by Larry Eder
Last night, in Eugene, Oregon, Lisa Koll battled the field and rain to take the
NCAA 10,000 meter title in 32:49.35. Rain is continuing in Eugene today, but
should clear on Saturday!
In the Semenya case, more waiting……
Not yet, the Semenya case
NEW YORK/JOHANNESBURG (USA): Despite noise and rumours
coming out of South Africa please note that the IAAF is not announcing any
final statement on Caster Semenya, nor is there an IAAF press conference either
in Rome or in South Africa on this subject. Writes IAAF Communications
Director Nick Davies. “The Caster Semenya case is being handled jointly by
the IAAF and representatives for Semenya in a satisfactory way. It is
important to note though that the procedure has still not been completed and
must therefore remain confidential. The IAAF
will only issue an official statement at the end of the process, which is now
well underway. Until then, all
parties should refrain from making statements that could only cause unnecessary
confusion,” says the IAAF statement. In this situation
South African sports officials on Thursday cancelled a news conference to
announce Caster Semenya’s future. South African media are reporting.
Return of S. Kallur
NEW YORK (USA): More interesting facts from provisional adidas Grand Prix New
York Diamond League meet. Pole vault women as non diamond race event will mark
the return of Jenny Suhr into the competition. Russian world leader Olga
Kucherenko is the clear favorite in women long jump. Men´s triple jump will see
a great match between Teddy Tamgho, Philips Idowu and Christian Olsson who will
open his season here. Another Swedish star Susanna Kallur is returning at Icahn
Stadium into the big meetings environment. But the field is tough with Lolo
Jones, Priscilla Lopes-Schliep, Virginia Crawford and Deloreen Ennis-London. In
women shot put olympic winner Valerie Vili takes on Belarus Natalia Mikhnevich.
Special three-events contest will see world champion Jessica Ennis, olympic
medalist Hyleas Fountain and US Bettie Wade competingt in shot put, long jump
and 100 m hurdles.
OTHER NEWS
CORK (IRE): Top Irish names have been announced ofr
the 59th edition of the Cork City Sports international meet on July
3. Former world indoor champion Derval O’Rourke and Paul Hession will be
present as well as Robert Heffernan, Kelly Proper, Ailis McSweeney and Deirdre
Ryan. Top international athletes will be Antiguan sprinter Brendan Christian,
Alian Pompey from Guyana in women 400 m, American Jamie Nieto in high jump and
Cydonie Mothersill from the Cayman Islands in sprints. Kellie Wells, Janay
DeLoach and Jessica Ohanaya were invited to take on home star O’Rourke in the
hurdles race.
ROME (ITA): The Italian Athletics federation (FIDAL)
has announced its team of race walkers and its marathon team for the European
Championships in Barcelona. Alex Schwarzer will compete in both the 20km and
50km men’s race, in the marathon Olympic winner 2004 Stefano Baldini is the
biggest Italian name announced to compete.
MOSCOW (RUS): Former hurdler Yevgeniy Pechenkin (36) who was also
later competing in bob-sleigh is new athletics coach for Russian national
skating team. His best at 110 m hurdles was 13.38 in 1996. He competed in
summer in summer olympic games 2000 and 2004.
RESULTS
EUGENE (USA, Jun 9): Good results on the first day of the NCAA first
division championships at Hayward Field. Lisa Koll won the 10000m women’s final
in 32:49.35. Other first day winners to note were jumping talent Christian
Taylor who achieved 17.09 (+2.9, 17.02 +0.9 legal) in the triple jump. Shot put
star Ryan Whiting won the discus (59.06) and Amber Kaufman was the best in high
jump with 186. Interestingly Chelsea Taylor jumped higher within heptathlon
(187) and leads after first day with 3617 points. Just two ahead of Canadian
brianna Theisen. In heats on the women side Jeneba Tarmoh posted windy
11.05 (+2.7) and Blessing Okagbare legal 11.21 (+1.0) in the 100 m. Jo Atkins
was the fastest in 400 m first round (51.88), Phoebe Wright in the 800 m heats
(2:02.98) and Queen Harrison at 400 m hurdles (55.35). Texas AM as expected had
the best 4×100 m first round (43.41). Highlight of men heats was the 800 my
junior Robbie Andrews, his 1:45.54 means third fastest US junior performer
ever. Joey Hughes clocked 45.15 in the 400 m heats, Jeshua Anderson 49.21 in
the 400 m hurdles heats and Florida 38.94 in 4×100 m first round. Trinidad´s
Rondell Sorrillo achieved 10.14 (+2.6) in 100 m heats, in another race Jeff
Demps 10.15 (+2.2), and in third heat Rakieem Salaam legal 10.27 (+0.2).
