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News04 Jul 2001


Angelo Taylor looks forward to new clash with Diagana

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Angelo Taylor looks forward to new clash with Diagana
Nick Davies for the IAAF

5 July 2001 - There is nothing like a local hero to whip up the crowd, and with over 45,000 spectators expected to pour into the Stade de France this Friday for the Meeting Gaz de France, the promoters must be delighted with the return to form of Stephane Diagana.

Now 31, Diagana became one of the most popular men in French sport after he beat the favourite Bryan Bronson to win 400m hurdles gold at the 1997 World Championships. But injury affected his preparations in 1999 (although he still won silver in Seville) and particularly in 2000, where he was restricted to just one race – in Paris.

But although many have written him off, Diagana ran a superb race in Lausanne last night. He led the Olympic champion Angelo Taylor for most of the race, losing out on the run-in but still clocking 48.08 to Taylor’s 47.95.

Taylor has not raced Diagana much over recent seasons, but he has the highest respect for the European record holder. “He has had a lot of problems in recent seasons but he is a great hurdler. I remember how well he dominated the World Championships in Athens in 1997. If he is in the race, then you know he will take it out hard from the gun. If you let him get too far ahead you’ll be in trouble. In Lausanne, I didn’t think I was going to catch him. But I put in a burst of speed coming off the last hurdle and was pleased that I felt so strong.”

But Diagana is also complimentary about his 22 year-old rival summing him up as: “the one man who can take our event into a new dimension.”

Taylor is not so sure:  “I know the world record [46.78] is within my capability but I’m looking for it. I just want to run to the level of my competitors. If someone runs 48.00 I will run 47.9 and if they run 47.00 I will run 46.9 … But I also think there are a lot of people out there who can win titles. It is wrong to judge people from their first races, as they will step it up for the World Championships.”

Still only 22 years old, this native of Atlanta who was famously inspired to make athletics his career after watching his hometown Olympics in 1996, has made a relaxed start to the 2001 season. But then it won’t be easy to match his achievements of 2000, when he won two Olympic golds and the title of Men’s Overall Champion in the IAAF Grand Prix.

“The one thing I am trying to do is be relaxed. I try and learn from every race. I also don’t want to dwell in the past. Yes, I was Olympic champion last year but 2001 is a completely different year. I have to stay focused and realise that I have to carry on training even harder than in the past.”

It is not just Taylor’s speed – he has run 44.89 and won gold with the 4x400m team in Sydney – but his technique and tactical sense that worry his rivals. He has spent the winter trying to make his hurdle clearances smoother and more relaxed, and is also aware that he can run the race hard from the gun, like Diagana, or with a kick finish, like the Italian Fabrizio Mori, Diagana’s successor as world champion. “I have run easy in recent races. My tactic has been to get to the seventh hurdle with a lot of composure and then attack with everything I’ve got, to be sure of a fast time.”

The IAAF Golden League is supposed to be about head-to-head competition and the 400m hurdles on Friday certainly offers that. Not only will the crowd get to see a local hero take on an Olympic champion – but they will also see a race that will be go all the way to the line.

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