by Larry Eder
Such is the stature in the sport of Christian Cantwell, that AVIVA London
moved the shot from Friday to Saturday, in order for him to rest a sore
foot. Cantwell threw, on one good foot, and hit 20.78m, to take third,
and give him his first defeat in twenty meetings. Reese Hoffa had a good
day.
Four days later, with foot much better, Christian uncorks a 21.78m to take
the Samsung DL Trophy for his event. In his local paper back in Columbia,
Missouri, one writer equated the level of competition to the kind of excitement
that follows a Steven Segal movie as it goes directly to video. Now, I enjoy the
large Buddhist tough man, and think that perhaps, the writer was noting that
Christian needs some challenges. How about then, the World record? Mr.
Cantwell will own that soon enough. Then, I will buy him a Steven Segal
dvd.
EME NEWS (AUG 18, 2010)
CANTWELL AND OSTAPCHUK
ZURICH (SUI, Aug 18): Zurich Main Railway station was a
special place where the first official Diamond Race winner was crowned.
Belarus European Champion Nadezhda Ostapchuk is celebrating the Diamond
Trophy. “I do not know where I will put it in my house,” she said. Her
all five valid throws were over 20 metres, the best in second round
20.63. Fifth foul was a long one. “I wanted the world lead, but at
least a meet record,” Ostapchuk added. Valerie Adams the world and
olympic winner was second 20.02 ahead of improved US Jill Camarena with
huge PB 19.50. Cleopatra Borel-Brown from Trinidad as fifth bettered
her own national record to 19.09. Some 1200 spectators watched also an
exciting men competition. Best begin for 2005 world champion Adam
Nelson with 21.03 and 21.29 throws. World champion Christian Cantwell
was improving with every throw and landed in round four a 21.78, enough
to win. He confirmed that with two more efforts enough to win 21.31 and
21.72. Nelson was second ahead of oly winner Tomasz Majewski (21.28)
and 2007 World champ Reese Hoffa (21.08). Men´s competition was not
part of Diamond Race. “I just want to win again and again,” said
Cantwell who leads the Diamond Race with enough points. “I had a small
injury, but it is getting better, I wanted a 22 meters today,” he said.
OTHER NEWS
ZURICH
(SUI): Jamaican sprint star Asafa Powell is nearing to the end of his
season. His health situation is not improving and he will not run in
Berlin or Brussels where the plans were set. His management did not
confirm the final decision. Powell is still taking it day by day. But
all looks for no more competitions for him in 2010.
BERLIN (GER): Long jump duel Christian Reif vs. Sebastian Bayer
will be one of the highlights of ISTAF in Berlin on Sunday August 22.
On the other note Poland´s European discus champion Piotr Malachowski
withdrew due to family reasons.
BRUSSELS (BEL): Brussels Marathon & Half Marathon break records
once again. A massive boost in registrations in the months of April and
May means that, for the first time, the Brussels Marathon & Half
Marathon will welcome more than 10,000 runners on Sunday, 10 October
2010.
ZURICH (SUI): Youth was training with World Class athletes as usual
in Zurich. Some 1000 children with 31 top perfomers from around the
world. Also present Diamond League Ambassador Sanya Richards who hopes
for a soon return to training and competition in 2011. Actually, two
clinics were staged simultaneously, not only in Letzigrund Stadium but
also in Chur with David Oliver and Barbora Spotakova.
BRUSSELS (BEL): Fabulous news for the family of Tia Hellebaut and
Wim Vandeven: Tia is expecting a second child. By the end of February
the pair will have a younger sister or brother for the 14 month your
old Lotte. “Quite soon after Lotte’s birth, the two of us agreed that
we should go for a second child. However, it was not easy to schedule.
Should I have waited until after the Olympic Games in London, I’d be
hitting 35 already. Even though the baby not necessarily had to come
now, we were ready for it. But then again, if you leave things to
mother nature, she decides over these things. And we both are delighted
with the news.” Hellebaut admitted: “I was pregnant and quite ill when
I jumped 1m97 in Barcelona. Even now I’d be allowed to perform jumps,
but I think it is best to no to. It simply wouldn’t feel right.”
NEWCASTLE (GBR): Andy Turner is the first gold medallist from the
recent European Championships to confirm he will compete at next
month’s Great North CityGames where he will contest the 110 metres
hurdles. Turner who will pull on an England vest again at the meeting
taking place at the Newcastle/Gasteshead Quayside venues on September
18-19 is determined to improve on his second position of a year ago.
However finishing behind teammate William Sharman he was part of an
impressive host nation squad which thrashed Australia 10 events to one
in what is to become an annual match between the great Commonwealth
rivals. Writes David Martin. Australia intend fielding a full strength
side including Olympic and world pole vault champion Steve Hooker,”
said Andy Caine the event’s elite athletes manager. Caine added: “More
good news is that Mark Lewis-Francis and Chris Tomlinson who won
European 100m silver and long jump bronze medals will also be in the
England team.”
