SHANGHAI PREVIEW: Liu vs Americans

SHANGHAI
(CHN): The second stop of Samsung Diamond League 2012 will be on Saturday in
Chinese mega city Shanghai. All eyes will be on the local hero Liu Xiang in the
duel with top Americans. Weather permitting this should be the highlight of the
meet. Women duel of the day should be the 200 m with last two world champions
in sprints from Daegu Veronica Campbell-Brown versus Carmelita Jeter. Another
top duel in the women 400 m world champion Montsho against Kingston winner and
world leader Novlene Williams-Mills. First top clashes of the season will be
staged mainly in men´s 5000 m and javelin and also women´s 1500 m and steeple.

EVENT BY EVENT PREVIEW

Men

100 m:
Powell again against Rodgers and Carter, added is former world champ Collins

800 m:
In shape world champ at 1500 m Kiprop against Euro champ Lewandowski, or a surprise
from behind?

5000 m:
Ethiopians looking for fast olympic qualifying times (Kenenisa, Gebremeskel,
Yenew) against Kenyans headed by Chepkok and Choge

110mH:
The race of the day, last one in the programme – not only Oliver, Merritt and
Richardson but mainly local mega star Liu Xiang, first legal sub 13 of the
year?

400mH:
Batman vs Angelo, also included is Van Zyl

PV: Hooker, Walker and against them Germans
Mohr and Otto

TJ:
World champ Taylor, world indoor champ Claye but also jumping in season opener
Idowu and with many competitions already Aussie Frayne

SP: US champs: Cantwell, Hoffa, Whiting and
Canadian Armstrong

JT:
First top clash of the year and season openers for Thorkildsen, Pitamäki, world
champ De Zordo after Daegu wants to show improvement, Czechs waiting behind

Women

200 m:
Female clash of the day: VCB vs Jeter, world lead 22.31 under threat

400 m:
World leader N. Williams-Mills with world champ Montsho, that will be fast

1500 m:
World indoor champ Genzebe Dibaba expected to rule in this race (Kenyans with
Obiri will be attacking)

Steeple:
This race will produce for sure a world lead, Chemos against bulk of
Ethiopians

HJ:
Chaunte Lowe is the top jumper of the field and she already did two meters in
recent weeks

LJ: US
duo Jimoh – DeLoach against very fast Okagbare and season opener for Proctor

DT:
Fresh US record holder Brown-Trafton, Eurochamp Perkovic, but home world champ
Li Yanfeng is in Europe

MARATHON
TEAM CONFIRMED

ADDIS
ABABA (ETH): It is confirmed what EME NEWS already reported last week, the
Ethiopian selection for the olympic marathon in London. There is only one
difference, EME reported about the selection of Yemane Adhane, but the place
went to Getu Feleke. Other names are confirmed. Top two from Dubai Ayele
Abshero and Dino Sefer and women team is composed by Tiki Gelana, who won the
Rotterdam race and two best from Dubai Aselefech Mergia with Mare Dibaba.

TOP
MEN´S HIGH JUMP

ROMA
(ITA): The Golden Gala stop of Samsung Diamond League informed about new names
for the May 31. 100 m addition is 2003 world champion Kim Collins. Meanwhile
other star-studded athletes add their names to the starting list of the men’s
high jump. The field features US reigning World champion Jesse Williams and
Russian former World Indoor champion Ivan Ukhov. They will take on Russian
Aleksey Dmitrik (world silver medallist in Daegu), Greek surprise Dimitrios
Chondrokoukis (World Indoor medallist in Istanbul and winner in the first leg
of the Samsung Diamond League in Doha) and young rising star Mutaz Essa Barshim
from Qatar. Fresh Italian record holder Marzia Caravelli, who clocked 12.85 at
the French meeting in Montgeron, will run the 100 meters hurdles against a very
strong field which features Beijing 2008 Olympic gold and bronze medalists Dawn
Harper from the USA and Canadian Priscilla Lopes Schliep and US Danielle
Carruthers (world silver medallist in Daegu 2011) and Tiffany Porter (world
indoor silver medallist in Istanbul 2012). The fastest woman in the field will
be Berlin 2009 World gold medallist Brigitte Foster Hylton from Jamaica who has
already clocked 12.51 in Kingston at the beginning of May. In the throw events
the javelin will be in the spotlight. Czech Republic’s Barbora Spotakova,
reigning Olympic champion and World record holder (72.28 m) will be looking for
a re-match against Russian Mariya Abakumova who beat her at the World
Championships in Daegu.

