by Larry Eder
Rudisha easy 1:44.0
NAIROBI (KEN, Jun 21): World 800 m record holder David Rudisha and Olympic 1 500 metres champion Asbel Kiprop began their quest for places in the London Olympics with easy wins in the Kenyan trials preliminary rounds. Finals are on Saturday. Rudisha won his heat in 1:44.0. United States-based Boaz Lalang, who was tipped as one of the athletes likely to challenge Rudisha pulled out the race with stomach pain. Another casualty was the fastest junior and last year World Youth Champion Leonard Kosencha who finished last in his heat (1:47.2). Olympic bronze medallist Alfred Kirwa Yego won the second heat in a slow of 1:46.2. Only the top two athletes in the final will qualify for the London Olympics, with the third being selected on a wild card. The rest of the qualifiers for Saturday’s final are, Anthony Chemut 1:45.3, Nicholas Kiplangat (1:46.4), Timothy Kitum (1:44.3), Abraham Chirchir (1:45.00), Richard Kiplagat (1:45.9) and Job Kinyor (1:45.6). In the 1500 m Kiprop won his heat in 3:49.1, Silas Kiplagat was second in another one in 3:44.3, this was won by Nixon Chepseba 3:44.1. Others who have qualified include, Vickson Polonet, Gideon Githiomba, David Bett, James Magut, Collins Cheboi, Vincent Mutai, Caleb Mwangangi, Cornelius Ndiwa and Bethwel Birgen. Former World champion Eliud Kipchoge was second in his 5000 m heat after clocking 13:24.6 and was among the 13 who qualified for the final. Isaiah Koech won here in a time of 13:24.1. Other qualifiers include, Timothy Kiptoo, Jacob Chesari, Mark Kiptoo, Edwin Soi, Vincent Yator, William Malel, Vincent Chepkok, Godfrey Kipsang, John Kipkoech, Mike Kigen and Geoffrey Kirui. Steeple will be held as straight finals, the same also for all women events.
Hammer start
BEAVERTON (USA, Jun 21): US Olympic Trials started with hammer at Nike headquarters in Beaverton with some 3000 spectators. The hammer area was specially constructed only for this event. World 2009 finalist Amber Campbell won with 5th round throw 71.80 also a meet record ahead of Amanda Bingson who achieved in fourth round her PB and Olympic A qualifier 71.78. Third US record holder Jessica Cosby 70.77. All three have the A standard and will be selected for the games. Fourth was Amy Haapanen with 70.63 PB and the only other with A-Standard (71.50) Gwen Berry was 7th (68.84). Kibwe Johnson fulfilled his dream and will travel to London as winner of men hammer trials with 74.97 (shortest winning mark since 1984 at the trials). Second Chris Cralle 74.36 is not having the A-standard (78.00) and will not go (actually has the chance to try until July 8) and third favorite AG Kruger (73.93) with A-standard will be selected.
Junior Bailey to compete at Trials
EUGENE (USA): Track action starts on Friday in Eugene at US Olympic Trials. Men´s 400 m heats will have also fastest high schooler competing, Aldrich Bailey (45.19 second best junior in the world 2012 and best from 1994 birthyear) will run in heat 1 with olympic winner LaShawn Merritt. Interesting to see also in the 100 m hurdles heats all top names, including former champions Michelle Perry and Joanna Hayes. Women will have also the 100 m and 400 m heats in the programme on Friday. Men´s 100 m heats are staged on Saturday. AP informs about Tyson Gay situation. He has spent most of the past year on the shelf with a hip injury. His first race back was in New York earlier this month, where he ran 10.00 seconds into a headwind and said he felt good. The men’s 100, however, might be the most competitive event at Olympic trials, where three spots are available in each event and there are no concessions made for injuries, false starts or anything else. “I definitely know people are counting me out,” Gay said. “I’d probably count someone out, too, if they hadn’t raced in over a year. I only have one race going into trials. I’m not really that sharp, so I understand that comes along with the sport. I think I can do it.”
