) and Tanya Lawrence (11.21).

Ottey finished in 11:27 seconds - behind winner Peta-Gaye Dowdie, Beverley McDonald and Tanya Lawrence.

Ottey and Dowdie were slow at the start but Dowdie, a student at Louisiana State University, accelerated in mid-stretch to catch and beat McDonald and Lawrence and retain her national title in 11:19 seconds.

Thursday night, at preliminary trials, Ottey beat all those youngsters in 11.09 seconds.

Still the 40-year-old Ottey, is expected to make Jamaica's Olympic squad, but only in the 4x100 meter relay team.

The four runners are expected to form Jamaica's 4x100 relay team at the Australian Olympics in September.

Ottey, winner of seven Olympic medals and 14 world championship medals including two gold, has been at every summer Games since Moscow in 1980.

She said on Friday her enforced absence from athletics as a result of the drug-taking allegation had been like a ``death sentence'' but she remained confident she would get in shape in time for the Games.

Ottey said: "In about six weeks I can get to running under 11 seconds ... I've done it in the past. I have the experience and I have the confidence.''

Ottey was banned after testing positive for the controversial anabolic steroid nandrolone but the ban was lifted on July 3 by an International Amateur Athletic Federation panel.

Kingston, Jamaica - July 21

Merlene Ottey, trying to qualify for her sixth Olympic team, advanced to the semifinals of 100 meters Thursday at Jamaica's Olympic trials. She won her heat race in 11.09 seconds.

Ottey, who has kept a low profile since arriving in Jamaica five days ago, had a slow start but made up ground on runner-up Tanya Lawrence then eased up at the line for the win.

"With 30 meters to go I was in a daze, but I got going and it was easy after that,'' she said and than added:

Merlene needs to finish in the top three of Friday's 100 m final to qualify for the event at the Sydney Olympics.

Kingston, Jamaica - July 20

Merlene Ottey, trying to qualify for her sixth Olympic team, advanced to the semifinals of 100 meters Thursday at Jamaica's Olympic trials. She won her heat race in 11.09 seconds.

Ottey, who has kept a low profile since arriving in Jamaica five days ago, had a slow start but made up ground on runner-up Tanya Lawrence then eased up at the line for the win.

"With 30 meters to go I was in a daze, but I got going and it was easy after that,'' she said and than added:

Merlene needs to finish in the top three of Friday's 100 m final to qualify for the event at the Sydney Olympics.

Salamanca, 20. julij

Gregor Cankar performed today at  Salamanca meeting in Spain and placed sixth with a jump of 7,78 m. Today's winner is James Beckford from Jamaica - his best today was 8,34 m. World record holder, world record holder, Cuban Ivan Pedroso finished fourth today - he also had no jump over 8 m.

This meeting was Gregor's latest official meeting before leaving to our coast where he will be preparing himself (along with some other athletes coached by Srdjan Djordjevic) for the Olympic Games.

Kranj, July 16

National championships ended with no big surprises although some were expected - the only exception was men's 100 m race. Otherwise all last year's champions who performed in the past two days, confirmed their national titles.

The foremost exceptional result, however is Brigita Langerholc's new national record at 400 m - she ran 52.59, and this is her third consecutive race under 53 seconds this year. Her race at 400 m (as well as her Sunday's race at 800 m) confirms she's in great shape. Although her performance at 800 m on Sunday was not good enough to ensure her Olympic entry standard reconfirmed. She did well her first 400 m (under 57 seconds as she had planned) and if there was a good "rabbit" in front to help her, she would have done it. (Picture above shows the start of the race with Helena Javornik and Brigita Langerholc in front).

It's a pity that none of the officials of our National Athletic Association (AZS) could help her and her friend (and a rival, too)  to find a suitable 400m runner to pull them towards entry standard.

Our new national champion Jolanda Ceplak (to the left) was stronger in the second half of the race and she overran Brigita in the last 15 meters of the race that ended with Jolanda's 2:02.00.

The only real and very pleasant surprise at the same time were our best sprinters - in a 100 m race they all proved to be in a great shape. The most pleasant and unexpected surprise of all, however, was young Matic Osovnikar's (to the right - in a blue dress and below left) performance, who ran 10.34 which is second best in Slovenia of all times. The only one who was not surprised by this exceptional achievement was his coach Albert Soba, who predicted Matic's great performance for the season. Other sprinter, members of our 4 x 100 m national relay team also performed very well - another three of them ran under 10.50. Not surprisingly then, that they promised a new national record in a near future -  before the Games, as they say.

