LONDON, UK – Champion quarter-miler Kirani James is set to race for the first time next week since he created history by becoming the first Grenadian to win Olympic gold.
Nineteen-year-old James is among Olympic stars to compete in the Gugl meeting in the far flung Austrian city of Linz from Monday.
Austria’s third largest city is located in the north centre of the country, about 19 miles south of the Czech border.
American sprinter Carmelita Jeter the women’s 100 metres world champion outdoors in 2011, has already confirmed her presence.
The world and Olympic 400m champion, James is also among a handful of Caribbean athletes which have signed for the meet including Cuba’s 2008 Olympic Games 100m hurdles champion and world record holder Dayron Robles.
The Gugl meet will come exactly two weeks after James won his Olympic title in London and sparked celebrations in Grenada and elsewhere in the eastern Caribbean.
James’ Olympic gold medal was a first for the Eastern Caribbean sub grouping.
He also became the first non-American to clock sub-44 seconds when he ran a world leading 43.94.
The Grenadian champion is also expected to fulfill some Diamond League commitments before departing Europe next month. (CMC)





