2004 Season

30 December 2004: End-of-the-year world rankings
At the end of 2004 the IAAF World Rankings puts Merlene Ottey in 19th position over 100 metres (topped by Yuliya Nesterenko) and 38th over 200 metres (topped by Veronica Campbell). The six best performances one year back of each athlete is used to calculate the event score. The following is registrered for Merlene Ottey over 100 metres: 

21 November 2004: Athlete of the year awards in Slovenia
Olympic bronze medallist Jolanda Ceplak was named Slovenia's female athlete-of-the-year for 2004 by the Slovenian athletics federation (AZS) on Saturday evening. Ceplak, who ran to a bronze medal finish in the 800m in Athens and earned a silver medal at the World Indoor Championships in March, took top honours for the third consecutive season. Merlene Ottey was the women's runner-up in the awards, with distance runner Helena Javornik third.

18 November 2004: Jamaica to honour Ottey with statue
A statue of Merlene Ottey will be erected in Jamaica despite her decision to switch allegiance to Slovenia. The statue, which is currently under construction, is scheduled to be completed by February 2005 with a statement from the country's Urban Development Corporation stating it will be officially unveiled next year. The organisation also said the statue was shipped overseas to be bronzed at a cost of $1.1million, which was approved by the Sports Development Foundation earlier this year. Ottey, Jamaica's most decorated sprinter, caused national controversy when she accepted Slovenian citizenship in 2002.
Source: IAAF Article

9 August 2004: New mail address for the Merlene Ottey Fanclub
From today the Merlene Ottey Fanclub has changed it's e-mail address. From now on please address all your inquiries to otteyfanclub@yahoo.com. 

3 August 2004: Ottey shines brightly in Liege
At the Meeting International d'Athlétisme de la Province de Liége this evening Merlene Ottey shined brightly and showed that she will be a factor to be reckoned with at the Olympic Games in just two weeks. She ran a new Slovenian record of 11.09 sec. and was well ahead of Natasha Mayers. The time is also the 14th fastest this season and more interestingly is the 10th fastest among the women who is gonna participate over 100 metres in Athens.

100 metres women – heat A (wind: 2.0):
1. Merlene Ottey (SLO): 11.09 sec. (NR)
2. Natasha Mayers (VIN): 11.16 sec.
3. Peta-Gaye Dowdie (JAM): 11.45 sec.
4. Lien Huygebaert (BEL): 11.58 sec.  
5. Melanie Kleeberg (AUS): 11.59 sec.
6. Katleen de Caluwe (BEL): 11.62 sec.
7. Sandra Swennen (BEL): 11.84 sec.
8. Nancy Callaerts (BEL): 11.89 sec.

2 August 2004: Extensive interview with Merlene Ottey
Read the full interview with Merlene Ottey from her stay in Estonia (translation by Estonian fanclub member Kalvi Noormägi).

31 July 2004: Merlene improves yet again with Slovenian record in Belgium
The KBC Night of Athletics in Heusden-Zolder (Belgium) was the night of home favourite Kim Gevaert as far as the women's sprint goes, but it was certainly also the night of 44 year old Merlene Ottey. With the night going into the Olympic month she showed again her increasing form by running a new Slovenian record in the 100 metres improving to 11.17 sec. World indoor silver medallist Kim Gevaert capitalized on her good start and was in a clear lead out of the blocs, but Ottey and Vida Anim almost caught up with her on the line and the pair tied in 11.17 sec, but Ottey was given third place. "This is a national Slovenian record" said Ottey when her 11.17 sec. appeared on the board. Both Anim in second (11.17 sec.) and Gevaert in first place (11.14 sec.) set new national records. 1½ hours later Ottey ran her second-best 200 metres of the year by finishing third to Kim Gevaert and European champion Muriel Hurtis.

http://www.kbcnacht.be

26 July 2004: Presentation of Slovenian Olympic athletes
Today Merlene Ottey took part in the presentation of Slovenia's squad for the Olympic Games. Among others Merlene Ottey was in focus since she will be the first athlete ever (across all sports) to participate in seven Olympic Games.
Pictures from the event
Preview: Merlene Ottey's 7th participation at the Olympic Games  

22 July 2004: Merlene may run in Belgium
After her magnificient win in Tallinn Merlene Ottey said that she plans to run a few races in Belgium before the Olympics. Therefore she will run at the KBC Night of Athletics in Heusden-Zolder on 31 July.

