Idowu to test Randy Lewis at European Athletics Permit Meeting in Chania

Idowu to test Randy Lewis at European Athletics Permit Meeting in Chania | 28.05.2008

World Indoor Triple Jump Champion Philips
Idowu (GBR) will go head-to-head with
Randy Lewis next weekend.
Photo by Picture Alliance.

Britain's World Indoor Triple Jump Champion Phillips Idowu will clash with Grenada's top jumper Randy Lewis in the men's Triple Jump at the 60th Venizelia to be held in the Chania National Stadium (GRE) on 7 June, 2008.

For Idowu, the champion in this event in 2001 when he leaped 17.33m, this will be his first outing of the season, however if he is in anything like the form he displayed at the World Indoors in Valencia, Spain this March, then the 29-year-old Brit will definitely cause a stir as his campaign progresses.

Idowu enjoyed the best jumping season of his career at the start of this year, culminating in his World Indoor title with a life time best distance for both indoor and outdoor, of 17.75m. He was responsible for three of the World's top ten indoor jumps - (17.75 (1), 17.24m (8), 17.21 (9), as well as posting five results over 17m. His world-leading 2008 indoor mark was also a British national record.

Meanwhile, the Triple Jump competition has been drawing a lot of attention this season, and Venizelia Meeting Director, Sakis Kouvatsos, believes the clash between the Idowu and Lewis will definitely be one of the highlights in Chania.

"I think that this event will be one of the best in the meeting," Kouvatsos said. "We will have a great Triple Jump competition this year."

Randy Lewis has also enjoyed spectacular form recently - winning three successive crowns at the IAAF Grand Prix series thus far, as well as setting indoor and outdoor National records and personal bests during his progression.

However, Kouvatsos has confirmed that Idowu will be faced with more than just Randy Lewis, who will be competing at Venizelia for the fourth time.

"This year he (Lewis) will have to face Idowu," he said. "[But] Kostas Zalagitis (GRE), Alexander Martinez (CUB) and Danil Burkenya (RUS) are all athletes capable of winning this competition."

Kouvatsos believes that the electric atmosphere in the Chania stadium will encourage athletes to push themselves to best performances,

"Our stadium and spectators really help. I think that most of the athletes will be able to make a P.B. this year."

The top British jumper so far in this outdoor season is Nathan Douglas, who boasts a mark of 16.73m, a mark he intends to improved as the grand prix season peaks.

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