by Larry EderThe 2011 AVIVA Indoor Grand Prix was an amazing track meet, but also, proved, once again, that track & field, well managed, can be great sports entertainment. The SRO crowd of 8,500 saw great performances by the world’s best, but also some tremendous British performances, from Jenny Meadows winning the 800 meters, to Mo Farah‘s British and European record at 5,000 meters.
Mo Farah leads the 2011 NB indoor GP 3,000m, February 5, 2011, photo by PhotoRun.net.
The weekend of February 18-20 was a huge weekend for national indoor championships, and, thanks to Alfons Juck, you have some of the most memorable performances. The European Indoor Champs, to be held in Paris, March 4-7, will give us a view of some new sports stars, with many stars, not yet in shape in 2011, with the World Championships not too far down the road.
The afternoon before the AVIVA Indoor Grand Prix, the rumors were answered: Mo Farah told the British press that he would be training with Alberto Salazar‘s group in Portland, Oregon. In fact, Mo Farah had been training with Galen Rupp for several weeks. The success of the new training regimen was illustrated with the 5,000m record by Mo Farah, establishing new European and British records and Galen Rupp holding on for the new AR. How did British media take it? One media member described it this way: ” if Mo does well, no problems, if he
does not do well, watch for the questions to begin!”.
8 WORLD LEADING MARKS, GREAT 5K
BIRMINGHAM
(GBR, Feb 19): New training partners Mo Farah and Galen Rupp broke
their respective national records for 5000 m at the Aviva Grand Prix.
Farah, the reigning European 5000m and 10,000m champion, won the race in
13:10.60, smashing Nick Rose’s 1982 British record of 13:21.27 set in
New York and European indoor record 13:11.13 of Bouabdellah Tahri last
year in Metz. Rupp finished second in 13:11.44, surpassing Bernard
Lagat’s 2009 American record by just 0.06. Farah earned a USD 5000 bonus
for the record. He now needs to decide if he will defend his 3000m
title at next month’s European Indoor Championships. In other events in
total 8 world leading marks were registered. Abubaker Kaki came to
Birmingham to break the world 1000 m record (2:14.96) but stranded at a
world leading 2:17.76. It was Boaz Lalang who came through in 1:19.88
over 600m but eventually had to settle with second in 2:17.81 with
Jackson Kivuva in third (2:18.46) and Andrew Osagie in fourth (2:18.56).
Impressive performance by Sentayehu Ejigu, who broke the previous word
lead by 11 seconds, finishing in 8:30.26. Her time is the fourth fastest
time of all times and clearly beat compatriot Kalkidan Gezahegn
(8:37.47), Mercy Njoroge (8:39.70) and Briton Helen Clitheroe with
European leading 8:39.81. Fellow Ethiopian Abeba Aregawi was almost
equally impressive with a world leading 4:03.28 in the 1500m. Kenyan
Irene Jelagat didn’t follow Aregawi but still broke the Kenyan record in
4:06.90 with two British athletes Hannah England (4:07.24 ) and Stacey
Smith (4:07.42) coming in third and fourth. Also a national record for
Norwegian Ingvil Makestad who took fifth place in 4:09.17. Augustine
Choge won a fast 1500m in a PB and world leader of 3:33.23, just ahead
of Ethiopian Daresse Mekonnen (3:33,97). In the sprint events Bianca
Knight produced the best mark of 2011 in the 200m clocking 22.89. Later
on Michael Rodgers went on to equal Kim Collins world leading time in
the 60m with 6.50. Second Kim Collins 6.53 ahead of Lerone Clarke 6.54
and Marc Burns 6.55. Brian Mariano, now running for The Netherlands,
broke the Dutch national record with 6.63. Sebastian Ernst also equaled
the world lead with 20.58 in the 200m. Jenny Meadows clocked her first
sub 2 minutes of the season with 1:59.22 over 800m, Morgan Uceny was the
only other athlete under 2 minutes (1:59.97). Interesting duel in the
triple jump with Phillips Idowu and Christian Olsson. Idowu ended up
with a 17.57 jump, just 7cm shy of Teddy Tamgho’s world lead. Olsson
jumped 17.20. Kellie Wells continued her winning streak, taking the 60m
hurdles in 7.87, well ahead of Danielle Carruthers (8.06). Aries Merritt
also keeps winning, finishing first in 7.49 ahead of Jeff Porter 7.58
and Andy Turner 7.61 (but 7.57 in heats). Felix Sanchez got the win in
the men’s 400m hurdles but ended up just 0.03 shy of his own world best
of 49.73 (world lead). Reuben McCoy, although hitting the last 2
hurdles, broke the US record with his 49.78. Third Briton Richard Yates
clocked European all-time best 50.21. Another home athlete Nigel Levine
posted European leading 46.17 at 400 m. US Gloria Asumnu won the 60 m
(7.25) and Jamaican Novlene Williams-Mills the 400 m (51.87). With help
from RRW.
