by Larry EderGlobal Weekend Catch-up, Track, Road,
Haile is showing that he is in great shape. Charging through the 5k in 13:30, Haile ran a strong 27:39 to win in Manchester. Ali El Zayedi was second in 28:13, and Sergiy Lebid was third in 28:36. Vivian Cheruiyot won the women’s race in 32:01.
In the City Games, Usain Bolt ran 14.54 for 150 meters-not bad for a guy who had stitches taken out of his left foot two weeks ago.
Photo by Photorun.net.
HAILE CLOCKS 27:39
MANCHESTER (GBR, May 17): Legendary Ethiopian Haile Gebrselassie won the BUPA Great Manchester Run with 27:39 at 10 km. He missed the course record of Micah Kogo from 2007 which is 27:21 after a 13:30 5 km split. Second place for Libyan national record holder in marathon Ali El Zayedi in 28:13 and third multiple European CC Champion Sergiy Lebid of Ukraine (28:36). Kenyan favorite Vivian Cheruiyot also won her race as expected and missed with 32:01 the course record 31:07. Second Portugal´s Sara Moreira 32:33 and third Latvian New York marathon winner Jelena Prokopcuka (32:41). The 150 m races including Usain Bolt are scheduled for afternoon.
CLEMENT BEATS TAYLOR AND SANCHEZ
CARSON (USA, May 16): Four world leads at adidas Track Classic. LaShawn Merritt improved his own years best at 200 m with 20.07 against -0.5 wind. “Before the race my calf was cramping a little bit. I didn‘t get out as hard because of it. It was a little sluggish. I was just going to build into it. I came off the curve and had the strength to hold. I‘ve been doing some speed work during the winter. I just wanted to test it out. It felt good,†said Merritt. X-Man Carter was clearly beaten into second with 20.71. Kerron Clement finally made it on top with 48.38 at 400 m Hurdles over olympic winners Angelo Taylor (48.70) and Felix Sanchez (48.95). “I‘m really happy to come out and compete against the top guys like Angelo (Taylor) and James Carter. I just stayed focused on myself and came up with the win. I knew something was wrong after the 7th hurdle. I just took it regardless. I was a 110 hurdler so I know how to adjust. I just didn‘t let it affect me at all,†Clement said in his quote published by USATF. For Sanchez his fastest time since Osaka 2007. Olympic finalist Anna Williard achieved 9:26.85 in women steeple and last world lead for Jennifer Stuczynski who cleared in her opening competition of the year 476 (and tried US record 493). Stacy Dragila in her last season cleared 442 into second. Osaka world champions also won their events, Jeremy Wariner the 400 m (44.66), Allyson Felix the 200 m (22.66 against -1.9 and ahead of Sanya Richards 23.03) and Bernard Lagat the 1500 m (3:36.38). Long Jump world champion 2005 Dwight Phillips confirmed his great shape with 837 against -0.7 and said afterwards that he wants to win the world title in Berlin. Beijing winner Dawn Harper with 12.78 (-1.1) beat world champions Perdita Felicien of Canada (12.83) and US Michelle Perry (12.84). Ethiopian Aheza Kiros was a surprise 5000 m winner in 14:56.33 ahead of Ejegayehu Dibaba (15:07.45), Kenyan Sally Kipyego (15:09.03) and US record holder Shalane Flanagan (15:10.86). Natasha Hastings in strong display at 400 m beat Jamaican world medalist Novlene Williams (51.46 and 51.83). Carmelita Jeter confirmed excellent shape with clear 11.09 100 m win over a strong field (-0.9). Terrence Trammell got 110 m Hurdles in 13.39 (0.0). In loaded 100 m Darvis Patton remained unbeaten this year with 10.12 (-0.7). Antigua´s record holder Daniel Bailey was second (10.14) and Jamaican Steve Mullings third (10.19). And then big names followed – world medalist Derrick Atkins fourth (10.19), world leader Travis Padgett fifth (10.21) and Olympic medalist Richard Thompson sixth (10.22). Ethiopian Dejene Gebremeskel won the 5000 m in second fastest of the year 13:16.52 ahead of Alistair Cragg of Ireland who achieved European leading mark of the year 13:16.83.
