by Larry EderSome screaming races in Stockholm this Thursday at the XL-Galan meeting! Kirani James is just the beginning. Fast 800 meters for men, 3k for men and 1,500 for women, along with another hurdle duel over 60 meters for Lui Xiang and Dayron Robles!
Kirani James, 2011 AVIVA London GP, photo by PhotoRun.net
Liu Xiang, Dayron Robles, David Oliver, Jason Henderson, 2011 WC,
photo by PhotoRun.net
EUROPEAN
INDOOR DEBUT FOR KIRANI JAMES AND MUCH MORE
STOCKHOLM
(SWE): 23rd edition of the Stockholm indoor meet called XL-Galan on February 23
is closing the big meets indoor circuit this winter (remaining but smaller is
Metz in France on February 29). Some top clashes are announced for the event in
famous Globen Hall. Liu Xiang will again run against Dayron Robles in the 60 m
hurdles, in the 800 m in shape Poland runners Adam Kszczot and Marcin
Lewandowski will have among others Mohamed Aman and Yuriy Borzakovskiy as the
main opponents. Men´s 3000 m will see for example Kenyans Augustin Choge,
Thomas Longosiwa and world junior record holder Isiah Koech, similar in the
1500 m Bethel Birgen against Ilham Tanui, Mehdi Baala and Amine Laalou. World
champion Kirani James is the clear favorite in the 400 m (his European indoor
debut). In the long jump duel of Briton J.J. Jegede with Greek Louis Tsatoumas,
both jumped on Saturday 804 cm. Women highlights internationally will be Yelena
Isinbaeva against Holly Bleasdale and Anna Rogowska in the pole vault (not to
forget Yarisley Silva), Anna Chicherova vs. Tia Hellebaut in the long jump and
Olha Saladukha with Yargelis Savigne in the triple jump. Jamaican sensation of
the year Patricia Hall runs the 400 m, Ukrainian top duo Olesya Povkh and
Mariya Ryemyen the 60 m and in the 1500 m fast times are expected from British
duo Clitheroe-England, US duo Uceny-Pierce and young Ethiopian junior Bogale.
RUSSIAN
CHAMPIONSHIPS
MOSCOW
(RUS): This week in athletics will be dominated by national indoor
championships. Most of them will be held during the weekend (top nations like
USA, Germany, France, Italy, Spain, Poland, Czech Republic and many others).
Russian Championships will be staged already from Wednesday until Friday.
Yelena Isinbaeva recieved a bye for Istanbul and is not forced to compete,
the same for high jump world champion Anna Chicherova. Both are in Stockholm on
Thursday. But in all other events the top ones from the indoor season will
compete for Istanbul qualification. Specially expected is men high jump on
Thursday with Olympic winner Andrey Silnov, European Champion Aleksandr
Shustov, World and European indoor champion Ivan Ukhov, World silver winner
Aleksey Dmitrik and young and improving Sergey Mudrov. Elena Orolova runs 2000
m steeple and could well attack her own world best, the same goes for world
indoor record in women 4×800 m.
PISTORIUS
MIGHT RUN THIS WEEKEND
JOHANNESBURG
(RSA): Blade Runner Oscar Pistorius plans to open his spring campaign this
weekend at Yellow Pages Interprovincial meet in the 200 m. His first 400 m is
planned at regional championships on March 17. His first European meet is
already confirmed as Ostrava Golden Spike on May 25. The first Yellow Pages
Interprovincial meeting gets underway on Saturday in Germiston, Ekurhuleni and
one of the most anticipated battles will be fought in both the men’s and
women’s sprints. The objective behind the Interprovincial is not only
individual success, but athletes are also chasing a prize of R100 000 to
the winning province at the end of the two meetings (the final being in
Bellville 3 March).