After the race Merlene Ottey said that she has not trained much over 200 metres this season and furthermore the tough competition in the race kept her from finishing higher than 6^th. For the first time she stated that she is not sure if she will end her career after the Olympic Games - it all depends on her performance at the Games.

Officially Merlene Ottey is now listed as one of 15 track and field athletes from Slovenia qualified for the Olympic Games (http://www.dnevnik.si/clanekb.asp?id=88812)

15 July 2004: Merlene Ottey plans to run in Estonia on 21 July
According to an Estonian media report Merlene Ottey plans to compete at the EAA meeting in Tallinn (Estonia) on Wednesday 21 July 2004. More will follow on this site as information becomes available.
The EAA meeting Tallinn 2004 does not have a website (Estonian Athletic Federation).
[Thanks to Kalvi Noormägi for assistance with Estonian media reports]

6 July 2004: Merlene Ottey cancels race in Lausanne
For unknown reasons Merlene Ottey has cancelled her race today at the IAAF Super Grand Prix in Lausanne.

3 July 2004: Ottey 4th over 200 metres in San Sebastian
At the GP Ciudad de San Sebastian Reebok Trophy in San Sebastian (Spain) today Merlene again tried her luck over the 200 metres in order to pursue the possibility of qualifying for Olympic Games over the distance. The 44-year old was beaten by three athletes in their mid-twenties and came some way short of running the 22.97 sec. A-norm for the Olympic Games. The race was won by Cydonie Mothersill of the Cayman Islands.

200 metre final (wind: +0.9):
1. Cydonie Mothersill (CAY): 22.68 sec.
2. Sylviane Felix (FRA): 22.91 sec.
3. Lauren Hewitt (AUS): 23.23 sec.
4. Merlene Ottey (SLO): 23.38 sec.
5. Roxana Diaz (CUB): 23.41 sec.
6. Julia Alba (ESP): 24.03 sec.
7. Belen Recio (ESP): 24.07 sec.

Results from San Sebastian: http://www.european-athletics.org/res/meetings/meetres040703b.php

1 July 2004: Merlene Ottey to run at IAAF Super Grand Prix Lausanne
It has been confirmed that Merlene Ottey will run the 100 metres at the IAAF Super Grand Prix in Lausanne on 6 July. Merlene Ottey will be up against a fast field of young 100 metre runners – probably the best field so far this season:

The meeting will be shown live on Eurosport on Tuesday starting at 20.00. The women’s 100 metres is scheduled at 21.30. There will be a press conference with athletes on 5 July 14.00 at Hotel Mövenpick in Lausanne. Some of the big names will take part – it is not yet known whether Merlene Ottey will be present.

25 June 2004: Merlene opts out of Slovenian meeting in Velenje
Due to chilly conditions Merlene Ottey decided not to compete today in Slovenia’s premiere annual athletics event (the ninth Minerfest EAA Meeting), in the athletics-crazed northern city of Velenje. In Ottey's absence Alenka Bikar showed good form. Two days after equalling her national record over the 200 metres (22.76 sec.) in Crete, Alenka Bikar was the easy winner in the short dash, clocking 11.32 sec., despite a cautious reaction after an initial false start. More at: http://www.iaaf.org/news/Kind=2/newsId=25745.html
News on Merlene’s participation at the meeting (22 June): http://www.dnevnik.si/clanekb.asp?id=87059

Result (points): Italy (126.5), Finland (104), Hungary (101), Portugal (88), Netherlands (82), Slovenia (79), Switzerland (77) and Turkey (62.5).

