by Larry EderRunning a half marathon in humidity and 86 degrees at the start, is amazing. But that was what the field of the Glo Lagos Half Marathon on Sunday had to deal with ! Even Haile Gebrselassie, in Lagos for a running clinic, suggested that they change the timing of the race. In those conditions, 2007 World Champ Luke Kibet ran 1:07.49 and Lornah Kiplagat ran 1:16:23.
EME NEWS (FEB 22, 2009) UPDATE
NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIPS
LEIPZIG (GER): The women’s pole vault was crowned with a new German indoors record by Silke Spiegelburg who cleared 4,71m in the second attempt and thus improved the record held by Carolin Hingst by one centimeter. Second placer Anna Battke (4,60m) and bronze medallist Kristina Gadschiew (4,50m) will accompany the 22-year-old to Torino. The 60m hurdles event was a clear victory for the local heroes with Erik Balnuweit (7,63s) crossing the finish line before Willi Mathiszik (PB 7,65s). The third hurdler to travel to the European championships is bronze medallist Helge Schwarzer from Hamburg (7,69s). The big surprise of the day was 19-year-old Sosthene Moguenara who won the women’s long jump competition with 6,54m (new PB) in front of last year’s champion Melanie Bauschke (6,51m). Anne Moellinger is the name of the new German indoors champion at 200m (23,51s). At the double distance, Claudia Hoffmann clocked 53,17s to win the title. A photo-finish decided about the winner in the 800m final – Annett Horna (2:04,78min) got the gold and Janina Goldfuss the silver medal. At the 1.500m Antje Moeldner (4:19,73min) defended her title against a toughly fighting Julia Hiller (4:19,82min). Nadine Hildebrand won her first national title at the 60m hurdles with 8,07s against Carolin Nytra (8,09s). The question in the women’s high jump was not whether Ariane Friedrich was going to win but rather with which height. After clearing 2,00m in the first attempt, she tried 2,06m but failed three times closely. The 4.000 spectators in Leipzig saw Alexander Kosenkow run a new European leading at 200m: 20,78s (new PB and fourth in the German all-time list). A lucky Thomas Goller won the 400m tigthly at the finish line after 47,19s against Simon Kirch (47,21s). 19-year-old Sebastian Keiner offered the audience a one-man-show at 800m, running at the front from the start and crossing the finish line after 1:47,81min. At the 1.500m event, Carsten Schlangen was a volunteer pacemaker hoping to qualify for Torino – which he also did, but only got the silver medal (3:39,06min). Wolfram Mueller enjoyed the pacemaking and took the lead in the last round clocking 3:38,04min for gold. When Raul Spank started his high jump competition at 2,18m, he was also already the winner. The 20-year-old cleared all heights up to 2,28m without any problems.
MAGGLINGEN (SUI): Pole vaulter Nicole Büchler and marathon man Victor Röthlin are Swiss athletes of the year 2008. Roethlin won the title for the forth time already, he was best European at the Beijing Olympics with rank six. Buechler hold the Swiss pole vault record with 4,40m and achieved the same mark at national indoor championships. Andreas Kundert won the 60m Hurdles title in good 7.68 and in heats was even faster with 7.65. Lisa Urech improved the U23 record and qualified to Torino with 8.20 at 60 m Hurdles.
TORINO (ITA): Sprinter Fabio Cerutti was the highlight at the Lingotto Oval clocking excellent 6,55s in the 60m semi-final (equalled national record and third best European time at the moment). The final was later won by Simone Collio in 6,63s. The men’s triple jump was another athletics pearl with Fabrizio Donato jumping 17,42m (NR and second best result in the world). Daniele Greco achieved a new U23 record with 16,83m. Shot put winner is Paolo Dal Soglio with 19,20m. Nicola Ciotti clears 2,27 in his second attempt to win the men’s high jump competition. Daniele Meucci wins the 3.000m in a photo-finish with 8:03,48min against Yuri Floranti. Magdelin Martinez gets the triple jump gold medal with high class 14,28m which is also her ticket to the European indoors championships. Elena Romagnolo crossed the finish line as first after 3.000m in 8:54,14min. Anna Giordano Bruno dominated the pole vault competition and wins the gold with 4,20m. Anita Pistone flies to 7,33s in the 60m final. Who else if not Elisa Cusma would win the 800m? After her 1.500m gold medal yesterday, she assured also the gold at the 800m distance in 2:04,83min. The men’s winner is Lukas Rifeser (1:52,51min).
