On 10 May Merlene Ottey could celebrate her own 49th birthday. While in Orlando, Merlene Ottey also had time to celebrate the birthday of Jamaica's no. 1 sprinter, Veronica Campbell. 

Sources: IAAF Online Diaries (VCB) & Sunday Times

March 2009: No indoor races for Merlene
There will be no indoor races from Merlene Ottey in 2009. 

10 September 2008: Final of the 2008 Slovenian Atletics League
Merlene Ottey finished her 2008 season with a tight win at the final of the Slovenian athletic League 2008. The final was held in Brezice and Ottey won the 100 metre final just 1/100 second ahead of Sabina Veit.

Result of 100 metre final (wind: -0.3):
1. Merlene Ottey (SLO): 11.74 sec.
2. Sabina Veit (SLO): 11.75 sec.
3. Alenka Bikar (SLO: 11.98 sec.

Source: SIOL

Merlene Ottey & Sabina Veit in Brezice

Source: Leichtathletik.de

Result of 100 metre final (wind: -0.3):
1. Verena Sailer (GER): 11.71 sec.
2. Merlene Ottey (SLO): 11.83 sec. 
3. Katja Wakan (GER): 11.97 sec. 
4. Maike Pietsch (GER): 12.66 sec. 
5. Maria Seifert (GER): 14.82 sec. 
-. Isabelle Foerder (GER): DNS

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GKy_KOkSps8

1980 Moscow: 1 bronze
1984 Los Angeles: 2 bronze
1988 Seoul: (4th place)
1992 Barcelona: 1 bronze
1996 Atlanta: 2 silver, 1 bronze
2000 Sydney: 1 silver (+ maybe 1 bronze)
2004 Athens: (semifinal)

8 medals in total = record for a female track & field athlete

26 July 2008: Ottey racing through bad weather in Wolfsberg
Thunder and bad weather accompanied athletes at the athletics meeting in Wolfsberg (Austria) and made conditions for track and field rather difficult. The best conditions were at the beginning of the meeting and so the 100 metre heat saw better results than the final. After the disappointment following her failed Olympic qualification Merlene Ottey took the victory in both the heat and in the final of the women's 100 metres - with 11.69 sec. (close to her season best) as the better result. 

Result of 100 metre final (wind: 0.0):
1. Merlene Ottey (SLO): 11.91 sec.
2. Doris Röser (AUT): 11.94 sec.
3. Betina Germann (AUT): 12.46 sec.
4. Lisa Holzfeind (AUT): 12.55 sec.  

Result of 100 metre heat (wind: 0.1):
1. Merlene Ottey (SLO): 11.69 sec.
2. Doris Röser (AUT): 11.78 sec.
3. Betina Germann (AUT): 12.29 sec.
4. Lisa Holzfeind (AUT): 12.48 sec.

23 July 2008: Ottey mised out on record-breaking eighth Olympics in a row
At an athletics meeting in her new home country Slovenia Ottey missed out on the mark needed by just 0.28 seconds. Ottey has taken part in every Olympics since Moscow 1980, and her tally of eight medals is more than any other woman in track and field. She ran for Slovenia at Athens 2004 after six Olympics in Jamaican colours. At the Athen Games aged 44 she only missed out on the 100 metre final by 0.03 seconds. At the 2000 Olympics, she won a relay silver for Jamaica to become the oldest female track and field Olympic medalist (aged 40). In total Ottey competed in 53 Olympic races and in 14 finals, both records.  

Her Slovenian coach Srdjan Djordjevic says Ottey is determined not to give up trying to compete at the highest level. "She will still train simply because she can still run very fast," he said. On the race in Maribor Robert Rudelic of the Athletic Club Poljane told Reuters: "Conditions were bad. She had wind in her chest and she missed the qualifying time by 28 hundredths of a second."

Result of 100 metre final (wind: -0.3):
1. Sabina Veit (SLO): 11.66 sec.
2. Merlene Ottey (SLO): 11.70 sec.
3. Maja Golub (CRO): 11.79 sec.
4. Sandra Parlov (CRO): 12.42 sec.
5. Danijela Dumic (CRO): 12.90 sec.

