Grenada Celebrates Kirani James’ return, by Alfons Juck, note by Larry Eder

OTHER NEWS

 

 

LAUSANNE (SUI): The body which recommended that Mu-yen Chu be withdrawn from the recent election for places on the International Olympic Committee (IOC) Athletes’ Commission initially decided that there was not enough evidence to exclude him, insidethegames understands. According to a senior IOC member, it was only following a second stage in the proceedings of the IOC Athletes’ Commission election committee – a deliberation not attended by all committee members – that the body’s stance shifted. This second step in the process, in the IOC member’s view, effectively changed the decision of the full committee without all of its members being present or hearing the evidence presented. The assertions raise yet more questions about a process that saw Chu, a taekwondo gold medallist from Chinese Taipei, and another athlete, Koji Murofushi of Japan, disqualified in controversial circumstances from an election in which both polled enough votes to win places on the commission. One of the allegations raised against Chu was that he may have handed out lollipops to promote his candidature – an allegation he denies. Chu recently tried to lodge a formal appeal against his exclusion, claiming the affair had „damaged” his social image and professional reputation, as well as his faith in „such venerable establishments as the IOC”.

 

LILLE (FRA): Ken Nakamura points out that In Lille Eliud Kipchoge, Gideon Kipketer and Gilbert Masai became 93rd, 94th, and 95th runner to clock sub one hour in the half-marathon. That means five are missing to complete the first 100 with sub one hour personal best. For example the exclusive sub 10 club has currently 82 members, in total 520 legal sub 10 times are registered.

 

BERLIN (GER): At ISTAF in Berlin olympic winner Aries Merritt recorded 7th straight (not counting false starts and preliminary rounds) sub 13 hurdles races. That is the tying the most in one season by Dayron Robles in 2008.

 

BERLIN (GER): One of top German long distance runners Sabrina Mockenhaupt wants to run at IAAF World Half-Marathon Championships in Kavarna, Bulgaria on October 6. Before that she will run the German road 10 km championships on September 16 in Nagold. Later in the fall Mockenhaupt also plans a marathon.

 

KIENBAUM (GER) : In the Olympic trainingcenter in Kienbaum Germany’s top coaches and national coaches are set to meet September 3rd through 5th. The German athletics federation aims at discussing the past Olympic Games and preparing the next Olympic cycle reports leichtathletik.de.

 

BERLIN (GER): Following his 33rd victory in row at the ISTAF meeting, Robert Harting is ready for a 2,5 month break from athletics. For leichtathletik.de Harting confirmed he will use the break for more therapy on his left knee and to take full advantage of all the PR activities he has been asked for since winning Olympic gold. Harting also added that in 2013 he aims at breaking the longest winning streak of 37 victories by Virgilijus Alekna.

 

HAMPTON (USA): Hampton University Director of Track & Field Maurice Pierce has announced the hiring of Yvette Lewis to his coaching staff. The 12.76 hurdler and Pan Am Games medalist will primarily work with the program’s hurdlers and jumpers.

 

TILBURG (NED): While in The Netherlands Patrick Makau told losseveter.nl about his ambitions in 2013. Makau confirmed his training for the Frankfurt marathon in September is going very well but added he will not aim for the world record in Frankfurt. The world record holder wants to attack his world record next year at the marathon of Berlin. This means Makau will not run the IAAF World championships in Moscow. Makau also said he does not think about changing nationalities because he was left out of the Kenyan Olympic team.

 

ST. GEORGE´S (GRN): Olympic 400 m winner Kirani James was as relaxed in mode of dress as in speech as Grenada’s greatest sporting hero returned home last week. It was his first home visit since demolishing a field of seven other competitors on August 6 to win gold in the 400 meters at the Olympics in London, England. Like most Grenadians, he has a nickname that is fashioned after his grace and speed – “Jaguar”. He was greeted at an official party in St. George’s after his arrival a chartered flight from Barbados. He was accorded an official welcoming ceremony in Barbados before his departure for Grenada. “It’s very humbling to see everybody here. I just want it to be a weekend of celebration and nothing else,” James said in brief remarks at a cocktail at a reception lounge at MBIA that included dancing and live music from the Royal Grenada Police Force Band, and a contingent from Republic Bank Angel Harps Steel Orchestra. It was historic – Grenada’s first Olympic medal. The first Olympic gold won, as well, by an athlete from the sub-regional Organisation of Eastern Caribbean States. The Grenada weekend celebrations included an island wide motorcade and then a rally at the National Stadium on Saturday, which was James’ 20th birthday. Grenada will also name a new sports stadium after him. Prime Minister Tillman Thomas says the unfinished stadium will be named after 400-meter champ Kirani James when it is completed. Writes Trackalerts. Grenada’s Prime Minister Tillman Thomas announced that half a million dollars in Government bonds will be given to Kirani James for winning Grenada’s first Olympic gold medal. Prime Minister Thomas also revealed that James will be appointed a tourism Ambassador, an athletic stadium to be built by China will be named after him, and commemorative stamps will be published in his honour. The Grenadian leader told thousands who attended a rally at the national stadium that a museum, and a resource and fitness centre will be built in Gouyave, Kirani’s hometown reports The Jamaican Gleaner.