CULSON AGAIN FAST, MARTINA BEATS CHAMBERS
PONCE (PUR, May 16): Home star Javier Culson confirmed his excellent shape with 48.43 400 m Hurdles win at Ponce Grand Prix and remained only 0.01 behind his national record from Jamaica. Veteran Danny McFarlane of Jamaica was a solid second (49.03). Olympic finalist Churandy Martina beat European Indoor champion Dwain Chambers at 100 m with 10.19 (-0.5) over 10.21. Olympic medalist David Payne achieved 13.35 at 110 m Hurdles (+0.1). Antiguas´s record holder Brendan Christian won the 200 m in 20.61 (-0.9) where Chambers did not compete at the end. In women sprints Laverne Jones of US Virging Islands won both sprints in good 11.28 (-1.3) and 22.76 (+0.4). Second places here for US athletes Tianna Madison (11.31) and Ebonie Floyd (22.76). Danielle Carruthers won the 100 m Hurdles in 12.98 (+0.4). Great 400 m duel decided by thousands of seconds. Trinidad´s Ato Stevens beat Bahamian Andrae Williams by 0.008 as they clocked 45.062 and 45.070. Nigerian Jake Odumosu improved to 55.02 at 400 m Hurdles. US wins in Long Jump for Funmi Jimoh (664, +0.9) and Brian Johnson (804, +0.9). In relays (qualifiying meet for World Championships) Dominican Republic won the men 4×100 m in 39.77 and home team the 4×400 m in 3:04.87. Women 4×100 m winner Colombia achieved 44.06. Unfortunately no standards were achieved (39.10, 3:03.30, 43.90).
VLASIC IN BEST EARLY SHAPE EVER, IN SPLIT 204
SPLIT (CRO, May 16): World champion Blanka Vlasic confirmed her excellent shape with clearing new meet record at her home event in Split 204 in first attempt and tried for new world lead 206 cm. She started at 188 and cleared 192 and 196 in first, then followed 199 in second and 202 even in third. The other jumpers were far behind in this solo competition as Barbora Lalakova of Czech Republic and Ukrainian Viktoriya Dobrynska cleared 180 for second. “I must be satisfied because the conditions were not ideal and there was no competition for me. It was not easy to have enough motivation. I have also struggled with the technique, but in the end the 204 are great. It is true I never felt so good at the beginning of the season,†Vlasic was quoted. 28-years old Nedzad Mulabegovic tossed his second best mark of the career with 20.08 in Shot Put.
HRASNOVA IMPROVES THE HAMMER MARK
TRNAVA (SVK, May 16): Slovak hammer thrower Martina Hrasnova improved her national record from last year by 8 cm to huge world lead 76.90 at Tirnavia meet. Her mark is fourth all-time perfomer result and here the series: 75.16 (already world lead in first throw) – 72.32 – 75.78 – 76.90 – f – f. “I had very good feeling already after first throw. I was hoping to improve my season best to 73 level. I was not thinking about the record. But I must admit this was my first competition this year where I was fully healthy without pain. I knew I can achieve new record because of my training results, but I did not expect that it will happen so soon. I also risked little bit and also the last two fouls were very long so I must be satisfied. I knew that Lysenko world record is not so far away, but I m not thinking about it,†said Hrasnova who next competes in Halle at throwing meet on May 23. Libor Charfreitag also improved his season best in men hammer to 78.26 in his home city. Peter Horak cleared 220 in High Jump in his season begin.
OTHER RESULTS
RIO DE JANEIRO (BRA, May 16): In Saturday pre-programme of the Sunday´s meet olympic winner Primoz Kozmus won the hammer competition with 77.81 beating Tadjikistan´s Dilshod Nazarov who came close with 77.77 m.