100 metre final at the Slovenian Champs in Maribor (wind: 2,0):
1. Pia Tajnikar (SLO): 11.52 sec.
2. Merlene Ottey (SLO): 11.61 sec.
3. Tina Murn (SLO): 11.71 sec. 
4. Nina Kovacic (SLO): 11.75 sec. 
5. Kristina Zumer (SLO): 11.78 sec.
6. Sara Strajnar (SLO): 12.17 sec. 
7. Teja Zupan (SLO): 12.24 sec.
-. Alenka Bikar (SLO): DNS

Slovenian Championships  

Source: The Independent

100 metre final at athletics meeting in Maribor, 11 July (wind: 1.3):
1. Maja Golub (CRO): 11.60 sec.
2. Merlene Ottey (SLO): 11.60 sec.
3. Tina Murn (SLO): 11.71 sec. 
4. Nina Kovacic (SLO): 11.82 sec. 
5. Betina German (SLO): 12.27 sec.
6. Anja Soklic (SLO): 13.39 sec.

http://www.atletska-zveza.si/files/rezultati/timing/2008/11072008.pdf

100 metre final at athletics meeting in Donnas, 13 July (wind: 2.6):
1. Amber Robinson (USA): 11.44 sec.
2. Merlene Ottey (SLO): 11.57 sec.
3. Aminata Diouf (SEN): 11.64 sec.
4. Kristina Zumer (SLO): 11.74 sec.
5. Giorgia Candiani (SUI): 11.77 sec.
6. Irene Pusterla (SUI): 12.04 sec. 

http://www.atletska-zveza.si/files/rezultati/2008/julij/rezultati/Donnas.pdf

5 July 2008: Ottey finishes second in Novo Mesto
Today Merlene Ottey appeared at the KRKA 2008 meeting at Stadion Portoval in Novo Mesto. Ottey won her heat in 11.80 sec. putting Alenka Bikar behind her by just 0.01 second. Though Ottey was not able to follow the heat win up in the final where she was beaten in to second place by Pia Tajnikar.

Source: 
AZS
www.atletskiklub-nm.si

Result of 100 metre final (wind: -0.9):
1. Pia Tajnikar (SLO): 11.71 sec.
2. Merlene Ottey (SLO): 11.90 sec.
3. Dimitrina Milkova (BUL): 12.36 sec.
4. Dasa Bajec (SLO): 12.74 sec.
5. Laura Strajnar (SLO): 12.81 sec.
6. Aida Kolman (SLO): 12.89 sec.
7. Kristina Zumer (SLO): DNS
8. Alenka Bikar (SLO): DNS

Result of 100 metre heat 1 (wind: -0.9):
1. Merlene Ottey (SLO): 11.80 sec.
2. Alenka Bikar (SLO): 11.81 sec.
3. Kristina Zumer (SLO): 12.19 sec.
4. Aida Kolman (SLO): 12.78 sec.
5. Petra Barboric (SLO): 13.77 sec.
6. Michaela Ardessi (ITA): DNS
7. Klara Hribar (SLO): DNS

3 July 2008: Ottey improves – Tajnikar achieves Olympic B norm
The Slovenian Grand Prix series saw some pretty fast female sprinting on Thursday evening in Maribor. Merlene Ottey improved her season best twice running 11.67 sec. as her fastest time. Most impressive was Pia Tajnikar, who ran 11.36 sec. in the final and thereby undercut the B standard for entry to the Olympic Games by 0.06 sec. Also Alenka Bikar was close to achieving the B standard by running 11.43 sec. in the heats and 11.44 sec. in the final. Merlene Ottey ran 11.87 sec. in the heats and 11.67 for fourth place in the final.

Source: http://www.adm98.org/docs/results.pdf

Result of 100 metre final (wind: 0.6):
1. Pia Tajnikar (SLO): 11.36 sec.
2. Bettina Müller (AUT): 11.42 sec.
3. Alenka Bikar (SLO): 11.44 sec.
4. Merlene Ottey (SLO): 11.67 sec.
5. Tina Murn (SLO): 11.69 sec.
6. Nina Kovacic (SLO): 11.75 sec.
7. Maja Mihalinec (SLO): DNS
8. Radmila Vukmirovic (SLO): DNS

Result of 100 metre heat 3 (wind: 0.0):
1. Bettina Müller (AUT): 11.54 sec.
2. Merlene Ottey (SLO): 11.87 sec.
3. Maja Nose (SLO): 12.09 sec.
4. Kristina Primc (SLO): 12.45 sec.
5. Stefanie Mrazek (AUT): 12.64 sec.
6. Teja Zupan (SLO): 12.78 sec.
7. Marinka Horvat (SLO): 13.98 sec. 

