Chaunte Howard Lowe, 2011 Ostrava, photo by PhotoRun.net

Chaunte Howard Lowe, AR in high jump, is baaaaaacccckkk! She just opened for 2012 with a clearance of 1.88m. Last year, Chaunte had a baby and had a short season. Let’s see what Chaunte can do. She has spoken of her dream of an Olympic medal! 

CHAUNTE
LOWE RETURNING WITH 188

NASHVILLE
(USA, Jan 7): US high jump record holder Chaunte Lowe returned to competition
with solid 188 clearance at Ed Temple Invitational. She jumped once in 2011 at
US Champs after her second child was born in Spring. Now she is back after good
training and hoping to attack top results. She plans to open internationally at
Moravia High Jump Tour in the Czech Republic, Hustopece on January 28 and
Trinec on January 30. In the 55 m Bahamian Tamicka Clarke clocked 6.95, in
men´s 55 m hurdles Jamaican Eric Keddo 7.31.

TOP
AWARDS FOR BLAKE AND WHYTE

KINGSTON
(JAM): World 100m champion Yohan Blake walked away with the Male Athlete of the
Year Award while Rosemarie Whyte, who in 2011 broke 50 seconds (49.84) for the
first time, was the Female Athlete of the Year at Racers TC Awards Evening.
Schillonie Calvert, who took her 100m personal best to 11.05 and ran 22.55 over
200m, also a lifetime best, and Warren Weir, recorded a PB of 20.43,
were the Most Improved Female and Male athletes. Kenroy Anderson was the Most Punctual
athlete announced by Racers. The Grand Belisario Ballroom was transformed into
a red-and-blue-themed ceremonial splendour, a clear homage to the
strong Camperdown High School influence and background in the club as athletes,
coaches and administrators celebrated their own and honoured those who have
made invaluable contributions to the sport locally. Usain Bolt walked away with
the Founders Award of Excellence for his impact on the sport. „Tonight marks a significant
milestone for the club. It’s the first time that we are showing our gratitude
to those who have made invaluable contributions to the development of Racers
Track Club,” said head of the club Glen Mills. Awards were also presented to
all of the clubs’ 11 medallists at international championships last year –
Celia Walters, Bailey-Cole, Wilbert Walker, Daniel Bailey, Shereefa Lloyd,
Davita Prendergast, Whyte, Allodin Fothergill, Jermaine Gonzales, Blake and
Bolt. Racers Medal of Appreciation went to Dr Tanya Clarke (medical services),
Dr Akshai Mansingh (sports medicine), Dr Carl Bruce (medical sciences), Dr
Paula Dawson (sports medicine), Par Lue Chin (physiotherapy), Wendy Peart
(physiotherapy). Racers Award of Merit to voluntary services: Dr Warren Blake –
(sports medicine and orthopedic services), Dr Aggrey Irons (sports medicine,
sports psychology), Dr Herb Elliot (anti-doping), Grace Jackson (operational
support), Ricky Simms (operational support, sports management and sponsorship).
Racers Award of Merit for coaches Jason Dawson and Bert Cameron. Racers Gold
Medal Award went among others to agent Cubie Seegobin. Informs Jamaican
Gleaner.

ANOTHER
AWARD FOR BLAKE AND VCB

SAN JUAN
(PUR): Jamaican World champions Yohan Blake and Veronica Campbell-Brown were
selected the Central American and Caribbean athletes of 2011, the region’s
athletics governing body (CACAC) announced. Blake took the 100m title and ran
the third leg of the world record breaking 4x100m relay squad at the IAAF World
Championships in Daegu. Three weeks later, he ran the second fastest time ever
in the 200m (19.26) at the Diamond League meeting in Brussels. Two-time Olympic
200m winner Campbell-Brown collected her first world crown at the distance,
after finishing runner-up in the 100m. The 29-year old Jamaican shows an impressive
collection of 10 World Championships medals, including her 100m gold from
Helsinki 2005. Quartermilers Kirani James of Grenada and Shaunae Miller of the
Bahamas, were selected the junior athletes of 2011. At 18, James became the
youngest ever individual world champion when taking the 400m final in Daegu.
Miller added the World Youth gold in Lille to the junior crown won in Moncton
in 2010.

EBUYA
WINS

AMOREBIETA
(ESP, Jan 8): Kenyan 2010 World CC Champion Joseph Ebuya won the 58th Zornotza
CC race with 31:33 at 10.7 km. World medalist 2011 Vincent Chepkok was second
in 31:43 ahead of Eritrean Hunegaw Mesfin 32:03. Lucas Rotich of Kenya was
fourth in 32:07 and another World CC medalist 2011 Teklemariam Medhin of
Eritrea was way back fifth 32:50. Best Spanish Daniel Mateo as 9th in 33:43.
Eritrean Nazareth Weldu was a surprise winner of women 6.7 km in 23:45
ahead of more experienced Kenyan Priscah Jepleting 23:53 and best Spanish Lidia
Rodriguez 23:56.

F.
KIPLAGAT BEATEN

EGMOND
(NED, Jan 8): Ethiopian Dawit Wolde was the best at the 40th Egmond Half
Marathon in fast 1:00:46. It is new course record, the former was 1:01:19 by
Greg van Hest since 1999. Kenyan Gideon Kipketer was second (1:01:03) ahead of
Eritrean Samuel Tsegay 1:01:09. Best Dutch runner was Khalid Choukoud as 6th in
1:03:13 after close finish with Michel Butter also 1:03:13. Surprise in women
category as Ethiopian Meseret Hailu (a 2:30 marathon runner) beat in 1:11:18
(PB) the pre-race favorite and Berlin Marathon winner Florence Kiplagat of
Kenya 1:11:21 and Dutch Hilda Kibet 1:11:45. Fourth Flomena Chepchirchir
1:11:48 and 6th best Dutch runner Ilse Pol 1:13:27.