DARMSTADT (GER, May 16): European indoor champion Ariane Friedrich opened the season at German Universities Championships with 195 cm (tried at two metres). She started at 189 and then went immediately went to 195 and had both in first. Olympic fifth placer Raul Spank started the year with excellent 231 cm and Linda Stahl got Berlin qualification in javelin 62.48 m. Spank also qualified to Berlin and achieved his second best career mark after 232 from Beijing. Tobias Scherbarth went over 560 in Pole Vault.
MOSCOW (RUS, May 16): At first Open Meet in Moscow former world indoor champion Natalya Nazarova clocked 53.11 at 400 m.
LOVOSICE (CZE, May 16): Czech World medalist 2005 Vera Cechlova started into the season with fulfilled Berlin standard as she achieved 62.25 m here. Another qualifier here by hammer thrower Lukas Melich who registered 78.14 m.
PRAHA (CZE, May 16): Prague City Championships sprints were hampered by strong winds. That is why Roman Sebrle clocked in his two hurdles races 14.87 and 14.63 against a head-wind. European indoor medalist Lucie Skrobakova started with 13.41 at 100 m Hurdles in the opener. Olympic long jump finalist Roman Novotny showed great early shape in his opener leaped to exactly 800 cm but the mark was wind-aided. Czech national team clocked good 39.39 at 4×100 m (Zilka, Schiller, V. Sulc, Vojtik).
CELJE (SLO, May 16): Fast opener at Slovenian Club Championships for hurdler Damjan Zlatnar who clocked 13.73 (+1.1) at 110 m Hurdles.
WIESBADEN (GER, May 16): Olympic fourth placer Robert Harting won the discus with 66.93 at throwing meet in Wiesbaden. He qualified for Berlin and the same by Nadine Muller who got life-time best 63.46. She also beat Franka Dietzsch (61.49) who is the reigning world champion and did not compete for nearly a year in summer season. In the men discus Markus Munch achieved 64.48 as second and missed the Berlin standard only by 2 cm. Also good 63.90 for third Martin Wierig who is European U23 Champion. Gordon Wolf registered German junior record 66.05 with 1.75 kg implement. He massively improved the former mark 64.50 of Michael Mollenbeck from 1988. Marco Schmidt was solid in Shot Put with 19.71 m.
MOMBASA (KEN, May 16): Kennedy Kipkemoi from Administration Police stunned many when he won men’s 10 000 m race during the sixth leg of the Athletics Kenya New KCC Weekend Meeting at the Mombasa Municipal Stadium. The 24-year-old policeman won the race in a time of 30.00.1. In men’s 5000 m, Isaac Gichuki of Administration Police won in a time of 14.20.4.
BARCELONA (ESP, May 16): During Spanish Club League record holder Mario Pestano achieved his years best in discus with good 66.63 m. Beatriz Pascual walked the 5000 m in 22:32.62. In Madrid-Moratalaz Lisvany Perez and Miguel Sancho cleared 225 in high jump and Frank Casanas got 61.37 in discus.
JERUSALEM (ISR, May 16): European champion Alex Averbukh cleared good 561 for season begin at a home meet.