18 June 2008: Ottey withdraws from Celje meeting
Due to continued health problems Merlene Ottey has to withdraw from the athletic meeting in Celje tonight.

16 June 2008: Ottey takes part in Celje Grand Prix on Wednesday
Merlene Ottey should have recovered from the recent illness that kept her out of the Oslo Golden League meeting and will be on the start line at the Slovenian International Grand Prix series meeting in Celje on Wednesday 18 June. Ottey will be running the 100 metres and is looking to improve her season’s best and get closer to the Olympic qualification B standard of 11.42 sec. Her main competitors in the 100 metres will be fellow Slovenians Alenka Bikar and and Pia Tajnikar as well as Austrian Bettina Müller-Weissina. Merlene Ottey will not be part of the Slovenian team for the European Cup on 21-22 June.

Source: AD Kladivar athletic club

4 June 2008: Ill Ottey pulls out of the Bislett Games
An ill Merlene Ottey will probably pull out of the Bislett Games in Oslo, where she was supposed to have run in the 100 metre race. “Right now she cannot run due to illness, but we are waiting a bit before deciding anything” says manager Stefano Tilli.

Source: www.dagbladet.no

2 June 2008: Ottey on the start list at the Bislett Games
For the first time in several years Merlene Ottey will be running at a Golden League meeting. Organisers of the Bislett Games have managed to get Ottey on the start list for the 100 metre race this year. Among others Merlene Ottey will be running against Olympic champion Yuliya Nesterenko and European Champion Kim Gevaert.

Start list 100 metres:
OKPARAEBO, Ezinne NOR
BROOKS, Sherri Ann JAM
IDOKU, Ena Franca NGR
NESTARENKO, Yuliya BLS
AKINIEMY, Folake NOR
OTTEY, Merlene SLO
GEVART, Kim BEL
SOLOMON, Sholonda USA

http://www.bislettgames.com/2008/startlist.htm 

Merlene Ottey last appearance at the Bislett Games was when winning the 100 metres in 1996

1 June 2008: 11.92 season opener for Ottey
Merlene Ottey opened her 2008 campaign with a 11.92 sec. race in Ljubljana today. This was produced in the heats of the 100 metres at the national league meeting on the Ljubljana Stadium. Very strong head wind during the finals made it difficult for athletes in almost every one of today’s last sprint races. In the women’s 100 metre final the headwind was -2.5 mps. Under these difficult conditions Alenka Bikar won the race in 11.88 sec.

Result of 100 metre final (wind: -2.5):
1. Alenka Bikar (Oli): 11.88 sec.
2. Maja Mihalinec (Vel) 11.99 sec.
3. Nina Kovačič (Pos) 12.01 sec.
4. Pia Tajnikar (Mass) 12.07 sec.
5. Merlene Ottey (Mass) 12.15 sec.

Source: AZS

10 May 2008: Birthday
Merlene Ottey celebrated her 48^th birthday today with her relatives in California. She is supposed to return to Slovenia on Monday 12 May to make her final preparations before opening her 2008 season.

Merlene Ottey with Matic Osovnikar during warm-up in Ljubljana

30 April 2008: Michael Johnson predicts Ottey to go to the Olympics
Michael Johnson made an appearance on an online chat on the International Association of Athletics Federations (IAAF) web site (www.iaaf.org) today. Among other things Michael Johnson was asked to make some predictions for this year’s Olympics. In one of these he stated that Merlene Ottey will make her eighth Olympics at age 48. "Her career has been amazing. She ' s an example of a real hero in the sport”.

Source: http://www.rediff.com/sports/2008/apr/30johnson.htm

25 April 2008: Merlene Ottey involved with European Veterans Athletic Championships
The 16^th European Veterans Athletic Championships will take place at the Ljubljana Stadium from 23 July to 3 August 2008 . Athletes will compete in different age categories from 35+ to 95+. Merlene Ottey has been named to the honorary committee of the event. More information at: www.evacs2008.si 

1 February 2008: Ottey in California
At the moment Merlene Ottey is training in California (USA) since the indoor facilities for training are better there than in Slovenia. She will return to Slovenia later in February. Her training is currently focused on improving strength - doing weights and plyometrics. For the time being she does not have any plans of competing on the indoor circuit. 

1 January 2008: Ottey looks ahead - Bring on Beijing!
Merlene Ottey wishes all her fans a Happy New Year from sunny California, where she is spending the holidays!

