by Larry EderUpdated June 16, 2011
The 2011 adidas Grand Prix NYC will be remembered for what it was and what it was not. The 3:59.71 for the High school boys mile, run by Lukas Verzbicas, was a superb performance. The fans who witnessed that race saw history. The men’s 5,000 meters woke people up with a very tight finish, but the race of the night was to be the men’s 100 meters.
The first false start shocked not only the field but the fans. The starter was holding the sprinters very long. The second false start was disappointing, and meet announcer Toni Reavis not only noticed it, but played off it. The third false start showed that this was not just a problem of sprinters attempting to jump the gun, but starters worried about the rainy conditions complicated this situation.
The field was decimated as announcer Toni Reavis noted, ” and then, there were six.”
By this time, Tyson Gay, Steve Mullings, Mike Rodgers and the rest of the field had pushed on their power three times, to be called back.
Steve Mullings got a good start and charged away. Tyson Gay had a bad start. What was most remarkable was Gay’s run from forty meters to the finish, and lost the race to Mullings by just a lean.
Does this race settle anything? Nope. It did play into the problems TV have with track & field and contributed to an NBC broadcast that was criticized at a high level for lack of coverage of some events, breaks in other events, and not staying with the 100 meter finish so that a major tweet was ” Who won?” for the men’s 100 meters.
MULLINGS BEATS GAY
NEW YORK (USA,
Jun 11): Unfortunately rain, cold and wind were the factors to be considered
when reporting from adidas Grand Prix in New
York, the sixth Samsung Diamond League meet of the
season. Icahn Stadium saw superb 100
m duel, many surprises and weird results. One meet
record was registered in women javelin, only one remaining with winning three
times in the Diamond Race after NY is Milcah Chemos Ãn the steeple (from other
events only Dylan Armstrong has two with third a possibility).
Event by event
Men
100 m: Against -3.4 wind and after three dq (Edwards, Padgett, Thompson)
Mullings was able to win in 10.26 over Tyson Gay (also 10.26), his first loss
at the distance since September 4, 2009 in Brussels.
400 m: Wariner back in winning ways. In close race 45.13 over Gonzales
45.16 and Bartholomew who debuted on the circuit 45.17. Superb second fastest
of the career 45.69 by Blade Runner Pistorius (5th). Briton Bingham wins B-race
in solid 45.42.
800 m: Abubaker Kaki of Sudan
pulled up 250m into the race, grabbing the back of his left leg. He lay on the
track as the rest of the field passed by on their second lap (from RRW). 2007
World champ Yego won in 1:46.57 over 2009 World champ Mulaudzi 1:46.68.
5000 m: At the bell, T. Bekele and Gebremeskel broke away, with Lagat
the closest behind, three to five meters back. Lagat believed the two had begun
their kicks too soon, so the 36-year-old three-time Olympian chose to wait
until 300m out to go. But that proved to be too late. Despite drawing even,
Lagat did not have enough to pass Gebremeskel, who won in 13:05.22. Lagat
placed second in 13:05.46, with Bekele third in 13:06.06. Alistair Cragg of Ireland runs EL
13:12.21 as 8th. (RRW)
400mH: LJ Van Zyl defeated for first time this year (49.09, 4th), in
close finish Culson gets it in 48.50 over B. Jackson 48.55.
Pole Vault: First attempt clearance at 552 was enough for Mesnil to win.
Lavillenie nh at 542, Mohr nh at 522.
Triple Jump: Idowu mastered the bad conditions with 16.67 in the third round
and did not jump more. In strange ruling (only 6 allowed all attempts instead
of 8) Tamgho after two fouls had only 15.55 (-4.4) and was not able to continue
as 7th.
Women
200 m: Felix won in 22.92 against strong -2.8 wind, Jeter fourth 23.15
and Fraser-Pryce 7th (23.52).
1500 m: In the Grete Waitz women’s 1500m, American Morgan Uceny made a
late charge, passing Ethiopia’s
Kalkidan Gezahegn and Gelete Burka to take the lead coming down the final 100m.