INDOOR
ARNSTADT
(GER, Feb 19): Russian wins as expected at 35th „Hochsprung mit Musik”
meet. Ivan Ukhov remains unbeaten with 234 clearance (until then no
failure), tried at 239 (meet record and world lead) and specially in
last one was close. European champion Aleksandr Shustov and German
number one Raul Spank tied for second with 231. Olympic winner Andrey
Silnov and fresh Russian champion Sergey Mudrov followed with 228 cm.
Best current Russian Svetlana Shkolina won the women competition with
three valid jumps at 184, 192 and 195. Then tried at two metres, but was
not succesfull. Irina Gordeyeva was second (192) and surprise German
Marie-Laurence Jungfleisch with personal best 192 third. She beat other
Russians Viktoriya Klyugina and Yelena Slesarenko (both 188).
POTSDAM
(GER, Feb 19): Malte Mohr won the Pole Vault meeting in Stern Shopping
Center of Potsdam in a special way. He had an excellent duel with
Barcelona medalist Ukrainian Maksim Mazuryk as both jumped 586 in third
attempt and tried three times at 591. For Mohr new indoor PB. Then
jump-off was ordered by the judges. They tried again at 591 but no one
did it. After that both jumpers tired enough decided no more to jump,
but when a jump-off started a winner must be established. And it was
decided by a draw for Mohr. Third Bjorn Otto went over 561.
TALLINN
(EST, Feb 19): 2009 European indoor long jump champion Ksenija Balta
returned in right time with top shape. At last leg of Estonian Big Bank
Kuldliiga series she achieved 673 (and also 670) what is third best
European mark of the season. Grete Udras cleared 190 to win the high
jump. Russians achieved best male results, Eduard Malchenko 228 in high
jump and Konstantin Shabanov 7.67 at 60 m hurdles. Kenyan guest James
Kangogo won the 1500 m (3:43.29).
FLORO (NOR,
Feb 19): New Dutch 100 m indoor record for Patrick Van Luijk at
International meet here with 10.33. In the 60 m he was second (6.72) to
home Jaisuma Saidy Ndure (6.70). Another home star Christina Vukicevic
confirmed top shape with 7.99 at 60 m hurdles and easy win over fresh
Russian champion Anastasiya Solovyeva 8.14. Fastest Norway´s woman
Ezinne Okparaebo won the 60 m in 7.32 and 100 m in 11.63.
GOMEL (BLR,
Feb 19): Eduard Mikhan scored 5886 points to win heptathlon at Belarus
University Championships. Yana Maksimova was the best in women
pentathlon with 4349 points.
OUTDOOR
HAMILTON
(NZL, Feb 19): Porritt Classic meet saw olympic medalist at 1500 m Nick
Willis beeing third in the 800 m in 1:51.56. Nikki Hamblin clocked
2:05.42 to win the women race. Stuart Farquhar achieved 80.52 in
javelin.
POTCHEFSTROOM
(RSA, Feb 19): Yellow Pages series started with a clear win for Caster
Semenya at 800 m. The reigning world champion clocked 2:04.12 and said
she hopes to double at London 2012 Games in the 800 m and 1500 m.