 

PHOENIX (USA): Azcentral.com writes that high jump olympic medalist Brigetta Barrett has in her mind already the 2016 Summer Olympics in Rio de Janeiro. Barrett will continue to compete and wants to jump in Rio, but something more immediate has her attention. She started her senior year at the University of Arizona on Aug. 20 and rather than daydreaming about the gold medal, she’s focused on what she can do to make her senior year–both athletically and academically–a success. „I’m trying to have a really great semester, grade-wise,” said Barrett, who returned to the U.S. from Europe on Aug. 16, „I’d like to get my grades as close to summa cum laude as possible. I want to be NCAA Woman of the Year.” The annual honor is bestowed upon an athlete, who has exemplified athletic achievement, academic achievement, community service and leadership. Coach Sheldon Blockburger said Arizona will begin practicing shortly after Labor Day, but he expected Barrett to take an extra week or two off since she just finished competing in the Olympics and also competed in DecaNation in France, where she placed second. Blockburger added that Barrett will likely compete three times in New York in the coming season–the New Balance Collegiate Nationals in early February, the Millrose Games a few weeks later, and the New York Grand Prix in June. „Breaking a college record in New York is on her list of things to do,” Blockburger said. Barrett said she would like to set indoor and outdoor records in her senior season, while winning NCAA titles.

 

SOUTH PLAINS (USA): Former NJCAA 400m champion Rondell Bartholomew is determined to return
to competition in 2013 following injury which kept him out this season. He withdrew from the recent Olympic Games in London due to a hamstring injury. Since the Olympic Games, Bartholomew returned to Germany for further treatment and has since been declared fit for competition. The Grenadian quarter-miler returned upbeat from Europe on the weekend. „I want to thank all those who prayed for my healing and kept me in their thoughts during this difficult period,” he said. Informs Trackalerts.

 

LONDON (GBR): Olympics hero Mo Farah proudly showed the twin girls who inspired him to win two gold medals. Posing with the gongs he dedicated to Aisha and Amani, born two weeks after his 5,000m win, Mo spoke of his victories. Stars joined Mo Farah at his Night of Champions ball in London in aid of his African charity on Saturday. Usain Bolt, Colin Jackson, Steve Redgrave, David Haye and Phillip Schofield backed him too. All agreed 5lb 2oz Aisha and 4lb 4oz Amani, born on August 24, have Mo’s long legs. So Mo medals can’t be Farah off.

 

MANCHESTER (GBR): Britain’s leading 10k, the Bupa Great Manchester Run, has opened for entries for the 2013 event, which will be staged on Sunday May 26th. Now established as one of the most prestigious events in the world, the Bupa Great Manchester Run, first staged in 2002, will have a capacity of 40,000 entries next May. Once again, BBC television cameras will be there to broadcast live coverage to the nation. The Bupa Great Manchester Run is the highlight of a weekend that also features the Bupa Junior and Mini Great Manchester Run and the Great CityGames, which transforms Deansgate into a sprint track hosting some of the great sprint and hurdles names. The list of world class elite runners who have taken part in the Bupa Great Manchester Run reads like a „Who’s Who” of distance running and having seen both the world’s greatest ever male and female distance runners Haile Gebrselassie and Derartu Tulu compete. This year’s Olympic Marathon champion Stephen Kiprotich, former World Marathon record holder Paul Tergat and the current holder Patrick Makau plus Olympic 5,000m and 10,000m gold medallist Mo Farah have also taken part in the prestigious IAAF Gold Label 10K event. Organizers are informing in a release.

 

KAVARNA (BUL): Armenia applied to become the 12th member of the Association of Balkan Athletics Federations.

 

ZURICH (SUI): Swiss TV reported that the audience for this years Weltklasse meet was up 12 percent on last year. Informs Sportscal.

 

LAUSANNE (SUI): Agencies are informing that IOC President Jacques Rogge will have hip replacement surgery this week. The International Olympic Committee calls the operation „routine” and says the 70-year-old Belgian will be discharged from the hospital after a few days.

 

 

 

RESULTS

 

 

VIRGINIA BEACH (USA, Sep 2): Kenyan Nicholas Kurgat won in 1:04:45 the Rock´n´Roll Virginia Beach Half Marathon. Women winner was Japanese Rei Ohara in 1:13:50.

PORTO ALEGRE (BRA, Sep 2): Giomar Pereira da Silva won with 29:31 the 18th leg of Brazilian road race circuit at 10 km. Best Kenyan Ben Kiplimo third in 29:39. But women win for Kenyan Nelly Jepkurui in 33:55 ahead of Edielza Alves dos Santos 34:13.