by Larry Eder
FASTEST
100 M IN SLOVAKIA, 8 MEET RECORDS
DUBNICA (SVK, Sep 15): Full stadium celebrated at 9th
Athletics Bridge (EA Classic) meeting records in 8 out of 13 events. Some 5000
spectators saw the fastest 100 m ever in Slovakia. Beijing medalist Richard
Thompson clocked in lane 1 superb 10.05 (+0.8) despite little cold weather at
the end of the meeting. Kim Collins was second 10.07 ahead of Michael Frater
10.09 and Dwain Chambers 10.10. Life-time best for fifth Briton Luke Fagan
10.21. „It was my last race of the season and I wanted to end it with a bang,”
said Thompson. Previous meet record was 10.12 and Slovak all-comers record
10.07 by Calvin Smith since 1988. Also in women 100 m new meet record by
Jamaican Schillonie Calvert 11.17 with head-wind -0.7. Another top mark was
delivered by shot put world champion Valerie Adams who was enjyoing the huge
crowd support she is getting here. First in round two 20.42 improving her own
event best from last year by 5 cm and then huge 20.83 in round three added by
20.07 and 20.50 in last two throws. Also superb women hammer battle was seen in
central Slovakian city. In round two Betty Heidler improved the meet record to
75.16 but immediately after her world champion Tatyana Lysenko added 75.80. But
that was not enough as Heidler in round five achieved the winning mark 75.83
and had in total four 75+ results. Also third Yipsi Moreno with 74.21 showed
very solid late season shape. Men´s hammer saw fourth win in Dubnica for Daegu
silver winner Krisztian Pars of Hungary 79.95. Not only in hammer but also in
other two events world champions did not win. In dramatic steeple unexpected
winner Bernard Mbugua clocked 8:12.27 ahead of favorites Paul Kipsiele Koech
8:16.62 and Ezekiel Kemboi 8:20.80. All three were faster than previous meet
record. In men´s high jump Jesse Williams had close attempts at 230 but because
of clearing 227 in third he lost on count-back with Bahamian Trevor Barry who
went over 227 in second attempt. For high jumpers it was at the end of the meet
little bit cold. But not for hurdles Daegu winner Jason Richardson who posted
in last event of the meet impressive second fastest ever in Slovakia and second
fastest of his career 13.08 (-0.1). Bronze winner from Daegu Andy Turner was
way back second 13.49. Other meet records also for Olympic winner LaShawn Merritt
in the 400 m 45.75 (tight bends here on six lane track) and Daegu finalist
Yulia Rusanova 2:00.88 in the women 800 m. Also meet best for Czech Daegu 7th
placer Jirina Ptacnikova of Czech Republic with 450 clearance in the pole
vault. Legends competed in women 100 m B-race. French European record holder Christine Arron was
second (11.76, -1.0) and Merlene Ottey representing Slovenia clocked highly
impressive 11.92 as third. „I will continue to run until I have fun,” she
said. World championships silver winner Russian Olga Kucherenko leaped to 661
(-0.3) and won the long jump but missed the meet record by 3 cm.
HARTING
WINS AGAIN
TALLINN (EST, Sep 15): In heavy rain, strong left wind
and only 10 degrees world class discus throwers competed in Estonia. Germany
was not the favourite team if we compared season bests but they managed to
handle the conditions and won with total 121,91m, followed by team World and
team Estonia. Athletes had four throws and individual winner was world champion
Robert Harting wÃth 65.21. He remains so unbeaten in 2011. Second home hero
Gerd Kanter 62.76 and third another world medalist Ehsan Hadadi of Iran with
61.80. Fourth place for world leader Zoltan Kovago 61.50. Only 9th European
champion Piotr Malachowski 57.39.
NIGERIA
AHEAD OF ETHIOPIA AND KENYA
MAPUTO (MOZ, Sep 15): Nigeria was the best country in
athletics at All-African Games with 21 medals (10-6-5). Second Ethiopia 6-7-7
and third Kenya 5-5-7. In total 22
countries won medals in athletics. During last day the most sensational win was
by Kenyan in javelin. Julius Yego improved the national record with 78.34 m.
Kenyans also won the 4×400 m in 3:03.10. Caleb Ndiku was the best in the 1500 m
(3:39.12) ahead of Collins Cheboi 3:39.72. But in 5000 m Uganda celebrated as
Moses Kipsiro won in 13:43.08 ahead of Ethiopian Yenew Alamirew 13:43.33. In
half-marathon Ethiopia ruled. Desisa Lelisa 1:04:31 was the best and and in
women race Mare Dibaba 1:10:47 ahead of Mamitu Daska 1:10:52. Irene Jelegat won
the 1500 m for Kenya in 4:13.67. Nigeria won three golds. Oludamola Osayomi was
the best in the 200 m (22.86, +1.9), Ajoke Odumosu in the 400 m hurdles (56.26)
and the relay team clocked 3:31.21 to win. Mohamed Younis cleared 225 national
record to win the high jump, Luvo Manyonga got the long jump for South Africa
(802, -0.1) and Idrissa Adam the 200 m for Cameroon 20.66 (+1.7).
SIMPSON FOR WOMEN 1500 M
TANGIER (MAR): Shot put heroes Christian Cantwell and
Dylan Armstrong are the stars of Tangier Meeting on Sunday. Jamaican sub 10
runner Lerone Clarke runs the 100 m and 1500 m world champion Jenny Simpson of
USA is another top names for this fixture. Meeting Moulay El Hassan is
organised by world record holder Hicham El Guerrouj. Home running stars will be
present specially in men´s 1500 m headed by Amine Laalou, Mohamed Moustaoui and
Abdelaati Iguider. Special guest will be former top Canadian sprinter Bruny
Surin.