Very promising, however, was Matija Sestak's (to the left) Saturday's performance at 400 m, since he's still recovering from several illnesses and had lost well over a month of his training. The best white runner at 400 m at Sevilla last year is getting better and better and at this event he was also only 0.26 short to reconfirm his Olympic entry standard. He managed however, to run much better than both his colleagues from the national 4 x 400 m relay team, Bostjan Horvat in Jozeta Vrtacič.   

Kranj, 15. julij

Two very pleasing surprises mark the first day of our National Championships in Kranj - although the weather conditions were not allowing any better results - let's all hope tomorrow it gets better.

The only new national record was set by the host club's (Triglav - Kranj) member Brigita Langerholc (photo to the left) who managed to improve her recently set record mark in 400 m by 0.27 seconds.  her new mark is now 52.59! Both she and her coach Dobrivoje Vuckovic (upper right) were sincerely happy about her latest achievement. Today's success might well be a good announcement of what we can expect of her tomorrow, when she'll be chasing her qualifying entry standard for Sydney in 800 m. If she manages to run under 1:59.00 she will have her entry standard and a new national record. She is the first Slovene female athlete to run 800 m under 2 minutes (exactly one year ago) - and my prediction is, that tomorrow afternoon she's going to be the first to run well under 1:59.00 (with a little bit luck  - if she could find a good "rabbit" - she might even go under 1:58.00). A bit risky prediction though (she also tried to avoid it today), but as weather conditions should be in her favor tomorrow, she could have done it!

The greatest surprise of the day, however is Matic Osovnikar's (above left) excellent performance in men's 100 m. Matic Osovnikar had surprisingly beaten our champion and an absolute favorite Urban Acman and at the same time he became second fastest Slovenian ever. His time: 10.34!

Our champion and record holder in 400 m, Matija Šestak, who is still recovering from several illnesses and some minor injuries, also ran a very impressing 46.31 - having bad weather with slight rain in mind, this is an excellent achievement as well.

In other events there were no surprises at all. Our new champions are (most of them are former champions as well):

WOMEN:

Alenka Bikar in 100 m, Anja Valant in triple jump, Helena Javornik in 1.500 m, Natasa Erjavec in discus throw, Katka Jankovic in 100 m hurdles and Veronika Zupanc in 5.000 m

MEN:

Joze Petkovsek in 1.500 m, Damjan Zlatnar in 110 m hurdles, Gregor Cankar in long jump, M. Vodovnik in shot put and Robi Tersek in javelin throw and ZAK-MASS relay team 4 x 100 m.

You can see all the results here   

Kranj, July 14

Our senior National Championships start tomorrow in Kranj. The field consists of 280 athletes from 29 our clubs.

All our best athletes are expected to perform within next two days with the exception of some injured ones and we're all going to miss  Brigita Bukovec, who's still recovering after recent operation and is not fit yet. Our 400 m hurdler Miro Kocuvan and triple-jumper Bostjan Simunic, who also had to undergo a surgery recently, and our champion in high jump Britta Bilač will not perform as well. Gregor Cankar, however, who has some trouble with his left leg  muscles will try to compete but is not going to take no risks.

Several "hot" races are expected tomorrow and the day after, but one of the hottest will most certainly be 800 m female race between our best runners, Brigita Langerholc (above left) and Jolande Ceplak (at the right photo). They are both trying to find a good "rabbit" to help them in the first 400 m. They are both also trying to meet Olympic entry standard in 800 m and they are very close to it.

Roman Kejzar (photo at the left shows him and Helena Javornik), has already achieved his goal and is certain to go to Sydney - he will not perform in Kranj since he's preparing himself for marathon only. 

Many other races are expected to offer a lot of excitement too, especially all the sprints and 400 m - our runners namely still have to meet their standards to become members of our relays in 100 and 400 m (both male and female).

In female sprints (100 and 200 m) nobody expects no surprises since our champion Alenka Bikar is in a great shape - if the weather conditions are good, she is about to try to improve her national records in 100 m and 200 m. She herself promises to do her best and adds she's prepared well enough to improve both records - her coach Jure Kastelic confirms her words.

Our Javelin thrower Eufemija Štorga (left), and Helena Javornik in a 5.000 m race m as well as Anja Valant triple jump will only compete to gain another title since there are no serious rivals to them, while our long jumper Marcela Umnik will not perform for a very good reason - she's expecting a birth of her first child.

Of our 14 candidates for the Games in Sydney only six are sure to travel, so many others will most certainly try to take their chances. Our champion Igor Primc (right below) promises to throw his discus over 63,50 m), Jolanda Ceplak in Brigita Langerholc will compete in 800 m race one against the other and try to meet their Olympic standards at the same time, while  Brigita is also expected to run her own race at 400 m on Sunday. Primoz Kozmus, whose latest performances in a hammer throw show he is getting into great shape could well surprise with a new national record improvement again. 