Ottey was very satisfied since she for the second time in a row won for Slovenia at the European Cup. “With the Slovenian national team I have once again the feeling of my youth when I  represented the team of University of Nebraska (and Jamaica). Such type of competitions do motivate me since it is a special happening. I hope that I will continue so successfully the rest of my season.”
[Thanks to Marjeta Bitjak for help with translations from Slovenian media reports]

8 June 2004: European Cup preview
Merlene Ottey's next race will be at the European Cup First League (Group B) in Istanbul on 19-20 June. The women's competition will be between the following countries: Finland, Hungary, Italy, Netherlands, Portugal, Slovenia, Switzerland and Turkey. The 100 metres and the 4 x 100 metre relay is scheduled for Saturday and the 200 metres for Sunday.

More at: www.ecistanbul2004.org

5-6 June 2004: Two wins for Ottey at Slovenian Cup
At the Slovenian Cup meeting between the best Slovenian athletics clubs in Nova Gorica, Merlene Ottey wrapped up two wins on Saturday – one over 100 metres (11.45 sec.) and one in the short relay (45.74 sec.) with her teammates from the MASS Ljubljana club (Koštomaj, Žumer, Kop, Ottey). The 200 metres was contested on Sunday, but here Merlene Ottey was beaten into second by Alenka Bikar, which is the fastest Slovenian women over that distance this season. Overall winner of the Slovenian Cup was MASS Ljubljana.

1 June 2004: Ottey to run at Slovenian Cup over the weekend
At the end of the week Merlene Ottey will compete at the Slovenian Cup in Nova Gorica. Here she will also contest in the 4 x 100 metres, which she was also supposed to have run in Hengelo together with her Slovenian teammates. This did not happen because Kristina Žumer had muscle pains and Alenka Bikar cancelled the competition because of the European Club Cup in Moscow the same weekend. The normal fourht runner, Maja Nose, will not compete any more this season because of an operation she has had on her achilles.
[Thanks to Marjeta Bitjak for help with translations from Slovenian media reports on www.siol.net]

26 May 2004: Interview with Merlene Ottey
Under the headline "Evergreen Merlene is preparing for the 7th Olympics" there has been a short report and interview with Merlene Ottey in the biggest Estonian newspaper, Postimees. With help from Estonian fanclub member Kalvi Noormägi a translation of Merlene's quotes is brougt below:

On the last few years of her career Ottey states: "After the nervous year and the Olympics, I needed some time to think about the future". "Now I want to represent my new homeland, Slovenia at the Olympics”. 
On her season debut over 100 metres in the USA: "I had very feeble start". "At the finish the distance between me and Jones was more than 2 meters. Last season I ran 100 metres in 11.22 sec. Considering that, it seems to me that I am able to achieve the norm for the Olympics".
Ottey says that she has no chance for a medal in Athens. "Maybe there will be so many false starts, that I will be the only one who is competing". "Sport gives me pleasure. As long as I enjoy the running, I will continue. I hope it’s not too late".

20 May 2004: Ottey vs. Jones in California
Almost four years after their last clash at the Sydney Olymics it is now time again for a battle over 100 metres between Merlene Ottey and Marion Jones. In Sydney Jones won the 100 metres and Ottey was fourth, but in the short relay final Ottey led Jamaica to silver on the last leg beating Jones into third. Merlene Ottey is still the only athlete to have beaten Marion Jones more than once at different individual races (Zürich and Tokyo in 1997).