Russian marathon and walking Oly selection
MOSCOW (RUS): Russian Team confirmed its olympic selection in marathon and walking. Marathon leader is triple Chicago Marathon winner and double World Marathon Majors winner Liliya Shobukhova. With her running will be Albina Mayorova and former steeple world record holder Tatyana Arkhipova (formerly Petrova). Male trio is Dmitriy Safronov, Aleksey Reunkov and Grigoriy Andreyev. In the walking squad at 20 km world champion Valeriy Borchin, from World Cup Andrey Krivov and third named is Vladimir Kanaykin. In the 50 km Sergey Bakulin as world champion, Sergey Kirdyapkin based on World Cup and third is Igor Yerokhin. In the women 20 km Olga Kaniskina as world champion, Elena Lashmanova from World Cup and Anisya Kirdyapkina based on her Russian national championships win. Officialy the whole olympic team will be announced at the end of Russian Championships on July 6 in Cheboksary in the presence of Russian minister of sports Vitaliy Mutko.
Ukrainian 1st part of London team
KYIV (UKR): Ukrainian athletics federation named first part of its olympic selection. This is based on A-standard results and 1-2 positions at national championships. Second part will be confirmed after European Championships. Talented pole vaulter Anna Shelekh could be added based on her result at World Juniors in Barcelona. In the team mainly olympic winner in heptathlon Natalya Dobrynska along with triple jump world champion Olha Saladukha. Selected is also super veteran in hammer throw Oleksandr Dryhol who improved this year at age of 46 to 79.42 m. This are the so far selected athletes – women: 100 m: Povkh, Ryemyen, Stuy, 200 m. Ryemyen, Stuy, Bryzgina, Pyatachenko, 400 m: Logvinenko, Pigida, Zemlyak, Pristupa, Olishevskaya, 800 m: Lupu, Krevsun, 1500 m: Shevchenko, 3000 m SC: Shmidt, Zhidina, 400mH: Titimets, Yaroshchuk, HJ: Styopina, Kholosha, PV: Mazuryk, LJ: Rybalko, Tverdokhlib, TJ: Saladukha, Knyazeva, SP: Obleshchuk, DT: Semenova, Karsak, HT: Novozhilova, Skidan, JT: Rebrik, Dorozhon, hept: Dobrynska, Melnychenko, Yosypenko, marathon: Gamera-Shmyrko, Filonyuk, Burkovskaya, 20 km w: Yakovenko, Borovskaya, Shumkina, both relays 4×100, 4×400 m. Men – 400mH: Melnykov, 3000 SC: Slobodenyuk, HJ: Protsenko, PV: Yurchenko, SP: Semenov, HT: Rybanko, Dryhol, JT: Pyatnytsa, Avramenko, marathon: Sitkovskyy, Babaryka, Shafar, 20 km w: Kovalenko, Losev, Dmitrenko, 50 km w: Kazanin, Glavan, Budza.
Eugene leads
BUDAPEST (HUN): All-Athletics.com informs that with the first part of the invitational meetings finished, Eugene Prefontaine Classic, Roma Golden Gala and Doha Diamond League meeting are in the first three positions in the 2012 All-Athletics.com Competition Rankings in the ‘Invitational/One-day competitions’ category. The Prefontaine Classic, which was 2nd in last year’s final ranking could not reach its huge 2011 competition score (94377), but it still leads the current ranking with 93843 points. The traditional Golden Gala in Roma improved significantly from last year (92500) to 93167 points and is now in second place, ahead of Doha which has 92677 points. The best non-DL meet so far is Ostrava Golden Spike (6th). The best non-DL overseas meet is Kingston (9th) ahead of Rabat (10th) and Daegu (11th). Best European Athletics category meet is Lille as 13th.
HELSINKI NEWS
LAUSANNE (SUI): The Helsinki 2012 European Athletics Championships has crossed the milestone of 1,000 hours of expected television coverage, with 38 television channels from across Europe and outside the continent expressing intentions to televise the year’s biggest athletics event ahead of London 2012. According to the current broadcast intentions for the championships received by European Athletics there will be at least 1,075 hours of television coverage over the five days of the championships, including 957 hours of live coverage. National broadcasters from 29 European countries will be showing the event, while, in addition, pan-European channel Eurosport plans to show the majority of the champion
ships live across its 59 territories. Outside Europe, the event will be broadcast by BandSports in Brazil, PCTV in Mexico, SuperSport in Sub-Saharan Africa, Dubai Sports Channel in the Middle East and North Africa and Eurosport Asia.
CHISINAU (MDA): Moldova confirmed its team of 6 athletes for Helsinki. Mainly to note hammer sisters Zalina and Marina Marghieva. Natalia Artic will compete in discus and Olesea Cojuhari in the 400 m. Two males in the team are Ion Luchianov in the steeple and Alexandru Cuharenco in the long jump.
