by Larry EderThe last month before an Olympics, World Champs is when the athletes literally come out of the rafters. Yeimar Lopez, the young Cuban who ran 1:43.07 in Jerez, Spain yesterday, is an example! Cuba has a long history of superb 800 meters runners on the men and womens’s sides, proving once again, that a pair of Chuck Taylors, a heart of gold, a dirt track, and old Soviet block style coaching ( systematic intervals, core training) plus a little Marxist love, can go a long, long way…..Remember dear readers, that Mr. Juantorena ran his first 400 meters, under 52 seconds in a pair of Chuck Taylors…..don’t diss my first training shoes.
EME NEWS (JUNE 24, 2008)
Cuban 800 m sensation
JEREZ (ESP, June 24): The clear highlight of European Athletics Premium Meeting “GP Andalucia” in Spanish city Jerez de la Frontera was the 800 m run by Cuban Yeimar Lopez. He improved to second fastest in the world this year and also second fastest ever by Cuban after Norberto Tellez (1:42.85 at 1996 Olympics) with 1:43.07 (all time perfomer 24). After Kaki, Rudisha another new name for the Olympic honours in this event. Experienced South African Mbulaeni Mulaudzi as second improved his season best to 1:43.61. European leading 1500 m was registered by European Indoor Champion Juan Carlos Higuero (3:34.36) ahead of Jose Antonio Redolat (3:35.04) and Diego Ruiz (3:35.40 PB). German Carsten Schlangen as fifth confirmed his Olympic participation (3:35.54). Interesting as 12th long distance runner and world indoor champion Tariku Bekele improved his PB to 3:37.26. European Champion Francis Obikwelu was again faster with 10.14 against -1.3 wind. Home win for Jackson Quinonez at 110 m Hurdles (13.53,-0.3). Disappointing the result of Pole Vault when only two jumpers registered a valid mark – German Lars Borgeling 570 and Ukrainian Maksym Mazuryk 565. Spanish discus record holder Mario Pestano confirmed his shape with 67.27 win. In women events Czech javelin world champion Barbora Spotakova dominated her event with 64.99 m.
“It was very tough and long competition, we were 13 competitors and nobody could go over 60 metres. Also it was only a short time after European Cup, so I m more than satisfied with my result,” Spotakova was quoted.
World medalist Hasna Benhassi of Morroco won the 800 m (1:59.29) ahead of British Jemma Simpson (2:00.37). Ethiopian African Championships silver holder Meskerem Assefa was the 1500 m winner (4:05.67, PB) and beat Agnes Samaria of Namibia (4:05.79) and home Dolores Checa (4:06.22, PB). Russian Olesya Syreva won the 5000 m (15:19.96). Ukrainian European leader Anastasiya Rabchenyuk scored another win at 400 m Hurdles (55.26) and High Jumper Ruth Beitia (196) too. South African Karen Mey won the Long Jump (663, -0.3).
Hellebaut clears 196
GOTEBORG (SWE, June 24): European Champion Tia Hellebaut of Belgium cleared after break 196 at second Folksam GP meet and tried for 198 cm. Home Emma Green was second (194). Australian record holder Craig Mottram won the 1500 m in solo race after 3:36.66 in his first European appearance of summer season. German Martina Strutz dominated the Pole Vault (430), but the same did not happen for her male colleagues. Tim Lobinger as second got 560 and Danny Ecker only 545 as 5th. Winner the home jumper Alhaji Jeng (560), third another Swede Jesper Fritz (560) and fourth Australian Paul Burgess (545). Latvian Eriks Rags won javelin with 81.42 ahead of South African Hardus Pienaar (80.49). In interesting discus battle home Anna Soderberg (61.62) beat improved Polish thrower Zaneta Glanc (61.42).
British wins
CELLE LIGURE (ITA, June 24): British wins at Arcobaleno Meet in Celle Ligure (Italy) part of EAP Circuit. Robert Tobin clocked 46.44 and Vicky Barr 52.69 at 400 m. Home Emmanuele Abate achieved good 13.66 (+0.3) at 110 m Hurdles and Antigua´s Beijing-bound High Jumper James Grayman went over solid 226 cm.
Godday 44.90 at home
ABUJA (NGR, June 23): The 3rd edition of the International Meeting in Abuja, which is part of the CAA Super Grand Prix 2008 saw home African bronze medallist James Godday achieving 44.90 ahead of Saul Weigopwa with 45.18. At 100m African record holder Olusoji Fasuba was unexpectedly beaten by 22-year-old Adetoyi Durotoye clocking 10.14 (+0.7m/s wind). Fasuba was second in 10.18 and returning Aziz Zakari of Ghana fifth (10.42). In other heat Chinedu Oriala achieved hand timed 9.8. The Olympic champion Cameroon’s Françoise Mbango Etone triple jumped 14.58m and concentrates for Beijing. Nigeria’s African champion Damola Osayomi managed hand 10.8 at women´s 100m and beat world indoor finalist Franca Idoko (11.0) and the African silver medallist Vida Anim of Ghana (11.3). Gloria Kemasoude (22.94 at 200 m) and young Folashade Abugan (eligible for Bydgoszcz, 51.36 at 400 m) achieved fine home wins.
