The China Mail - Colombia's Restrepo aims to make history as World Athletics head

Restropo, already the first vice-president of track and field's global body, could have had her chance this year if Coe had succeeded in his bid to become International Olympic Committee president.

But with former swimmer Kirsty Coventry winning that contest, Coe is free to serve out his third and final term at the head of the Olympics' number one sport.

Restrepo, 56, said on the sidelines of the world athletics championships in Tokyo that she would be a candidate to succeed the Briton when the time comes.

"I'm going to run for president. It won't be easy. I already know there are two other candidates who are going to run and who are very good, but it would be something I'd like to do," she said.

"It gives me a lot of motivation, it motivates me to do it. We have to start working toward that."

In the battle to entice new followers to athletics, Coe and Restrepo are pinning their hopes on a new event next year in Budapest, the World Athletics Ultimate Championship.

The aim is to create an international competition in a year without a global championships.

Extra pressure has been added to the event by the financial problems that have rocked Michael Johnson's upstart Grand Slam Track circuit this year, with reports suggesting it owes millions of dollars in prize money to athletes.

"I think it's going to be very important. Next year we didn't have any major events, and having the Ultimate Championship is a great way to close out the season, for both athletes and fans," Restrepo said.

The Colombian, who won a bronze medal on the track in the 400 metres at the 1992 Barcelona Olympics, said fans will have "the best in the world in three days" and predicted it will "attract new fans to our sport".

"There won't be a limit on the number of representatives per country, as there is at the world championships, for example," she added.

"The athletes won't have to go through as many rounds, there will be less wear and tear, and the prize money will be bigger than at the world championships."

N.Lo--ThChM