OTHER NEWS

EUGENE
(USA): Oregonlive.com says that US 10 000 m record holder Galen Rupp was
informing that he is withdrawing from the US Olympic Marathon Trials next
Saturday in Houston. Rupp, who never has run a marathon, said he entered
originally because he felt confident in his training and wanted to keep his
Olympic options open. But after thinking about it, he concluded that competing
in a marathon now would limit his ability to run his best 10,000 at the
Olympic Games in August. Rupp said he thinks his best chance at an Olympic
medal is in the 10,000.

MOLETJIE
(RSA): 2009 World champion South African 800 m runner Caster Semenya celebrated
her 21st birthday in style at her home village of GaMasehlong in Moletjie near
Polokwane. SA media are informing. The 800m world champion celebrated with
family and close friends, including new coach Maria Mutola, herself a former
800m world champion, and poet Mzwakhe Mbuli. Life has changed for the Semenya
family, who used to stay in a mud hut until the Limpopo provincial
government built them a new home in recognition of her achievements. 21
years old is a special birthday in terms of African traditional views. Her
training with Mutola is going well, is more professional. She thinks about
competing during the SA season later in the years 2012 and might compete in May
for first time outside Africa.

MILANO
(ITA): Blade Runner Oscar Pistorius continues to make for headlines. On
Saturday evening he took part in the Italian TV contest Dancing with the stars
as special guest. His partner was Italian dancer Annalisa Longo and they
performed an excellent Tango as Italian media are writing. „The judges were way
to kind and the audience was special beyond words,” Pistorius said on his
twitter.

RESULTS

INDOOR

BERLIN
(GER, Jan 8): Daegu silver medalist Martina Strutz did not start well into the
season. She no heighted at local meet at 430 cm.

ANCONA
(ITA, Jan 8): Italian Marzia Caravelli achieved at a local meet here 8.21
at 60 m Hurdles and missed the Istanbul standard only by 0.03 s.

UNIVERSITY
PARK (USA, Jan 7): Brycen Spratling clocked 1:01.86 in the 500 m at Penn State
Indoor Relays. Yvette Lewis showed early solid shape with 8.12 at 60 m hurdles
(8.13 in heats). 21-years old sprinter Mahagony Jones improved to 7.41 and
23.68 in the 60 m and 200 m. Second in the 200 m Kirsten Nieuwendam achieved
new national record for Surinam 23.76 (she also clocked NR at 60 m 7.51).
Hurdler Fawn Dorr posted in the 500 m good 1:10.44.

LAWRENCE
(USA, Jan 7): Ivory Williams was timed with 6.66 at the Bill Easton Classic
meet and achieved so far the fastest time of the indoor season. Hurdler Dexter
Faulk was second (6.77) but won his specialty with 7.67.

COLLEGE
STATION (USA, Jan 7): Aldrich Bailey proved his talent during second day of
Texas High School Classic. First he ran 47.05 at 400 m to move to No. 6 on the
all-time high school indoor list. He followed that with a 21.14 at 200 m,
that boosted him to =No. 6 ever. Informs trackandfieldnews.com.

TORONTO
(CAN, Jan 7): Canadian Olympian Taylor Milne posted good 2:20.94 at the 1000 m
here.

OUTDOOR

NICE
(FRA, Jan 8): National champion Abdellatif Meftah won in good weather (10
degrees) the 10 km road prom classic in Nice with good 28:47. Second Gregory
Beugnet 28:57 and third Thibaud Nael 28:58. Laurane Picoche was the best woman
in 33:19.

VALENCIA
(ESP, Jan 8): Moroccan wins at 10 km road race Divina Pastora here. Hassane
Ahouchar clocked 29:18 and Fatima Ayachi 32:56.

FUENSALIDA
(ESP, Jan 8): Double European junior champion from Tallinn Gabriel Navarro won
the Calzado Cross in Feunsalida with 29:03 at 10 km ahead of Rafael Martinez
29:43. Ana Lozano was the 7 km women winner (26:00). The organizers did not had
enough funds to invite foreign runners.

VARZEA
GRANDE (BRA, Jan 8): Kenyan Mark Korir won the 28th Corrida de Reis at 10 km in
30:03 ahead of his team-mate Barnabas Korir 30:25. Also in women 10 km Kenyans
ruled, Eunice Kirwa 34:35 ahead of Nancy Kipron 35:27. The race was held in big
humidity and hot temperatures.

ORLANDO
(USA, Jan 8): Brazilian Fredison Costa won the Disney Marathon in 2:19:01. Also
second place for former multiple winner Brazilian Adriano Bastos 2:19:15. US
Renee High was the top woman after 2:48:33.

BLACKTOWN
(AUS, Jan 8): Melissa Breen is dominating so far the local races. Here she
clocked 11.44 (+1.7) in the 100 m.

JACKSON
(USA, Jan 7): 37-years old Kenyan Richard Kessio who lives in Houston won the
fifth annual Mississippi Blues Marathon in 2:20:28. It is the slowest winning
time since first year, it was held in non-traditional hot weather. Morocco’s
Malika Mejdoub was the top female finisher and sixth overall runner with a time
of 2:43:56.