No Gatlin at Trials (so far)
PENSACOLA (USA): Sprinter Justin Gatlin will be not allowed to compete at US Olympic Trials starting this weekend. As Pensacola News Journal informs, he got support but no relief Tuesday from a federal judge who rescinded his order allowing the defending 100-meter champion to compete in this weekend’s Olympic track and field trials. Judge Lacey Collier said that while he believed Gatlin, a graduate of Woodham High School in Pensacola, “is being wronged,” he lacked jurisdiction over the U.S. Olympic Committee to determine who is eligible for the trials. The former world 100- and 200-meter champion’s only recourse appears to be with the Swiss Federal Court, Collier wrote in his seven-page order. Because the Swiss based CAS made the final ruling on him two weeks ago and IAAF confirmed his ban until July 24, 2010. But per latest informations, Gatlin’s lawyer said his client will go to the federal circuit court in Atlanta on Wednesday to attempt to have the latest ruling against him overturned.
Robles yes, but no Doucoure
LILLE (FRA): The appearance of Fresh world record holder Dayron Robles from Cuba will be the top highlight at European Athletics Premium Meeting in Lille on Friday. Unfortunately former World champion Ladji Doucoure will not ran due to his left knee injury. Another home star and European champion Mehdi Baala runs the 2000 m, interesting to see Cuban second best long jumper this year Ibrahim Camejo (846). Also here missing will be Salim Sdiri. Fastest European of the season Tyrone Edgar will compete against former world champion Kim Collins of St. Kitts and Nevis at 100 m. Christine Arron should debut into the season in women´ s 100 m. First this years duel of best current hammer throwers. World leader Oksana Menkova of Belarus will clash with Cuban former world champion Yipsi Moreno.
Howe injured
ROME (ITA): European Long Jump champion Andrew Howe injured himself during the European Cup 200 m race. Tore muscle is the doctors word. This could bring into danger his participation at Golden Gala AF Golden League third leg on July 11.
Tolossa and Geloe disqualified
MONTE CARLO: Ambese Tolossa, the Ethiopian marathoner has been banned for two years (until February 4, 2010). He failed a drug test at Honolulu Marathon in December which he initially won. Jimmy Muindi, who finished second, was declared the race winner. It was his sixth Honolulu Marathon title. Also confirmed is the two years ban of Netherland Antilles sprinter Geronimo Geloe (10.27 this year) who tested positive in Philadelphia around Penn Relays in out of competition test. He is banned until May 27, 2010.
SPAR European Team Championships 2009 in Portugal
LAUSANNE (SUI): European Athletics announced that Portugal has been chosen to host the first ever SPAR European Team Championships in 2009. Portugal, who has never hosted Europe’s premier Team Athletics competition, will create its own history when it organises the Super League in the first edition of the new SPAR European Team Championships. The place will be most probably Leiria. The venues for the other leagues will be announced in October at the latest.
Hoffa and Olsson for Madrid
MADRID (ESP): Other new names for the next coming IAAF Grand Prix meet in Madrid (July 5) are current world champion in shot put, American Reese Hoffa, and reigning Olympic and European champion in triple jump, Swedish Christian Olsson who will start here his season. Hoffa will inbetween fight for Olympic participation at US Olympic Trials in Eugene.
Good jumping planned for Wesel
WESEL (GER): Another chance for German long jumpers to achieve the qualification standard of 8,20m at the 14th jumper special meeting in Wesel on June 25th. Nils Winter has made the B-standard twice with 8,14m and 8,05m. Then there is Sebastian Bayer with 8,12m. Peter Rapp has so far jumped 8,10m – but wind-aided. Last but not least there is ninth of the World championships Christian Reif who will kick off his Olympic summer season on Wednesday after a longer break due to an injury. Christoph Stolz won’t compete in Wesel because he suffers from a rupture of a muscle fibre which happened last weekend in Freistatt where he achieved a new PB of 8,09m. The German long jumpers will face James Beckford from Jamaica and Ahmed Feiz Binnarzouq from Saudi Arabia. In the women’s field, Bianca Kappler will be missing, but nevertheless, her colleagues Claudia Tonn, Melanie Bauschke and Sophie Krauel promise an exciting competition. As far as triple jump is concerned, former World champion Charles Friedek only needs another 7cm to make the B-standard of 17,00m. On the women’s side, it will be a little bit more difficult for Katja Demut to make the B-standard of 14,10m with a SB of 14,00m.