But just meters from the finish, the Mammoth Track Club member lost the lead to
a surging Kenia Sinclair, with the Jamaican edging the 30 year-old to the tape
in 4:08.06. Uceny 4:08.42 as second.
Steeple: Milcah Chemos won also the third SDL race here in 9:27.29 over
Sofia Assefa 9:27.37. Third world record holder Galkina 9:29.75 is European
lead in her first steeple since Berlin 2009.
100mH: Surprise win here for Carruthers in 13.04 (-3.7) over Wells
(13.06). World champ Foster-Hylton debuted in the SDL but did not finish
(stumbled at the start).
High Jump: Blanka Vlasic debut in USA was a surprise second place in
bad conditions (190). For Swedish Green-Tregaro it was more appropriate as she
cleared winning 194 in
second attempt.
Long Jump: Jimoh 648 (-0.9) from the second round proved to be the best,
World champ Reese, US indoor champ De Loach, Barcelona winner Radevica and
Ennis all beaten in strong head-wind.
Discus Throw: Olympic winner Trafton-Brown was the only over 60 m (62.94).
Javelin Throw: Obergfoll was clear with three 60+ throws and all enough
to win, best meet record 64.43.
Non DL events
100 m: Solid US field with Myers winning in 11.36 against a wall -3.9.
400 m: Kaliese Spencer 50.98
in bad conditions is very good. McCorory only 7th
(53.21).
800 m: Hoping for sub 2 minutes, but Beckwith at the end 2:01.09.
1500 m: Torrence 3:36.15 and Willis 3:36.46 clocked season bests despite
difficult conditions.
Pole Vault: US
vaulters, Suhr still not ready, so Janson wins (427).
HS Mile: Lukas Verzbicas, the six foot (1.83m) 18-year-old senior from Orland Park, Ill.,
ran a race against the clock in the adidas Jim Ryun High School Dream Mile,
breaking four-minutes for the first time. His clocking 3:59.71 makes him the
first prep miler to break four minutes since Alan Webb did so a decade ago
(RRW).
LINET MASAI WINS
NEW YORK (USA, Jun 11): World champion at 10 000 m Linet Masai
dominated the 40th edition of the NYRR Mini-10-K overwhelming a star-studded
field that included twelve Olympians and six world championship medalists. Informs
Race Results Weekly. Breaking the tape in 31:40, a full 29 seconds ahead of
second place, Masai earned her second Mini title, collecting the $10,000 the
first place check in the process. Next up for Masai is the Kenyan Trials for
the IAAF World Championships on July 15 and 16, where she plans to run the
5000m. But if it was Masai’s choice, she would double in the 5000m and 10,000m.
“In Kenya,
they don’t allow anyone to double. If they allowed it, I would do it,” said the
very shy Masai. In second, Aheza Kiros prevailed in 32:09, just one second
ahead of Belainesh Gebre. Rounding out the top-five were Edna Kiplagat (32:24)
and Emily Chebet (32:31). The first American finisher was Magdalena Lewy
Boulet, tenth in 33:09. Returning for the first time since giving birth to
daughter Piper in February was American record holder in the marathon, Deena
Kastor. Knowingly not in the best racing shape, Kastor was pleased with her
finish in 25th place in 35:00. The biggest surprise of the day was Liliya
Shobukhova. The reigning World Marathon Majors champion and runner-up at
April’s Virgin London Marathon finished 28th in 35:31, more than three minutes
behind Masai. Shobukhova never played a major factor in the race.