When Merlene Ottey looks ahead into 2008 she has her eyes set on the Olympic Games in Beijing. "I have Mount Everest to climb in achieving the qualification standard for the Olympic Games. But all things are possible". Her coach Srdjan Djordjevic has stated that in 2007 she was plagued allergy and that is what she has to recover fully from. 

9 October 2007: Ottey might get 9th Olympic medal
Merlene Ottey could add to her record tally of eight Olympic medals thanks to the fall from grace of U.S. rival Marion Jones. Jones, who won the 100 meters gold at the 2000 Sydney Games ahead of fourth-placed Ottey, last week admitted to taking steroids and has returned her medals to the U.S. Olympic Committee. Ottey, 40 at the time of the race, is now in line to receive the bronze."I'm sure she will get that medal. That's automatic now," said Ottey's Slovenian coach Srdjan Djordjevic. "Of course I would have been happier if she'd got the medal back then," added Djordjevic, who has coached Ottey since she moved to the Alpine republic in 1998.

Merlene Ottey and her Jamaican team girls 
with their silver medals from the 2000 Olympic relay

13 September 2007: Ottey finished her season in Dubnica
Merlene Ottey chose to finish her 2007 season at the 5th Athletics Bridge meeting in Dubnica (Slovakia). Ottey started in heat 2 of the women's 100 metres and finished third in 12.05 behind Laura Turner and Brianna Glenn. This was not enough to put Ottey into the final, which was later won by Vida Anim in 11.25 sec. 

Result of 100 metre heat 2 (wind: -1.2):
1. Laura Turner (GBR): 11.65
2. Brianna Glenn (USA): 11.86
3. Merlene Ottey (SLO): 12.05
4. Lenka Kršáková (SVK): 12.88
5. Horská Dana (SVK): 13.02
6. Martina Grigláková (SVK): 13.34  

Source: Prague Post 

27 August 2007: Ottey quotes from Osaka
Below are some quotes Merlene Ottey made to the press after her 100 metre race at the World Championships in Osaka.

Ottey on competing since the 1980s:
“It is an amazing feeling to compete as the only one here who also competed at first championships in Helsinki. The sport changed since then, there is lot more money into it. But I must say the organisation of the event back in 1983 was great”.

“I used to be No.1 but if I was still challenging then the sport would be in trouble”.

“It's not the same any more. I'm not challenging for medals so it's a completely different feeling. I'm just running for me”.

Ottey on continuing her career:
“I am challenging myself and until I do not enjoy to train and race I will continue”.

“Obviously I enjoy it, otherwise I wouldn't be here. Running races is what I do”.

Ottey on Beijing Olympics 2008:
“If I can stay healthy next year," she said, looking at the Beijing Olympics next year”.

“We will see how it goes. I still enjoy it”.

Sources: IAAF + AFP / Foxsports + Earth Times

Zürich Weltkasse 1997 (100 metre victory)

Atlanta Olympics 1996 (100 metre silver)

Stuttgart World Championships 1993 (200 metre gold)

26 August 2007: Time catches up with ageless Ottey
In what was her 59th world championship race Merlene Ottey missed out on a spot in the quarterfinals when the heats were run on Sunday. Ottey was fourth in her heat and ran 11.64 sec. (0.08 sec. of her season’s best), in a heat won by American Carmelita Jeter in 11.07 sec. “I beat a few of them out there, so I'm not complaining”, she said afterwards.

Over the past two decades Ottey collected more medals (34) at major championships than anyone else. Generations of sprinters have come and gone since the days when Ottey started her career on the track. In her career she battled powerful East Germans and Soviet runners as well as Americans. Marita Koch, the late Florence Griffith-Joyner, Katrin Krabbe, Gail Devers and Marion Jones have all come and gone, but Ottey is still around at age 47 now.

Ottey, the only active athlete to have been at the inaugural World Championships in Helsinki 1983, is aware that her best days are gone but that does not stop her motivation. “The race today wasn't good. I have had a difficult season with not enough training”, said Ottey, who was unable to train from May to July due to a problem to her immune system. Ottey says that “I love to run” even though races these days “are not the same as if you are challenging for medals”. “Obviously I enjoy it, otherwise I wouldn't be here. Running races is what I do”.

