LEBID FOR 10TH TITLE

KYIV (UKR): Nine-time European Cross Country Champion Serhiy Lebid is preparing to try for his 10th title in Budapest on December 9. Lebid is only one runner participated in all European Cross Country Championships from 1994. Last summer 37-years old Ukrainian aimed to qualify for London Olympics but after unsuccessful attempt was forced to focus on the next major event. “In October I began my special preparation for the 19th SPAR European Cross Country Championships in training camp in Evpatoria. Now I’m training in Kislovodsk. Here is my annual altitude preparation before Champs. Last year I couldn’t make here all the necessary work because of cold and snowy weather. This year everything is going according to my training plans. I’m feeling great and have no problems with injuries. There is no sense for me to come to Budapest just as one of the participants. I have to be in my greatest shape to have ability to fight for my 10th gold medal. If everything goes right I’ll try to do it. As usual I’ll not have any races before Hungarian start,” Lebid said to EME NEWS. He also confirmed that he have read some news about problems with missed tests by current European Cross Country champion Atelaw Bekele from Belgium. “I took that news easy as I have many other strong rivals in Europe. The only thing disturbing me is my own shape. I have to be ready for any challenge.”

SILNOV AFTER SURGERY

MOSCOW (RUS): High Jump Olympic Champion from Beijing Andrey Silnov is recovering from an achilles surgery. During four years since 2008 Silnov jumped overcoming pain. “The last examination of my leg after London Olympics showed that my Achilles ligaments are half-broken” informed 28-years old Russian jumper. Now he is getting about on crutches but with hope to take plaster away after 2-3 weeks and then begin rehabilitation. “I can say nothing about next indoor season. It will be depend on my health. If recovery goes fast I don’t rule out the possibility to jump at European Indoor Championships. But all my preparation will focus on the IAAF World Athletics Championships in Moscow. Certainly, it will be the main event of the next year for me” said Silnov.

WADA PROPOSES 4 YEARS BAN

MONTREAL (CAN): The controversial „Osaka Rule”, which banned athletes convicted of serious doping offences from competing in the next Olympic Games, has been dropped from the latest draft World Anti-Doping Code in favour of doubling the length of bans from two to four years, informs insidethegames. The ban for serious offences, including anabolic steroids, human growth hormone, masking agents, trafficking and prohibited methods, is to be increased from two years to four, said the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) following its Foundation Board meeting in Montreal. It means that Rule 45 – or the Osaka Rule – of the Olympic Charter has not been included in the draft version of the Code, which is due to be approved in autumn 2013 at a meeting in Johannesburg and implemented in 2015.

FREDERICKS RE-ELECTED

OSHAKATI (NAM): Namibian New Era informs that IAAF Council Member and IOC Member Frank Fredericks was overwhelmingly re-elected as president of Athletics Namibia during a well-attended elective congress, at the Etuna Guesthouse Conference Centre in Ongwediva, last weekend. Fredericks the former 200 m world champion will serve his second term as president.

OTHER NEWS

MOSCOW (RUS): European U23 champion (2011) and London Olympics Silver medalist in Shot Put Yevgeniya Kolodko informed All Sport Agency that she didn’t begin full training yet after very difficult season. “I’m clearing up my health now. I need to do away with all my problems to have no unexpectedness during preparation for the World Athletics Championships in Moscow. I already had training camp in Sochi but now came back Moscow to make a lot of domestic things.” 22-years old Russian has only one practice every day and hope to return to her usual loadings only after New Year Holidays. “We’re not planning special preparation for winter but if I acquire good shape I’ll be competing indoor. If not it’ll not be a problem. Next year I’ll focus mostly at summer season” Kolodko added.

TOKYO (JPN): Last month car maker Nissan announced production of a one-of-a-kind Nissan GT-R designed in partnership with brand ambassador and the world’s fastest man, Usain Bolt. Dubbed the ‘Bolt Gold’ GT-R because of its unique color, the car will go under the hammer on November 22, with
all the proceeds going to the Usain Bolt Foundation. Bolt’s charity foundation supports educational and cultural opportunities for children and young people in his home country of Jamaica. The color of this Nissan GT-R is inspired by Bolt’s Olympic gold medals. It also sports his signature and autograph. Usain first teamed up with Nissan as a brand ambassador, and he recently became the company’s honorary “Director of Excitement”. Nissan website informs.

KINGSTON (JAM): Jamaica Gleaner confirms that top sprinter and world and olympic relay winner Michael Frater, is hoping to have an impact off the track as well, as he presents himself for a vice-president spot on the next Jamaica Athletics Administrative Association (JAAA) administration. He was officially introduced as the candidate for the JAAA third vice-president position on incumbent president Dr Warren Blake’s slate during a launch event at The Knutsford Court Hotel last weekend. „For me, it’s a very exciting opportunity. This is basically my way of giving back to the athletic fraternity for what it has done for me,” said Frater, who listed athletes’ welfare as the area that he will focus on if given the nod by the over 300 JAAA members at the November 29 election.

