by Larry EderAt Runblogrun, and with American Track & Field, we have championed increased opportunities for women athletes, from the pole vault to the steeplechase. In our archives, we have a note from a coach chastising us in 1991 for putting Carla Boravicka on the cover, running the steeplechase. The letter ended with, ” the next thing I know, you will be putting women pole vaulters on the cover!” Be careful what you wish for!
Evolution is a painful, brutish process. The changes in our sport have come painfully. Our sports’ evolution, from a rather draconian amateur sport, ignoring the changes in the world of sport, to a sport trying to find its way in the modern world of sports marketing and entertainment continues, one painful step forward, one half step to the side…yet, in the end, it continues.
We also completely support the professionalization of our sport, and applaud the IAAF in announcing its prize money structure for the World Championships in Berlin. Prize money and appearance money for that matter, allow athletes to have longer careers and pursue excellence in their event for more years, giving the fans of the sport a chance to see better competitions and events.
Last weekend in New York, for example, and this coming weekend in Eugene, Oregon, our sport will have successes because athletes, managers, meet directors, and sponsors work together to make the sport better. For our sport to succeed, and new sponsors to see the opportunities, our elite meets are our best showcase. It is absolutely critical that management bring the best competitors together, regardless of footwear brand or sponsor, in order to give the best meet experience.
We understand that several elite athletes have chosen not to compete at the Berlin ISTAF meet due to the cut backs by the meet in appearance money. While we understand the economic issues that may have challenged a meet director, the current model in the Golden League includes appearance money. Berlin ISATF is a member of the Golden League. It will not, at this time, be part of the Diamond League in 2010. We applaud the athletes and managers who are involved in this quiet protest, which is their right and personal choice. Those athletes and their management believe, that by showing up at ISTAF Berlin, they endanger future revenue from appearance at other meetings. We wish that ISTAF Berlin could find a way to reach an rapprochment with athletes and their management-as that would be best for the sport. Runblogrun will keep it’s readers updated on this unfortunate situation.
IAAF CONFIRMS PRIZE MONEY AND WORLD RECORD BONUS
MONTE CARLO (MON): IAAF confirmed that 202 of the 213 IAAF Member Federations have declared their intention to participate at the 12th IAAF World Championships in Berlin. The world governing body also announced the same prize money as at last world championships in Osaka worth of 7,336 millions USD. For individual top ten: 1st 60,000; 2nd 30,000; 3rd 20,000; 4th 15,000; 5th 10,000; 6th 6000; 7th 5000; 8th 4000, for relays per team: 1st 80,000; 2nd 40,000; 3rd 20,000; 4th 16,000; 5th 12,000; 6th 8000; 7th 6000; 8th 4000. Also IAAF World Marathon Cup will offer for the top six teams: 1st 20,000; 2nd 15,000; 3rd 12,000; 4th 10,000; 5th 8000; 6th 6000. Also remaining is the 100 000 USD World record bonus for achieving new record (equalling is not enough) donated by IAAF Partners Toyota (for Women) and TDK (for Men).
SPOTAKOVA BEATS OBERGFOLL
STRASBOURG (FRA, June 3): Czech world and olympic winner in javelin Barbora Spotakova improved her season best in second competition to 66.31 in first throw. World leader German Christine Obergfoll and one of her main rivals on the circuit was clear second with 62.33. They will next time meet in Ostrava at IAAF Grand Prix Meet on June 17. Another good Czech win at this Meeting National D1 for high jumper Iva Strakova who cleared 193 ahead of Melanie Skotnik, Marina Aitova and Svetlana Shkolina (all 191). Russian wins for Kseniya Zadorina at 400 m (51.64) and Yulia Kondakova at 100 m hurdles (13.03, +0.7). In men events fast 100 m by Ronald Pognon who clocked his season best 10.23 (+0.4) ahead of US Phil De Rosier (10.24, also won the 200 m in 20.91, +0.4). World junior champion 2006 Benjamin Compaore registered 16.98 (+0.9) in triple jump. Austrian discus record holder Gerhard Mayer won his event with 62.60 clearly over US Jarred Rome the worlds finalist who competed for first time in Europe this year (59.86).