Result of 100 metre heat 1 (wind: 1.3):
1. Carmelita Jeter (USA): 11.07 Q
2. Kim Gevaert (BEL): 11.09 Q (SB)
3. Susanthika Jayasinghe (SRI): 11.13 Q (SB)
4. Merlene Ottey (SLO): 11.64
5. Inna Eftimova (BUL): 11.66
6. Nataliya Pohrebnyak (UKR): 11.71
7. Fatou Tiyana (GAM) 12.44 (PB)
8. Jenny Keni (SOL): 13.31

Source: IAAF

Ottey running her heat in Osaka

23 August 2007: Ottey ready for the World Championships
On the eve of the IAAF World Championships in Osaka Merlene Ottey is looking ahead to her eighth participation in history - being the oldest athlete ever. Ottey’s best time in 2007 is 11.56 sec, but she knows that will not get her far in Osaka . “The World Championships should be difficult for me from the first round. I have to run much faster than 11.56 to advance. Hopefully my health and my shape will improve significantly by then”. Ottey has spent the last couple of weeks for specific training. “After this period hopefully I will run much faster in the Championships”, she says.

See the official press release from the Merlene Ottey Fanclub ahead of the IAAF World Championships in Osaka.

Timetable for the womens 100 metres
Sunday 26 August 11.40: Heats (time is 4.40 CET)
Sunday 26 August 20.35: Quarterfinals (time is 13.35 CET)
Monday 27 August 20.00: Semifinals (time is 13.00 CET)
Monday 27 August 22.20: Final (time is 15.20 CET)

Provisional start list

9 August 2007: Slovenian team announced
The Slovenian team for the World Championships in Osaka has been announced. And for the seventh time Merlene Ottey will represent Slovenia at a major championship. The team consists of 13 ahtletes in total. 

4 August 2007: 11.56 season’s best for Ottey
With mountains as a beautiful background Merlene Ottey improved her season’s best time at the Summer Meeting in cosy Mals (Malles) on Saturday. With a strong head-wind of 1.8 metres per second the race win was taken by Nigeria’s Francisca Idoko. Around 1000 spectators saw Ottey taking a good third place in 11.56 sec. beating the two Americans Durst and Daigle.

Result of the 100 metre final (wind: -1.8):
1. Francisca Idoko (NGR): 11.38
2. Vida Anim (GHA): 11.54
3. Merlene Ottey (SLO): 11.56
4. Anita Pistone (ITA): 11.59
5. Stephanie Durst (USA): 11.68
6. Angela Daigle (USA): 11.74

Souce: www.mals.it

Merlene Ottey (second from the right) racing in beautiful Mals (Italy)

31 July 2007: Ottey statements after the Slovenian Champs
Bouncing back from recent illness that curtailed her training, Merlene Ottey took the women’s 100m title at the Slovenian Championships on Saturday. Her winning time was 11.69 sec. - a season’s best for the 47-year-old. “This isn’t nearly fast enough to compete at the World championships,” Ottey said. But she hasn’t yet ruled out competing in Osaka , and with her 11.34 best from last year, Ottey has the standard to be named to the team, an astounding 24 years after her appearance at the inaugural World Championship. “I’m feeling better, so I expect to run faster by the end of the week,” Ottey added.

Source: Bob Ramsak / IAAF  

28 July 2007: Ottey double Slovenian Champion
Straight out of training Merlene Ottey secured herself the Slovenian Championship over 100 metres today in Nova Gorica. She produced a season’s best taking the win in 11.69 sec. ahead of pre-race favourite Pia Tajnikar (11.76 sec.). The bronze medal was won by young Sabina Veit in 11.78 sec. Also in the 4 x 100 metre relay Merlene Ottey took a title. Together with her teammates Sara Strajnar, Pia Tajnikar and Kristina Žumer from the MASS club, Ottey won the gold in a time of 46.16 sec.

Result of the 100 metre final (wind: -0.3):
1. Merlene Ottey (Mass): 11.69
2. Pia Tajnikar (Mass): 11.76
3. Sabina Veit (PMb): 11.78
4. Kristina Zumer (Mass): 11.93
5. Maja Nose (Sen): 11.94
6. Nina Kovacic (Pos): 12.05
7. Tina Jures (Pan): 12.05
-. Tina Murn (Trk): DNS

Result of the 4 x 100 metre final:
1. Mass I (Strajnar, Tajnikar, Žumer, Ottey): 46.16
2. Triglav: 47.47
3. Koper: 49.85
4. Mass II: 50.29

Source: AZS

20 July 2007: Ottey training in Ljubljana
These weeks Merlene Ottey is training in Ljubljana preparing to really get her 2007 season going. She plans an outing the coming weekend at the Slovenian Championships in Nova Gorica. Ahead of the Championships Merlene is the joint sixth fastest Slovenian women of the 2007 season with her 11.83 sec. from her season opening in Norway in June. 

