GOLDEN GALA PREVIEW: Powell, Robles, great Long Jump expected

ROMA (ITA): Fourth leg of IAAF
Diamond League continues in Eternal City in expected warm weather conditions on
Thursday in Olympic Stadium. The meet saw in its history nine world records. It
will be jubilee 30th Golden Gala. Short event by event preview:

100 m: Asafa Powell again against
the clock. Meet record 9.77 possible, world lead (better than 9.83) very
possible. What will do young French Lemaitre the day before his 20th birthday,
will we see something special? But this is not Diamond Race event.

200 m: Wallace Spearmon looks
like obvious choice, but Walter Dix returns to Europe after two years and has
a sub 20 this year.

400 m: Jeremy Wariner the
favorite, can somebody surprise him (for example Jermaine Gonzales with fast
finish?). World lead 44.81 is something what could possibly go.

1500 m: Very open field, this is
non Diamond Race event. Great depth but Ethiopian Gebremehdin Mekonnen is the
name.

5000 m: Augustine Choge can
surprise Bislett winner Imane Merga. Sub 12:50?

110mH: Dayron Robles finally in
good weather. What will be the outcome? He is ready for first sub 13 in Rome.

Long Jump: Saladino, Phillips,
Lapierre, you cannot ask for more. World lead very possible.

Shot Put: Cantwell still
unbeaten, no signs that should change.

Discus Throw: Kovago winner from
Shanghai, Malachowski in great shape, not to underestimate Kanter with Harting.

4×100 m: Jamaica should be there,
what will be the composition? But meet record 38.65 should go.

women

100 m: Shelly-Ann Fraser, the
favorite. LaShauntea Moore could be ready for a surprise.

800 m: Very big field, 2007 World
Champ Jepkosgei is the name to pay attention.

400mHurdles: Lashinda Demus
against the clock, arch-rival Melaine Walker is not there.

Steeple: Field similar to Oslo,
will be Chemos faster?

High Jump: Vlasic wants to
continue in winning, Howard-Lowe is also there, return of Di Martino. Meet
record is 203.

Pole Vault: Murer vs. Rogowska,
should be high.

Triple Jump: World Champ Savigne
against Rypakova and Saladukha.

Javelin Throw: Spotakova is in
better mood after Ostrava loss, Obergfoll and Ratej also there, but Abakumova
is missing.

DOMINGUEZ EUROPEAN LEAD, FERNANDEZ WORLD LEAD

HUELVA (ESP, Jun 9): In the
last event of the evening at Gran Premio de Andalucia in Huelva (6th meeting
Iberoamericano, EA Classic category) the fans got something to cheer about.
Steeple world champion Marta Dominguez returned to winning ways in great style.
She clocked European leading 9:17.07 in her special  event, also third fastest in the world this
year. Second Jessica Augusto of Portugal improved to 9:18.54, new national
record. Another highlight was women 3000 m, so far the fastest of the year. Nuria
Fernandez achieved 8:38.06 ahead of Kenyan Iness Chenonge (8:38.75), the first
sub 8:40 times of the year. Sara Moreira of Portugal as third got 8:42.69 and
Natalia Rodriguez 8:55.03 as fourth. Moroccan Hasna Benhassi won the 800 m in 2:01.02 beating in
close finish her team-mate Malika Akkaoui (2:01.17, PB) and Russian Yekaterina
Kostetskaya (2:01.19). Ukrainian Yelizaveta Bryzgina was the fastest in women 200 m (23.34, +0.1) and
Ethiopian Asmare Work Bekele (18 years) improved to 4:08.30 meet record in the 1500 m which was classified
as U23 race. In women technical events South American record holder Jennifer
Dahlgren of Argentina beat (72.85) former world champion Yipsi Moreno of Cuba
who is returning after maternity and achieved her best since then 71.41. In
close long jump duel Viktoriya Rybalko of Ukraine was better than US Funmi
Jimoh (647-646). In men events Kenyan Kiprono Menjo achieved excellent 13:02.54
at 5000 m
with Kidane Tadese of Eritrea (younger brother of World champion) improving to
13:11.85 as second. Jesus Espana was best home runner as third (13:18.90). In
steeple Jose Luis Blanco (8:22.00) and in the 1500 m Alvaro Rodriguez
(3:37.15) scored Spanish wins. US Ty Akins posted meet record 13.45 (+0.3) at 110 m hurdles and Nery Brenes
of Costarica won the 400 m
(45.54). World champion Yaroslav Rybakov cleared 227 to win the high jump. In
discus Cuban Jorge Fernandez surprised with 65.02 the best home throwers, Mario
Pestano as second achieved 64.69.

NYTRA CLOCKS 12.79 OVER THE HURDLES

CUXHAVEN (GER, Jun 9): German
champion Carolin Nytra was the star of EWE Athletics, EA Classic meeting. In
heats she clocked European lead of the season 12.79 (+0.3) and confirmed it
with 12.83 (+0.3) win the final of 100 m hurdles. Tobias Scherbarth cleared 570 in pole vault in his third
attempt. In javelin battle Cuban Berlin world medalist Guillermo Martinez won
with 81.80 beating improved German Matthias De Zordo (81.50). Qatari 17-years
old Mohamed Al-Garni improved to 3:36.32 in the 1500 m what is national
junior record. Second experienced German Carsten Schlangen achieved good
3:38.07. Other winners to note in good weather conditions Jamaican Ryan Shields
at 100 m
(10.44), German Alexander Kosenkow at 200 m (20.84, +0.6), Poland´s Dominik Bochenek
at 110 m
hurdles (13.66, -0.2) and US Natalie Knight in the 200 m (23.27, 0.0).