KANTER 69.07 m
TARTU (EST, June 3): World discus champion Gerd Kanter of Estonia again won and achieved 69.07 m at second meet of national series BIGBANK Kuldliiga on Wednesday. Second Egyptian Omar El Ghazaly got 63.10 m. Olympic medalist 2004 Vadim Vasilevskis registered 83.16 in javelin and another Latvian Igors Sokolovs won hammer with 75.93. Next meet of the series is in Kohila on June 25.
RABCHENYUK 55.14
YALTA (UKR, June 3): During first day of Ukrainian Cup meet Anastasiya Rabchenyuk clocked european leading 55.14 at 400 m hurdles. 2005 World champion Yuri Krymarenko cleared 230 in high jump (ahead of Oleksandr Nartov 228). Good also 63.11 discus for Natalya Semenova. In women high jump Vita Palamar won with 189 and Natalya Pogrebnyak the 100 m (11.36, +0.1). Maksim Mazuryk beat olympic medalist Denis Yurchenko as both cleared 550 in pole vault. 800 m world indoor medalist Tetyana Petlyuk lost at 1500 m (4:13.91) to Anna Mishchenko (4:12.96).
LEE SIGNED PROFESSIONAL CONTRACT
KINGSTON (JAM): The reigning World Youth and World Junior champion at 100 m Dexter Lee of Jamaica has signed with On Track Management, headed by Claude Bryan. Lee will be sponsored by Reebok. On Track Management is a sports marketing company located in Kennesaw, Georgia, listing two-time Olympic 200m Champion Veronica Campbell-Brown among it’s portfolio of clients.
ISINBAYEVA HAPPY BIRTHDAY!
FORMIA (ITA): Yelena Isinbayeva celebrated on Wednesday her 27th birthday. She is in preparation for her first meet in summer in Berlin on June 14. She also said that apart of Golden League Meetings she plans until Berlin World Championships only one other competition and that will be Aviva Grand Prix in July in London.
OTHER NEWS
MOSCOW (RUS): Steeple olympic winner and world record holder Gulnara Samitova-Galkina confirmed she will compete at European Team Championships in June in Leiria at 3000 m. Last weekend she achieved 800 m personal best and fast 1500 m time.
KLADNO (CZE): Czech TNT Fortuna combined events meeting in Kladno (June 23-24) signed olympic winner Natalya Dobrynska of Ukraine for the heptathlon. In men decathlon Roman Sebrle, Dmitriy Karpov, Maurice Smith and Andrey Kravchenko are the main stars.
ADDIS ABEBA (ETH): China honours double Olympic champion Tirunesh Dibaba: In Akaki, near the Ethiopian city of Addis Abeba, China will build a hospital. The 8,4 million dollar modern hospital will have the name ‚Tirunesh Beijing Referral Hospital‘.
BAUNATAL (GER): Due to the renovation of the stadium in Kassel, the traditional Askina-meeting will take place this year under the name of ‚Weltklasse in Baunatal‘ which is some kilometres away from Kassel on Friday, June 5. Big names are javelin throwers Christina Obergfoll, Steffi Nerius and Linda Stahl. In the men‘s pole vault Danny Ecker, Malte Mohr, Alexander Straub and Bjorn Otto will fight for a jackpot and the Berlin standard. The men‘s shot put will see Ralf Bartels and Peter Sack, together with Andy Dittmar and U20 World champion David Storl. The star of the meeting will be European indoor champion Ariane Friedrich who will face Julia Wanner , Meike Kroeger and Julia Hartmann in the women‘s high jump. Carolin Nytra and Nadine Hildebrand will give the spectators an exciting 100m hurdles duell. The men‘s race will be decided between Alexander John, Willi Mathiszik, Erik Balnuweit and Helge Schwarzer. Interesting 800m race also with Robin Schembera, Sebastian Keiner, Rene Bauschinger and Carsten Schlangen.