BRUSSELS (BEL): Javelin thrower Melissa Dupré is not traveling to Helsinki due to injury. The 26-year old had qualified for the European championships with a new national record of 58.51 but ruptured a ligament in her elbow during the throw. At last weekend’s national championships a re-injury of the elbow now rules her out of the rest of the season reports sporza.be.
PRAHA (CZE): Czech team will be in Helsinki without a female javelin thrower. Experienced Jarmila Klimesova (Daegu finalist) decided not to throw due to her injury problems and lack of shape. She still hopes to be ready for London.
OTHER NEWS
PARIS (FRA): European indoor medalist in heptathlon Nadir El Fassi will not be able to attack the participation at London Games. His hamstring injury will allow him to return to training and competition not on time to chase the olympic standard. He might compete in the second half of the season.
LUZERN (SUI): The Spitzen Leichtathletik Meet of Luzern (July 17, EA Classic) plans another innovation. There will be a jackpot of 20 000 USD available for the meet which will be divided among athletes who will achieve results at level of set world class standards. For example 9.99 or better at 100 m, 232 in the high jump or 8:09 in the steeple. All main events in the programme will have such standard set.
AMSTERDAM (NED): Dutch marathon runner Miranda Boonstra is going to court concerning her selection for the London Olympic Games. Boonstra missed out on qualifying for the London marathon by a mere 8 seconds and believes the Dutch Olympic Committee should take her in consideration for London.
LIEGE (BEL): The international meeting of Liege on July 5 th is featuring some of Belgium’s strongest athletes. Jonathan Borlée is set to compete in the 300m while also improved Anne Zagré, Eline Berings and Adrien Deghelt will run. World decathlon leader Hans Van Alphen stars in a special triathlon with the 100m, discus throw and high jump organizers announced.
GOLD COAST (AUS): Plans to construct a 671 million dollar Athletes’ Village for the Gold Coast 2018 Commonwealth Games at Parklands have been thrown into doubt following an audit of Queensland’s finances led by former Federal Treasurer Peter Costello. T he audit report has warned that the existing plan creates huge financial risks and they have suggested creating “temporary accommodation” as a more cost-effective plan writes Insidethegames.
LONDON (GBR): Volodymyr Gerashchenko, the former general secretary of the National Olympic Committee of Ukraine (NOCU), has been expelled after he was filmed by the BBC offering London 2012 tickets for cash on the black market. The 65-year-old, who had held the senior position for 15 years, told an undercover reporter posing as a UK tout he would have as many as 100 tickets from Ukraine’s allocation of 2,900 to sell. A commission established by the NOCU President Sergey Bubka found he had “grossly violated the basic principles of Olympism” reports Insidethegames.
GLASGOW (GBR): Glasgow 2014 unveiled luxury watch brand Longines as its first Tier One Partner in a move that will see the organisation act as Official Timekeeper for the Commonwealth Games. The Swiss firm, which provided the timers used at the first Modern Olympics in 1896, has previously partnered with several Commonwealth Games writes Insidethegames.
MOSCOW (RUS): High jump world champion Anna Chicherova despite having a bye plans to compete early July at National Championships in Cheboksary. After that the Aviva Grand Prix of London is another event in her schedule. Chicherova also revealed in an interview about her injury problems after World indoor championships in Istanbul (nerves in her back).
MAINZ (GER): German pole vaulter Carolin Hingst announced she is ending the season. She was fighting with injuries recently, but still managed a solid 4th place at National Championships (season best 440). Now she will rest for three months before starting with training again.
BIRMINGHAM (GBR): Triple jumper Nathan Douglas has admitted his chances of making a third successive Olympic Games appearance is unlikely to happen after picking up an injury at last month’s FBK Games in Hengelo. Douglas whose personal best of 17.64 metres places him third in the British rankings behind Jonathan Edwards and Phillips Idowu, admitted he is unlikely to feature in the London Games after pulling out of this weekend’s Aviva Trials in Birmingham.