SEBRLE
FOR 8TH WORLD INDOORS
PRAHA
(CZE): Czech Athletics Federation confirmed that Roman Sebrle recieved the
invitation to compete at World Indoor Championships in Istanbul based on his
this year result. His 6105 points from Czech Combined Events championships is
enough for third place in the current world indoor lists. For Sebrle this will
be 8th participation at World Indoors in a row since 1999 in Maebashi. In
Japan he started with a bronze, in 2001 in Lisbon he won his first gold,
in 2003 in Birmingham was third and again winner 2004 in Budapest. Another
bronze was won in Moscow 2006 following by a non finish due to injury in
Valencia 2008. At last championships in Doha 2010 Sebrle was fifth. In total
two gold and three bronze medals. Sebrle will equal so the most appearances
record by two men. Cuban world record holder in the high jump Javier Sotomayor
and Spanish shot putter Manuel Martinez also competed at 8 World Indoor
Championships. The overall record is held by Maria Mutola who competed at nine
championships. Sebrle will compete also during Czech Championships this
weekend, first day he plans 60 m hurdles and second day pole vault, shot put
and 4×400 m relay.
JAMAICAN
SELECTION POSSIBILITIES
KINGSTON
(JAM): Trackalerts informs about possible Jamaican Istanbul selection. Veronica
Campbell-Brown, who has not yet made her intention known, and Aleen Bailey
could be the women’s 60m participants. Patricia Hall, who is improving this
indoor season along with Dominique Blake, who has a season best 52.95,
look set to be the 400m runners. Shereefa Lloyd and Davita Prendergast could
make up the relay squad. Natasha Ruddock, who equalled her personal best of
8.06, is the top 60m hurdler and should easily take her place on the team.
Vonette Dixon comes next at 8.11. In the men’s 400m, Dayne Hyatt is the only
one listed by the IAAF that would be able to make the trip, which means the
JAAA may call on Edino Steele, Allodin Fothergill and Ansert Whyte to make sure
Jamaica can field a 4x400m team. The other top 400m runners indoor are in
US colleges. In the men 60 m Lerone Clarke and Nesta Carter are expected to be
in the team.
T.
DIBABA PLANS TWO SPRING ROAD RACES
ADDIS
ABABA (ETH): Double olympic winner Tirunesh Dibaba closed her indoor season
with only one appearance at Boston meet with 2 miles win 9:21.60. The Ethiopian
returning from injuries in past years plans two road races in spring, the
places to be revealed later, before switching to the track. Her main home rival
Meseret Defar instead plans to compete at World Indoor Championships in
Istanbul with the aim to win her event for the fifth time in a row. Better
in this terms at World Indoors in the history is only Maria Mutola with 7 wins
at 800 m (three in period 1993-97 and remaining four in 2001 till 2006).
FARAH
SELECTED
LONDON
(GBR): World Champion Mo Farah will compete at World Indoor Championships in
Istanbul at the 3000 m. UK Athletics announced also defending World champions
Jessica Ennis and Dwain Chambers. In total 39 athletes in the team. Another
medal hope is in-shape pole vaulter Holly Bleasdale, fresh long jump record
holder Shara Proctor and hurdler Tiffany Porter. Interesting relay entry is
olympic winner Christine Ohuruogu. Sprinter Andy Robertson, Andrew Sutcliffe in
pole vault and JJ Jegede in long jump have been selected on the proviso they
attain the UKA qualification standard by 27 February. The team – men – 60 m:
Chamber, Robertson, 400 m: Levine, Buck, 800 m: Thomas, Osagie, 1500 m: Moses,
Brewer, 3000 m: Farah, 60mH: Pozzi, HJ: Oni, Grabarz, PV: Lewis, Sutcliffe, LJ:
Jegede, 4×400 m: Levine, Buck added by C. Williams, Bingham, Forman, Lennon
Ford. Women – 60 m: Philip, J. Williams, 400 m: Cox, Okyere, 800 m: Okoro, 3000
m: Clitheroe, 60mH: Porter, PV: Bleasdale, Byres, LJ: Proctor, TJ: Aldama,
Pent: Ennis, 4×400 m: Cox, Okyere added by Sanders, Ohuruogu, Shakes-Drayton,
Langowski.