YOKOHAMA (JPN): Lithuanian marathon runner Zivile Balciunaite returned at Yokohama Marathon on Sunday from two years doping ban with 15th place and 2:37:59 result. The 33-years old runner was banned from September 2010 until September 2012 and lost her European marathon title from Barcelona 2010.

GLENDORA (USA): Olympic decathlon winner 2008 Bryan Clay organised on Saturday his Fit4All 5km run and also completed the distance. It is not yet confirmed whether Clay will continue in his decathlon career in 2013.

DEERFIELD BEACH (USA): Sprinting star Yohan Blake participated in the 5 km walk within the project „Food for the Poor” on Saturday in Florida. Blake plans to be the guest also during the weekend at IAAF Centenary Gala in Barcelona.

NAVAZZO (ITA): FIDAL website informs that at a big party was held to inaugurate the Collezione „Ottavio Castellini” which includes large library of books, documents, posters, medals and other memorabilia from athletics. Main guest was legendary Cuban Alberto Juantorena, double olympic winner from 1976 and current IAAF Council member.

STOCKHOLM (SWE): Sweden is sending for European CC Championships in Szentendre near Budapest on December 9 both boys (Palm, Jansson, Solomon, Lamber) and girls (Lahti, Brauer, Larsson, Ohlin, Sjostrom) junior teams. The only senior will be Mikael Ekvall for the men race at 10 km.

SIEGEN (GER): Anna Hahner and Jan Fitschen were announced as top German Runners of 2012. Both achieved significant results in marathon. Fitschen got most votes after 2:13:10 in Berlin marathon over Arne Gabius and Soren Kah. Behind Hahner second Sabrina Mockenhaupt and third steeple runner Gesa Felicitas Krause.

KUORTANE (FIN): The second World Javelin Conference was organized in Kuortane, Finland. The first conference was held back in 2009 with around 100 participants. Among the guests also legendary world record holder Jan Zelezny, Finnish javelin head coach Kari Ihalainen, “the father “of Functional Training Vern Gambetta of USA and Dutch Frans Bosch as an expert in motor control. Antti Ruuskanen and Aki Parviainen were there from Finnish present and past. Zelezny showed practice with member of his training group Tero Pitkamaki.

AMSTERDAM (NED): Dutch in form runner Abdi Nageeye toldlosseveter.nl he will not compete at the European Athletics Cross Country championships. Nageeye’s father is seriously ill and so the athlete will travel to Kenya to visit his father.

PARIS (FRA): French talented distance runner Hassan Chahdi has returned from a training camp in Kenya and talked to athle.com about his ambitions for the near future. Chahdi confirmed he is in good shape and is aiming to win a medal at the European Cross Country championships in Budapest. From there the French athlete will continue his winter season with several other cross country races. He was the best French runner at the Sunday´s Alloness race.

RIO DE JANEIRO (BRA): Rio 2016 were urged not to be „scared” by the success of London 2012 and to organise the Olympics and Paralympics in their own style as the official debriefing of this year’s Games begun. More than 500 delegates have gathered in Rio for the event to look at the principal areas of organising the Games and focusing on what was learnt during London 2012 reports Insidethegames.

RESULTS

YOKOHAMA (JPN, Nov 18): At Nittai University Distance meet Kenyan Bidan Karoki clocked 13:30.41 at the 5000 m. Gideon Ngatuny won the 10 000 m in 28:23.15 ahead of Yuki Sato 28:31.73. Kenyan Caroline Nyakagwa was the top woman at the 5000 m (15:35.35).

CURITIBA (BRA, Nov 18): Kenyan wins at the 16th edition of Curitiba Maraton as David Bowen clocked 2:19:39 and Thabita Kibet 2:41:07.

BRIGHTON (GBR, Nov 18): Caryl Jones, who ran for Great Britain in the world half-marathon championships last month, won in 32:34 the Brighton 10 km. Second Katrina Wootton 33:23.

SEVNICA (SLO, Nov 18): Mountain runner Mitja Kosovelj won the Slovenian European CC Trials with 33:25 at the 4km.

HUANCAYO (PER, Nov 18): Ines Melchior clocked impressive 2:51:40 marathon win at the Maraton de los Andes del Peru at 3200 m altitude. Constantin Leon as top male achieved 2:20:47.

SAD NEWS

STOCKHOLM (SWE): Swedish Federation website informs that national shot put record holder and 1976 olympic finalist Hans Hoglund died at age of 60. His 21.33 when winning the NCAA title in Provo in 1975 remains national record.