RODGERS BEAT COLLINS AND LEMAITRE

VAL DE REUIL (FRA, Feb 12): Great sprinting duels highlighted the International Meet of Val de Reuil which replaced in calendar canceled Lievin. US Mike Rodgers confirmed his increasing shape with 6.56 win at the 60 m over Kim Collins 6.58 and home hero Christophe Lemaitre 6.68. The French European Champion later won his first 200 m of the season in 20.91. Murielle Ahoure continued in her winning series in women 60 m with 7.06 ahead of Barbara Pierre 7.14 and European force represented by Ivet Lalova 7.19 and Ezinne Okparaebo 7.20. In men hurdles Omo Osaghae returned to Kevin Craddock the Dusseldorf loss with 7.55 to 7.56. Close third Cuban Orlando Ortega 7.57 (but 7.55 in heats) and French guard Pascal Martinot-Lagarde 7.62 (7.61 in heats) and Dimitri Bascou 7.64. Belarus World indoor medalist Alina Talai changed the order from Gent and won the women hurdles in 7.94 PB over Yvette Lewis 7.96 and Eline Berings 8.02. World leader at unusual 400 m hurdles by Cuban Yasmani Copello 49.54. Experienced US relay medalist Natasha Hastings won the 400 m in 51.80 ahead of Cuban Indira Terrero national indoor record 52.45. In the women 800 m Moroccan Malika Akkaoui clocked 2:01.93 to win ahead of Belarus Maryna Arzamasava 2:02.20 and young Kenyan Winnie Chebet lifetime best 2:02.67. Two male distances brought high quality. Olympic medalist Abdelaati Iguider of Morocco debuted into the indoor season with 3:38.24 ahead of Mahiedine Mekhissi 3:38.36 and young Ethiopian Teshome Diressa 3:38.51 with Benson Seurei fourth 3:39.84. Paul Kipsiele Koech competed in third 3000 m in 5 days and clocked his fastest 7:38.61. Second Hayle Ibrahimov of Azerbaijan new national record 7:39.79 with Gent winner Albert Rop third 7:41.53. In two technical events home wins for Eloyse Lesueur 658 and Mickael Hanany 224.

SHUBENKOV IS FAST 7.60 WL EQ

MOSCOW (RUS, Feb 12): European champion Sergey Shubenkov highlighted the first day of Russian Indoor Championships with 7.50 at 60 m hurdles. He equaled so the world lead of US Kevin Craddock and is now on top of current European list. He was already fast in heats 7.64 and semis 7.60. Second Konstantin Shabanov 7.67 over Aleksey Dryomin 7.74. In women hurdles Yuliya Kondakova confirmed her European number one position with 7.95 ahead of Olga Samylova 8.04 and Svetlana Topylina 8.09. European lead for Svetlana Kireyeva in the 3000 m 8:48.27 in good quality race ahead of Yelena Korobkina 8:50.42, Natalya Aristarkhova 8:50.76 and fourth under 9 minutes Natalya Leontyeva 8:57.80 (for all lifetime bests). High quality personal best for Anastasiya Savchenko in pole vault with 470 in second attempt (she had before clear sheet at 440, 450 and 460) followed also by world record holder Yelena Isinbaeva who was as guest in the hall. Second Angelina Krasnova 455 and another young generation representative Lyudmila Yeromina third 450 (both equaled their bests). For Russian conditions fast men 3000 m won by Valentin Smirnov 7:47.01 beating Yegor Nikolayev 7:47.57 and Andrey Safronov 7:48.49 (all PB´s). Fifth Ilgizar Safiulin clocked 7:54.90 Russian indoor U23 record. Short sprint winners were Aleksandr Brednev 6.68 and Yuliya Katsura 7.28. From 400 m heats European leading time of the year by Kseniya Ustalova 52.05. Fastest in heats Valentin Kruglyakov (400 m 46.97), Igor Nesterov (800 m, 1:47.69), Alyona Glazkova (800 m, 2:00.31 ahead of Svetlana Podosyonova 2:00.32). In long jump qualification top mark for Svetlana Denyayeva 662 with both favorites Darya Klishina (651) and Olga Kucherenko (648) advancing. No casualties in men high jump qualification, top marks in shot put qualification 19.50 by Aleksandr Bulanov and triple jump 16.59 by Aleksey Fyodorov. High jump women qualification was canceled due to low number of entries. In women 800 m major casualties past top runners Svetlana Cherkasova 2:01.66 and miler Yelena Soboleva 2:01.93.

SILVA, OTTO, WHITING THE WINNERS

BYDGOSZCZ (POL, Feb 12): Filled Lucznicka Hall saw some top jumping at 9th Pedro´s Cup indoor meeting (EA Indoor Permit). Cuban olympic medalist Yarisley Silva as only one cleared 460 and won women pole vault. Only two attempts were needed to her 1st place, she then closely missed 470. Second Holly Bleasdale after weekend world lead this time only 450 but on count back beat US Mary Saxer also 450. Local hero and 2009 World Champion Anna Rogowska mastered her opening 440 in second and then went unsuccessfully straight to 460. Silva and Bleasdale will again meet on Saturday in Birmingham. Fabiana Murer after her injury in Donetsk was a late withdrawal. German Bjorn Otto continues in his tough schedule and in his 5th competition since January 30 won with nice 570. He then tried at new meet record height 585. Second Swedish veteran Alhaji Jeng 560 and third British record holder Steven Lewis 550. Unlucky evening for other Germans Raphael Holzdeppe no-heighted at 550 and Malte Mohr had one failure at 560, 570 and 575 in his risky game. US guests showed top shot put shape. World leader and World indoor champion Ryan Whiting confirmed his position with 21.38 what is second best mark of the season. Only he has better 21.59. Second Cory Martin improved his indoor best to 20.98. Third German European champion 2006 Ralf Bartels 19.63. Home star and olympic winner Tomasz Majewski is not competing this indoor season but helped with commentary during the transmission of Polish Television TVP.

