by Larry EderOn November 10, the IAAF, showing admirable common sense, noted that Paula Radcliffe’s brilliant 2:15:25, the Bob Beamonesque moment of women’s athletics, will stand as the Women’s Marathon Record. Hats off to our friends in Monaco…but the real kudoes go to Paula Radcliffe, a women who has shown us how the human heart, and feet for that matter, can overcome many so-called limits…
MAKAU
INTRODUCED CZECH SERIES
PRAGUE
(CZE) : Marathon world record holder Patrick Makau introduced the runczech.com
race series while visiting Prague. The Six races in the runczech.com series
next year should help attract foreign runners to the Czech Republic and
includes the Hervis Prague Half Marathon, the Volkswagen Prague Marathon, the
MATTONI Prague Grand Prix, the Volkswagen Olomouc Half Marathon, the Volkswagen
Usti nad Labem Half Marathon, and the Ceske Budejovice Half Marathon. Makau was
visiting Prague for the first time before heading to Monte Carlo for the IAAF
World Athletics Gala.
FIRST
NEW IAAF COUNCIL
MEET
MONACO
(MON): In Monaco IAAF President Lamine Diack presided over the first of three
days in which the newly elected IAAF Council will gather. In his opening speech
Diack confirmed that this is his last term of office leading the IAAF. “This
term of office will be the very last one during which I will be at the helm of
our institution, which is approaching its centenary.” Diack was quoted. He also
added that though there have been many doubts, the IAAF World Championships in
Daegu have been a success and has exceeded all expectations. Before closing his
opening address President Diack welcomed the IAAF’s new General Secretary Essar
Gabriel, who is taking over from retiring General Secretary Pierre Weiss.
2:15:25 WILL STAND
MONACO
(MON): Paula Radcliffe’s world marathon record of 2:15.25, which she set at the
2003 London Marathon, has again been accepted as the ultimate performance in
women’s marathon after a decision taken by the newly elected IAAF Council in
Monaco. The new council reversed a vote made at the 48th IAAF Congress in Daegu
in September that women’ world records on the road can no longer be set in a
race in which the record setter is competing against men. In the future new
records will only be officially recognised and ratified if achieved in women-only
races. informs david martin.
CHANGES
OF NATIONALITY
MONACO
(MON): The IAAF Council has approved a reduction of the ineligibility period
for the three athletes whose transfer had previously been approved. Nora Bicet
and Lysvanys Perez change from Cuba to Spain while Hassane Fofana from Ivory
Coast can now compete for Italy.
NYTRA
AIMING FOR INDOOR SEASON
BERLIN
(GER): European indoor champion Carolin Nytra
is aiming to stand stronger than ever when next year’s Olympic Games in
London come round. The German athlete didn’t run any outdoor competitions after
winning the European indoor championships due to injuries and took the summer
off in order to rehabilitate and let her body rest. Nytra is now back in full
training and is thinking about running two or three indoor races before
focusing on the outdoor season according to leichathletik.de.
SPANISH
ATHLETES TO GET OLY SELECTION IN HELSINKI
LAUSANNE
(SUI): The Spanish athletics federation has announced that the 2012 European
Athletics Championships in Helsinki, which will be staged between 27 June and 1
July, will be a key point in next year’s calendar for its athletes reports
European Athletics. Any Spanish athlete who makes the podium in the Finnish
capital, up to a maximum of two per event and assuming that he or she has the
Olympic qualifying standard, will be automatically selected for the Olympic
Games in London a few weeks later. There are currently 62 Spanish athletes with
an Olympic qualifying standard.
ERRORS
IN MULLINGS CASE
KINGSTON
(JAM): Several errors were pointed out on documents at Steve Mullings’ doping
case hearing, which started Wednesday morning. One of the mistakes made was of
the time Mullings reported to the testing room, where on the testing form was
suggested that Mullings reported to the doping room at 8:31 pm instead of
10.31pm. Mullings’ lawyers also made clear they have had no access to original
documents and only so far have seen photocopies of documents reports
Trackalerts. Mullings himself was not present at the hearing for fears for his
life when coming to Jamaica and confirmed there have been threats against his
life.
2017 WORLDS BIDS NEWS
LONDON
(GBR): According to London 2017 Bid President Sebastian Coe, guaranteeing the
use of the Olympics stadium for athletics for the next 99 years has
strengthened London‘s campaign for the 2017 World Championships. Coe admitted
the news was a boost while also agreeing with UK Athletics President Ed Warner’s
view that it would be a better facility by the time of the event.”The warm-up
track will be moved slightly closer to the stadium, so that again will benefit
the athletes, and the Stadium will be reduced from 80,000 to roughly 60,000
and, in that process, everyone sitting in the Stadium will have roof cover.”
Coe was quoted on Insidethegames.
BRUSSELS
(BEL): In a high-stakes competition for the 2017 world championships, rival
bidders London and Doha said they are opposed to hosting the 2019 event as a
part of a possible IAAF deal to satisfy both cities reports Associated Press.
Ahead of Friday’s vote for the sport’s showcase event, the executive director
of the Qatari bid, Abdualla Al Zaini, said he was „not considering any other
date” than 2017. London bid chairman Ed Warner said the financial commitments
from public authorities could not be switched and „we are in no position” to
accept the 2019 championships.
OTHER NEWS
LAUSANNE
(SUI): European Athletics confirms that the 2011 edition of the International
Festival of Athletics Coaching was a success and attracted 318 delegates from
26 different countries. The three-day festival included keynote presentations
by top speakers and well-received practical workshops including demonstration
work with British athletes, former Olympic high jumper Dalton Grant and 2011
European U23 Bronze medallist Lynsey Sharp.
ROME
(ITA): Leaders of Rome’s bid for the 2020 Olympics are pushing ahead despite
Italy’s financial and political crisis reports Associated Press. A 42.7 million
dollar bid budget has been approved and the bid committee confirmed the
importance of continuing the Rome 2020 project with determination as the games
would bring economic and development benefits for Rome and the entire country.
CARACAS (VEN): Venezuelan long jumper Victor Castillo
tested positive for a banned stimulant and will be forced to give up his Pan
American Games gold medal according to ESPN. The Venezuelan Athletics Federation
announced that Castillo’s doping test showed traces of methylhexaneamine.
However, Castillo was previously suspended for two years in 2006 after tests
found furosemide, a banned diuretic and masking agent. Castillo had given
Venezuela its first men’s gold medal in the long jump at the Pan American
Games.
LONDON
(GBR): More than half of the world’s countries have taken up a multi-million
pound offer by the London 2012 Olympic Games organisers to prepare their
Olympic teams at an approved training camp in the UK reports The Telegraph. The
national Olympic committees have paid up to L25,000 each to prepare in the UK.
ATLANTA
(USA): Agent Paul Doyle has opened the Doyle Performance Centre in Atlanta. The
indoor facility provides a small track surface and opportunities for weight
training. For now only Doyle Management Group athletes will be able to train in
the indoor facility as well as some elite athletes from other sports, Paul
Doyle explained to Flotrack.
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