Slovenian Top 10: 
1. Pia Tajnikar: 11.63 (11.69w)
2. Sabina Veit: 11.70
3. Nina Kovacic: 11.72 (11.78w)
4. Maja Mihalinec: 11.80
5. Maja Nose: 11.82 (11.91w)
6. Tina Murn: 11.83
6. Merlene Ottey: 11.83 (11.74w)
8. Teja Murn: 11.85
9. Kristina Zumer: 11.89
10. Tina Jures: 11.93 (11.90w)
11. Alenka Bikar: 12.00 (11.99w)

Source: AZS

Schedule for the women's sprint races at the Slovenian Champs: 
28 July 17.25: 100 metre heats (3Q + 2q)
28 July 18.35: 100 metre final
28 July 20.20: 4 x 100 metre final 
29 July 17.35: 200 metre heats (3Q + 2q)
29 July 19.25: 200 metre final

Source: AZS

Merlene Ottey training on the central stadium in Ljubljana

7 July 2007: No news on Ottey race schedule
There is still no news about Merlene Ottey's race schedule for July. At the moment Merlene Ottey is training in Ljubljana, but she is experiencing a few health problems making it difficult to train at full force.

27 June 2007: 12+ for Merlene Ottey in Ostrava
At tonight’s Golden Spike Grand Prix in Ostrava Merlene Ottey sadly produced her first 12+ 100 metre race in years. Ottey finished last in the Ostrava Grand Prix in 12.03 sec.  

Result 100 metre final (wind: 0.1):
1. Brianna Glenn (USA): 11.38
2. Yevgeniya Polyakova (RUS): 11.44
3. LaVerne Jones (ISV): 11.48
4. Ivet Lalova (BUL): 11.51
5. Virgin Benavides (CUB): 11.58
6. Katerina Cechová (CZE): 11.77
7. Denisa Šcerbová (CZE): 11.86
8. Merlene Ottey (SLO): 12.03

Source: IAAF 

Merlene Ottey at the victory ceremony in Florø

Picture gallery from Florø

Merlene Ottey and Ezinne Okparaebo in Florø

11 May 2007: Merlene Ottey makes 2007 debut in Norway

Right after her 47^th birthday it was announced that Merlene Ottey will be making her 2007 season debut in Norway on 2 June. She will be running at a small meeting in Florø Florø Friidrettsfestival. The meeting organiser said today: “We have wanted Merlene Ottey on the start line in Florø for more than 10 years so it is a great pleasure to announce her appearance now”. Ottey will be running the 100 metres against the up and coming Norwegian girls.

Source: www.friidrett.no

Ottey on a victory lap after her 200 metre gold in Stuttgart (1993)

Result 60 metres heat 5:
Ekaterini Thanou (GRE): 7.26 sec.
Bettina Müller-Weissina (AUT): 7.27 sec. SB
Anna Boyle (IRL): 7.30 sec. NR
Merlene Ottey (SLO): 7.33 sec.
Ilona Ranta (FIN): 7.37 sec.
Sina Schielke (GER): 7.38 sec.
Zanda Grava (LAT): 7.58 sec.
Charlene Attard (MLT): 7.82 sec. 

Full results

Not only is Kim Gevaert (right) on a hat-trick of titles, but is the second fastest in Europe this winter with her 7.15 just 0.02 slower than Bulgaria's Tezdzhan Naimova . But two strong Russians will be close at hand. Yevgeniya Polyakova set a PB of 7.16 early in February, while Marina Kislova is returning to the sort of form that saw her take silver behind Gevaert in 2002. She clocked 7.18 behind Polyakova in the national championships. Yeoryíya Koklóni collected silver and bronze in the last two editions, but she will have to improve on her best so far this year of 7.33 to reach those heights. Still going strong at the age of 46 is the evergreen Merlene Ottey SLO who has notched up a swift 7.30 in this campaign. 