200 M WL 22.24 FOR DUNCAN
DES MOINES (USA, Jun
11): World leading 22.24 (+1.5) at 200 m by Kimberlyn Duncan highlighted the final day of NCAA
Championships. Fast times also behind her for Jeneba Tarmoh (22.34, PB) and
Tiffany Townsend (22.58, PB). Texas
AM took home both team titles. In usual fast relays had male wins for Florida State
(38.77 over Texas AM 38.91) and Texas AM (3:00.62 over
LSU 3:01.07). In women relays the same positions for Texas AM, they were second
in the 4×100 m (42.93, beaten by LSU 42.64 ) and won the 4×400 m in 3:26.31
(over Auburn 3:26.46 and Oregon 3:28.18). Former youth world champion Christian
Taylor leaped in triple jump to huge but windy all-time best by a Collegian in
any conditions 17.80 (+2.3) but had also legal top mark 17.40 (+2.0). Second
Will Claye windy 17.62 (+2.9) and legal 17.35 (+1.5). Too much wind also helped
Maurice Mitchell to clock 19.99 (+2.6) at 200 m over Estonian Marek Niit (20.38). Barrett
Nugent achieved 13.28 (+3.6) at 110
m hurdles beating Jamaican Andrew Riley (13.34) and
Brendan Ames (also 13.34). Matt Centrowitz was the best in the 1500 m (3:42.54) and Kenyan
Sam Chelanga won the 5000 m
(13:29.30). Too much wind (but only slightly) also for Nia Ali at 100 m hurdles (12.63, +2.1)
over Christina Manning (12.72) and Jackie Coward (12.79). Canadian Sheila Reid
also won the 1500 m
in 4:14.57 and Emma Coburn got the steeple in 9:41.14. Julie Labonte won the
shot put and again improved the Canadian record to 18.31 m.
CZECH STARS FOR ODLOZIL MEMORIAL
PRAGUE (CZE): 18th
Josef Odlozil Memorial (EA
Premium) on Monday will present at Juliska Stadium top home stars.
Olympic
champion and world record holder in javelin Barbora Spotakova is waiting
on her
first win of the year and it is very possible as she daily trains on
this
stadium. Main rivals are Australian champ Kim Mickle and German
Katharina
Molitor. European indoor champion Denisa Rosolova after two highly rated
second
places in Ostrava and Oslo at 400
m will run this time the 200 m against strong group of
Ukrainians (Bryzgina, Pizhankova) and Russians (Chermoshanskaya,
Vukulova). Oslo winner and European leader at 400 m hurdles Zuzana
Hejnova
will have again the chance to win over reigning European champion
Natalya
Antyukh of Russia.
Paris indoor silver winner Jaroslav Baba in high
jump faces former world champion Yuri Krymarenko of Ukraine and strong
Greeks Baniotis
and Hondroukokis (recently improved to 231). Hurdles record holder Lucie
Skrobakova aims for another sub 13 against Canadian Angela Whyte and US
Kristi
Castlin. Barcelona 800 m
finalist Lenka Masna is running against strong Russian duo (Klyuka –
Andrianova) and Slovak European 4th placer Lucia Klocova. In the 400 m
hurdles Josef Prorok
(6th in Barcelona) will have strong opponents in
former Europan Champion Periklis Iakovakis of Greece
and quality group from Great
Britain headed by improved and young Jack
Green. As usual strong hammer with world leader Aleksey Zagorniy,
European
champion Libor Charfreitag, Hungarian Krisztian Pars and German Markus
Esser.
In the main memorial event, men´s 1500 m as usual tough Africans will
run (Kenyan
Suleiman Simotwo and recently improved Moroccan Fouad El Kaam 3:34.01 in
Rabat)
with Czech Jakub Holusa aiming for Daegu standard 3:38. Without slowly
recovering from injury Petr Svoboda the hurdles will have US Ty Akins
and Jeff
Porter as main names. European champion Yulia Zarudneva is scheduled to
run her
first steeple of the year in solid field, including former world junior
record
holder Almaz Ayana of Ethiopia.
In the 100 m
sprint Moroccan record holder Aziz Ouhadi, Austrian Ryan Moseley and
Aziz
Zakari of Ghana
should fight for the top honour. Latvian Maris Urtans is the favorite of
shot
put.
OTHER NEWS
ATLANTA (USA): American high jump
record-holder Chaunte Lowe last year had one of her best seasons to date and at
the end she discovered that she and husband Mario Lowe, a former 16.15m triple
jumper, were expecting their second child. In April this year Lowe gave birth
to daughter Aurora Elizabeth at just 4lb 9oz, her second daughter after
Jasmine, who was born in 2007. Keen to get back on track, the 2005 world silver
medallist ignored doctor’s orders and was back training within a few days and
even has her eye on being at the World Championships in Daegu later this year.
