by Larry Eder
G. MUTAI WINS
CASTELBUONO (ITA, Jul 26): Boston
Marathon winner Geoffrey Mutai from Kenya added his name to the
prestigious list of long-distance stars who won the Giro di Castelbuono,
the oldest road race in Europe which celebrated its 86th edition.This
year the top runners had to run nine laps of a 10 km course over the
ancient streets which starts and finishes in the Piazza Margherita.
Geoffrey Mutai, Gebreegziaber Gebremariam and Matthew Kisorio increased
their pace during the third lap breaking away from the rest of the field
with 9:50 on the clock. At halfway Mutai broke away from Gebremariam
and Kisorio by unleashing a devastating attack on the uphill section of
the course of Via Mario Levante during the sixth lap. Mutai continued to
run a smooth and unchallenged race. Despite the tough course Mutai
increased his lead over the pair formed by Gebremariam and Kisorio to 32
seconds with 22 minutes on the clock and carved out a gap of 48 seconds
during the last lap. His winning time was 29:05. Gebremariam engaged a
neck-to-neck battle for second place and broke away from Kisorio in the
final stages of the race to take runner-up place in 30:13 holding off
the Kenyan by one second. London Marathon champion Emmanuel Mutai
finished sixth in 30:48.
ONE YEAR TO GO LONDON 2012
LONDON
(GBR): Wednesday, July 27, is a particular day in the Olympic calendar.
On the negative side it is the 15th anniversary of the bomb which
killed two and injured many more at the Atlanta Games; but, on the
positive side, it is exactly one year away from the Opening Ceremony of
London 2012. This is the reality of Olympism in particular and life in
general: a mix of the positive and negative, good and bad, happy and
sad. The world of sport is throwing all its promotional strength behind
the week of Olympic Year Minus One. Broadcasters, newspapers and web
publishers are preparing their readers/viewers for a sporting onslaught
ahead while every relevant sports authority is putting a smile on the
face of its work. Writes AIPS website.
FARAH THINKS ROAD
LONDON
(GBR): Mo Farah has revealed that 2012 will be his last season on the
track before he moves up to the marathon. Farah has been in the form of
his life since basing himself in Oregon earlier this year to be coached
by Alberto Salazar, a three-time winner of the New York Marathon. He
will look to finish his track career in the best possible fashion with a
medal at the London Olympics before switching. Farah was quoted in the
Daily Express: “I’ll probably move up to the marathon from 2013. You
have to keep progressing”.
UK DUELS
BIRMINGHAM
(GBR): Some exciting duels ahead of UK Trials this weekend. At 100 m
hurdles European indoor silver medalist Tiffany Ofili-Porter and World
heptathlon champion Jessica Ennis, in the men´s 400 m hurdles Nathan
Woodward and Jack Green are Europe’s top two 400m hurdlers for their
age. The men’s 400m is brimming with talent, with the likes of seasoned
international campaigners Michael Bingham, Conrad Williams, Richard
Buck, Martyn Rooney and Rob Tobin all in the line-up along with European
Under 23 champion Nigel Levine and bronze medallist Luke Lennon-Ford.
Top ranked Briton of the 2011 season Hannah England will be tested by
World silver medalist Lisa Dobriskey and young gun Stacey Smith, who
recorded a new personal best time of 4:06.81 at the Aviva Birmingham
Grand Prix this month. Local man Tom Parsons will be hoping to go one
better than his silver medal at the UK Championships last year. The
Birchfield Harrier tops the British rankings this season with a best of
2.28m – 1cm higher than his rival Samson Oni. The pair have only met
once this year, and it was Oni who came out on top. Britain’s young
discus man of the moment Lawrence Okoye had a glittering future in rugby
union mapped out for him, but chose athletics instead. In a golden
summer so far, the 19-year-old broke the British record with a throw of
67.63m three weeks ago, and followed that up with gold at the European
Under 23 Championships in Ostrava. Abdul Buhari also recently threw a
new personal best, reaching 65.44m to move to third on the UK all-time
list. Carl Myerscough and Brett Morse are not far behind, and not to be
dismissed.