This time the two big track stars will meet at the Home Depot Invitational meeting at the Home Depot Center in Carson, California. They will compete in "VERIZON Women’s 100 meters". Ottey will be running in lane 4 alongside Jones in lane 5. Other participants in the race include LaKeisha Backus, Angela Daigle and Rachelle Boone - all Americans. Details at: http://www.usatf.org/events/2004/GoldenSpikeTour-Outdoor/MediaInfo/

After weeks of training in the USA Merlene Ottey is ready to run her first 100 metre race of this Olympic season. To qualify for a record-breaking 7th Olympic participation she will need to run 11.30 sec. over 100 metres and 22.97 sec. over 200 metres ("A" requirement).

29 April 2004: Bikar tops European 200 metre list - Ottey is 7th
After her season opener of 23.84 sec. in California Merlene Ottey is ranked 7th over 200 metres on the European Rankings. The European list is topped by Merlene's Slovenian teammate Alenka Bikar, who ran 23.19 sec. at a meeting in Martinique.

24 April 2004: Merlene Ottey opens season with 23.84 sec.
San Diego's Monique Henderson lined up side-by-side with seven-time Olympic medallist Merlene Ottey in the women's 200-meter sprint at the Triton Invitational. Henderson set a personal best with a time of 23.03 sec. leading from the start to beat Ottey, who followed in 23.84 sec. "It's always great to beat someone who's great, someone who has become a legend. It was fun", said Henderson, looking to return to the Olympics this year after representing the United States as a relay team member in 2000. Henderson, 21, entered yesterday's race without realizing she would be running against Ottey, 44, who won her first Olympic medal in 1980. A native of Jamaica, Ottey has acknowledged she is bidding for her final Olympics this year. "I didn't even know she was in the race until they announced it. I wanted to run a good time, but there was definitely a fear factor there", Henderson said. "I just tried to get out really hard. I know that I have strength coming home". (Source)

22 April 2004: Merlene Ottey to open outdoor season in California
A stellar field, including seven-time Olympic Medallist Merlene Ottey, highlights this weekend's UCSD Triton Invitational taking place Friday and Saturday, April 23-24 at the Triton Track and Field Stadium (La Jolla, California). Over 800 athletes representing nearly 100 college and club teams as well national team members from several nations will compete on Friday and Saturday. Ottey will be running against a top field in the 200 meters, including Monique Henderson, former Morse High School standout from San Diego. Henderson is the National High School 400 Meter Record Holder and is currently attending UCLA.

22 March 2004: Latest world rankings
The latest IAAF World Rankings puts Merlene Ottey in 16th position over 100 metres, while Kelli White tops the list and newly crowned World Indoor Champion is on 8th place. The 6 best performances one year back of each athlete is used to calculate the event score. The following is registrered for Merlene Ottey: 

Over 200 metres Merlene Ottey is featured as no. 20 with the following performances:

The Top 5's look like this:

11 March 2004: Interview with Merlene Ottey
43-year old Jamaican legend Merlene Ottey is attempting to repeat her accomplishment from last years Championship in Birmingham, where she finished 4.th at 60 m race. She says she is not prepared as she was for Birmingham, which seems to be normal, as many top ranked athletes focuses on Olympics in Athens in August this year. Yet, the Jamaican born Slovene is our only hope for an echoing achievement at 60 m in Budapest, since she already has a 7,26 this season, which is only 6/100 slower than her finale race in Birmingham.

What do you as an Ambassador of Sport think of doping affairs that have become so common lately. How do you feel this is going to affect the sports community in common?
I think this is the good policy of the IAAF to be so strict and rigorous regarding the drug abuse. I think that punishing Dwain Chambers and some American athletes was correct action of the IAAF. What is more worrying is that the fact that so many sportsmen got "caught", proves that control is getting better and better and it became significantly more efficient than some 20 years ago. Little was known at that time, yet many abuses took part. Looking at the latest affairs from that point of view I think it can only have a positive impact on the sports community.

