by Larry Eder
Our man from Tokio, Jeff Shaver, told us that the press room after the meet was mayhem. Jeff covered the Shanghai meeting for us last year. His comments about the meet this year noted how that the meet had winds and tough rains (which you could see on the Universal coverage).
David Oliver, Liu Xiang, Jason Richardson, photo by Jeff Shaver/TOKIOI do get tired of comments about Asafa Powell. First, the guy has run 78 times under ten seconds, and he has won bronze Olympic Medals as well as a Olympic medal (gold, I might add), in the relays. To get to an Olympic final is more than most of the six billion people on this planet can do. To make a 100m final, you are one of the nine best 100 meter runners in the world. To win an Olympic medal, you are one of the three best in the world.
Kenenisa Bekele finished fifth in the 5,000m in 13:13.86. Reese Hoffa wins the shot in the rain, in 20.98m throw, over Dylan Armstrong, and Ryan Whiting.
Phillips Idowu made sure Will Claye and Christian Taylor knows that the 2009 World Champion is back, and can jump in the most challenging conditions. Will Claye, the 2012 World Indoor Champ was second, and Christian Taylor, the 2011 World Outdoor champ was third.
Angelo Taylor, who has already run 44.77 in the 400m, won his first 400m hurdles of the year. Bershawn Jackson did not show, twittering that he had waited too long to get his VISA.
Andreas Thorkildsen was fifth today in the javelin. It should get the most consistent javelin thrower in the world a wake up call, so that we can see some long throws. Veseley, the Czech thrower, won the javelin in 85.40m WL.
Veronica Campbell-Brown won the 200 meters over Carmelita Jeter. Our keen observer said that Jeter was starting to move later in the race, but VCB was on, and in truth, this could be the weather in London.
Genzeba Dibaba ran a world leading 1,500m in 3:57.77. Pretty amazing, in the rainy, windy conditions of Shanghai.
Fascinated with the high jump win, on jump off, with Chaunte Howard Lowe.
Chemos WL and MR of 9:15.81 was pretty impressive, again, in the conditions.
But, in truth, if the only event of the day had been Liu Xiang’s hurdle race, the Chinese fans would have loved it! A great day of racing on a windy, rainy day. Watch for more coverage from us tomorrow.
Liu Xiang, 2010 Asian Games, photo by PhotoRun.net
LIU XIANG BEATS THEM 12.97
SHANGHAI (CHN, May 19): Second Samsung Diamond League meet of the
year in huge stadium here (first time held in 2005) started in cold and
wet conditions and unfortunately it started to rain again after first
hour of the main programme. Despite that 4 world leads, 4 European leads
and 8 meet records were registered. Liu Xiang delivered for the home
fans the biggest win of the day in the most anticipated last race. The
result of the meet goes to Genzebe Dibaba and her new Ethiopian 1500 m
record. Sensation of the day is young Ethiopian Gebrehiwot winning the
5000 m, Asafa Powell showed great display of shape and Veronica
Campbell-Brown won the rainy 200 m over Carmelita Jeter. The series
continues on May 31 in Rome, Italy.
Event by event
100 m: Asafa Powell controlled the race in 10.02 (-0.4). Second Rodgers 10.08 was closing.
800 m: Kosencha gets his first DL win in rainy 1:46.04, oly winner Kiprop only 7th 1:47.97.
5000
m: Sensation, young Ethiopian Gebrehiwot (born 1994) gets WL and MR
13:11.00. Second best of Ethiopians was K. Bekele 13.13.89 but overall
fifth (his first 5k track loss since 2006). Best from Kenyans Longosiwa
13:11.73 as 2nd. In pouring rain. The winner has listed only one 5k
before last year 14:10 at home.
110mH: The race of the day and the joy for the fans of the
day: Liu beats all best Americans and gets 12.97 (+0.4) WL and MR. His
6th sub 13. Oliver 13.11, Richardson 13.16 and Merritt 13.26 followed.
400mH: No-show from B. Jackson and clear US domination by A. Taylor 48.98 MR and Gaymon 49.07. Last year WL Van Zyl 5th 50.38.
PV: In slippery conditions suprise home win for Yang 565 over Otto also 565 on count-back, Hooker nh at 530.
TJ: Idowu showed that rain and cold is like home for him and won 17.24 MR, EL over US boys Claye 17.12 and Taylor 16.96.
SP: Hoffa with last throw 20.98 over Armstrong 20.73 and Whiting 20.73.
JT: Czech Vesely and his first DL win 85.40 EL, others well beaten in the rain.
200
m: VCB in first 200 m since Daegu worlds wins 22.50 (+2.8) over Jeter
who was closing but stumbled (22.62), third Okagbare with fine 22.71.
400 m: Again as in Kingston great finish of Novlene WM 50.00
over world champ Montsho (50.83, her first loss since May 26 last year
in Rome).
1500 m: The result of the day Genzebe
Dibaba get MR, WL, NR 3:57.77 and showed she even can be faster. Second
Aregawi improves to 3:59.23 ahead of Lakhouad 4:01.69 and world indoor
champ Obiri 4:03.15. Tenth Plis of Poland EL 4:08.26.
Steeple: Chemos in WL and MR 9:15.81 was able to beat Sofia Assefa of Ethiopia 9:16.83, Briton Parker gets EL 9:40.16 as 8th.
HJ:
In wet conditions Lowe and Zheng cleared 192 and jump-off was needed
they started at 195 and went down next 4 heights when Lowe cleared 187
to win.
LJ: DeLoach in last round meet record 673 (-0.8) to beat Okagbare 664 and Jimoh 653.
