by Larry Eder
The Stade de France, after a torrential rain shower, plus hail in other parts of Paris, hosted 39,225 fans to two hours of great track & field. David Rudisha entertained with a 1:41.54, fastest time in the world, off a 49.37 first 400 meters.
Dejan Gebremeskel showed why he is one of the key players in the London 5,000 meters with his huge 12:46.81 WL, leading 11 men under 13 minutes. Kenenisa Bekele ran 12:55.79 and was ninth!
Sally Pearson, after hitting hurdle five, ran 12.40 for the 100m hurdles, running the WL. And in the final race, Tyson Gay, with a slow start, moved into contention about half way and into the lead with twenty meters to go, giving Justin Gatlin his first defeat of 2012 and Tyson Gay, his first victory in Europe since 2010.
photo by PhotoRun.net
And then, there is Paul Kipsele Koech. Koech was not selected for London 2012, which has given him a focus. At AREVA Paris, Koech ran world leader of 8:00.57, watch him chase the world record this summer, as his consolation prize.
Dani Samuels, 2012 AREVA Paris, photo by PhotoRun.net
What a meet!
RUDISHA IS THE KING, GAY WINS
PARIS (FRA, Jul 6): This years AREVA edition of the Samsung Diamond League was highlighted by great races in fresh air after a strong rain, just before the programme started. Rudisha great solo, the best ever 5000 m race in depth, surprisingly fast women 1500 m and expected world lead by Pearson. Tyson Gay won the last event of the evening and Culson with Greene showed who are the 400m Hurdles London favorites. In total 39 235 spectators saw one world junior record, five world leads, three meet records and 2 European leads 2012. In the current All-Athletics.com rankings Paris meet is fourth.
Event by event review
MEN
100 m: Gay wins his first European track 100 m since September 2010 in 9.99 (0.0) and Gatlin loses for first time this year (10.03) with Lemaitre after usual slow start was closing (10.08).
800 m: The king showed his abilities. Rudisha 7th fastest ever time and a WL and MR 1:41.54 (his 6th sub 1:42 the most). His 100 m splits (from Mark Butler): 12.5-11.8-12.4-12.7-12.7-12.7-12.9-13.9.
5000 m: One of the best races ever, 6 under 12:50 and 11 under 13 are new records. New generation ruled Gebremeskel 12:46.81 WL, Gebrehiwot 12:47.53 WJR, they qualified to London along with 4th Alamirew 12:48.77. Between them Isiah Koech as best Kenyan 12:48.64 also better as previous world junior record 12:52.61 by Kipchoge (also in the race as 8th). Kenenisa 9th with his fastest of the year 12:55.79 (his 21st sub 13, the most from all together with Haile Gebrselassie). French Hassan Hirt as 14th improved to 13:10.68 and is second best European 2012.
SC: Kipsiele Koech is unbeaten on the circuit and won with meet record 8:00.57, plans to attack the world record as his consolation for not beeing selected for the Games.
400mH: Culson improved again to WL 47.78, but Greene also even to his life-time best 47.84 (also European lead 2012).
PV: In the slippery conditions (after strong rain) Lavillenie gave the spectators the expected win (577) but could not jump more, he is unbeaten outdoors 2012.
TJ: Two jumps enough for Leevan Sands as only over 17 meters (17.23, 0.0)
SP: Armstrong with 20.54 took the lead in the Diamond Race.
JT: Pyatnytsa with 85.67 in round 5 beat Eurowinner Vesely (83.93 and 83.07) and Bannister who got season best 83.70.
WOMEN
200 m: Ahoure after Oslo another DL win at this distance and leads the standings (22.55).
400 m: Montsho in 49.77 over fast closing Novlene Williams-Mills (49.95).
1500 m: World leader before the race Aregawi was beaten into third 3:58.59 as Moroccan Selsouli got national record and WL 3:56.15 and European champion Cakir personal best and Euro leader 2012 3:56.62.
100mH: Superb shape of Pearson, world lead 12.40 (0.0) despite touching one of the hurdles. Second Crawford improved her season best to 12.59.
SC: Ghribi in her first top race of the year won in 9:28.81 (also a meet record).
HJ: Chaunte Lowe was the queen here with 197 clearance and as the winner tried afterwards 203. Still tired from overseas travel, it might come in next meets.
LJ: The only Russian Champ 2012 competing here Sokolova won with only valid jump of 670.
DT: Surprise first defeat of the year by Perkovic (2nd 61.46) to 2009 World Champ Samuels (61.81) in wet conditions.
OTHER RESULTS
GRODNO (BLR, Jul 6): Nadezhda Ostapchuk improved her own Belarus record in the shot put to world leading 21.32 and 21.39. Second Natalya Mikhnevich during first day of Belarus Championships with 19.77. Alena Matoshka (73.76) and Pavel Kryvitski (77.81) won both hammers in absence of top throwers. Nastasya Mironchyk-Ivanova leaped to windy 722 (+4.3) but also legal 701 (+2.0) in the long jump. Pavel Lyzhin was the best in the shot put 20.26 and Alina Kievich in the 400 m 51.73. Guest from Iran Mohamed Samimi won the discus 64.77.