BIRMINGHAM (GBR): Jessica Ennis will continue her build up to winning the Olympic Games heptathlon title by competing in four events at this weekend’s Aviva Trials in Birmingham. Ennis who set a British record score of 6906 points when beating most of her rivals for the Olympic gold medal at the Hypo meeting in Gotzis at the end of May, will contest the 100 metres hurdles and high jump on Saturday plus the following day’s 200m and long jump. UK Athletics head coach Charles van Commenee with the Olympic Games track and field programme taking place from August 3-12 believes there will be some outstanding performances with Team GB vests guaranteed for the first two finishers in each event providing they hold the qualification standard. World indoor triple jump champion, Yamile Aldama who injured her shoulder at the Samsung Diamond League meeting in Rome at the end of May, is the latest star name to withdraw from the trials. However the north Londoner who holds the qualifying distance is expected to recover and prove her fitness to compete at what will be her fourth successive Olympics having previously represented Cuba and Sudan.
MANNHEIM (GER): Anticipation ahead of the 2012 IAAF world junior championships steps up for Australian team which touched down in Mannheim to begin final preparations for the Barcelona World Juniors. Set to compete at the Bauhaus Junioren Gala this weekend before an additional competition opportunity in Karlsruhe next week, the team will arrive in Spain on July 2 and into the team hotel four days later.
DURBAN (RSA): Race Results Weekly informs that Ludwick Mamabolo, the first South African winner of the Comrades ultramarathon in seven years, has returned a positive test for the banned stimulant methylhexaneamine and could face a ban of two years. In a second shock to hit the world’s largest ultramarathon, it was announced that the sample produced by another of the ten gold medal winners showed an elevated level of testosterone. The name of this runner was not announced, but the sample was sent to the doping control laboratory in Cologne, Germany, for further tests. It is only the second time in the history of the Comrades that the winner produced a positive test for a banned substance. In 1992 Charl Mattheus was stripped of his title when he failed a drugs test. Jetman Msutu then became the champion. Mattheus returned from his ban to win the Comrades in 1997.
JOHANNESBURG (RSA): Blade Runner Oscar Pistorius will get the chance to defend his three Paralympic sprint titles at London 2012 after he was unsurprisingly named as one of the 62 athletes selected to the South African team for the Games at a special event held at the South African Sports Confederation and Olympic Committee (SASCOC) Olympic House in Johannesburg. The 25-year-old double leg amputee will be hoping to repeat his phenomenal display at the Beijing 2008 Paralympics, where he won gold in the T44 100, 200 and 400 metres, but he faces
a stiff challenge in the 100m where he faces American rival and reigning world champion Jerome Singleton. Pistorius is also looking to compete in the 400m at the Olympic Games this summer but has only until the end of this month (June 30) to run the A standard qualification time of 45.25sec, which will secure him his Olympic berth. His next race is on Saturday in Nivelles, Belgium.
RESULTS
CHEBOKSARY (RUS, Jun 19-21): More details from Russian Junior Championships. The series of fresh world record holder Sergey Morgunov was 800 (+0.7) – 631 – 806 (0.0) – 793 (-1.0) – 812 (+1.3) and 835 (+1.1). He also leaped on Tuesday 808 (+1.2) in the qualification. Russian head coach Valentin Maslakov pointed out that he would be glad to have Morgunov in senior Olympic team. He would not be forced to jump at National senior championships and will be allowed to concentrate on the World Juniors in Barcelona. From other results to note Anastasiya Kadicheva (18) 656 (+0.6) in girs long jump, Nikita Uglov 46.42 in the 400 m (he is selected for Helsinki relay) and Kiril Nevdakh 13.77 (+1.8) at 110 m hurdles. Mariya Kuchina cleared 189 in the high jump and Natalya Demidenko 430 in the pole vault. Artyom Primak as boys triple jump winner got 16.76 (+1.2) what is world junior leader 2012. Alyona Kudashkina won the 5000 m in good 15:45.80.
SAN DIEGO (USA, Jun 20): With Samsung Diamond League 1500 m champion Morgan Uceny to pace them, Nicole Sifuentes, Anna Pierce and Lucy Van Dalen all bettered the Olympic Games “A” standard for 1500 meters at a low-key meeting at Mesa College. Sifuentes, a Canadian, won the race in 4:04.74 PB, followed by the American Pierce (4:05.52) and New Zealander Van Dalen (4:05.76 PB), all under the IAAF Olympic Games “A” standard of 4:06.00. For Pierce, it was her best mark since August, 2010, and gives her an extra advantage heading into the USA Olympic Trials in Eugene, Ore., which open on Friday. Other finishers in the race were Canadians Sheila Reid (4:07.77 PB) and Malindi Elmore (4:11.62). Uceny jogged to the finish in 4:26.17.
