by Larry EderModesto Relays is one of the oldest track meets in the nation. Thanks to the support of the local community and the major sponsor support ( in the San Jose Mercury News, the Relays were mentioned in a full page ad!), and a new track, the meet was hot this year! Christian Cantwell and Jenn Stuczynski lead the charge!
Olympic marathoner Brian Sell showed his stuff defending his US 25 kilometer title in Grand Rapids for the third time!
EME NEWS (MAY 11, 2008)
TWO WORLD LEADS IN MODESTO: CANTWELL 21.76, STUCZYNSKI 470
MODESTO (USA): Two world leading marks at 67th California Invitational Relays on a new track. World indoor champion Christian Cantwell achieved in shot put 21.76 what is 28 cm more than Reese Hoffa on Friday in Doha. Second Russ Winger improved his outdoor best to 20.86 and beat by one cm Dan Taylor (20.85) and behind them world finalist Dylan Armstrong of Canada (20.68). US pole vault record holder Jennifer Stuczynski achieved world leading 470 in first attempt (her opening height!) and then tried at new record height 490. She can rule the event until early July when Yelena Isinbayeva plans start to compete. Her only competition planned until US Olympic trials is the New York Meet. Mary Vincent as second got 450 and Stacy Dragila is improving step by step, this time 440 as fifth. 2005 World champion Lauryn Williams opened at 100 m with good 11.18 (+0.7) and won also the 200 m in 22.85 (+1.3). Unfortunately hurdles world champion Michelle Perry did not finish the 100 m due to left thigh injury. US Indoor champion Mike Rodgers scored an impressive PB 10.06 (+1.4) 100 m win and also PB for British Tyrone Edgar (10.11) followed by Mardy Scales (10.11) and Leroy Dixon (10.12). Carlos Moore even clocked sub 10 in another section, but his 9.97 were supported by +2.6. Also Anwar Moore´s 13.32 at 110 m Hurdles had too much wind aid (+2.1). Women hurdles with more luck on that side with Candice Davis equaling her best from Kingston 12.80 (+1.3) followed by Virginia Johnson (12.91) and season opening Dawn Harper (12.96). World Indoor 400 m champion Canadian Tyler Christopher achieved 20.55 (+0.6) 200 m win and relay Olympic winner Darold Williamson a 46.26 400 m triumph. US champion Khadevis Robinson won the 800 m without difficulties (1:47.32). In other technical events Mexican Giovanni Lanaro won the men´s pole vault after clearing 580 cm as Jeff Hartwig and Derek Miles got 550 and Olympic champ Tim Mack no heighted at 550. Good long jumping by Grace Upshaw (670) and Trevell Quinley (800). Winds helped discus winners to solid results, Ian Waltz achieved 64.53 (John Godina second 63.39) and world leader Stephanie Trafton 63.29 beating Anna Soderberg of Sweden (61.16). US Red teams clocked 39.01 and 44.26 relay wins.
CAMPBELL-BROWN SPRINTS TO 11.02 AND 22.38
ORLANDO: Great sprinting by Olympic and world gold medalist Veronica Campbell-Brown of Jamaica at UCF Invitational. In her season opening 100 m she clocked excellent 11.02 (+0.9, fourth fastest of the year) and beat Alexis Joyce (11.21) and world indoor champion Angela Williams (11.25). At 200 m her 22.38 (-0.3) is second fastest of the year behind 22.35 of countrymate Kerron Stewart. She is next to compete at Carson on May 18 at adidas classic.
PADGETT FIRST US SUB 10: 9.96
CLEMSON: First US sprinter of 2008 to clock sub 10 seconds at 100 m is collegian Travis Padgett from Clemson University. The 21 years old bronze medalist from indoor NCAA event this year clocked life-time best 9.96 (+1.2) and is so the 58th sprinter ever with auto-time under 10 seconds. His former best was 10.00. He also afterwards helped his Clemson University team to achieve good 39.23 at 4×100 m.
DZINGAI WITH PROBLEMS AT HOME
HARARE (ZIM): Zimbabwe Olympic Committee (ZOC) has urged the National Athletics Association of Zimbabwe (NAAZ) not to distract star athlete Brian Dzingai on his preparations for the upcoming 2008 Beijing Olympic Games. Information by local media. Dzingai was scheduled to appear before NAAZ disciplinary hearing, but failed to turn up as he is based in the United States prompting the association to mull plans of withdrawing him from Team Zimbabwe. The Sunday News exclusively revealed that the penalty was imposed following a NAAZ disciplinary hearing held on 19 April in Gweru. Dzingai´s national record at 200 m is 20.12 and this year he clocked 20.66 already.
