by Larry Eder
Ashton Eaton, 2012 US Olympic Trials, Decathlon, photo by PhotoRun.net
Dawn Harper, Kellie Wells, LoLo Jones (foreground), photo by PhotoRun.net
100m hurdle final, 2012 US Olympic Trials
100m Final, Williams, Knight, Jeter, Madison, photo by PhotoRun.net
EME NEWS (JUN 23, 2012) UPDATE
Eaton gets WR 9039 points
EUGENE (USA, Jun 23): The track history was rewritten at Hayward Field. World indoor champion Ashton Eaton improved the decathlon world record by 13 points to 9039 and as second ever achieved 9000 points. It was after more than 11 years when Czech Roman Sebrle scored legendary 9026 points in Gotzis, Austria on May 27, 2001. It is also first senior track record of 2012 and Eaton is the first since Dan O´Brien having both outdoor and indoor world records. Eaton’s record was the first world record set at the U.S. Olympic Trials since Michael Johnson’s 19.66 in the 200m at Atlanta in 1996. It was also the fifth time an American set a decathlon world record at the Trials, a feat most recently achieved in 1976 by Bruce Jenner. Former record holders Jenner and Dan O’Brien were on hand to great Eaton at the finish line. Needing to run better than 4:16.23 in the 1500m to crack the WR, Eaton followed Curtis Beach and Joe Detmer through the first three-and-a-half laps before crossing the line in 4:14.48 as Beach waved him through the line. He started on Saturday with 13.70 (-0.8) hurdles what was all-time best for the trials. He followed with discus 42.81 which little bit lowered the record hopes but then confirmed his top shape with another PB 530 in the pole vault. Javelin 58.87 was not at needed 60 level but still a decathlon PB for him. Last event, the fantastic 1500 m made it. He achieved in total four overall PB´s (100, LJ, PV, 1500) and decathlon best in javelin. 13 points improvement is the smallest improvement of WR since Thompson improved Jenner’s record in 1980 by 4 points. Eaton was better than Sebrle in 6 events except of shot, high jump, discus and javelin. 2011 World champion Trey Hardee claimed the second spot on the podium with a score of 8383 points and will join Eaton in London. Gray Horn was third at 7954 PB but is missing the A-standard of 8200 points to travel to London. That means only two US decathletes will be in London as no other has 8200 last or this year. Reigning Olympic champion Bryan Clay faltered in the 110m hurdles where he hit the ninth hurdle and did not clear the tenth hurdle. His time of 16.81 garnered him only 644 points. Things did not get better in the next event when Clay fouled three times in the discus and did not score a mark (during discus was in dq position from the hurdles but was reinstated). Though he was out of contention to make the decathlon podium, Clay continued on to finish all ten events, finishing 12th with 7109 points.
Jeter and Harper winners
EUGENE (USA, Jun 23): The 21 975 attendance at Hayward Field followed not only superb decathlon but also other top action. World 100 m champion Carmelita Jeter dashed to her third U.S. title in the short sprint, all won at Hayward Field, with a swift 10.92 (+0.9). 2005 World long jump gold medalist Tianna Madison was second in 10.96 (also 10.96 in semis, both PB´s). The event’s drama came in the tussle for the third spot where three-time World 200m champion Allyson Felix and former Texas A&M star Jeneba Tarmoh finished in a dead heat at 11.07 (11.068). And it remained so. Both runners want to wait until after the 200 m for the solution (one of them a run-off). Bianca Knight with 11.14 and former world champion Lauryn Williams 11.18 got the 5-6 positions. Reigning Olympic champion Dawn Harper out-sprinted Kellie Wells and Lolo Jones to win the women’s 100m hurdles in 12.73 (-1.6), with 2011 U.S. champion Wells second in 12.77 and two-time World Indoor 60 m hurdles winner Jones surging to place third in 12.86. It was the second national title in the 100m hurdle for Harper, who also won in Eugene in 2009, and Jones makes her second straight Olympic team after winning the ’08 Trials and finishing seventh in Beijing. First non-qualifier Ginnie Crawford 12.90. From other top names Michelle Perry was 7th (12.97) and out in semis were Castlin, Carruthers and Hayes. The fastest from all rounds was the 12.65 semifinal by Harper. Collegians Timothy Glover of Illinois State and Sam Humphreys of Texas A&M recorded the two farthest throws in the preliminaries of the men’s javelin throw. Glover threw a best mark of 80.27m, while Humphreys threw 78.12. In the men’s shot put prelims, Reese Hoffa exceeded the automatic qualifying mark on his second attempt at 21.22m, the furthest mark of the day. Christian Cantwell and Ryan Whiting easily moved on to the finals with the two next best throws 20.25 and 19.94. Neither Dan Taylor nor two-time Olympic silver medalist Adam Nelson advanced to the finals. World Indoor 60m champion Justin Gatlin and defending Olympic Trials champion Tyson Gay were the two