KENENISA
FOR BISLETT

OSLO
(NOR): Ethopia’s Kenenisa Bekele will contest the 5000 m at the ExxonMobil
Bislett Games in Oslo on June 7th. Bekele a multi medallist at World
Championships and Olympic Games will use the race in the Samsung Diamond League
as an important ingredient in his preparation to defend his 5000m Gold medal in
London Olympic Games later this year. Bekele will run after 3000 m in Doha also
5000 m in Shanghai and Eugene before Oslo. The 5000m field being assembled at
Bislett looks to be one of the strongest ever and contains many athletes with
personal bests under 13 minutes. Previous Oslo winner Imane Merga (12:53.58)
will lead a group of highly credentialed competitors that will look to
challenge the superiority of Bekele over the distance. His countrymen Sileshi
Sihine (12:47.04) and Dejen Gebremeskel (12:53.56), Kenyans Joseph Ebuya
(12:51.00/a World Cross Country Champion), Lucas Rotich (12:55.06), James
Kwalia (12.54:58) and the Commonwealth Champion from Uganda Moses Kipsiro
(12:50.72). There will also be great local interest for the fans with the
performance of the young Norwegians Sondre Moen and Sindre Buraas.

SPEARMON
AT 150 M

MANCHESTER
(GBR): The Powerade Great CityGames, Manchester taking place this Sunday will
be one of the last chances to see several world class stars bidding for Olympic
Games glory in London later this summer – including one of Team GB’s best medal
hopes, Jessica Ennis at the 100 m hurdles. The 2009 World heptathlon champion
joins a star studded line up at the innovative street meeting in the city’s
Deansgate, including American Olympic medal contenders Wallace Spearmon,
Danielle Carruthers, Dawn Harper and Sanya Richards-Ross plus potential British
hopefuls Andy Turner and Holly Bleasdale. Spearmon, who suffered the heartbreak
of being disqualified after finishing third over 200m at the Beijing Olympics,
has already shown top class form this season on Amercian soil. He is determined
to continue it over 150m, lining up against the European sprint trio of Francis
Obikwelu from Portugal and the British pair of Dwain Chambers and Marlon
Devonish – who is the fastest Briton over the distance. The meeting will also
see Sanya Richards-Ross is running straight 200 m against 2007 World silver
medallist Nicola Sanders and Czech European indoor champion Denisa Rosolova.
German European champion Verena Sailer runs the 100 m. Andy Turner, Felix
Sanchez and Jehue Gordon will clash in the 200 m hurdles.

MAGGI
685, MURER BEATEN

SAO
PAULO (BRA, May 16): Brazilian Athletics Tour continued in Sao Paulo in cold
conditions (16 degrees and 73 percent of humidity). Olympic winner Maurren Higa
Maggi won the long jump with excellent 685 (+0.5) what is second best of the
year behind Brittney Reese. Second Keila Costa 668 (+1.4). World champion
Fabiana Murer started the season with 450 and was beaten by Cuban record holder
Yarisley Silva who cleared 465 meet record in first attempt and tried at 476.
Good meet records in both hammer competitions. US Jessica Cosby 72.05 and
Dilshod Nazarov of Tajikistan 76.61 in close battle over Czech Lukas Melich
76.60. In other throws wins for Cuban Yainelis Ribeaux 59.03 in javelin, home
Ronald Odair in discus (62.39), Argentinean German Lauro (20.21) and Misleidys
Gonzalez of Cuba (18.53) in the shot put. Romanian Mihai Donisan was the best
in the high jump (224 over Wanner Miller of Colombia 224 PB) and Brazilian
Jonathan Henrique 16.41 (+1.3) in the triple jump. In distances Kleberson
Davide won the 800 m in 1:46.64 over Kenyan Anthony Chemut 1:46.86 and
Colombian Rafith Rodriguez 1:47.18. Other wins for Salia El Ouali of Morocco in
women 1500 m 4:15.96 and Joseph Kitur of Kenya in the 5000 m (13:50.96). The
100 m sprints Marc Burns of Trinidad clocking 10.31 (+0.6) over Sandro Viana
10.32 and Lauryn Williams of USA 11.28 (+1.6) also closely ahead of Rosangela
Santos 11.29. Brazil also won all four relays men 39.26 and 3:04.53 and women
43.25 and 3:32.49.