Matija Sestak (right below), who had suffered several injuries and illnesses in the past few month will try to prove again he's getting back to the shape he was in last summer in Sevilla! His main rivals at 400 m will be his 4 x 400 m relay team colleagues  Joze Vrtacič in Bostjan Horvat.

An interesting performance is expected in a men 100 m race with our champion Urban Acmanom, Matic Osovnikar, Bostjan Fridrih and Matic Suštersic.   

Get back to our Main Pages in Slovene

Since we're registering more and more visits from around the World, we thought it was about time to offer an English version of our Web Site. Visits from abroad registered so far ended in about zero seconds which we find normal due to a language problem. Here is our trial page to help you understand it.

We do appreciate your opinion so please, E-mail us and don't hesitate to tell us your opinion and place any questions concerning Athletics in Slovenia.

We do have some great athletes capable of wining Olympic medals, like Brigita Bukovec (National Champion & record holder, silver medallist at 100 m hurdles in Atlanta '96), Brigita Langerholc (National record holder at 400 & 800 m), Britta Bilač (National & European Champion in High Jump), Alenka Bikar (National Champion & record holder in 100 & 200 m), Eufemija Štorga (National record holder in Javelin), Anja Valant (National champion & record holder and at the same time one of the best women Triple Jumpers in the World these year with 14,69 m), Matija Šestak (best white performer in 400 m at WC - Sevilla '99) and Gregor Cankar (National champion & record holder in long jump - PB 8,40 m)... Their photos are all presented below (Gif Animation) while we're preparing their personal home pages. They're to be ready within a month or so. Meanwhile (while we manage to translate the rest of our pages) you're welcome to our pages in Slovene - if you have any questions, please fill in the form and you'll get all your answers. In case you'd like to know more about our country, you're kindly invited to my pages (see links at the bottom).

We also host two great Athletes preparing themselves for the Sydney Olympics in our capital Ljubljana. Jamaican Merlene Ottey, one of the greatest female athletes of all times is getting ready for her last Olympiad under the guidance of Srdjan Djordjevic, while Joe Greene, American long jumper (bronze medallist at Barcelona & Atlanta Games) believes the experience of our ex-champion Borut Bilač (spouse & coach of our champion Britta and also a coach of our triple jumper Anja Valant) can help him improve his performance in Sydney.

 As you may have noticed, links to the left are translated but they lead to pages in Slovene, so please, be patient - translations are in progress...

But besides our track & field pages we've prepared information on some very special and extreme achievements where Slovenians take part or play the main role. Some of the events of the kind are about to happen in the near future and well try to cover them. Lets just mention some of them:

Stane Klemenc	Davo Karničar	Dušan Mravlje

• our extreme skier Davo Karnicar plans to be the first one to ski from the "roof" of the planet - Mount Everest. The event is planned to happen in August

• one of our great mountaineers and photographers, Stane Klemenc is on his way to The North Pole

• marathoner Dusan Mravlje promises to win extreme 'Hi-Tec Badwater' marathon through The dead Valley deserts in the USA

• our alpine climbers Pavle Kozjek and Marjan Kovac are on their way to South American mountains where they intend to climb on Jirishance

• also one of our best alpine climbers Silvo Karo with his friend Mauro Bole - Bubu from Triest - Italy is trying to climb over some extremely difficult peaks in the Valley of Paron in S. America

All the events mentioned above are covered live (so far in Slovene only) on The Internet at: http://www.extremekanal.com/ and will be covered through our English pages as well.

The Editor  

Ljubljana, July 12.

It's been announced today that our champion in 100 m hurdles, Brigita Bukovec (second at the Games in Atlanta 1996) is getting back to the track after she's been operated a month ago. Her come back is timed for the meeting in Triest, Italy in 14 days.

After that Brigita will try to "catch the train" for the Olympics in Sydney (she has to reconfirm her entry standard). We all hope she'll be able to do it soonest possible - if not at the mentioned meeting.

Ljubljana, 11. julij

According to the latest IAAF's list of the best athletes, published a few days ago, there are two our athletes at the "Top 20 list":

- Alenka Bikar, our record holder & national champion in 100 and 200 m (her coach is Jure Kastelic) is ranked No. 12 in the world

- Gregor Cankar, improved his ratings after having had some series of jumps over 8 m and is ranked 6.th in the world (his coach is Srdjan Djordjevic - recently more spoken of as Merlene Ottey's coach)

We should, however not forget our triple-jump champion Anja Valant (at the photo to the right) who recently had  a series of jumps over 14 m - and that puts her in the third position in the world this year. We also have to mention Roman Kejzar, who still holds 50.th position in marathon this year in the world, as well as some other athletes (girls foremost) that are getting better and better in the pre-Olympic season.