GLOUCESTER (USA): Kenya’s Lineth Chepkurui has been confirmed to
compete at the inaugural Run Gloucester 7 mile road race on August
22nd. The event is managed by Boston Marathon race director Dave
McGillivray and in addition to Chepkurui als compatriots Kiprono and
James Koskei have been confirmed.
LONDON (GBR): European gold and silver 400m hurdlers David Greene
and Rhys Williams are confident they can win medals at the Commonwealth
Games in October. The duo trains together and will both represent Wales
when competing in New Delhi they told sportinglife.com.
ROSTOCK (GER): European 2006 marathon champion Ulrike Maisch could
not defend her title due to injury problems in Barcelona. But she hopes
for a come-back, first she will be a mother for first time.
WELTKLASSE PREVIEW
ZURICH
(AUG): Organisers of first Samsung Diamond League final before sold
stadium (26 000) are announcing a favorable weather, no wind and no
rain. In all events nearly all top athletes are competing.
Event by event preview
MEN
200 m: Without injured Dix (who lost so his chance for the Diamond) Blake looks like the favorite to win, Spearmon follows.
400 m: Wariner is confirmed winner of DR, needs only end the race. Will Gonzales chase him?
5000
m: Great field in depth, also open one. Merga has the maximum of points
of the entrants and a second place is enough for him to win the
Diamond, but also fast time is expected.
SC: The best field of the year so far (Both French, all top Kenyans,
Shaheen). First years sub 8 is possible, Diamond Race has more
possibilities but likely one of the three Kenyans will get it.
110mH: Oliver in best shape and is confirmed DR winner.
HJ: Without Thornblad this looks like an Russian affair with Eurochamp
Shustov, World indoor winner Ukhov and last year World Champ Rybakov.
Williams can also mix Diamond situation.
LJ: Phillips first or second is enough to win. Only Lapierre can beat him as winner and Phillips only third.
DT: Very open, Kanter coming back to shape but Malachowski is Barcelona winner and Harting Berlin world champ.
WOMEN
100 m: Jeter is confirmed Diamond winner, but with Campbell-Brown and Myers all current fastest are running.
400 m: Felix or Firova – looks like that. Can they break 50?
1500 m: Langat is confirmed winner, more to watch the time as the pacing should be very fast.
400mH: Spencer is confirmed winner as Demus is not competing because of an injury.
PV: Another Murer vs. Feofanova, or somebody (Spiegelburg) will come from behind?
LJ: Very open situation here, Reese prepared specially for that one, was not in London.
JT: Spotakova or Patterson, is the question. But the Czech to loose the diamond must be third or worse.
RESULTS
SARANSK (RUS): Correction, it was not Army Championships but Spartakiade.
MIEDZYZDROJE
(POL, Aug 17): At Komar and Slusarsk Memorial meet Przemyslaw
Czerwinski cleared 570 to win the pole vault ahead of Pawel
Wojciechowski who improved his best by 9 cm to 560. Teresa Dobija
leaped to 678 (+3.7, legal 652) in long jump. Agnieszka Leszczynska won
the 600 m in 1:30.92.
SINGAPORE (SIN, Aug 18): From Wednesday qualifications to note the
766 in long jump by Brazilian Carlo Dos Santos. Arjun of India was the
best in boys discus qualificaiton with 63.90 (1.5 kg).
LOCARNO (ITA, Aug 17): Italian Barcelona hammer silver winner Nicola Vizzoni won in his first meet since Spain with 76.79 m.
SAD NEWS
NAIROBI (KEN): Joseph Chelimo, who died on August 7 at the age of
53, was one of the unsung heroes of Kenyan athletics, a coach who
influenced and guided many runners who became Olympic and world
champions or established internationals. Chelimo wasn’t a runner
himself when he was young but, like lots of Kenyans of that era, he had
followed the sport closely from an early age when athletes started to
give Kenya international prestige and a worldwide profile with their
successes from the late 1960s onwards. Working with former Olympic
3000m steeplechase medallist Patrick Sang, the first global champion
Chelimo coached was Reuben Kosgei, the 2000 Olympic Games 3000m
steeplechase gold medallist. Other successes soon followed and athletes
he worked with who took world titles on the track or at cross country
included Richard Limo, Enock Koech, Eliud Kipchoge and Brimin Kipruto.
Contemporary elite runners he was working with, who will be familiar
names to athletics aficionados, included William Biwott Tanui, Vincent
Chepkok, Bernard Kipyego, Emmanuel Mutai, Lucas Rotich, Viola Kibiwott
and Irene Jelagat. Writes Phil Minshull. Earlier this year, Chelimo
started to suffer from severe headaches and dizziness which steadily
worsened. Diagnoses lead to a brain tumour being discovered in June and
he subsequently underwent surgery. The initial prognosis was optimistic
and Chelimo was due to be discharged from hospital but his condition
suddenly worsened and he tragically died in the early hours of August
7. His funeral took place on August 14 at his home in Koropkwen Village
with around 2,000 people paying their last respects, including many of
the athletes whose lives he influenced.