RIETI (ITA, May 16): First Stage of the Italian Club Championships which is taking place this weekend in all italian regions will serve as qualifying for the Final of the National Club Champs which is scheduled in Caorle on 26-27 September. The top results of the first day come from Rieti where some of the best Italian athletes competed. Emanuele Di Gregorio, surprising European Indoor Championships bronze medallist in the 60 metres in Torino, clocked 10.27 to win the 100 metres ahead of Jacques Riparelli (10.31). Olympic and World hammer throw finalist Clarissa Claretti threw 68.40 but was beaten by Moldavia‘s Marina Marghieva who came close to 70 metres with 69.88 m. Chiara Rosa, World Championships finalist in the shot put, made her debut in Rieti with a winning 18.15 m. Daniela Reina clocked 52.27 in the women‘s 400 metres. Silvia Salis responded to Claretti winning the hammer throw in Genova with 67.81 m. Discus thrower Giovanni Faloci produced the major surprise in Fabriano with a new PB of 62.56, a B-qualifier fo rhe World Championships in Berlin and four throws over the 60 metres barrier. Goran Nava, who opted to compete for Serbia at the Olympic Games in Bejing and at the European Indoor Championships in Torino (where he reached the final) won the men‘s 1500 metres in 3:39.89 in Saronno beating young kenyan Joel Kemboi Kimurer (3:41.18). Giorgio Piantella cleared 5.50 winning the men‘s pole vault in Modena.
ROAD
NEW YORK (USA, May 16): Tadesse Tola of Ethiopia made a strong move in the sixth kilometer of 5th annual Healthy Kidney 10-K, ran away from the field, and recorded the fastest-ever 10 kilometers in New York City: 27:48. It was Tola‘s second major victory here (he also won last summer‘s NYC Half-Marathon), and earned him a special $20,000 bonus put up by the embassy of the United Arab Emirates, the race sponsor. Informs Race Results Weekly. Patrick Makau successfully fought of a late race charge by compatriot Boaz Cheboiywo and finished second in 28:28. Cheboiywo got third in 28:31. A record 10,000 runners registered for the race, which was organized by the New York Road Runners.
GOTEBORG (SWE, May 16): At Goteborgs Varvet 21 km road race Kenyan Nicholas Manza achieved 1:01:55 to win ahead of his team-mate Denis Ndiso (1:03:10). Portugal Ana-Dulce Felix was the female winner in 1:11:27. Swedish titles at Half-Marathon for Erik Petersson (1:06:48) and Isabellah Andersson (1:14:22). Record number of 40 523 runners competed.
OTHER NEWS
WARINER BACK WITH HART
CARSON (USA): Double world champion and 2004 olympic winner at 400 m Jeremy Wariner went back to his long time coach Clyde Hart. He confirmed that in his quote after the adidas Track Classic race: “I executed better than I should have. Right now I‘m just focusing on every part of the race. I recently got back with my old coach (Clyde Hart). Coach Ford is a wonderful coach. Experience made the difference. I went back with Coach Hart.†He started to work with coach Michael Ford in the beginning of 2008.
NDEREBA CANDIDATE
NAIROBI (KEN): Kenyan media are informing that two times world marathon champion Catherine Ndereba is among six new candidates seeking to fill up some of the seats in the exclusive National Olympic Committee of Kenya (NOCK) executive committee when elections are held next Friday. Ndereba, 36, is fast approaching retirement from the marathon and is seeking to get into management. She wants take one of the three committee members positions. However, Kipchoge Keino will retain his chairman’s seat unopposed, and secretary general Francis K. Paul too. Paul took over from the late Tom O’omuombo. Athletics Kenya Secretary General David Okeyo, who has eight years in service at the NOCK as committee member, now moves up to the influential position of second vice chairman.
BOLT ADMITS MAYBE 9.56
MANCHESTER (GBR): Usain Bolt has admitted that if he had refrained from entertaining the crowd with his showboating routine in the final stages of the Olympic 100 metres final last summer his time would have been very much quicker. Bolt despite his antics in one of track and field‘s greatest ever moments, lowered his world record to a phenomenal 9.69seconds with a blistering display of speed in the Bird‘s Nest stadium. Bolt who competes at the Bupa Great CityGames in Manchester despite Rogge‘s comments is adamant he has no intention of changing his now established celebratory act. Bolt who will race in the innovative Manchester 150m street sprint tomorrow, when asked what he could have ran, said: „Maybe 9.56sec.“ Writes David Martin.
Special thanks to Alfons Juck, EME News.
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