LAUSANNE (SUI): May is traditionally the real start of the outdoor track & field season and following major competitions like the European Champion Clubs Cups and European Cup Race Walking, European Athletics is pleased to announce the nominations for the European Athlete of the Month for May representing 15 countries. The voting will close on Thursday 11 June at 12 noon.
GENEVE (SUI): British sprinter Dwain Chambers will not run this saturday in Geneve at internationl meet. The reason is apparently that at the Swiss Meeting of Geneve no money is involved.
SOFIA (BUL): The meet director Georgi Pavlov confirmed for Bulgarian media that Dwain Chambers will compete on June 27 at “Pavel Pavlov†meet in Sofia. He was running there also last year. They spoke together during last weekend in Kalamata, Greece. That would mean he would pass the Uden Keien Meet in Netherlands which is scheduled on the same day. Another interesting Sofia entry is Alvin Harrison, the 400 m runner from USA with doping past who now competes for Dominican Republic.
LONDON (GBR): John Spurling Britain‘s most successful ever charity fund raiser, has been announced as the new Chairman of the London Marathon Ltd, the organisers of the Virgin London Marathon. The announcement his follows the retirement of James Clarke, who had been chairman since 1995. Clarke joined the Board of the London Marathon Ltd in 1991 and has been a governor and trustee of the London Marathon Charitable Trust since 1987. Spurling, a retired advertising executive, is no stranger to the London Marathon, having been a director for nine years. In 1999 he became a Guinness world record holder when he raised record Å1,17 million for charity fundraising for two charities, The Lord’s Taverners and The Animal Health Trust, by finishing the 1999 London Marathon. The 2010 Virgin London Marathon will take place on April 25. Informs insidethegames.com.
TORINO (ITA): 10th jubilee Primo Nebiolo Memorial in Torino (European Athletics Premium) will have world leader Abubaker Kaki of Sudan as the main headliner. He will compete at 800 m as he remains unbeaten this year indoors and outdoors. Cuban world record holder Dayron Robles who was suppose to run also now announced that his season will begin in Thessaloniki on June 10. Still the hurdles field looks impressive with Hengelo winner Andy Turner, Bahamian record holder Shamar Sands and US Dexter Faulk with Aries Merritt. Another top event is triple jump where Briton Philips Idowu should meet Cubans Alexis Copello and David Giralt. Also men long jump with olympic bronze medalist Ibrahin Camejo of Cuba should be a highlight. Track summer debut for Briton Mo Farah at 3000 m. Italian record holder in high jump Antoinetta Di Martino should return after injury in winter. World champion Betty Heidler competes in hammer against in-shape Anita Wlodarczyk of Poland. Olympic silver medallist Natalya Miknevich from Belarus, World bronze medallist Nadine Kleinert and 2009 European indoor silver medallist Denise Hinrichs, both from Germany, Italian record holder and world finalist Chiara Rosa (PB 19.15m) and former European indoor champion Assunta Legnante will lead the women’s Shot put field. A brand new Mondo track will be inaugurated to mark the special anniversary of the Memorial.
KINGSTON (JAM): Usain Bolt who next competes in Toronto and Ostrava was quoted after 19.58 of Tyson Gay as saying: It‘s going to be an interesting season and Tyson kicked it off well. I am looking forward to going out there and doing my best as always.†Bolt said a clash with Gay before the World Championships in Berlin in August would suit him fine. Bolt announced earlier that he will compete in Lausanne, Paris and London. That means at one of this meets this duel would be possible. „I definitely would want to meet Tyson before World Champs (August 15-23) to see where I am at,“ he said. „I am looking forward to that showdown.“ Bolt also did not confirm he would be ready to run in three invididual events at 2012 Olympic Games in London.