SPALA (POL): Monika Pyrek who is not going to Torino cleared good 460 in Pole Vault during second day of national championships. Second Joanna Piwowarska achieved 440. Jan Ciepiela improved to 46.82 win and PB at 400 m. Marcin Jedrusinski got expected 200 m title (21.32). In tactical affair newcomer Adam Kszczot won the 800 m final (1:53.24) over former European indoor champion Pawel Czapiewski (1:54.08). Sylwester Bednarek won the High Jump (222) and Rafal Augustyn the 5000 m walk in 19:23.41 PB. Marta Jeschke also improved to 23.71 winning the 200 m. European indoor champion Lidia Chojecka got her gold at 1500 m (4:29.54). Joanna Skibinska achieved another triple jump national record (14.10). Kamila Stepaniuk confirmed solid High jump shape with 190 clearance.
SEVILLE (ESP): The national indoor athletic championships continued today with its second day. Only 16-year-old great talent of Spanish sprints, Alberto Gavalda declared he was in a great shape. He got the senior title for 21.37 at men´s 200m and broke both junior and youth Spanish records. The win in heptathlon went to 20-year-old Cuban Yordanis Garcia for 5905 points (6.92s – 6.85m – 15.93m – 2.01m – 7.92s – 4.70m – 2:52.94) with his victory in 3 events (60m , 60m H and shot put). Digna Murrilo became the national champion among women at 60m clocking 7.37s but second Amparo Cotan was very close to her with a new PB of 7.40s. First two women in the final of 200m created their new PBs: first Estela Villalta Garcia in 24.19 and second Andrea Diez in 24.50s. On the double track, Natalia Romero won in new PB 54.55s. On the men´s side, Santiago Ezquerro clocked 47.34. The next PB and Spanish title went to Elian Periz at women´s 800m achieving 2:05.54. Natalia Rodriguez broke her own championships record by 3 seconds when she won the women´s 1500 m in 4:12.22, after her biggest rival, Nuria Fernandez did not compete. The men´s winner of the same event became Arturo Casado clocking 3:46.94. Arantza Loureiro achieved her new PB in the women´s long jump and without any strong concurrence won easily with 6.53m. 30-year-old Magnolia Iglesias was the strongest from the field of women shot putters with 16,11m. The Spanish record holder in pentathlon, Maria Peinado was the biggest favorite among women in this event. She won 3 from 5 events (shot put, long jump and 800m) and declared her main position with 4328 points (8.59s – 1.69m – 13.31m – 6.09m – 2:17.04). The premiere of the best recent Spanish high jumper Ruth Beitia in pentathlon did not happen. However, she tried long jump and finished 7th with 5.70m. Men´s 60m Hurdles was a solo of Jackson Quinonez in 7.66s. The men´s high jump title went to Rodriguez Perez for 2.24m, as he had better attempts than Javier Bermejo also jumping 2.24m. Cuban guest Alexis Copello surprised with a new PB in the first series of men´s triple jump winning with solid 17.17m.
GENT (BEL): The showdown between hurdler Eline Berings and Elisabeth Davin didn’t take place as Davin failed to finish in her heat. But the 60m hurdles nevertheless produced the highlight of the Belgian indoor championships with a new national indoor record by Berings who went below 8 seconds for the first time (7.99). Elisabeth Davin had to take comfort with her title in the 60m dash in 7.37. The double was achieved on the men’s side with Broothaerts claiming easy victory in the 60m hurdles (7.81, 7.80 in the heats) before defeating Anthony Ferro the 60m 6.76 to 6.79. Kevin Rans had the edge over Denis Goosens in the pole vault, 5.35m to 5.30m. Niels Durink took victory in the 400m (47.60), while 1500m indoor record holder Sigrid Vanden Bempt had the edge in the 800m (2:06.11). The championships didn’t produce any additional qualifying times, which means Belgium will send a team of six in Torino: hurdlers Eline Berings, Elisabeth and Damien Broothaerts, pole vaulter Kevin Rans, Sigrid Vanden Bempt (1500m) and Willem van Hoof (3000m).