BOTTROP (GER, Jul 6): First day of International Meeting in Bottrop saw 2009 World champion Caster Semenya winning the 800 m in 1:59.18 ahead of Kenyan Lydia Wafula 2:00.27 and Moroccan Halima Hachlaf 2:00.38. In men 1500 m fast 3:33.27 by Kenyan Benson Seurei ahead of German Carsten Schlangen who qualified to London with 3:33.64 PB and fastest by a German in 15 years. Third Emad Noor of Saudi Arabia 3:34.19 ahead of Ayoub Tiouali of Morocco 3:34.52. Former women steeple champion Dorcus Inzikuru of Uganda won in 9:30.95, her fastest since 2006. Solid women 1500 m for Diana Sujew 4:05.93 PB ahead of Genzebe Shumi of Bahrain 4:06.02, Denise Krebs 4:06.16 and Elina Sujew 4:07.36 PB. Other winners include Nigerian Peter Emelieze 10.37 (+0.1) in the 100 m, South African Cornel Fredericks 49.12 in the 400 m hurdles and Cuban Jorge Fernandez 64.18 in discus. Cuban Yadisleidis Pedroso with 55.98 beat Australian Lauren Boden at 400 m hurdles 56.09, Ireland´s Deirdre Ryan cleared 190 in the high jump and Israeli Jillian Schwartz 440 in the pole vault. German shot put win for Christina Schwanitz 19.05 and US in hammer for Amber Campbell (69.49).
BRESSANONE (ITA, Jul 6): Italian Championships started with walking events on the road. Giorgio Rubino won men 10 km in 39:17 ahead of Matteo Giupponi 39:57. In women 10 km title for Eleonora Anna Giorgi 45.19 beating Sibilla Di Vincenzo 45:27 and Rossella Giordano 45:45.
BERN (SUI, Jul 6): Rolf Malcolm Fongue won the Swiss 100 m title in 10.49 (-0.9). During first day of national championships Lisa Urech posted 13.31 (-1.5) and Noemi Zbären (a junior) 13.25 (-0.6) in the 100 m hurdles heats.
BUCURESTI (ROU, Jul 6): Second day of Romanian Championships had Angela Morosanu scoring a good double with 23.21 (+1.0) at 200 m and 56.12 at 400 m hurdles. Mirela Lavric won the 800 m in 2:01.93 and Roxana Barca the 5000 m in 15:45.10.
MONCTON (CAN, Jul 5): At Hub City Classic meet (part of National Track League) Bahamian 2007 World medalist Derrick Atkins clocked 10.20 (+0.7) to win the 100 m. Angela Whyte posted 13.01 (+0.3) at 100 m hurdles and nice duel in women 400 m won by Carol Rodriguez 52.02 over Jenna Martin 52.04.
IRAPUATO (MEX, Jul 6): NACAC U23 Championships started with US javelin win for Tim Glover with 78.28 m.
OTHER NEWS
NEW YORK (USA): The athletes who won the AJC Peachtree Road Race titles on July 4 in Atlanta will only get a short rest before competing in Sunday’s 35th Utica Boilermaker 15-K in Upstate New York. The event, which recorded over 11,000 finishers last year, opens the 2012/2013 season of the Professional Road Running Organization (PRRO) Circuit. Informs RRW.
BEOGRAD (SRB): Serbia is sending 4 boys and 5 girls to World Junior Championships in Barcelona. European junior champion 2011 Amela Terzic will compete in the 1500 m and 3000 m.
INDIANAPOLIS (USA): Ashton Eaton used a world record performance in the decathlon and Allyson Felix rode a career best time in the 200 meters during the Olympic Team Trials as each overtook first place and claimed the 2012 Visa Championship Series outdoor titles and USD 25 000 check.
LONDON (GBR): Latest Pat Butcher´s blog at www.globerunner.org Coe and Ovett Revisited, in Bristol this weekend.
LONDON (GBR): Gareth Warburton has been added to the 800 metres selections in Britain’s Olympic squad after winning his appeal against his non-selection, but there was disappointment for 10 other athletes whose challenges were turned down. Warburton, who was originally left out of the squad after failing to meet the UK Athletics selection criteria of at least two A qualifying standards in 2011 and 2012, will now join Andrew Osagie and Michael Rimmer on the start line at London 2012. It brings the total number of British track and field athletes in London to 78. The decision of the appeals panel means there will be no overturning of the controversial decision to pick only one
runner with the B qualifying standard, Lynsey Sharp, for the women’s 800m. Three of the athletes with A standards who were overlooked – Marilyn Okoro, Emma Jackson and Jemma Simpson – challenged the decision but have been told the decision stands. Marlon Devonish, the 2004 Olympic 4x100m relay gold medallist, and steeplechaser Hattie Dean also had their appeals turned down, as did discus thrower Jade Nicholls.
BRUSSELS (BEL): Belgium is sending 3 girls and 4 boys for World Junior Championships in Barcelona.
INDIANAPOLIS (USA): The USA Track & Field Foundation decided at its board meeting to double the original Elite Athlete Grantee bonus pool cap of USD 50 000 announced April 11, to USD 100 000, announced Foundation Executive Director Tom Jackovic and Chairman Bob Greifeld. With the 2012 Olympic Trials at historic Hayward Field now in the books, there are 19 Foundation grant recipients who have stamped their tickets to London. Jackovic and Greifeld announced that each London-bound athlete will receive a USD 5000 bonus. In 2008 in total 9 grantees qualified for the Olympic team.