NAIROBI (KEN): The 10 000 m races at the June 25 to 27 Kenyan National Championships will be used to select athletes who will represent Kenya at the distance in Berlin. Speaking to FeverPitch yesterday, Athletics Kenya (AK) general secretary, David Okeyo, disclosed the federation had weighed negative implications of subjecting athletes to the 25-lap race at the Championships and subsequent Trials two weeks later in arriving at the decision. Eastern Standard informs. Olympic bronze medallist and 10k road race world record holder, Micah Kogo, Olympic silver medallist (5,000) Eliud Kipchoge, Japan based trio of world leader, Josphat Muchiri Ndambiri, Martin Mathathi and Gideon Ngatuny are some top male runners expected to run. John Kimondo Thuo, Moses Masai, Nicholas Mulinge Makau, Mekubo Mogusu and Josphat Bett are others on AK’s invitational list. World Cross senior champion, Florence Kiplagat, in form world junior record holder, Linet Masai, Sotokoto Safari marathon champion, Philes Ongori, Monicah Wangari, Lineth Chepkurui, Julia Mumbi and Peninah Arusei among others are in the women’s line up.
LAUSANNE (SUI): Double world champion Bernard Lagat of USA will compete at 800 m at Athletissima on July 7. His best is 1:46.00 from 2003 and last time he run 800 m in May 2005 with 1:47.07. That means it would be his first 800 m after four years.
RESULTS
CASTELLO DI AREZZO (ITA, May 31): The 37th edition of the ‚Scalata al Castello di Arezzo‘ finished as expected: Sergey Lebid (29:01min) from Ukraine won the 10K race in front of Kenyan Ezekiel Kiprotich Meli (29:02min).
ROCCASECCA (ITA, May 31): The 3rd ‚Memorial Antonio Fava‘ was won in record time by Ugandan Wilson Businei (10,5km – 33:13min). Moroccan Ghizlane Asmae was the fastest women in 38:27min.
TAO BAJA (PUR, May 31): Kenyan Sammy Kitwara continued in winning at the 24th Abraham Rosa International 10 km road race (28:32). Ethiopian Tilahun Regassa was second (28:45) ahead of John Yuda of Tanzania (29:01). Informs Race Results Weekly.
GABORONE (BOT, May 30): South Africa was the leading country at South African Championships with 12-5-6 medal tally ahead of home Botswana (11-14-11). Home stars shined at 400 m with Isaac Makwala clocking 45.79 and Amantle Montsho 51.88 in women race.
RIGA (LAT, May 30): Igors Sokolovs improved his own Latvian hammer record at Riga City Championships to excellent 80.14 m. He is so only third this year in the world with 80+ mark.
DESSAU (GER, June 2): Adding to Anhalt Meeting in Dessau the 200 m for Briton Rikki Fifton (20.58, +1.0), new PB in solo race for Poland´s Adam Kszczot at 800 m (1:46.05), solid 1500 m (3:36.86) by Morrocan Abdelati Iguider, good 8:25.67 steeple by Ethiopian Gary Roba and 13.51 (+1.9) high hurdles win for Dutch Gregory Sedoc after false start disqualification in Hengelo just the day before.
LOKEREN (BEL, June 1): New Belgian record for Svetlana Bolshakova in triple jump 14.01 (+2.0). The Russian and World Youth 2001, European Junior 2003 and European U23 medalist recieved the Belgian citizenship in november last year.
ZAGREB (CRO, June 3): At Dinamo Meeting Maja Golub bettered the Croatian 100 m record to 11.51 (+0.9). Roland Varga won the discus (61.29) and Bosnian Hamza Alic the shot put with 19.95 m.
To learn more about our sport, we encourage our readers to go to the
following places:
http://www.iaaf.org to learn about our global sport.
http://www.usatf.org to learn about the sport in the U.S.
http://www.runningnetwork.com to find a local running community, running store, running event, or to get involved in the grass roots culture of our sport.
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