Javelin thrower Robert Oosthuizen returned after a injury and qualified
for Daegu with 83.82 m. Former African record holder Justine Robbeson
(60.93) comfortably defeated Commonwealth champion Sunette Viljoen in
the women’s javelin throw (55.85). National 1500 m and 10 000 m champion
Stephen Mokoka clocked a fast 7:55.92 at altitude to win the men’s 3000
m race.
NAIROBI
(KEN, Feb 19): East Standard informs that marathon specialist Geoffrey
Mutai won men’s 12 km at 19th IAAF Permit/KCB National Cross Country at
Nairobi’s Uhuru Gardens. Linet Masai beat Vivian Cheruiyot in the women
race and indoor sensation Isaiah Koech was the best in junior 8 km race
and Janet Kisia stunned the favoured Faith Chepng’etich in the junior
girls competition.Rotterdam and Berlin marathons runner-up Mutai got on
the mostly flat course 34:35. Only runner-up and Kenya Police teammate,
Matthew Kisorio (35:20) who came home 54 seconds adrift and Hosea
Macharinyang (35:36) who slid to fifth managed to keep the winner
company after his first surge at 6km turned the race into a procession.
At the bell, Mutai kept receding from Kisorio’s view as he arrived home
well clear of any other challenger. Vincent Kiprop led the group of
challengers powered through the final lap to seal third in 35:24 with
newcomer Philemon Limo (35:26) edging Macharinyang in the fight for
fourth. Reigning world champion Joseph Ebuya gave up because of stomach
problems. In the women race Masai clocked 26:21. Cheruiyot claimed
second in 26:24 and Prisca Jepleting was easy third (26:34). Also here
last year world champion Emily Chebet dropped out.
HOBART (AUS,
Feb 19): Double Olympic medallist Jared Tallent has won the Australian
20km Race Walking Championships in Hobart, with the AIS Scholarship
holder joined atop the dais by wife Claire Tallent (1st, women’s 20km
walk) and sister Rachel Tallent (1st, girl’s 10km walk) in a big night
for his whole family. Stopping the clock at 1:20:18, Tallent’s time at
an event which doubles as Round 1 of the IAAF Race Walking Challenge
secures his spot on the Australian 2011 world championships team.
Joining him in staking their claims for Daegu selection, Luke Adams
(2nd, 1:21:00) and Adam Rutter (1:22:25) also crossed the line quicker
than the 1:22:30 qualifying standard. Taking out back-to-back Australian
20km titles on the Apple Isle, Claire Tallent edged out up and coming
AIS scholarship holder Regan Lamble (1:35:08) and Nicole Fagan (3rd,
1:35:55) of New South Wales, with touring Commonwealth Games gold
medallist Johanna Jackson (GBR) withdrawing from the race at the 10
kilometre mark.
BATALHA
(POR, Feb 19): Ines Henriques won the Portugal 20 km women walk title in
good 1:30:38. Second Lithuanian guest Kristina Saltanovic 1:32:11. Men
winners Joao Vieira (1:27:19 at 20 km) and Jorge Costa (4:07:17 at 50
km).
EIN GEDI
(ISR, Feb 19): Ethiopian Naile Admasu won the 28th International Dead
Sea Half Marathon, the “lowest” race in the world (400m below sea level,
26 degrees temperature) in 1:06:17.
NATIONAL INDOOR CHAMPIONSHIPS
FINLAND (Helsinki): New national women’s pole vault record of 436 by Minna Nikkanen. Jonathan Astrand won the 60 m (6.78).
HUNGARY
(Budapest): Anita Marton again improved her U23 national shot put record
to 17.80. Male winner Lajos Kurthy also solid (19.71). Barnabas Bene
again good with 3:43.21 at 1500 m.
SLOVAKIA
(Bratislava): Dana Veldakova secured her expected triple jump title
(13.83). Another Paris-bound athlete Matus Janecek won the 60 m hurdles
(7.88).
DENMARK (Skive): Long jump record holder Morten Jensen produced the best mark of the day 775 in his event.