BUBKA
AGAINST BOYCOTT

SARANSK
(RUS): While being in Saransk, Russia, for the IAAF World Race Walking Cup, IOC
Member and IAAF Vice President Ukrainian Sergey Bubka gave an interview to the
major Russian sport media ‘Sport-Express’. Legendary pole vaulter shared his
vision of the UEFA Euro 2012 boycott talks, as well as the athletics legacy of
the tournament and the ambitions of his country for hosting major sport
championships. ‘Any boycott of the sport event is senseless’, said Bubka while
being asked about the talks on boycott of Ukraine’s part of the tournament from
European countries. ‘I have personally been a victim of the 1984 Olympics
boycotted by the USSR team. What have we won from it? Who has got benefits from
the Western boycott of the 1980 Moscow Olympics? Let us remember the lessons
history gives us. Whatever happens we should never associate sport with
politics.’ Ukraine has ambitions for hosting major sport events in the near
future, confirmed Sergey Bubka who is the President of Ukrainian NOC. ‘Legacy
of the UEFA Euro 2012 will help us. When the reconstruction of the NSC
Olympiysky in Kyiv was held I made my best to save the athletic track at
the stadium. As the reconstruction was funded from national budget the decision
was made that the arena should serve not only football but other sports, namely
athletics. That is why I can now confirm our plans to host IAAF and EAA
events in Kyiv.’

OTHER NEWS

MANCHESTER
(GBR): The Bupa Great Manchester Run will have in the 10 km on Sunday also top
fields. Legendary Haile Gebrselassie runs against marathon world record holder
Patrick Makau, this years marathon world leader and London bound Ayele Abshero
and another top Ethiopian Tsegaye Kebede. From Europeans multiple European CC
Champion Sergiy Lebid and Spanish Carles Castillejo. On the women side 2009
world champion Linet Masai with another Kenyan Doris Changeiywo will clash with
home top runners Mara Yamauchi, Charlotte Purdue and Gemma Steel. European
field is headed by Italian Anna Incerti.

TURNOV
(CZE): The traditional Danek Memorial meet in Turnov on May 22 will have as
usual strong discus field. World champion Robert Harting will face European
Champion Piotr Malachowski, olympic winner Gerd Kanter and former European gold
medalist Robert Fazekas of Hungary. Also in the field improved Polish thrower
Robert Urbanek and top Czech Jan Marcell. Interesting relay is also planned,
South Africa will compete against teams of Czech Republic and Slovakia.

MELBOURNE
(AUS): Athletics Australia confirmed that the following athletes have been
identified for nomination to the Australian Olympic Committee in June to
compete at the 2012 London Olympic Games in the men’s and women’s marathon, as
well as the men’s 20km walk. For women marathon Jessica Tengrove, Lisa
Weightman and Benita Willis for men Michael Shelley, Martin Dent and Jeff Hunt.
In the 20 km walk Chris Erickson and Adam Rutter, already earlier named was
Jared Tallent.

LONDON
(GBR): UK hurdles record holder Tiffany Porter revealed for thisislondon.co.uk
that she plans to have a tour of meets in Europe in next days with
Ostrava, Rome and Oslo. She also said: „This weekend is my graduation, when I officially
get my pharmacy degree. It hasn’t hit me yet as I had some last-minute
assignments to finish. I’m even going to take the day off from training. Jeff
and I are entertaining 30 friends and family at home after the ceremony.
I’m proud of the achievement, as proud as anything I’ve done in athletics. Next
week Jeff and I will travel to Ostrava before we go our separate ways for
a bit. It’s not ideal but that’s athletics and it is what it is.” Her
coach is not coming over so she will be working with Lloyd Cowan’s group based
at Lee Valley, which includes Christine Ohuruogu, Andy Turner and Shana Cox.

