the event was given a high-profile outing in 1997 as an intermediate contest between two 1996 olympic champions: donovan bailey (100 metres) and michael johnson (200 metres). johnson pulled up mid-race, allowing bailey to win the $1 million prize. this race coincided with a period of similar 150 m meetings between bailey and the 1992 olympic champion linford christie; the pair raced three years running for high cash prizes in sheffield, england, in 1995, 1996 and 1997, with christie winning the first two outings and bailey winning the last.