IRELAND
(Belfast): Walking events highlighted the first day in Odyssey Arena.
Robert Heffernan won the 5000 m in 19:09.56. In women´s 3000 m Laura
Reynolds improved to 12:47.55 ahead of Kate Veale (17) who bettered
national junior record to 12:49.28.
CROATIA
(Rijeka): Discus European champion Sandra Perkovic improved national
indoor shot put record with 16.99. Also to note in men shot Nedzad
Mulabegovic and his 19.82. Dario Horvat won the 60 m in 6.74.
BULGARIA
(Sofia): Serbian guest Tanja Mitic won the 60 m in 7.42 ahead of former
world junior champion Tezdzhan Naimova (7.46). Best male result of first
day 19.23 in shot put by Georgi Ivanov.
SLOVENIA
(Celje): Snezana Rodic achieved 14.11 in triple jump battle against
returning Torino medalist Maria Sestak (13.73). Marina Tomic posted 8.17
at 60 m hurdles. Olympic finalist Rozle Prezelj cleared 222 to win the
high jump.
AUSTRIA
(Vienna): Beate Schrott qualified to Paris with 8.19 at 60 m hurdles
from preliminary round. In dramatic 800 m Andreas Rapatz (1:49.59) beat
Raphael Pallitsch (1:49.65). Clemens Zeller showed improved shape with
47.07 at 400 m. World mountain running champion Andrea Mayr won the 3000
m in 9:29.78. Talented junior Lukas Weisshaidinger just one day before
his 19th birthday won his first senior title in PB 18.30 with senior
implement.
LITHUANIA
(Klaipeda): World leading pentathlon by Austra Skujyte 4578 points
highlighted the second and final day here. Her individual marks: 8.66 –
182 – 16.94 – 629 – 2:32.51. Viktorija Zemaityte as second achieved 4334
points. Egle Balciunaite won after 400 m also the 800 m (2:05.75).
CZECH
REPUBLIC (Praha): Petr Svoboda clocked two European leading marks of the
season at 60 m hurdles with 7.51 in heats and 7.48 in the finals. But
after that indicates that a flu might attack him. His girl-friend Jirina
Ptacnikova easily cleared in first 457 cm and then tried at new
national record height 467 cm. In third attempt was well over the bar,
but fell on it. Barcelona long jump finalist Roman Novotny qualified to
Paris with 801 cm. Last year Czech Junior of the Year Pavel Maslak
clocked already in heats Paris standard at 400 m 47.05. Top two from 60 m
also qualified for Bercy. Jan Veleba 6.65 and Libor Zilka 6.67. Hurdler
Lucie Skrobakova won her 10th national title in good 8.09 at 60 m
hurdles. Tie for 60 m women win, Katerina Cechova and Iveta Mazacova
clocked 7.37. Third 400 m runner Denisa Rosolova marked a PR of 7.44.
POLAND
(Spala): Fresh Pole vault record holder Pawel Wojciechowski cleared 570
to win the national title. Middle distance runners confirmed they are in
good shape, Mateusz Demczyszak improved to 3:41.01 and beat national
record holder Bartosz Nowicki 3:41.42 and Lukas Parszczynski 3:41.76. In
close 60 m Olaf Paruzel beat Dariusz Kuc (6.70 and 6.71). Adrian
Swiderski registered 16.63 in the triple jump. In women events Marika
Popowicz solid 7.33 in the 60 m. Good long jump for Malgorzata Trybanska
661. Renata Plis won 800 m in 2:04.44 in close race against 3000 m
sensation Sylwia Ejdys 2:04.45. Kamila Chudzik won the pentathlon with
4325 points, but that is not enough for Paris.