NO
FOR BAILEY
ST
JOHN’S (ANT): National sprint record holder Daniel Bailey, has been ruled out
of the World Indoor Championships after picking up a hamstring injury at
the Aviva Grand Prix in Birmingham over the weekend. The Antiguan, during an
interview with OBSERVER Sports on Monday, explained that he had been on two
weeks rest and therapy by his doctor in Jamaica after he felt a sharp pain
in the back of his right leg during the 60-meter event at the meet. “In the
heats, I felt weird in the hamstring but I thought it was just the
weather because up there is really cold. So I did my warm-up just a little
longer, but the back kept tightening up on me; but it was mind over matter so I didn’t
worry about it,” he said.
TOP
RUSSIAN TEAM FOR SARANSK
SOCHI
(RUS): After the winter walking championships the Russian team for IAAF Race
Walking World Cup in Saransk on May 13-14 was announced. All top names are
included headed by all three world champions from Daegu Valeriy Borchin, Olga
Kaniskina and Sergey Bakulin. Remaining names are – men 20 km: Kanaykin,
Yemelyanov, Strelkov, Bogatyrev, women 20 km: Kirdyapkina, Alembekova,
Lashmanova, Yumanova, men 50 km: Nizhegorodov, Kirdyapkin, Ryzhov, Noskov.
OTHER NEWS
PRAGUE
(CZE): Prague is getting ready to host city the 19th World Congress of AIMS,
the Association of International Marathons and Distance Races. AIMS member
races voted for Prague to be the venue of the 19th Congress from 10-12 May 2012
at the previous AIMS Congress held in Athens in October 2010. This Olympic year
also marks the 30th Anniversary of the AIMS, as well as the 60th Anniversary of
Czech Olympic runner Emil Zatopek’s three gold medals won in the 1952 Olympic
Games in Helsinki. Two main topics of the congress: Women in Running and Innovative
Technologies. More than 100 marathon and long-distance race organizers from
around the globe are expected to come to Prague, including those from the B.A.A
Boston Marathon, the BMW Berlin Marathon, the Athens Classic Marathon, the
Barcelona Marathon, the Comrades Marathon and many other honourable AIMS member
races. Organizers are informing in a release. Also to note that Geoffrey
Mutai and Mary Keitany received the AIMS/ASICS World Athlete of the Year Award
for 2011 at a ceremony in Ras Al Khaimah last Friday.
DOHA
(QAT): Doha will stage the 2020 Summer Olympics between October 2 and October
18 if it wins the bid, and „most” international federations approve the
unprecedented later than usual date, the Gulf city’s Olympic authorities
claimed. Informs insidethegames. Disclosing details for the first time of the
190-page applicant file submitted earlier this month to the International
Olympic Committee (IOC), Doha officials shrugged off the heat problem – just as
Qatar’s successful 2022 World Cup campaign had done – and pledged to put on an
event that would „change the lifestyles” of an entire region. No additional
permanent venues will need to be built, with 91 per cent of sites either
existing already, planned or budgeted for as part of Qatar’s so-called 2030
vision. Importantly, that means hardly any Games-related spending will be
needed. Doha’s traffic problems would be eased by a new $21 billion metro
system which will link to 78 per cent of all sports venues while 50,000 hotel
rooms and apartments will be within 15 kilometers of the majority of sports.
RESULTS
PRETORIA
(RSA, Feb 18): Olympic marathon hopefuls Stephen Mokoka and Rene Kalmer were in
top form, improving the course records at a road race in Pretoria. Mokoka
clocked 1:04:34 half marathon and Kalmer 1:13:09.
MADRID
(ESP, Feb 18): Cuban triple jumpers showed solid shape at a local meet.
Alexis Copello 16.91 and Mabel Gay 14.34.
SAD NEWS
MOSCOW
(RUS): Russian runners coach Pavel Litovchenko died at age of 59. Former 800 m
runner had as his top names as coach 800 m runners Viktor Kalinkin (PB 1:44.73
in 1984) and 1991 world champion Liliya Nurutdinova. Litovchenko worked from
1996 to 2001 in Malaysia as coach.