She is hopeful of a return to action at the US Championships in Eugene, Oregon,
later this month. “I am ready to jump but not everyone thinks the impossible is
possible,” she said. “However I hope to be in Eugene at the end of the month.” Informs
Athletics Weekly.
LONDON (GBR): Sebastian Coe, chairman of London 2012,
has become an ambassador for Sported, the charitable organisation set up by Sir
Keith Mills, who worked alongside the two-time Olympic 1500 meters gold
medallist during the capital’s successful bid to host the Games. Sported, which
was launched nationally last month, is a charity looking to play the role of
“business angels” by providing support to the sports for development sector in
the UK. Originally inspired by Sir Keith’s experience running London’s successful bid, he decided to make a
personal commitment to delivering the legacy of the Games by setting up an
organisation that aims to improve the lives of disadvantaged young people
through sport. Coe, who was present at the launch event in London, has now committed to becoming an
ambassador for the charity. Insidethegames informs.
NAIROBI (KEN): The curtains finally came down on the
funeral soap opera that gripped the family of Kenyan Olympic marathon champion
Samuel Kamau Wanjiru after his mysterious death about a month ago. Wanjiru’s
remains were interred on Saturday evening, at his home in Nyahururu town, East
of the capital Nairobi
amid tight security. Informs AIPS website. But the drama did not end there. His
mother Hannah Wanjiru boycotted the send-off, as she was not involved in the
burial arrangements. Also missing were two other women Mary Wacera and Judy
Wambui,both who claim to be the wives of the fallen hero. Wanjiru’s widow Triza
Njeri, his young brother Simon Njoroge and his grandfather Samuel Kamau (Hannah
Wanjiru’s father) attended Saturday’s burial. A 21- gun salute was mounted by
the Kenya Police in honour of their fallen colleague.
RESULTS
ISTANBUL (TUR, Jun 11): Sprinters showed the best
results at the 66th Cezmi Or Memorial (EA Classic). Briton Dwain Chambers
dominated the 100 m
in 10.17 (-0.4) ahead of Ramil Guliyev 10.26. Third Adrian Griffith of Bahamas beat in 10.33 the recent winner of
different races Aziz Ouhadi of Morocco
(10.40). Guliyev came back to win the 200 m in new Turkish record and meet record
20.32 (+0.8). Bulgarian European medalist Vania Stambolova showed top shape
with a double. She won the 400 flat in 51.43 and hurdles in 54.33, both meet
records. Home fans was happy to see the Turkish javelin sensation Fatih Avan
winning his event with good 82.48 (meet record). Ukrainians followed, Roman
Avramenko 82.43 and Dmytro Kosynskyy 81.92. Venelina Veneva cleared 193 in high jump and US shot
indoor record holder Jill Camarena-Williams achieved her fourth career best in
any conditions 19.48 (also meet record) beating European indoor champion Anna
Avdeyeva of Russia (18.61). Yelena Sokolova won the long jump (641, +0.4),
Canadian Angela Whyte after fs in Oslo
the 100 m
hurdles in 13.10 (+1.0) and Ukrainian Natalya Tobias the 1500 m (4:13.06). Home win
for Merve Aydin in the 800 m
(2:03.84), Lithuanian Povilas Mykolaitis was the best in long jump (777, +0.9)
and Ethiopian Abayneh Ayele in the 5000 (13:29.85. new meet record).
KHANIA (GRE, Jun 11): Venizelia Meet (EA Classic) was due to economical
difficulties in the country mainly for Greek athletes as the qualification for
European Team Championships. But one event was exceptional. The reigning
European U23 Champion Paraskevi Papahristou achieved new personal best 14.72 in the triple jump.
