World silver medalist Koji Murofushi, set for a rematch with Olympic and world hammer throw champion Szymon Ziolkowski, said Friday he is motivated about challenging the Polish once again at the Super Track and Field Meet in Yokohama.
"Coming into this season, I knew I would be competing at a high level because of him," Murofushi said of Ziolkowski on the eve of the annual season-ending invitational event.
"I've been blessed to have met a great rival like Szymon. This will be my last competition this season, so I'll do my best," added Murofushi, who holds the Asian record of 83.47 meters.
The seven-time Japanese national champion had to settle for silver as he saw Ziolkowski come from behind to snatch the gold at the world championships in Edmonton, Canada, in August.
Just seven days ago, Murofushi got a measure of revenge as he edged Ziolkowski to capture the Goodwill Games title in Brisbane.
Meanwhile, double world record holder Michael Johnson might be forced to change his medley relay partners after the scheduled flights for three American runners have been affected by the terrorist attacks in New York and Washington.
"The tragedy and the race are two different things," Johnson said. "All I can do is pray for the unfortunate and hope that it doesn't happen again. I can only do what I can do. This race will be more for my fans than for me."
Frankie Fredericks of Namibia lines up as a probable replacement in what would be Johnson's farewell run.
Twelve foreign athletes scheduled to take part in Saturday's meet -- five Americans, four Jamaicans, two Canadians and one Nigerian -- have not yet arrived as of Friday.