GREAT 800 M FIELD
STOCKHOLM
(SWE): With a field boasting eight runners who have clocked under
1:58.00 this season, the women’s 800m at Friday evening’s DN Galan
meeting in Stockholm, the 11th stop in the Samsung Diamond League
series, promises another thrilling and unpredictable affair. Among the
entrants is Morocco’s Halima Hachlaf, who improved this season to
1:58.27 with her victory in Oslo; Eugene winner Kenia Sinclair in
1:58.29, whose impressive early season also included a win in the New
York 1500m; and Daegu-bound Alysia Montano and Alice Schmidt of the
U.S., who were first and third at the US trials and arrive with 1:58.33
and 1:58.61 season’s bests. The field also includes reigning World
champion Caster Semenya, who currently leads the Diamond Race in the
event. Not to be discounted is U.S. 1500m champion Morgan Uceny, whose
breakout season has included metric mile wins in Lausanne and
Birmingham, a recent 1500m career best of 4:01.51 in Monaco and an 800m
PB three days earlier when she ran 1:58.37 in Lignano. Traditionally
fast Russia will be well represented by Svetlana Klyuka and Yelena
Kofanova, who have run 1:58.03 and 1:58.25 this season. Svetlana Usovich
of Belarus has also shown impressive form; her 1:58.12 season’s best
was just 0.01 shy of her career best. Also fourth placer from Barcelona
Slovak runner Lucia Klocova who was close second in Birmingham is
entered. Informs IAAF.
SALADINO AND DUEL SAVIGNE-SALADUKHA
STOCKHOLM
(SWE): In the men´s long jump at DN-Galan this Friday best home jumper
Michel Torneus will be missed due to an injury, but olympic winner
Irving Saladino of Panama should be back in top shape after Paris Areva
win (840 cm). Also jumping European U23 Champion Aleksandr Menkov, CAC
winner Tyrone Smith, US talent Will Claye and mainly Moroccan record
holder Yahya Berrabah who jumped excellent 837 last Friday in Barcelona.
Also in the field is world leader Mitchell Watt of Australia. In women
triple jump two best in the world currently will clash. World champion
and world leader Yargelis Savigne of Cuba and European champion and
European leader Olha Saladukha.
SUPERB WOMEN 100 M FOR LONDON
LONDON
(GBR): Superb 100 m field is getting ready for the women competition at
the Aviva Grand Prix of London (August 6) in Crystal Palace. World
leader Carmelita Jeter will clash with reigning world champion
Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce of Jamaica, Paris DL winner Kelly-Ann Baptiste
of Trinidad and fastest European Ivet Lalova of Bulgaria. For the second
day of two day meet also a great 4×100 m is beeing prepared. USA,
Jamaica, Great Britain, Germany and Netherlands are in the men´s line-up
here.
AUCKLAND (NZL): Distance runners Adrian Blincoe and Jake Robertson have
been added to the New Zealand team for the world championships.The 5000m
specialists are now in the mix for the champs at Degu in Korea from
August 27 to September 4. But there is bad news for 100m hurdler Andrea
Miller who has had to withdraw following surgery on a long-term back
problem. Athletes already in the mix are Valerie Adams (shot put),
Stuart Farquhar (javelin), Nikki Hamblin (800m and 1500m), Brent Newdick
(decathlon), Quentin Rew (50km walk) and Nck Willis (1500m). NZ media
are informing.BANSKA BYSTRICA (SVK): Bronze medal winner from Berlin Slovak hammer
record holder Martina Hrasnova will pass on the World Championships in
Daegu. After being only fourth at World Military Games in Brazil she
decided to end her season due to ankle injury (damaged cartilage). “I
wanted to be in 75 m shape, but that is not the case now. I need at
least one month for recovery,” said Hrasnova who gave birth last year to
a daughter.DUBLIN (IRL): Former European indoor champion David Gillick has
revealed that he will not take part in the World Championships in South
Korea this August. The Irish 400m champion has also revealed that he
will work with his former coach Nick Dakin and will quit his training
base in the United States to return to train at Loughborough University
as well as in Ireland. Speaking about the changes, Gillick, who has
struggled with injury and loss of form this year and is hoping to get
his bid for success at London 2012 back on track, said: “Obviously I am
very disappointed to have to sit the season out. I have invested a lot
of time and effort in attempting to make this a successful year, but
unfortunately tearing my calf muscle and the subsequent problems have
put me way behind where I want to be.” Informs Sortsnewsireland.com.