CALABAR (NGR, Jun 21): Nigeria’s fastest man, Obinna Metu of the Prison Service won after the 100 m also the 200 m in 20.91. Ajoke Odumosu was the best as expected in women 400 m hurdles (55.08). But the best result of the day came from Olympic long jump medalist Blessing Okagbare. After winning the 100 m she leaped to 697 PB (+0.3). Her previous best was 691 when winning the Beijing bronze. Stanley Gbagbeke won the men´s long jump with also good 820 cm. NCAA Champion Amaechi Morton came on time from USA to get the title in 50.31. Vivian Chukwuemeka achieved 18.18 in the shot put. In the women 400 m the winner is NCAA 4th placer Regina George with 51.17 PB ahead of junior Omolara Omotso 51.28 PB.
MOSCOW (RUS, Jun 21): During second day of Moscow Championships world record holder Gulnara Galkina showed increased shape in her first race at the distance since July last year with solid 9:24.60. In the 800 m Yelena Kofanova won her heat in 1:58.51 and Yekaterina Kostetskaya another one in 1:59.03. Yuliya Chermoshanskaya posted 22.89 (-2.3) in the 200 m and Yelena Korobkina European leading 2012 8:52.94 in the 3000 m. Last year European junior champion Vera Rudakova clocked 400 m hurdles PB 56.75. Viktoriya Valyukevich leaped to windy 14.58 (+2.2) in the triple jump over Yekaterina Kayukova 14.43 (+0.3). In the hammer Gulfiya Khanafeyeva won with 73.06 m. In the men events Sergey Litvinov confirmed top hammer shape with 79.55 over Igor Vinichenko 78.09. DL Oslo winner Lyukman Adams leaped to 17.10 (+1.0) in the triple jump. In the 3000 m sub 8 for 2011 European junior champion Ilgizar Safiulin 7:58.39 ahead of steeple runner Ildar Minshin 7:59.83. Former world champion Yaroslav Rybakov cleared 223 to win the high jump and during first day Sergey Kucheryanu went over 572 in the pole vault (olympic standard).
ALMATY (KZK, Jun 18-20): At Kazakhstan Open Championships Asian leader 2012 for hurdler Nataliya Ivoninskaya 12.68 (+0.9) ahead of Anastasiya Pilipenko 12.72. Margarita Mukasheva in a solo race won the 800 m in 1:59.88. Olga Bludova confirmed fast shape with 11.19 (+0.8) 100 m win. Aleksandra Kuzina won the 400 m hurdles in 56.35 and Irina Ektova got 14.17 (+0.6) in the triple jump. On the men side Roman Valiyev registered 17.20 (+0.2) in triple ahead of Yevgeniy Ektov 17.00 (+0.3). In the 400 m Sergey Zaykov improved to 45.67 and in the 400 m hurdles Uzbekistan guest Artem Dyatlov to 49.78 over Viktor Leptikov 49.80. Asian junior record in senior hammer by Sukhrob Khodjayev of Uzbekistan with 74.20 m.
FES (MOR, Jun 16-17): Additionally from Moroccan National Championships to note Yassine Bensghir winning the 1500 m in 3:35.64 ahead of Ayoub Tioualli 3:35.95 and Jamal Hitrane 3:36.08. Abassi El Hassane won the 10 000 m in 28:12.40 and Hamid Ezzine the steeple in 8:26.52.
DARMSTADT (GER, Jun 20): Kenyan Cynthia Kosgei won the Darmstadt City Run at 5.5 km in 18:18.7 ahead of Caroline Chepwkony 18:25.5 and German Lisa Hahner 18:59.7. Leonard Langat won the men´s 7.6 km in 21:56.6.
JYVASKYLA (FIN, Jun 20): Finnish European Champ bound high jumper Osku Torro comes into shape with 228 clearance here. It is his outdoor best, indoors he jumped already three times over 230 in his career.
SARREGUEMINES (FRA, Jun 20): European junior champion Quentin Bigot achieved here his second best mark 76.30 in the hammer. Good sign before next weeks European Championships.
CHIASSO (SUI, Jun 20): Irene Pusterla confirmed her olympic participation with B-standard in the long jump (666 cm).
GROSSETO (ITA, Jun 21): Long distance runner Stefano La Rosa tested his shape at 1500 m with 3:44.38. La Rosa who improved in April in USA his bests is planning to compete next week at European Championships in the 5000 m and 10 000 m.