Can we expect more rigorous and more efficient control over drug abuse at this World Championship and at the Olympic Games? More controlling, perhaps?
I don't think so. The control is being strict and accurate enough at the time being. Affairs we were hearing about in the near past proves it. However, everything is possible. We shall see soon. We only need to wait a few weeks to see.

What are your expectations at the end of this winter part of the Season. Are you capable of repeating the Birmingham accomplishment? Can you improve your fourth place at 60 m?
Oh, I really don't know. At present I'm not as fast as I used to be last year at the same time. I have some trouble improving my techniques and all I wish is to be able to finally get rid of that problems. I will most certainly try to qualify for the second race, possibly even into finals. We'll see. At 60 m race where only one false start is allowed it all depends on your daily shape. I hope I'll have a good one in Budapest.

You are probably focusing on the summer season, especially on the greatest event of all the sport events - Olympic Games in Athens, don't you?
Of course!. This season, as well as in the past few seasons I'm focusing on 200 m race mostly. I'm convinced I can still be very fast at this distance and achieve a good results. That is why I concentrated mostly on preparing for the 200 m race during this Winter. Despite the fact, that I don't like running the indoor curves at all, I have competed indoors 200 m as well for one reason only. I wanted to start my preparation at this distance as soon as possible, just to gain enough self-confidence I have lost in the past season for well known reasons.

Is it hard to be in a top shape in the season with two tops required? This week you have World Championship while the Olympic Games are coming soon as well.
To tell you the truth - it is even better and easier for me. It's really refreshing, especially at the 60 m distance which is not ran outdoors. After the World Championship on March 7.th, the winter season ends and I can start preparing for my main events outdoors. The Indoors season is important, of course, but not as much as the Outdoors one. Many athletes simply ignore the indoors competitions - in Birmingham, last year there were no 60 m top ranked athletes at all. The fact is, however, that running well indoors doesn't mean you'll be running as fast outdoors, while vice versa is true, too. World Champions at 60 m, both male and female, didn't show up in Birmingham last year at all.

Simon Kavčič - for Siol (translated by Edvard Bogataj)

5 March 2004: Ottey out in the semifinal of the World Indoor Championships
History repeated itself as Merlene Ottey again was left behind after a photo finish decision in a major championship. In the semifinals of the women's 60 metres at the World Indoor Championships she had the 8th fastest time (7.21 sec.) shared with American Torri Edwards, who ran in one of the other semifinals. After a review of the photo finish Edwards was given the place in the final although it was initially anounced on TV that Merlene Ottey had been given the spot. In the morning's heat Merlene finished second to 37 year old veteran Gail Devers, who later went on to win the final.

Women 60 metre final: 1. Gail Devers (USA): 7.08 sec. (SB) 2. Kim Gevaert Kim BEL 7.12 sec (NR) 3. Yuliya Nesterenko (BLR): 7.12 sec. 4. Torri Edwards (USA): 7.16 sec. 5. Muriel Hurtis (FRA): 7.17 sec (SB) 6. Yuliya Tabakova (RUS): 7.17 sec. 7. Christine Arron (FRA): 7.21 sec. 8. Natalya Safronnikova (BLR): 7.23 sec.

Results from Budapest World Indoor Championships:

Women 60 metre semifinal 3: 1. Christine Arron (FRA) 7.14 sec. 2. Natalya Safronnikova  (BLR) 7.18 sec. 3. Merlene Ottey  (SLO) 7.21 sec. 4. Debbie Ferguson  (BAH) 7.32 sec. 5. Yeoryía Koklóni (GRE) 7.33 sec. 6. Joice Maduaka (GBR) 7.36 sec. 7. Enikö Szabo (HUN) 7.40 sec. 8. Kadiatou Camara (MLI) 7.47 sec. Women 60 metre heat 5: 1. Gail Devers (USA) 7.15 sec. 2. Merlene Ottey (SLO) 7.27 sec. 3. Natalya Safronnikova (BLR) 7.32 sec. 4. Enikö Szabó (HUN) 7.37 sec. 5. Agné Eggerth (LTU) 7.42 sec. 6. Endurance Ojokolo (NGR) 7.44 sec. 7. A. M. de Jesus (ANG) 7.75 sec. 8. Heather Samuel (ANT) DNS Other results