ZAGREB (CRO): Jurica Grabusic qualified for European Indoor Championships after winning the national title at 60 m Hurdles with 7.78. Maja Golub (60 m in 7.45) and Nedzad Mulabegovic (19.64 in Shot Put) missed that aim.
BUDAPEST (HUN): David Takacs clocked good 1:48.87 to win the 800 m and Barnabas Bene clocked 7:59.86 at 3000 m what were the best two results during second day of Hungarian Championships.
BRATISLAVA (SVK): Experienced Milan Haborak qualified to Torino with 19.84 Shot Put during second day of national championships in Elan Hall. Surprise high jumpe winner was Martin Kalafus with new PB 224, favorite Peter Horak was only second (221). Jaroslav Dobrovodsky confirmed his great jumping shape with 777 cm win.
MUSTASAARI (FIN): Juha Sonck confirmed his Torino standard with 7.77 60 m Hurdles win during second day of Finnish Championships. Excellent long jump winner Tommi Evila qualified to Torino (790), the same for second Juha-Matti Pimia (789).
PRAHA (CZE): Petr Szetei with 46.96 400 m win was the only new qualifier during two days of Czech Indoor Championships in Stromovka Hall. Zuzana Hejnova clocked 53.82 to win the women 400 m, but is still behind the standard by 0.45. The same goes for Denisa Rosolova in Long Jump (645, 7 cm short). Jirina Ptacnikova improved to 440 to win the Pole Vault. In usual high jump battle Svatoslav Ton got the title with 221 ahead of Jaroslav Baba and Tomas Janku as both cleared 218. Janku in his last championships also won silver in triple jump (14.72). Javelin world record holder Barbora Spotakova clocked 26.39 in 200 m heats and had a no mark in Shot Put.
OTHER NEWS
PRETORIA (RSA): Double-amputee sprinter Oscar Pistorius sustained minor injuries to his face after a boat accident on the Vaal, south of Johannesburg on Saturday night. “He is fine… his brain is functioning normally and he is 100 percent conscious. He will soon be discharged,” said Dr Anchen Laubscher. “He was involved in a minor boat accident. He was stabilised at the scene before being airlifted to Milpark and handed over to the trauma unit. He suffered minor facial injuries, bruises and lacerations,” she said.Laubscher said Pistorius’ facial injuries were so minor they would not have any impact on his recently launched cologne called Carbon, SAPA informs.
LAGOS (NGR): Marathon record holder Haile Gebrselassie, who was in Lagos to give a clinic, has advised the organisers the Glo Lagos Half Marathon to consider changing the timing of the race. Several athletes complained about the hot and humid condition (32 degree temperature) that prevailed on Saturday. “It was a very well organised race and the only problem was that the conditions were not right. The weather made it a bit difficult for the athletes and they were not at their best. This is a big half marathon that attracts some of the world’s best athletes and I believe it should be held when the weather is not so hot. You might not have winter in Nigeria but I’m sure you have a period when the weather is cooler than this for this race which all Africans should be proud of.” Luke Kibet (1:07:49) and Lornah Kiplagat (1:16:23) were the winners of the 2009 edition, The Punch informs.
LEIPZIG (GER): One of the fastest European sprinters this winter (6,56s), Christian Blum from Germany, will not start at the European indoors championships due to an injury at his hips. Dr. Hans-Wilhelm Mueller-Wohlfahrt adviced the 21-year-old to stop his indoors season in order to not endanger the healing process.
AL-KUWAIT (KUW): According to a newspaper report (by Arab Times) Ali Mohamed Al-Zankawi achieved new national record in hammer throw with 77.37 m at the National Preliminary Championships in Al Kuwait on Feb 16. Informs Heinrich Hubbeling.
Special thanks to Alfons Juck, EME News.
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