DT:
Eurochamp Perkovic sent a warning to the rivals. In last round NR and
MR 68.24. Second oly winner Brown-Trafton 64.20 and third 2009 world
champ Samuels 62.34.
GREAT FARAH DOUBLE
EAGLE
ROCK (USA, May 18): Top marks at special distances meet called “Oxy
Distance Classic”. Shannon Rowbury clocked world leading 4:05.92 in the
1500 m and Don Cabral won the steeple in US college record 8:19.14. But
possibly the most special is a unique one evening double of Mo Farah
with 3:34.66 at the 1500 m and European leading of the year 13:12.87 in
the 5000 m. He achieved this double in two hours. At the 1500 m second
Galen Rupp and third Robbie Andrews personal bests 3:34.75 and 3:34.78
over Leo Manzano 3:36.08. In other race Canadian Nate Brannen clocked
3:35.88 over 800 m specialist Nick Symmonds who improved to 3:36.04 over
Jeff See also PB 3:36.11. But that was not all in the 1500 m. In the
third race French revelation Jamal Aarrass improved to 3:34.85 beating
David Torrence 3:35.41. Behind Farah in the 5000 m second Mexican Juan
Luis Barrios 13:13.54 ahead of Kenyan Sam Chelanga 13:14.05 life-time
best and Dathan Ritzenhein in his test before Hengelo 10k his best 5k in
three years 13:14.72. Behind Cabral in steeple Dan Huling 8:20.81 and
personal bests for Kyle Alcorn 8:20.86 and Evan Jager 8:20.90. Fastest
800 m time was posted by Tyler Mulder 1:45.68 over Duane Solomon 1:45.86
and 5k world leader Lopez Lomong 1:46.21. In the women events behind
Rowbury second Anna Pierce got 4:06.11 and third Brenda Martinez 4:06.96
PB. Also fast the other race for Gabriele Anderson 4:06.46 life-time
best surprisingly over Morgan Uceny 4:06.52, third Katie Mackey 4:06.67
career best. Jackie Areson beat in PB 15:14.31 Lisa Uhl who got 15:15.22
and third marathon runner Deena Kastor 15:23.51 (her first track 5k
since 2007). Bridgett Franek was the best in the steeple 9:41.96 and
Geena Gall in the 800 m 2:00.44.
BOLT, THE SOCCER FAN
MUNICH
(GER): Fastest man on earth Usain Bolt will be on Saturday special guest
at the soccer UEFA Champions League final in Munich. Bolt kicked off
the celebrity games on TV on Saturday morning and had a great training
session later today. He confirmed that on his twitter. “Great training
session today,” it says. Early next week he will travel to Ostrava,
Czech Republic to run on Friday at the 51st Golden Spike Ostrava meet
(IAAF World Challenge). Interesting to note that he was included into
the 100 most influential marketing persons in the world by Marketing
Weeks as the only non marketing professional.
OTHER NEWS
LONDON
(GBR): World champion Mo Farah after great double in Eagle Rock on
Friday will return next weekend to Europe for a road race. After that he
will be back in USA for Prefontaine Classic 5000 m clash with Kenenisa
Bekele. On May 27 Farah will compete in the Bupa London 10 km
LONDON (GBR): Former top US sprinter John Carlos, one of the
most inspirational of all Olympians, has arrived in the United Kingdom
for a rare speaking tour. The American sprinter – who in 1968
participated with teammate Tommie Smith in the black-gloved salute on
the Olympic winners’ podium at Mexico City that has become one of the
most iconic moments in sporting history – will appear in conversation at
a number of venues with the journalist Dave Zirin. He starts in Brixton
and ends on May 30 in Notting Hill. Zirin recently co-authored a
biography of the runner, The John Carlos Story. Informs insidethegames.
LONDON (GBR): The Olympic Flame, the most potent symbol of the
modern Games, finally arrived on British shores in the most significant
milestone to date for London 2012. Under gray but dry skies and amidst
tight security, the gold-coloured British Airways flight carrying the
Flame from Athens touched down bang on time to be greeted by Deputy
Prime Minister Nick Clegg here near Helston on Cornwall’s Lizard
Peninsula. Says insidethegames.
RESULTS
HAVANA (CUB, May 10): Former world champion Yipsi Moreno achieved a special throwing meet solid 73.91 in the hammer.
KASARANI (KEN, May 18): Double world champion Vivian Cheruiyot
won the women 1500 m during the final day of the Kenya Police
Championships with fast 4:06.0 personal best. Second Lucy Kabuu 4:08.0
and third Mary Kuria 4:10.6. The men’s 1500 m was won by junior long
distance runner Isaiah Koech who clocked 3:38.7 PB to finish ahead of
steeple world leader Paul Kipsiele Koech (3:39.1) as Nicholas Kemboi
came in third in 3:39.7. In the absence of world champion David Rudisha
in the men’s 800m, the stage was left for Nixon Chepseba to rule and he
won in 1:45.6 ahead of Ismael Kombich (1:46.4) and Timothy Sein
(1:46.8). Nelly Korir won the women 800 m race in 2:04.4. Philip Yegon
won the steeple in 8:34.4.
EWING (USA, May 17): At Lion’s Last Chance meet solid sprints
by Ashad Agyapong who runs for Ghana with 10.37 (+1.9) and 20.66 (+1.2).
CHULA
VISTA (USA, May 17): Jordan Scott cleared 560 in the pole vault,
Canadian Kelsie Hendry 450 over April Steiner Bennett also 450. Sweden´s
Michel Torneus leaped to 800 cm (+4.4) in the long jump.