OTHER NEWS
AMSTERDAM
(NED) : Dutch steeplechaser Simon Vroemen reports on his website that
the CAS has delayed taking a decision about his doping case. The CAS
wants to give experts more time to investigate the situation.
KINGSTON
(JAM): Usain Bolt’s management team has launched a competition to follow
the track & field super star into Daegu. The 30-day countdown
starts on July 27. “Be reminded that the 30-day countdown to Daegu with
Usain starts tomorrow on Facebook and we are pleased to have PUMA and
DIGICEL as our support team,” the release from Bolt’s Publicist Carole
Beckford read. Writes Trackalerts.
PARIS (FRA):
At the French national championships newly crowned European junior 100m
champion Jimmy Vicaut has another chance to beat the European junior
record of 10.04 set by his compatriot Christophe Lemaître two years ago.
Vicaut is also preparing to go to Daegu for the IAAF World
championships.
LONDON (GBR):
In a poll conducted by Olympic sponsor VISA, Sebastian Coe has been
voted as British all-time most famous Olympian. With 18 percent of the
votes Coe is more popular than two time Olympic champion in decathlon
Daley Thompson (13%) and than rowing icon Sir Steve Redgrave (12%).
GAINESVILLE
(USA): After the IAAF World championships talented sprinter Jeff Demps
will return to Florida and continue his collegiate football career.
Demps revealed he hopes to continue competing in both sports at the
highest level.
LONDON (GBR):
Lord Sebastian Coe has said in The Guardian it should be left up to
athletes whether they want to take part in the Olympic opening ceremony
and vowed to make it as easy as possible for them to do so. The UK
Athletics head coach, Charles van Commenee, recently sparked a debate on
the opening ceremony when he insisted track and field athletes would
not be attending, because it could harm their chances.
TORONTO (CAN):
Priscilla Lopes-Schliep is confident she will be back in time for the
London Olympic Games. Lopes-Schliep is 7 months pregnant but still
training through the pregnancy as her daughter is due September 20th.
The Canadian athlete added she’s had a relatively easy pregnancy,
experienced no morning sickness, and has added just 15 pounds. “You can
call me silly or not, but I’m here for the long run, I’m trying to come
back, and I’m hoping for an Olympic podium.” Lopes-Schliep was quoted
on cbcsports.ca.
LONDON (GBR):
IAAF President Lamine Diack will be guest-of-honor at the London Grand
Prix at Crystal Palace next week and will be assured that despite
ongoing legal challenges from Tottenham and Leyton Orient to West Ham’s
tenancy, London is still committed to bidding for 2017. Government
lawyers are nervous about bidding with legal uncertainty likely to
extend beyond the Sept 1 deadline, but with the final decision not
coming until November and confidence in the legal case, there is growing
enthusiasm at UKA and in DCMS for submitting a bid anyway reports The
Telegraph.
TEL AVIV
(ISR): US 400 m runner Donald Sanford with 45.21 PB from last year is an
Israeli citizen as of July 18. This year he clocked as best so far
46.72.
LONDON (GBR):
Daegu bound Oscar Pistorius, nicknamed the Blade Runner, has appointed
PR support after a week that saw him become the first amputee sprinter
in the history of the Olympics to qualify for the Games. A double
Paralympic champion already, Pistorius has hired sports marketing agency
Fast Track to handle his PR as he builds towards London 2012. Fast
Track head of comms Steve Chisholm commented: ‘Oscar Pistorius is an
inspirational athlete and will be one of the faces of the London 2012
Olympic and Paralympic Games. Fast Track has a great history with Oscar
and we are thrilled to be working with him to publicize his outstanding
achievement.” Fast Track is behind the top one day track meets in the
UK.
ZURICH (SUI):
Pole vault queen Yelena Isinbayeva will be one of the stars of
Wetlklasse Zurich Diamond League final on September 8. She will be
engaged there on three occasions. She will be in Zurich not only
competing but also supporting the kids and youth programs. First on
September 6 the “Youth trains with World Class” traditional clinic and
on September 10 at the UBS Kids Cup final. At Zurich Letzigrund she
achieved her last world record 506 on August 28, 2009.
RESULTS
TEL AVIV (ISR, Jul 26): Yochai Halevi achieved here 16.68 (+1.5) in the triple jump.