It is third best mark this year in the world and Greek U23 record. She missed
with that the European U23 record of Anna Pyatykh (14.79 in 2003) only by 7 cm. Second Romanian Carmen
Toma achieved 14.02. But there were good wins for Romania as Mihai Donisan cleared 225 in the high jump and
Mihai Grasu got 61.08 in
discus. Belgian Veerle Dejaeghere won the women steeple in 9:59.4 and fastest
at 100 m
was Aggelos Agelakis with 10.49 (+0.1).
CARQUEFOU (FRA, Jun 11): Solid 5000 m by the national meet here Abraham
Niyunkuru of Burundi
clocked 13:34.25 ahead of Estonian Tiidrek Nurme 13:37.08. Ethiopian Etenes
Diro Neda was the best woman in 15:33.09.
WATFORD (GBR, Jun 11): German Soren Ludolph achieved
1:47.33 at the BMC event and his country mate Robin Schembera won another race
in 1:47.71. Spain´s David Bustos won the 1500 m in 3:40.01. Women winners include
Charlene Thomas 4:06.87 in the 1500
m and Sabine Fischer of Switzerland at 5000 m 15:38.25.
SZEKESFEHERVAR (HUN, Jun 11): Krisztian Pars remains in top
hammer shape with 79.61 win at ARAK Cup meet.
CELJE (SLO, Jun 11): Snezana Rodic achieved 14.23 (+1.6) at National Cup
meet over Marija Sestak (14.14 +2.4 and legal 13.86).
VESZPREM (HUN, Jun 11): 16-years old Hungarian talent
Bence Pasztor achieved with 5
kg hammer new world all-time best 83.92. It was during
U17 match Hungary – Czech Republic – Slovakia. Previous world best was
also held by an Hungarian Jozsef Horvath 83.28 in 2001.
BANSKA BYSTRICA (SVK, Jun 11): World Cup winner Matej Toth tested his
shape at “Kriterium SNP” meet with 18:54.39 in the 5000 m track walk.
ZAGREB (CRO, Jun 11): Good discus at Sebalj Memorial.
Roland Varga achieved 65.17 over Hungarian former European winner Robert
Fazekas 64.30 and Martin Maric 63.62.
VALENCIA (ESP, Jun 11): In the women Spanish Clubs
league Josephine Onyia posted 12.95 (+1.9) at 100 m hurdles.
ALCOBENDAS (ESP, Jun 11): In the men Spanish Clubs league
best result by Luis Felipe Meliz 783 (+1.4) in long jump over European junior
record holder Eusebio Caceres (781, +0.7). Caceres also won the 100 m in personal best 10.52
(-0.1).
LEIDEN (NED, Jun 11): Gregory Sedoc showed improved
shape at Asics Golden Spike meet with 13.41 (0.0) and 13.39 (+1.1) times.
Patrick van Luijk won the 200
m after big meets experience (Oslo, Ostrava) in 20.71
(-0.2). Erik Cadee achieved 62.01
in discus and Estonian Risto Matas won the javelin
(79.17). In women competitions good throws by Melissa Boekelman (17.70, shot)
and Monique Jansen (60.27, discus).
LISBOA (POR, Jun 11): Portugal
sprinter Yazaldes Nascimento improved to 10.39 (+1.7) at 100 m during Meeting de
Lisboa. Edi Maia cleared 560
in pole vault.
GOTEBORG (SWE, Jun 11): At Folksam Grand Prix meet
David Storl achieved high quality personal best 21.03 in the shot put.
Another top German result here was the 460 (PB) clearance of Martina Strutz in
the pole vault. Chinese Lijao Gong won the women shot put with good 19.76 over
her team-mate Liu Xiangrong (18.44) and Cuban Misleidys Gonzalez (18.11).
Interesting women high jump saw Ruth Beitia clearing 190 over European Indoor
Champion Antonietta Di Martino who debuted into the season with also 190.
Yamile Aldama opened the season with 13.80 (+0.8) in the triple jump. On the
men side Wilfredo Martinez got for Cuba the long jump (795, +2.2 and
790 +0.5). In running events good times at 400 m by Rabah Yusif of Sudan
(45.53), French Jeff Lastennet 1:46.17 at 800 m over Czech Jakub Holusa (1:46.26) and US
Ty Akins 13.46 (+0.6) at 110 m
hurdles.