JUNIOR CORNER
CHEBOKSARY (RUS, June 17-19): The Olympiyskiy stadium in Cheboksary hosted the Russian Junior Championships, which was the qualification for the 12th IAAF World Junior Championships in Bydgoszcz. The championships brought one national record – 13,32s by Konstantin Shabanov in the men’s 110m Hurdles (junior heighth). Shot putter Aleksandr Bulanov performed well with 19.98m (6 kg). Interesting is the story of 15-year-old Victoriya Sadova, the daughter of the the reigning Olympic Discus Throw champion Nataliya, who was second with a throw of 47.08m behind Yekaterina Strokova with 47.94m. From other results, 18-year-old Yekaterina Kolesova cleared 4.40m in Women’s Pole Vault and World Youth champion Darya Klishina leapt 6.20m for third in the women’s Long Jump.
RADES (TUN, June 20-21): Bahrain’s Majed Saleh Bashir won the men’s 10,000m at the Arab Junior Championships in Tunisia achieving solid 30:24.40. Sudan’s women runners demonstrated their supremacy in the 3000m, 1500m, 800m, 400m and 400m Hurdles. Asian Junior gold medallist Omar Juma Bilal Al-Salfa of the United Arab Emirates was the king of the men´s 200m clocking 21.14 ahead of Saudi Arabia’s Adel Al Assiri (21.29) and Sudan’s Awad Elkrim Makya (21.62). The championship record in the 110m Hurdles was broken by Kuwait’s Abdelaziz Ben Abdullah (13.78).
COPENHAGEN (DEN): Five Danish athletes qualified for the IAAF World Junior Championships in Bydgoszcz what is its second largest representation ever. Four of the five team members have improved the national junior record throughout the season, whereas the fifth – 400 metres runner Rasmus Olsen – is hoping also to claim the NJR (from 1985) during the competitions in Poland. The other names are hurdler Andreas Martinsen (13.83 NJR this year) and pole vaulter Rasmus Jorgensen (also NJR 520 this year). Two girls also pole vaulters Caroline Bonde Holm improved the national junior best to 405 cm and Iben Hogh-Pedersen is not far away (400).
BRATISLAVA (SVK): Slovakia is sending 7 athletes for IAAF World Junior Championships in Bydgoszcz next month. Last year World Youth medalist Alexandra Stukova at 400 m is the main name. Other two girls are hurdler Merita Bytyqiova (14.13 improvement this year) and high jumper Klara Abelova (180, 16 years old). All four boys travelling improved a lot this year. Sprinter Roman Turcani (18) at 200 m to 21.54 (he is the fastest Slovak in the event even in senior terms), Juraj Mokras to 47.56 at 400 m and pole vaulter Tomas Krajnak to 510 cm. Fourth is Viliam Papso for 110 m Hurdles (13.93).
AMSTERDAM (NED): Netherlands will send it total 16 athletes to Bydgoszcz. Girls are prevailing as only three boys were named (hurdlers Erik Leeflang and Tjendo Samuel and shot putter Patrick Cronie). Women´s 4×100 m increased the number significantly. But only Loreanne Kuhurima and Jamile Samuel will also compete individually from them. Also in the team 800 m runner Machteld Mulder, hurdler Nicole Kroonenburg, high jumper Esther van der Lijcke, long jumper Carola van Wagtendonk, pole vaulter Denise Groot and for heptathlon Amanda Spiljard. But the main hope is Melissa Boekelman (17.30) who is third in the yearly world junior list behind Chinese Gong Lijao and Natalia Duco of Chile.
RESULTS ADDITIONS
BRIDGETOWN (BAR, June 20-22): New national record for Jade Bailey 22.91 (+0.1) at 200 m during National Championships. Great shape confirmed by 100 m winner Andrew Hinds who clocked 10.18 (+0.9). Also solid 13.67 by Ryan Brathwaite at 110 m hurdles.
ESPOO (FIN, June 22): Not competing for his national team at European Cup in Slovakia Albanian hammer thrower Dorian Collaku used his shape in Finland to improve his NR to 76.96 m.
MONTERREY (MEX, June 20-22): At Mexican Champs US based Pablo Solares achieved good PB 1:46.27 at 800 m and Gabriela Medina clocked 51.58 at 400 m.
YALTA (UKR, June 20-21): At Ukrainian Cup meet world champion 2005 Yuri Krymarenko went over 225 in High Jump and World indoor medalist Tetyana Petlyuk achieved 2:00.91 at 800 m.
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