Spotakova the star name at European Athletics Premium Meeting in Linz

Newly-crowned World Javelin Champion, Barbora Spotakova, will headline the action at the European Athletics Premium Meeting in Linz, Austria tonight, where crowds of up to 15,000 people are expected gather at the city's Gugl Stadium for the 20th anniversary of the Linz Gugl-Meeting.
The 26-year-old Heptathlete turned Javelin specialist, wowed the Osaka crowds with her 67.07m Czech record and winning throw last week.

Spotakova, who is now ranked 7th in the World all-time lists, will no doubt be looking to better Louise Currey-McPaul's 1999 meeting record of 66.03m. Russia's, rising star, 2005 European Junior Champion and Osaka finalist, Mayria Abakumova, could also be one to watch in this event.

The 110m Hurdles are a traditional strength in Linz, and this year is no exception, with half of the Osaka finalists reunited. Ukrainian Sergiy Demidyuk, whose National record of 13.22 put him in sixth place in Osaka, is the strongest European representative in this event.

Strong European performances are also expected in the women's 1,000m particularly from Polish World leader, Anna Rostkowska. Rostkowska'a leading time of 2:36.95 is expected to be challenged, as in both 2005 and 2006 the World leading times were achieved in Gugl Stadium.

In the women's 800m, three athletes are in contention for top honours, having achieved high quality two lap times of less than 2 minutes: seventh finisher in Osaka, Svetlana Klyuka (RUS), 2006 European Indoor bronze medallist, Svetlana Cherkasova, and European Indoor silver medallist, Tatyana Petlyuk (UKR).

The men's 3000m Steeplechase should also be a huge crowd pleaser, with the return of local hero, Gunther Weidlinger, after his fall in the opening rounds of Osaka. Weidlinger won in Linz in 2000, and after seven years he is seeking revenge on the tough Kenyan competition.

The men's Long Jump and Pole Vault will also prove to be big crowd attractions. There are five Osaka finalists making an appearance in the Long Jump, with former European Champion, Oleksiy Lukasevich (UKR) favourite to win.

The World Indoor Pole Vault bronze medallist, Tim Lobinger (GER) will be seeking his fifth Linz win, but team-mate Bjorn Otto, and 22-year-old Russian sensation, Yevgeniy Lukyanenko, are not going to let that happen without a fight.

Former World Shot Put Champion, Nadezhda Ostapchuk (BEL) is also tipped to make a splash in Linz. After settling for a disappointing second place in Osaka, the 26-year-old is in fiery form and favourite to win in the women's event.

Start list from EAA homepage

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