ITALY
(Ancona): Triple Jump European Indoor champion Fabrizio Donato leapt to
8.03 improving his long jump PB by one cm. Chiara Rosa, World
Championships finalist in Osaka 2007, produced one of the highlights of
the first day as she won with 18.34, the fifth best performance this
year in Europe, qualifying for the European Indoor Championships in
Paris. In the absence of Antonietta Di Martino, who is preparing for
Paris, the women’s high jump title went to Raffaella Lamera who equalled
her indoor PB at 190. European Championships finalist Marta Milani set
her indoor PB with 53.09 beating Maria Enrica Spacca who also lowered
her PB to 53.35 in the 400 m. An interesting result for the future of
Italian athletics came from 2010 World Junior silver medallist Claudio
Stecchi who cleared 5.50 improving his pole vault PB by ten cm. Claudio,
son of former Italian record holder Gianni Stecchi finished second
behind Giorgio Piantella who vaulted 5.55.
FRANCE
(Aubiere)): Talented Guy-Elphège Anouman (born in 1994) won the 200 m
senior title in high quality 21.13 what is not only national junior
indoor record but also world indoor best for the U17 category. European
gold medalist Renaud Lavillenie cleared 585 to win the pole vault (and
tried at 602), but also note 580 of Romain Mesnil for second. National
record holder Salim Sdiri leaped to seasonal best 806, Teddy Tamgho was
fourth (779). Alice Decaux improved at 60 m hurdles to good 7.97 over
Sandra Gomis 8.00. Hind Dehiba as expected got the 1500 m in 4:15.24.
Jessica Cerival also registered a PB in shot put (17.99) and Haoua
Kessely beat (647) in long jump favorite Eloyse Lesueur (645). In the
200 m fast Emilie Gaydu 23.39.
SPAIN
(Valencia): European junior record holder in long jump Eusebio Caceres
improved his indoor best to 808 cm. Also life-time best for Borja Vivas
in shot put (20.18). Jesus Espana clocked 7:50.70 to win the 3000 m in
his indoor debut of the year over Victor Garcia 7:51.95. Ivan Mocholi
beat with 6.69 last year fastest in the country Angel David Rodriguez
(6.72). Best women results for Ruth Beitia in high jump (195) and
national record in pentathlon for Barbara Hernando 4381 points. Dolores
Checa was the best in the 3000 m 9:08.36 and Naroa Agirre won her 9th
national pole vault title (430).
GREECE
(Peania): One world leading mark, two national indoor records and three
more tickets for the European Indoors summarized the first day of the
25th Greek Indoor Championships at the PeanÃa Hall in Athens. After
opening with 7.98 and 20 cm to spare from the board, in his 2nd attempt
Loúis Tsátoumas took off almost perfectly and landed at 8.21, the best
world indoor mark so far and a new national record. As a precaution to a
slight pain he took no further jumps. In the 2nd place and two years
after his serious injury in the same event & venue, Yeóryios
Tsákonas secured his place in the Paris squad with 7.97, just 1 cm shy
of his lifetime best. The other indoor record was achieved by Nikoléta
Kiriakopoúlou with a shaky clearance over 4.55, a height which also
equals the Greek outdoor pole vault record that she co-holds with
AfrodÃti SkafÃda. In her first competition of the season YeoryÃa Koklóni
was twice under the 60m Paris standard, first in the heats with 7.28
and then winning easily the final with 7.27. A close battle was fought
in the men’s high jump, where KonstadÃnos Baniótis was challenged by
another athlete returning from injuries, 21-year-old DimÃtrios
Hondrokoúkis. Both men cleared 2.27, a lifetime best for the latter and
qualification for Paris, but Baniótis was the only who had a successful
attempt in the same height during jump-off. Also to note Ãggelos
Aggelákis in the 60m with 6.69, but missing the Paris standard (6.65).
Informs Thomas Constas.
ROMANIA
(Bucuresti): Adrian Vasile 784 and Carolina Deiac 661 in the long jump
during second day here. Ancuta Bobocel won after 1500 m also the 3000 m
in good 9:01.25. To add from first day on Friday is the fact that out of
competition was jumping former European medalist from Bulgaria Venelina
Veneva and improved her season best to excellent 197 cm.
SWITZERLAND
(St. Gallen): Irene Pusterla was the star of first day with wins at 60 m
(7.50) and long jump (657). Pascal Mancini won the 60 m in 6.73 as his
main rival Cedric Nabe was out in semis after a false start.
