by Larry Eder
Liu Xiang, Dayron Robles, David Oliver, Jason Richardson, 2011 WC 110m final,
photo by PhotoRun.net
Veronica Campbell Brown, Shalonda Solomon, Carmelita Jeter, 2011 WC 200m, photo by PhotoRun.net
VCB and Jeter racing in Shanghai Samsung DL (May 19), and so are Lui Xiang and Jason Richardson. Well, time to reserve my ticket….
And then, Kim Collins, the 33 year old former world champion, who last year, nearly stole the 100 meters once again! He is running in the most famoust handicap race in the world, the Stawell Gift, worth 40,0000 Australian Dollars. Collins will have one meter over Michael Frater. So, who you picking on that one?
Here is my idea for the US Open in MSG: Make all of the race handicap races. For example, have LaShawn Merritt take on an 12 year old, 20 year old, 50 year old, 80 year old, give them proper handicaps, and winner gets to pick where $5k is donated to! Have Bernard Lagat take on a girls high school relay team in the mile, and include handicaps in various age groups. It was popular 100 years ago, and it might be the kind of unique approach that we need to keep an event in Madison Square Gardens.
Liu vs Richardson, VCB vs Jeter
SHANGHAI (CHN): Top names for the Samsung Diamond League Meeting in
Shanghai (May 19) have been confirmed and show that the clash between
legendary Chinese hurdler Liu Xiang and world champion Jason Richardson
is among the most interesting races. In the men’s 100m, Jamaican Asafa
Powell returns to defend his Shanghai title while in the women’s race
fireworks are expected from Veronica Campbell-Brown and Carmelita Jeter.
in the 200 m. The men’s javelin has an interesting face-off between
Olympic champion Andres Thorkildsen, world champion Mattias De Zordo and
Finish Tero Pitkamaki.
Watt to open in New York
MELBOURNE (AUS): Long jump world silver medalist Mitchell Watt is
not competing during the Australian season. About his plans he said
for IAAF:”‘ll be starting my competition build-up in New York at the
start of June. My coach (Gary) will be there for that and then all
the way through to the Olympics. I think Gary (Bourne) has been at
all but one meeting I’ve competed in the past few years. It’s great
having him there. He is very relaxed – whether you’re on a massive
high or struggling a little bit, he remains super-composed. When I
broke the Australian record he didn’t get too excited because he
knew job wasn’t done yet. He doesn’t get carried away and he’s
always got the bigger picture in mind. Hopefully he’ll have plenty
to cheer about in London.”
Collins 1 meter over Frater
STAWELL GIFT (AUS): For the Easter Stawell Gift races (Apr 6-9) the
battle for the 40,000 AUD winner’s prize has just got very
intriguing, with 2003 world 100m champion Kim Collins set to hold a
one metre advantage over Jamaican sprint star Michael Frater,
following the release of handicaps for the 131st running of
Australia’s richest and most prestigious footrace. In a further
boost to the 146-strong Australia Post Stawell Gift 120m field, 2006
Commonwealth Games 400m champion John Steffensen has also announced
that he will return for another crack at glory this Easter, and the
banter has already begun with the flamboyant star laying down the
challenge to his Caribbean rivals. Frater, who is a member of the
all-conquering, world-record holding Jamaican relay team and holds a
100m personal best time of 9.88 seconds, will start from the
prestigious scratch mark this Easter and attempt to become just the
third man in history to win from the mark of honour.
Gugl is back
LINZ (AUT): The Gugl meeting in Linz is aiming for a strong comeback
after five years when being staged on August 20th (EA Classic). Just
days after the London Olympic Games Carmelita Jeter and Kirani James had
confirmed their presence. Also for Gugl Cuban hurdles world record
holder Dayron Robles, Estonian discus star Gerd Kanter and German pole
vaulter Silke Spiegelburg. Shot put will be held in the center of the
city the day before. New name is Gugl Games Linz and meet director is
Robert Wagner. The plan for future is clear: in 2013 EA Premium and in
2014 IAAF World Challenge. Informs Austrian Federation website.
OTHER NEWS
MONACO (MON): Kenyan female marathon runner Rose Chesire got banned
for one year after beeing tested positive when winning the Macau
Galaxy Marathon last December (would be PB 2:31:28). Her ban ends on
January 18, 2013. New winner is so Ethiopian Tsega Gelaw in 2:31:48.
MONACO (MON): Former US 400 m runner Donald Sanford (25) is now
eligible to represent Israel also at top events like World
Championships, European Championships or Olympic Games. Sanford
switched his nationality last July and from March 12 he can compete
at the world stage. His best from US time is 45.21 from 2010 and
while running for Israel he clocked last year 46.81.
NEW YORK (USA): Ray Flynn will continue as the meet director of the
Millrose Games as he and The Armory have agreed on a three-year
commitment. “We are more than pleased to report that Ray Flynn has
signed a multi-year agreement to continue as meet director of the
Millrose Games,” Dr. Sander of The Armory said. “Ray has done a terrific
job bringing the very best of our professional athletes to this great
meet. He works extremely well with our staff and brings a wealth of
experience and integrity to our event.”