25 February 2007: Looking ahead to Birmingham
As confirmed yesterday Merlene Ottey will take part in her first European Athletics Indoor Championships, next weekend in Birmingham. Ottey currently holds 22^nd position on the European Indoor List of 2007 with her World Masters Indoor Record of 7.30 sec. The European top spot is taken by Bulgarian teenager Tezdzhan Naimova with 7.13 sec. Taking into account that some of the athletes in front of Ottey will not take part in Birmingham due to their own choice and country limitations (maximum three athletes in each event), Ottey may be within reach of a final.

9 February 2007: Ottey with new world master record in Leipzig
Merlene Ottey produced her fourth World Masters Record of the season Friday evening at the LE Athletics meeting in Leipzig (Germany). Ottey won her heat with her best time of the season; 7.30 sec. In the final Ottey had lost some of her strength and Polish sprinter Daria Onysko pulled away at the end for the victory in 7.29 sec., as Dorota Dydo (7.35 sec.) and Ottey (7.36 sec.) took the next two places. Though after the final Merlene Ottey still took a "victory lap" around the arena to be celebrated by the crowd.

60 metres final: 
1. Daria Onysko (POL): 7.29
2. Dorota Dydo (POL): 7.35
3. Merlene Ottey (SLO): 7.36
4. Katja Wakan (GER): 7.37
5. Bettina Müller (AUT): 7.38
6. Cathleen Tschirch (GER): 7.38

Source: IAAF & www.leichtathletik.de

6 February 2007: Ottey in German showdown on Friday
It was announced yesterday that Merlene Ottey's next indoor appearance will be at the LE Athletics meeting in Leipzig (Germany) on Friday 9 February. The main competitor for the "Grande Dame of Sprint" will be Germany's own Sina Schielke, who is back from injury this season. Schielke has a seasons best of 7.25 sec. (8th on the European ranking) and Ottey has a season's best of 7.36 sec (28th on the European ranking), which is also a new World Masters Record. Both these times were run last weekend so both women are getting into form for the European Indoor Championships.  

Source: www.leichtathletik.de

Time schedule:
21.05 Women 60 metre heats (probably only final)
21.40 Women 60 metre final

4 February 2007: Ottey takes 4th place in Ghent
At the KBC Indoor meeting in Ghent today Merlene Ottey managed to secure herself another two World Masters Record (45+). Ottey finished 4th in the final in 7.36 sec. after having run 7.40 sec. in the heats. The race was won by Jeanette Kwakye (GBF) in 7.27 sec. Merlene Ottey made the following comments after the race: “Age doesn’t count. I’m always as hungry and as motivated as I’ve ever been. I set goals and I try to achieve them. That is what sports is all about. When the major championships arrive, I want to be in. Never count me out.”

60 metres final: 
1. Jeanette Kwakye (GBR): 7.27
2. Iryna Shtanhyeyeva UKR): 7.32
3. Muriel Hurtis (FRA): 7.33
4. Merlene Ottey (SLO): 7.36 WMR
5. Dorota Dydo (POL): 7.37
6. Elisabeth Davin (BEL): 7.45
7. Fabienne Beret-Martinel (FRA): 7.47
8. Pascal van Assendelft (NED): 7.48

60 metres heat 2:
1. Dorota Dydo (POL): 7.39
2. Iryna Shtanhyeyeva UKR): 7.39 
3. Merlene Ottey (SLO): 7.40 WMR
4. Elisabeth Davin (BEL): 7.47 
5. Fabienne Beret-Martinel (FRA): 7.49
6. Carima Louami (FRA): 7.50

7. Kathleen de Caluwe (BEL): 7.54
8. Eline Berings (BEL): 7.56

Source: IAAF and KBC Indoor website

Merlene Ottey at the presentation before the 60 metre race in Ghent

1 February 2007: Ottey takes part in Ghent indoor meeting on Sunday
Merlene Ottey will be joining the KBC Indoor meeting in Ghent on 4 February. The 46 year old sprint phenomenon will be running the 60 metres at one of her favourite indoor meetings. For Belgian track fans this is a unique opportunity to come and see the sensational Ottey at work.

Program:
15.45: 60 metres heats - women
16.40: 60 metre final - women

Source: http://www.sport.be/kbcindoor/2007/eng/ 

Ahead of the meeting 46-year-old Ottey, who now runs for Slovenia, said her main goal of the season will be the European championships in Birmingham, England.