SEMENYA WILL HAVE A MEDIA CONFERENCE 

JOHANNESBURG (RSA): 800 m world champion Caster
Semenya is scheduled to hold a news conference on Thursday to discuss the
gender dispute, South African media are reporting. A statement from
Semenya’s public relations advisers Wednesday said the 19-year-old runner would
appear at a news conference hosted by minister of sport Makhenkesi
Stofile. Semenya’s lawyers will also attend along with mediator Brian Currin,
a South African civil and human rights lawyer. Sources are saying the news
will be she can continue to compete in women ranks. Press Association Sport
also understands IAAF president Lamine Diack will also attend, a clear
indication that a definitive decision on Semenya’s status will be
revealed.

GREEK DIFFICULTIES

ATHENS (GRE): Greek media are
reporting that due to financial crisis in the country most probably the best
one day meeting Tsiklitiria in Athens (IAAF World Challenge) will not be held
this year. The EA Classic in Thessaloniki is moving to Patras. The only meet in
healthy situation is Vardinoyannia in Rethymno at Crete Island (EA Premium)
scheduled for July 7. Greek Championships will be held this weekend in Patras.
All top names should compete including long jumper Luis Tsatoumas and hurdler
Periklis Iakovakis. The biggest problem for Greek athletics is the financial
crisis in terms of support for clubs, individual
athletes and also the federation SEGAS itself.

ISTAF DOING WELL ON TICKETS

BERLIN (GER): The oldest German
meeting ISTAF of Berlin is doing well on ticket sales. Already 16 000 have been
sold for the 69th edition planned for August 22 at Olympic Stadium. ISTAF will
be part of IAAF World Challenge circuit. Top German names Robert Harting and Ariane
Friedrich are the faces on the posters connected with the promotion of the
meet.

WARINER, RUDISHA FOR ATHLETISSIMA

LAUSANNE (SUI): 35th edition of
Athletissima in Lausanne (IAAF Diamond League) announced more top names for
July 8. Jeremy Wariner will compete in the 400m. This will only be his second
race in olympic city, he won here in 2005. 
The 800m is likely to be one of the great events of the evening, with
the participation of David Rudisha, who has just won the 800m of the Oslo meet
in 1:42.04. He should attack the 13 years old meet record of Wilson Kipketer
1:42.61. This year, he will face Mbulaeni Mulaudzi, of South Africa, the 800m
reigning World champion. In the high jump, Yaroslav Rybakov, another current
world champion will clash with his home rival Ivan Ukhov, the current world
indoor champion and US Dusty Jonas.

POWELL CHANGING TO LI NING

ROMA (ITA): Fastest man of 2010
at 100 m
Asafa Powell is changing his clothing company. Sources close to the sprinter
confirmed he will work with Chinese sports manufacturer Li Ning. It is expected
he will compete in the new vest already on Thursday in Rome. Li Ning has also
Yelena Isinbayeva and Andreas Thorkildsen as other top athletes signed. Powell
is so far unbeaten this season.

RESULTS

MONTREUIL (FRA, Jun 8): To add
from this meet is the 11.21 by olympic medalist Kerron Stewart of Jamaica
against -1.1 wind. Russian Yulia Rusanova posted very solid 1:59.85 in the 800 m, the fourth fastest
time of current season. Damu Cherry was also pretty fast at 100 m hurdles with 12.82 into
a -1.6 wind. Ethiopian Belete Assefa won good 5000 m in 13:18.40, where
top 7 dipped sub 13:20 in close finish. Jamaican record holder Dwight Thomas
achieved 13.37 also against 1.3 wind.

CHENNAI (IND, Jun 9): Asian
Grand Prix circuit ended at Nehru Stadium with meet record 1:47.28 by Sajad
Moradi of Iran. Chinese Ji Wei won the 110 m hurdles (13.64, 0.0). Another Chinese win
for Wu Bo (16.73) in triple jump over best Indian Ranjith Maheshwari (16.60).
Suryo Wibowo won the 100 m
in 10.41 (0.0) beating Chinese favorite Zhang Peimeng (10.45). Chinese Taipei
clocked 39.32 in
the 4×100 m. Malaysian Lee Hup Wei won the high jump and equaled his national
record of 227. Best female result was the 191 clearance of Svetlana Radzivil
from Uzbekistan in high jump.

OTHER NEWS

COLORADO SPRINGS (USA):  The U.S. Olympic Committee (USOC) has
announced high jumper Chaunte Lowe as its May Athlete of the Month. Lowe took
the bronze medal at the IAAF World indoor championships and just recently broke
the 22-year-old American record in Cottbus, Germany by clearing 204.

LONDON (GBR): World outdoor and
indoor champion Jessica Ennis will not compete at this month’s European Team
Championships in Bergen, Norway. Ennis will compete in a three-event
competition at the IAAF Diamond League in New York on June 12th and will not be
recovered in time to compete with the British squad in Bergen. In New York
Ennis will take on Olympic silver medalist Hyleas Fountain in the long jump,
100m hurdles and the shot put.

PARIS (FRA): The French
Athletics association has announced its team for the European Cup combined
events in Tallinn, Estonia. Romain Barras, who managed 8297 points last month
in Gotzis, will lead the men’s team. Antoinette Nana Djimou Ida holds the best
performance on the women’s team.