swiftest men in the first round of the 100. Gatlin blasted to an impressive 9.90 (+1.7) in the fifth section to lead all qualifiers, while Gay looked smooth and easy in winning the fourth heat at 10.00 (+1.6, second Ryan Bailey 10.03). Walter Dix posted 10.03 (+0.7) winning the first heat. The only noteworthy casualty was last year’s NCAA runner-up and this year sub 10 runner Mookie Salaam. Amanda Smock was the top qualifier in the women’s triple jump, as the defending national champion spanned 13.80 in the second round. Ten men cleared 2.18m in the high jump qualifying, including World champion Jesse Williams and NCAA winner Erik Kynard of Kansas State. A total of 13 athletes moved on to the final, but not 2008 World Indoor bronze medalist Andra Manson and this year improved Ricky Robertson (232). Running more like a sprinter than a middle distance ace, Alysia Montano covered the first 400 of her 800 semi in 55.65 and held on to grab the fastest qualifying time at 2:00.25. Alice Schmidt clocked 2:00.50 in pursuit of Montano, with Molly Beckwith and Geena Gall taking the top two spots in the other semifinal heat. Khadevis Robinson kicked past Duane Solomon and NCAA champ Charles Jock to win the first semifinal of the men’s 800m in 1:45.83, with Oregon’s Elijah Greer sneaking past Jock for the third auto qualifying spot. Tyler Mulder and defending Trials champion Nick Symmonds were easy advancers out of semi two, won by Mulder in 1:46.14. Reigning Olympic champion LaShawn Merritt and 2004 gold medalist Jeremy Wariner were two of the eight qualifiers for the men’s 400m final, where they will be joined by NCAA champion Tony McQuay of Florida and four other collegians. Merritt won the second section in 44.78, the fastest time overall, and McQuay captured semifinal one at 44.84 (junior Bailey was out with 45.82). Francena McCorory at 50.55 and golden-tressed Sanya Richards Ross at 50.81 led the way in the women’s 400m semifinals. 2009 World 4×400 gold medalist Debbie Dunn was the other athlete to dip under 51 seconds with her 50.99 behind McCorory (fastest non-qualifier Jo Atkins 51.76). With the help from the USATF website.
Pinder 44.77 PB
NASSAU (BAH, Jun 23): Demetrius Pinder confirmed he will be a man to watch in London as he won the 400 m at Bahamian Trials with fast 44.77 personal best ahead of Ramon Miller who also achieved life-time best 44.87. Third former world indoor champion Chris Brown 45.19 and fourth Andrae Williams 45.78 confirming solid relay hopes. World medalist Trevor Barry cleared 229 to win the high jump over junior Ryan Ingraham 221 and 2007 World champion Donald Thomas only 215. Ray Higgs leaped to 786 (+1.1) in the long jump. Shamar Sands was the best Bahamian in the 110 m hurdles 13.62 (-0.5) but was beaten on the track by Haiti guest Jeffrey Julmis 13.53. In the 200 m finals US Virgin Islands guest Allison Peter got 22.89 (+1.1), in men´s final Trevorvano Mackay achieved personal best 20.68 (+0.9) and to note also junior winner Blake Bartlett in 20.89 (+0.1). In the absence of world junior champion Shaunae Miller the 400 m women win was still achieved by a junior Rashan Brown 52.41.
Bledman 9.86 over Thompson 9.96
PORT OF SPAIN (TRI, Jun 23): Trinidad National Championships and Olympic Trials started with fast 100 m won by Keston Bledman 9.86 (+1.4) what is his new personal best ahead of Bei
jing medalist Richard Thompson 9.96. Second 200 m specialist Rondell Sorrillo improved to 10.03 as third and beat for the third sport experienced global finalist Marc Burns 10.06. Emmanuel Callender as fifth 10.12 confirmed great depth of sprinting here and real relay hopes. Former world junior record holder Darrell Brown was 7th (10.27). Fast also women 100 m by Daegu medalist Kelly-Ann Baptiste 10.98 (+0.6) over Semoy Hackett 11.14 and Kai Selvon 11.24. Lalonde Gordon in 45.40 beat in the 400 m World 2009 medalist Renny Quow 45.40. Solid hurdles wins for Wayne Davis 13.62 (+1.0) and Jo Lucas 13.07 (+1.1) who is 400h specialist. National record holder Ayanna Alexander won the triple jump with good 14.04 (-0.3).
OTHER RESULTS
OLOMOUC (CZE, Jun 23): Very warm and sunny Saturday saw Nicholas Kipkemboi of Kenya winning the 3rd edition of Mattoni Olomouc Half Marathon in 1:01:48 ahead of Henry Kiplagat 1:01:51 and Tujube Beyu of Ethiopia 1:01:52. The recent sub one hour runner in Czech Republic Kenyan Daniel Chebii was this time 7th (1:06:23). Ethiopian triumph in women category. Yebrgual Melese in new PB 1:11:33 was the best beating Tadelech Bekele 1:15:00 and Shone Imana 1:15:41. With help from Possosport website.
LANGUEUX (FRA, Jun 23): Ethiopian Haftu Fikadu won the 22nd edition of Corrida de Langueux in 28:17. Second Kenyan Reuben Limo 28:18 and third Tigabu Gebremariam 28:26. French marathon record holder Christelle Daunay won the women event in her new road PB 31:48 ahead of Tsegay Desalegn 33:06.
ST. ETIENNE (FRA, Jun 23): Elodie Guegan won here the women 800 m in 2:02.15.