MUNICH
(GER): One of top German pole vaulters Fabian Schulze will miss the olympic
season. He will undergo achilles surgery and so not compete this year. The
surgery will happen on May 23. He already now thinks about the season 2013.

SOFIA
(BUL): Bulgarian top high jumper Viktor Ninov is a fresh and proud father.
His son was born this week, is named Daniel with 50 cm and 3.06 kg.

NAMUR (BEL) : Belgian decathlete Hans Van Alphen has announced he will
not compete at the European championships in Helsinki in June. Van
Alphen is already qualified for the London Olympic Games and is putting
his full attention on the Olympic decathlon. Van Alphen is also set to
compete at the IAAF combined events challenge meeting in Götzis next
week reports Het Nieuwsblad.

BRUSSELS (BEL): European indoor 60m hurdles bronze medalist Adrien
Deghelt will not be able to return to competition in the next few weeks.
Deghelt sustained a rupture in his hamstring during the indoor season
and recently also developed pain in his knee. The Belgian athlete
remains optimistic and believes he could still make it to the European
championships and maybe even the London Olympic Games according to Het
Nieuwsblad.

DALLAS (USA): The United States Olympic Committee (USOC) have said that
they are not considering putting forward a Dallas bid for the 2024
Olympic and Paralympic Games at this stage. Dallas is one of the major
sporting cities in America and illustrated its capability to host a
major sporting competition last year when it hosted the Super Bowl for
the first time ever at the 80,000 capacity Cowboys Stadium in the
Dallas-Fort Worth metropolitan area reports Insidethegames.

ATLANTA (USA): Defending Olympic long jump champion Dwight Phillips told
USA Today he is working towards breaking Mike Powell’s world record.
“That’s what I work towards every day, because at this point, I’ve
accomplished all the major accolades as winning the Olympics and world
championships. The only thing I’m really missing is the world record. It
has to be the right atmosphere, and the Olympic Games is the stage for
things like that to happen” Philllips was quoted.

JOHANNESBURG (RSA): South African two-lap specialist Mbulaeni Mulaudzi
has denied a media report that an injury could derail his London Olympic
Games ambitions. Mulaudzi said he was scheduled to race at this
weekend’s Shanghai Diamond League meeting but had to withdraw due to
illness. The veteran middle-distance athlete had been plagued by
injuries since he won a gold medal at the 2009 World Athletics
Championships in Berlin, but confirmed he will be running in Ostrava
later this month reports supersport.com.

RESULTS

DORTMUND
(GER, May 16): Fast 1500 m race for Denise Krebs at local meet in cold weather
4:08.55.

NAIROBI
(KEN, May 17): The world’s fastest marathoner Geoffrey Mutai and 2006
Commonwealth Games 10,000 meters champion Lucy Kabuu staged impressive
performances to win their respective races at the Kenya Police Athletics
Championships, informs The Nation. Mutai clocked 28:23.0 “After being left out
of the marathon team, I have to focus on other things. This is part of my
preparations and nothing comes easy,” said Mutai, who is leaving next week for
a 10km race in Canada. Kabuu achieved 15:45.8 at the 5000 m beating Janet
Kisa 15:50.0. Commonwealth Games winner Grace Momanyi was fifth 16:16.5 and
former world class steeple runner Ruth Bosibori was 6th in 16:30.5.

SALZBURG
(AUT, May 17): Hurdles record holder Beate Schrott clocked 13.38 (+0.7) what
was the top mark at the Austrian Club Championships.

ZEULENRODA
(GER, May 17): At International meet Moroccan Bader Rassioui clocked solid
3:37.79 to win the 1500 m over South African Juan Van Deventer 3:38.69 and top
German Carsten Schlangen 3:39.41. Helge Schwarzer went over the hurdles with
13.73 (+2.0) and Sebastian Keiner won the 800 m in 1:47.79. Poland´s Dariusz
Kuc was the fastest in the 100 m (10.37, +0.2).