by Larry Eder
CALENDAR NEWS
ARONA (ESP): Barcelona
will not have the one day meeting (EA Premium) next year due to the fact that
the city is organising the World Junior Championships in July. Other news from
European Athletics Convention in Arona at Tenerife island is that Moscow is now having the
Moscow Challenge as IAAF World Challenge Meeting in Luzhniki and Znamenskiy
Memorial in Zhukovskiy as EA Classic. Friday was devoted to 2012 Calendar,
Euromeetings general assembly and forum for head-coaches.
IAAF VP LOOKS FOR 2012
KYIV (UKR): In our series of opinions of IAAF Vice President Sergey
Bubka we are continuing with his view towards the 2012 season: “Let’s start
with the fact that we still have plenty of events in 2011. The seasons of
marathons and cross country running are going on. I’m also looking forward to
the announcement on the hosting of 2017 IAAF World Championships and World
Athletics Gala, one of the most prestigious ceremonies in the world, in Monaco.
Athletics fans are waiting for some questions to be answered next year. Will
Usain Bolt bounce back from his failure? Will we witness rise of the new
superstar Yohan Blake? Can Yelena Isinbayeva return to the top for her third
Olympics? We have two key events to follow in 2012. The European Championships
will be held on two-year cycle for the first time. I am absolutely sure that
the biannual system gives us great opportunities. Athletes are awarded by an
additional chance to win the medals while fans get an occasion to follow the world
class competitions several weeks before the Olympics. I know that the
Organizing Committee in Helsinki
does an exceptional job launching a lot of innovations for the new concept of
the European Championships. Helsinki
is an emblematic city for athletics, the only city that hosted two Worlds and
two European Championships. Everybody is waiting for something new and
extraordinary from the Finns, and I am sure they will meet the expectations.
The last but not least are the Olympics. Everybody in the world of sport can’t
wait for the start of this event, the most global in human history. Every
athlete knows what the Olympics are about. You cannot put it in words, but you
should feel it in your heart. We all know that the British are experts in
athletics, therefore I’m sure athletics in London 2012 will prove it is a real
‘queen of sports.”
OTHER NEWS
PORTSMOUTH (GBR):
Scott Overall, five weeks after reaching the marathon qualification
standard for next year’s Olympic Games, will return to action at the Bupa Great
South Run on 30 October. After his brilliant display in the BMW Berlin Marathon
where, in his debut at the distance he bettered the UK Athletics qualifying
standard of 2:12:00, with a time of 2:10:55 for a solid fifth position, will
step down to 10 miles
at the Portsmouth venue.
GUADALAJARA (MEX): Record TV coverage and revenues are
expected for 2011 Pan American Games. The 16th edition of the Pan American
Games opened in the Mexican city of Guadalajara
to the widest-ever media coverage of the continental multi-sport event.
KINGSTON (JAM): Track Alerts says that Glen Mills,
coach of world champions Usain Bolt and Yohan Blake, has called on all those
concerned, the government, Jamaica Administrative Athletic Association (JAAA)
and the private sector to do more for track & field at the senior level to
preserve the country’s legacy. Mills said the time has gone when Jamaican
athletes who trained overseas would dominate the country’s team section. He
also believes with the success by Jamaica
in recent years, things will be changed in the US for Jamaicans.
NEW YORK (USA): Universal Sports website
informs that at the start of every training camp, New York Rangers coach John
Tortorella has his players complete a two mile run. Joining those guys this
year was one of the team’s greatest players ever, Mark Messier. He will have a
goal on November 6 when he competes in the ING New York City Marathon. The
six-time Stanley Cup champion announced his intent to during a ceremony at the Empire State
Building.
MARATHON PREVIEWS
REIMS (FRA): Kenyan Richard Limo has the top
personal best from the elite runners of 28th Reims Marathon with 2:06:45. James
Mbuga is leading the big group of African followers with 2:08:05. Home entries
Simon Munyutu and James Theuri want also play a role. Julia Mumbi with 2:26:00
is the top woman. In the half-marathon fast times could be also expected.
Gilbert Masai has PB of 1:00:28 and Ethiopian Atsede Bayisa posts 2:22:04 in
women marathon.
GEYONGJU (KOR): Kenyan favorites are set for the 2011 Dong-A Ilbo
Gyeongju International Marathon. Sylvester Teimet has 2:06:49 and Yusuf Songoka
2:08:08. IAAF informs that there is also a home favourite with just 21-year-old
Jeong Jin-Hyeong looking for another fast time.
Women race will have no international runners.
BEIJING (CHN): The 2011 Beijing International Marathon
will have Kenyan Samuel Muturi with 2:08:20 best and 2009 winner in Beijing as the top name.
Another name to mention is Prague
this year winner Benson Barus with 2:07:07 PB. Without best home runners the
women favorite is double world champion and olympic silver medalist Catherine
Ndereba of Kenya.
AMSTERDAM (KEN): Top favorite for the 36th edition of
the TCS Amsterdam Marathon is Kenyan Wilson Chebet, the winner of Rotterdam in spring with
fast 2:05:27. “I trained very well for Amsterdam
and I am full of confidence,” confirmed Chebet for IAAF. “I know the course
well and it is a fast one. I know my compatriots Geoffrey Mutai, Moses Mosop,
Patrick Makau and Emmanuel Mutai are very good and very fast runners but I am
also a good one. I will show that Sunday.” Former track star Sileshi Sihine is
debuting here in marathon. Home star Lornah Kiplagat is the top name in women
race.