AMSTERDAM (NED): Asics has signed up as the main sponsor for the Dam tot
Damloop, of which the 28th edition will be held on Sunday 23rd of
September. Organizers Le Champion are happy to have signed the
multi-year endorsement for the 10 mile races held between Amsterdam and
Zaandam.
LAUSANNE (SUI): The official timetable for the 2013 European Athletics
Indoor Championships to be held in Göteborg, Sweden, through 1-3 March
has been confirmed reports European Athletics . For the first time in
the history of these championships, the victory ceremonies will take
place in the market square next to the Scandinavium that will host the
three-day championships. New also two parts of the last day programme on
Sunday, March 3. There will be finals in the first part around midday
and second part from 4.30 until 6.45 with the rest of the events. Shot put qualifications will be on
market square as new issue already reported by EME NEWS.
BRUSSELS (BEL): Belgian decathlete and World University Games 4 th
placer Cedric Nolf has confirmed his presence at the IAAF combined
events challenge meeting of Desenzano. Nolf has just returned from a six
week training camp in South Africa and is aiming to break the 8000
points barrier for the first time in Desenzano.
KINGSTON (JAM): One of the biggest junior meets in the world starts with
steeple races on Tuesday. The 102nd Jamaican Grace Kennedy ISSA Boys
and Girls Athletics Championships at the National Stadium will continue
until Saturday. Each year the Jamaica boys and girls athletic
championship are exciting and spell binding. From year to year at this
great four day extravaganza, you will see fans travelling from all over
the world to support their schools and enjoy this event. The
international media are now seeing this as the incubator for Jamaican
athletes who are presently dominating the short sprints on the
international stage. Holmwood Technical and Jamaica College are the
respective defending champions.
INDIANAPOLIS (USA): USA Track & Field announced it has resumed its
search for a new CEO with a timeline geared toward selecting the
federation’s top executive prior to the 2012 Olympic Trials. The search
will be directed by the board of directors’ CEO Search Committee,
composed of Stephanie Hightower (chair), Steve Miller, Deena Kastor,
Aretha Thurmond and Mickey Carter. The search includes a new job
description focusing on the core competencies and experience sought for
the position. Candidate interviews will begin next month. A new CEO is
expected to be announced well in advance of the 2012 Olympic Trials,
held June 22-July 1 in Eugene, Oregon. Informs USATF website.
ATHENS (GRE): Insidethegames informs that the Hellenic Olympic Committee
(HOC) have announced details of the Greek leg of the London 2012 Torch
Relay, running from May 10 to 17, with Greece’s British-born 10
kilometre swimming world champion Spyros Gianniotis set to be the first
Torchbearer. On May 10 a ceremony will be held at the Temple of Hera in
Ancient Olympia, where the torch will be lit using the sun’s rays at
7pm. It will then take a weeklong tour across Greece to Athens and the
Panathenaic Stadium, site of the first Modern Olympics in 1896, where
the Flame will be given to the London 2012 delegation to fly to a
military base in Cornwall. The announcement was made at an event
attended by Spyros Capralos, the President of the HOC, who confirmed
that unlike previous Torch Relays, the hard up Greek Government would
not contribute towards the costs. Once it is in Britain, the Torch will
take an 8,000 mile, 70 day journey around the country on its way to the
Olympic Stadium for the Opening Ceremony of London 2012 on July 27.
RESULTS
HAVANA (CUB, Mar 23-24): From Copa Cuba meet (as national
championships) to add that Roberto Skyers achieved 20.64 (+0.2) in the
200 m and Dayron Capetillo 13.69 (+1.9) at 110 m hurdles (also hand
timed 13.2 in heats, +1.6). Ernesto Reve was the best in the triple jump
(17.13, +1.3). Good throws by Carlos Veliz (20.50, shot put) and Jorge
Fernandez (64.16, discus). Junior Diaz scored 7956 in the decathlon. In
women events to note 73.50 by Yipsi Moreno in hammer and 62.75 by Yanet
Cruz in javelin. Misledys Gonzalez won the shot put (18.51) and Yasmiany
Pedroso totalled 5849 in the heptathlon. Daileny Alcantara was the best
in the triple jump (14.41, -1.2) and Yarisley Silva was the best in the
pole vault (440 as the second Dailis Caballero).
SAO PAULO (BRA, Mar 24): Discus record holder Ronald Odair achieved
good 62.73 here.
ORLANDO (USA, Mar 24): Fast women 4×400 m by One Goal Athletics team
3:28.03 ahead of unattached team 3:28.39. Compositions not known.
PASADENA (USA, Mar 24): At 69th Pasadena Games Greg Nixon clocked
20.84 (-0.6) in the 200 m. In the 300 m race Lionel Larry got 32.92 (the
same time also for second Joel Stallworth) and Leslie Cole 36.50 in the
women category.