List of participants in the women's 60 metres

28 January 2007: Ottey last in season opener, but new world masters record
Merlene Ottey did not have the best season opener when she ran in the 60 metre heats at the IAAF Permit Meeting, Russian Winter, in Moscow this afternoon. She was drawn in the middle lanes next to world leader Yevgeniya Polyakova, but in the end Ottey was well beaten by the young Russian, who also went on to win the final in a new world leading time of 7.18 sec. Though Merlene Ottey may not be satisfied with her time of 7.54 sec. this was still a new World Masters Record (45+) - beating the old record of 8.02 sec. (Phil Raschker) by almost ½ a second.

As the main attraction in the women’s 60 metres is was a disappointment that her blocks slipped and so the sprinting legend failed to reach the final. Ottey blamed the starter, who didn't give her enough time to fix her blocks. "Unfortunately for me, it was a disaster today", Ottey said. "It was the second heat and I didn ' t have time to set my blocks and for me the race was over even before the starting".

60 metre final
1. Yevgeniya Polyakova (RUS): 7.18 PB/WL 
2. Marina Kislova (RUS): 7.20
3. Virgen Benavides (CUB): 7.35
4. Yuliya Guschina (RUS): 7.36
5. Larisa Kruglova (RUS): 7.42
6. Kseniya Vdovina (RUS): 7.43

60 metre heats
1. Larisa Kruglova (RUS): 7.19
2. Yuliya Guschina (RUS): 7.31
3. Virgen Benavides (CUB): 7.36
4. Irina Khabarova (RUS): 7.48
5. Lyudmyla Shcherbyna (UKR): 7.48 
6. Fana Ashby (T&T): 7.73

1. Yevgeniya Polyakova (RUS): 7.21 
2. Marina Kislova (RUS): 7.26
3. Kseniya Vdovina (RUS): 7.41
4. Marina Bolikova (RUS): 7.43
5. Yuliya Chermoshanskaya (RUS): 7.47
6. Merlene Ottey (SLO): PB = 7.54 WR(45+)

23 January 2007: 60 metre start list for Russian Winter meeting
Below you can see the start list of the women's 60 metre heats at the IAAF Permit Meeting, Russian Winter, in Moscow this coming Sunday. 

Merlene Ottey (SLO): PB = 6.96 
Larisa Kruglova (RUS): PB = 7.12
Irina Khabarova (RUS): PB = 7.12
Virgen Benavides (CUB): PB = 7.18
Fana Ashby (T&T): PB = 7.18
Yuliya Guschina (RUS): PB = 7.29
Yevgeniya Polyakova (RUS): PB = 7.30 
Yekaterina Kondratyeva (RUS): PB = 7.34
Yelena Novikova (RUS): PB = 7.43
Lyudmyla Shcherbyna (UKR): PB = 7.58

Source: http://www.rusathletics.com/russianwinter/doki/startlist-women.xls

Russian Winter Meeting 

12 January 2007: Ottey confirms Moscow season opener
Slovenian sprint legend, Merlene Ottey, has confirmed her participation in the IAAF Russian Winter meeting at the CSKA Stadium in Moscow on the 28^th of January. A medallist as far back as the 1980 Olympic Games in Moscow, Ottey set an over 45 World Masters 100 metre record of 11.34 sec. at the Scottish Championships in Glasgow last August, and is looking forward to returning to Russia. 
"It's where it all began for me 27 years ago and I' m looking forward to returning to Moscow to see how successful my winter training has been" she said.
The 46-year-old Ottey, who returned to top class sprinting last year after numerous injuries, will join a strong field including Russia's Irina Khabarova. Their last meeting was in the 100 metre semi-final at the last year's European Athletic Championships in Gothenburg, where Khabarova finished second while Ottey fifth, needed just 0.03 sec to progress to the final.
Amazingly, Ottey still holds the Moscow meeting record for the 50 meters of 6.00sec, which she set in 1994! This season, Khabarova has already posted 7.24 sec. for 60 metre in Yekaterinburg last week to emerge as the early season leader, while Ottey, who is currently preparing in Los Angeles, will return to Europe in mid-January ahead of the Moscow meeting. She is yet to decide whether she will compete at the European Athletics indoor Championships in Birmingham.

Source: www.european-athletics.org 

Merlene Ottey
100 metre seasons best (outdoors)

Merlene Ottey
200 metre seasons best (outdoors)

Merlene Ottey
100 metre world ranking

Slovenian Athletics Federation (AZS)

Merlene Ottey (Slovenian fansite)