VALMIERA (LAT, Jun 11): Second day of Presidents Meet saw Stanislav
Olijars running 13.97 (+1.6) at 110
m hurdles and hammer 76.29 by Igors Sokolovs.
KUMAGAYA (JPN, Jun 11): Koji Murofushi got another Japanese hammer title
with 77.01 during second day of the national championships. Shinji Takahira was
the best at 200 m
in 20.49. In expected 400 m
hurdles final four runners achieved sub 50 times, winner Takayuki Kishimoto
49.28, former world medalist Dai Tamesue was 6th in 50.55. Daichi Sawano won
the pole vault (540) and Yohei Sugai the long jump (794). In women events
national record holder Chisato Fukushima was the best in the 100 m (11.39, -0.6). Good
javelin duel was won by Risa Miyashita (60.08) over Yuki Ebihara (59.98).
VILNIUS (LTU, Jun 11): In Clubs meet national record
holder at 100 m
Rytis Sakalauskas posted fast 10.32 (+0.7).
SARANSK (RUS, Jun 11): Sergey Morozov won the Russian
National title at 20 km
walk in good 1:19:18 and qualified so for World Championships in Daegu. Second
Andrey Krivov (1:20:47) is having also good chance, third Andrey Ruzavin
1:21:09. The U23 title went to Pyotr Bogatyrev 1:21:26 ahead of Valeriy
Filipchuk 1:21:46 and Mikhail Ryzhov 1:22:17. 2008 World junior champion
Tatyana Mineyeva won the senior women and U23 titles in new personal best
1:28:09. Second Nina Okhotnikova who was bronze medalist at European junior
championships 2009 improved hugely to her first sub 1:30 in 1:28:41. She also
belongs to U23 category. Third Tatyana Shemyakina 1:28:55. Russia can send to Daegu four
walkers as Valeriy Borchin and Olga Kaniskina are having wild cards as
defending champions.
CHEBOKSARY (RUS, Jun 10): Aleksey Drozdov collected good
8334 points to win Russian decathlon title. His results: 11.28 – 727 – 16.31 –
212 – 51.67 – 14.98 – 51.24 – 510 – 63.82 – 4:45.00. Also over 8000 second
Vasiliy Kharlamova 8066 and third Mikhail Logvinenko 8004. In women heptathlon
Olga Kurban scored 6102 points. Second place for Ana Bogdanova (5989) ahead of
Aleksandra Butvina (5981). Second day was hampered by bad weather. The U23
titles went to Kristina Savitskaya 5989 and Artyom Lukyanenko 7869 points.
Junior heptathlon gold medal for Mariya Novozhenkova 5610, junior boys
decathlon could not be completed due to weather after 8 events.
PORT OF SPAIN
(TRI, Jun 11): Trinidad junior title at 100 m for Moriba Morain in
10.36 (+0.6).
GDANSK (POL, Jun 11): Best result at 39th Zylewicz
Memorial was the 46.44 of Piotr Wiaderek at 400 m.
SLIVEN (BUL, Jun 11): First day of Bulgarian Championships registered
fast 100 m
by Inna Eftimova 11.34 (+1.1) over Tezdzhan Naimova (11.42, but got injured).
Petr Kremenski was the fastest man in 10.50. Momchil Karailiev won the triple
jump as expected (16.45).
CLERMONT (USA, Jun 11): Commonwealth Games champion Lerone Clarke of
Jamaica, helped by a + 2.8m wind, won the men’s 100m in 9.90 at another NTC
Sprint Series in Florida. Justin Gatlin was second in 9.97 and Brendan
Christian of Antigua third in 10.06. Clarke
clocked also legal 10.08 (+1.3) in heats. Canadian Jarred Connaughton posted
20.45 (+1.9) in the 200 m.
TORONTO (CAN, Jun 11): Former world junior medalist
(2006) Canadian Justyn Warner improved here to 10.15 (+0.9) at the 100 m.