EUROPEAN SATURDAY ACTION
NIVELLES (BEL): Very strong season opener from European Champion Kim Gevaert. During Interclub competition in Nivelles she ran the 100m in 11.05 in sunny, warm weather and with little “tail wind” (+0.3). Her Belgian record is 11.04. One hour she also won the 200m in 22.74 (+0.9). Her first international competition will be Hengelo FBK Games on 24 May. High Jump European champion Tia Hellebaut competed in shot put (13.52) and Long Jump (608) in Maldegem.
HOORN (NED): World discus medalist Rutger Smith showed impressive shape at national meet in Hoorn with 66.85 and also good shot put (20.47). Sprinter Patrick Van Luijk achieved double 10.46 (-1.9) and 21.08 (-1.4).
ROMA (ITA): Olympic B-qualifier for Daniele Meucci at local meet clocking 28:08.4 at 10 000 m.
ROMA (ITA): Alessandro Talotti won the High Jump at Parco Leonardo Shopping Center after clearing 224 cm. Andrea Bettinelli as second went over 220.
LAUSANNE (SUI): Sprinter Marc Schneeberger achieved good 32.77 at 300 m here.
LA LAGUNA (ESP): Great discus clash at this meet at Grand Canaria Islands as Cuban Frank Casanas achieved 62.06 and Spanish record holder Mario Pestano 61.99. Javelin European medalist Mercedes Chilla opened the season with 58.58 m. Multiple Spanish shot put champion Manuel Martinez got 19.91 m. Sprints supported by too strong wind. Angel David Rodriguez clocked 10.30 (+4.2) at 100 m and Jackson Quinonez 13.64 (+2.2) at 110 m Hurdles.
ROKISHKIS (LTU): 17 years old Lithuanian Andrius Gudzius confirms his discus talent. At throwing meet he bettered the national U17 mark with 1.5 kg implement to 64.34 m. World youth bronze medalist from Ostrava last year so improved the previous mark of Virgilijus Alekna who achieved 62.08 back in 1989.
BERN (SUI): Kenyan wins at 27th Bern Grand Prix road race at 10 miles. Philip Njoroge (48:54) and Jana Muia (56:33) were the best. World marathon bronze medalist Viktor Rothlin in his last spring race good second place after 49:05. Now he starts his 15 weeks Olympic preparation before running the marathon in Beijing. Third Ethiopian Simon Tesfaye (49:22). In women´s race Hungarian Aniko Kalovics as second clocked 56:44.
DESENZANO (ITA): Brazilian Carlos Edoardo Chinin with 4130 points is the surprise leader after first day of the 21st edition of the Multistars meeting in Desenzano del Garda, the opening leg of the IAAF Combined Events Challenge. Chinin took the lead after clearing an impressive 213 in the High Jump and is now 100 points ahead of Frederic Xhonneux of Belgium (4030). Olympic and world medalist Dmitriy Karpov of Kazakhstan was testing himself before Gotzis and is not competing in all events, still managed new meet record in shot put (16.13). Diana Pickler from the USA leads heptathlon by a very narrow margin of just one point over Hanna Melnichenko from the Ukraine (3675 to 3674 points) making the competition wide open on the second day. Laurien Hoos from the Netherlands, European under 23 Heptathlon champion from Erfurt 2005, ranks in third place with 3667 points thanks to her solid Shot Put win with 15.24m.
US SATURDAY ACTION
TEMPE: NCAA Champion Jacquelyn Johnson scored a new world leading heptathlon PB of 6307 points to win the PAC 10 multi´s title. She is now a candidate also for US Olympic team. Her marks: 13.21 (+1.8) – 181 – 11.93 – 24.22 (0.0) – 630 (+1.6) – 48.50 – 2:19.33.
TALLAHASSEE: Zimbabwean Ngozi Makusha achieved new national long jump record at FSU Twilight Meet on May 9 with 816 (+1.8).
CHAPEL HILL: US junior record holder Kristi Castlin continues in sub 13 results and clocked 12.94 (+0.2) at Taylor Cattle Farm Classic. Junior Johnny Dutch (19) achieved his first sub 50 at 400 m Hurdles (49.78). Walter Henning improved his US junior record with junior hammer hugely to 76.76 m.
ANN ARBOR: New Zealand´s 1500 m olympian Nick Willis achieved good 1:47.01 800 m win at Len Paddock Invitational.
AUSTIN: World youth relay medalist from last year Isaiah Sweeney (17) clocked the fastest 100 m at Texas HS meet with 10.32 (+1.8, PB):
MOSCOW: 23 years old Melinda Owen improved hugely to 440 and won the Pole Vault at Vandal Jamboree meet.
GRAND RAPIDS (USA): Brian Sell successfully defended his men’s national title running in 1:15:07 while Paige Higgins won her first USA road title in 1:30:49, Saturday at the USA 25 km Championships in Grand Rapids. Informs USATF website. Sunny skies and ideal conditions and calm winds met athletes for the 15th running of the championships with the Fifth Third River Bank Run.
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