Athletics Australia – News – MELBOURNE: Olympic champion eyes big leap at Qantas World Challenge

British Olympic long jump champion Greg Rutherford says he can’t wait to take on Australia’s own London 2012 silver medallist Mitchell Watt at the Qantas Melbourne World Challenge on April 6, describing Watt as one of the all-time greats of the sport.

Rutherford was the toast of the host nation when he won the Olympic gold medal at the 2012 London Olympic Games with a leap of 8.31m, beating out Watt’s silver medal effort of 8.16m.

He had been due to go head-to-head with Watt in a rematch of the London final at last Saturday night’s Go for 2&5 Perth Track Classic but calf cramps forced the Australian out of the contest without registering a jump.  The pair’s much-anticipated showdown is now set to take place at the Qantas Melbourne World Challenge at Albert Park’s Lakeside Stadium on Saturday April 6.

Rutherford, who won in Perth with a leap of 7.89m, said facing Watt always brought the best out in him.

“I tell you what, it’s always fantastic jumping against Mitch as he’s one of the best jumpers in the world, and one of the best ever,” Rutherford said after his victory in Perth. 

“So from my point of view I love being competitive with him and it’s a shame that he started to get some issues tonight, but we’ve got Melbourne.”

Rutherford said his effort in Perth was his first competitive jump since three weeks after his London victory, but he expected to be in great shape for Melbourne. 

“By Melbourne, (with) three weeks worth of training, that should put me in good stead to be honest.

“When you are competing against somebody like Mitch, you have to perform at your best because he is one of the great long jumpers,” the British record holder added.

Rutherford will join a quality international field for the Qantas Melbourne World Challenge that will also include former 100m men’s world record holder Asafa Powell (JAM).

Powell touches down in Melbourne on Tuesday next week, and will run in the 2013 Australia Post Stawell Gift over Easter before returning to the Victorian capital to run the 100m at the Qantas Melbourne World Challenge.

The Qantas Melbourne World Challenge is a highlight of the Qantas Australian Athletics Tour and the only Australian athletics meet to be included by the sport’s international governing body in the 15-meet global IAAF World Challenge.  

Tickets to the Qantas Melbourne World Challenge are available for purchase through Ticketmaster, by clicking here.

For more information on the Qantas Melbourne World Challenge, including the event timetable and entry lists as they are released in the coming weeks, please click here.

Athletics Australia – News