Photo finish from the womens semifinal heat 3 (Ottey third)

28 February 2004: Slovenian team for the IAAF World Indoor Championships
Merlene Ottey and Jolanda Ceplak will lead the Slovenian contingent for the World Indoor Championship in Budapest, Hungary, 5-7 March 2004. 43-year-old Merlene Ottey is entered in the 60 metres, where she was a fourth place finisher in 2003. She is no stranger to global championships held in Budapest. When Budapest hosted the second World Indoor Championships in 1989, Ottey dashed to a stunning win in the 200 metres, and claimed silver over 60 metres. Also entered in the 60 metres together with Ottey is Alenka Bikar. (Source: IAAF article)

Official document (from the Slovenian Athletics Federation) with the full Slovenian team.

21 February 2004: Ottey wins indoor 60 metres in Slovenia
At a meeting in Sempeter pri Gorici (Slovenia) Merlene Ottey ran the second fastest indoor 60 metres ever run in Slovenia, when winning the race in 7.26 sec (fastest race is 7.25 sec. run by Jerneja Perc). Ottey said that she was partly satisfied with her race although the result will not get her into the final in Budapest (World Indoor Champs). She admits she still has some technical difficulties that need to be improved over the next couple of weeks. Merlene's coach said that she gets up to early from the start position and she is not able to use all her energy towards the end of the race. On her upcoming participation in the World Indoor Championship Merlene Ottey was humble as usual, when stating: "I will run the 60 metres and I hope I can get to the final. I run as well as I can".

 

9 January 2004: Merlene in training camp in Malta Merlene Ottey is currently in Malta for a two-week training camp as part of her preparations for the start of the athletics season. Ottey is scheduled to leave Malta on January 23. This is her first visit to Malta and her first impressions are extremely positive. "I'm really pleased with what I have found here in Malta," Ottey told The Malta Times on 9 January after a training session at the Marsa athletic track. "The training facilities at the Fortina Hotel are outstanding and the athletics track in Marsa is very good as well. It's a pity that not many top athletes are aware of what Malta can offer. After this visit, I will be doing my part to lure other athletes to this beautiful island," Ottey added. Ottey came to know about the athletics facilities in Malta during the World Athletics Championships held in Paris last August. "Everything started last August in Paris. I was talking with some athletes and officials from the Malta Amateur Athletics Association (MAAA) about Malta. It was they who urged me to consider Malta as a possible training camp venue during winter. During this time of the year, I normally choose training venues where there are mild temperatures as I kick off my preparations for the indoor season. Usually, I end up travelling as far as the US, in either Florida or California. Malta is a much nearer destination and when the chance came, I definitely preferred to make the shorter trip to the centre of the Mediterranean... a decision I am delighted to have made." Ottey said that her first official competitive appearance this season will be on February 1 when she will take part in the Moscow Indoor meeting. "My first aim of the season is to get in shape for the 60-metre sprint event at the Indoor World Championship, which will be held in Budapest, Hungary in the first week of March. I'm pleased about how my preparations are going at the moment and hopefully I will go into the World Indoor Championship in top shape." (Full article from Times of Malta) 1 January 2004: Main goal for Merlene is Athens Ahead of the 2004 athletics season Merlene Ottey has stated: "Athens is still my main goal of the season. Although I have been in the business for over 20 years, the hunger to collect an Olympic medal is still there. I just hope to be able to maintain my fitness and sharpness to arrive for this prestigious event in top form."

Ottey at the 1995 World Champs in Gothenburg   2003 portrait of Merlene Ottey

News from the year 2003 can be read at: jmno-news2003.htm

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