SANTOS VS. L. GORDON

BIRMINGHAM (GBR): Olympic high jump bronze medallist Robbie Grabarz and World Indoor pole vault bronze medallist Holly Bleasdale will both look to continue their impressive starts to 2013 as they line up in against a world-class field at the British Athletics Grand Prix in Birmingham on Saturday. Grabarz will face in-shape Russian Aleksey Dmitrik and also Olympic winner Ivan Ukhov. Bleasdale meanwhile, will have to be at her very best as she goes up against Cuba’s Olympic silver medallist Yarisley Silva in the women’s pole vault. Also in the women 60 m great duel of worlds top sprinters could be expected. Olympic winner Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce in her indoor 60 m deb
ut (some days before Stockholm) against reigning world champion Carmelita Jeter. Another top addition into the men 60 m is olympic relay gold medalist Nesta Carter. Mo Farah will at the end of the day run 3000 m against mainly British runners. In the men 400 m duel of silver and bronze winner from London Games. Luguelin Santos against Lalonde Gordon. The Trinidad runner will compete in his first 400 m of the season after world leads in the 200 m and 300 m.

TOP KENYANS FOR ROMA-OSTIA HM

ROME (ITA): Organizers of „Roma-Ostia” Half Marathon presented the next edition which is scheduled for March 3. The race got the IAAF Gold Label status for this year. It is the best Italian half marathon in terms of participation with expected 12 000 runners on the famous Colombo road from Rome to the sea in Ostia on a real fast course. Organizers are hoping for the best time of the year (currently 1:00:56 by Collis Birmingham of Australia). Impressive elite field is headed by 2010 Half Marathon world champion Wilson Kiprop with 59:15 PB. Also to mention Titus Masai with 59:51, Robert Chemosin 60:03, Willy Mwangi 60:07. From Kenyans other names to mention Simon Cheprot and Jafred Chirchir with title defender Philemon Kimeli Limo with his 59:30 PB. On women side a good duel is expected by Agnes Kiprop 67:22 PB last year in this race against Lydia Cheromei 67:23 PB. Dutch Hilda Kibet 68:23 and Flomena Chepchirchir 68:44 will be other Kenyan contenders. Ethiopian Degefa Debele, Campaccio winner, could be the „dark horse” in her debut at the distance. Stefano La Rosa and Rosaria Console will be the top Italian runners. From Alberto Stretti.

OTHER NEWS

CAPE TOWN (RSA): Lehann Fourie, 2012 Olympic finalist in the 110 m hurdles, is back in South Carolina, USA to prepare for the South African Athletics Championship and the IAAF World Championship in Moscow. “I decided that it is best that Sylvanus Hepburn should keep on coaching me as he knows my capabilities as an athlete and know how to insure that I peak at the right meetings,” said Fourie. “I know I am capable of running a time faster than 13.20s. I could have done it already last year if it was not for the fact that I made small tactical errors. Luckily I know what it is, so I can focus on making sure that I don’t keep on repeating the same mistakes.” Fourie decided not to compete indoors this season as there is no World Championship. “The South African Championship might be my first competitive race. There after I want compete in a few races in Europe as part of my preparation for the World Championship in Moscow.” Writes SA federation website.

SOCHI (RUS): US star hurdler Lolo Jones in her bob-sleight debut season in preparation for World Cup on Tuesday injured. She wrote on her twitter: „Injured at Practice. hand bleeding.need stitches. Stuck. road closed. If I could give the middle finger I would.”

GUELPH (CAN): As part of the grand opening of their brand new state-of-the-art Alumni Stadium, Guelph, Ontario’s Speed River Track and Field Club will host a unique, high-performance track meet on May 28th, called the Speed River Inferno. The event will be unusually fast, not just in regards to the pace that the athletes will be burning up the track with, but also in the length-of-time that the entire meet will take to showcase the elite talent that they are expecting to host. The Inferno meet will be just 60-to-90 minutes in length. Organizers are informing.

NAIROBI (KEN): Capitalfm.co.ke writes that World Cross junior title holder, Geoffrey Kipsang and veteran Eliud Kipchoge are the latest elite athletes to pull out of Saturday’s IAAF Permit/KCB/AK National Cross Country Championships. Their announcement is further headache to national coaches and Athletics Kenya (AK) ahead of the selection event for the March 24 IAAF World Cross Country in Bydgoszcz where the country is bidding to send a team that will replicate their historic eight out of eight gold medals harvest. Kipsang runs RAK Half Marathon in United Arab Emirates on Friday and Kipchoge runs the Barcelona Half Marathon on Sunday.

MELBOURNE (AUS): Australian Olympic hockey gold medallist Nova Peris has been named as a Senate candidate for Labour in the federal election after being endorsed by the nation’s Prime Minister Julia Gillard. The 41-year-old former athlete who as part of the Hockeyroos became the first indigenous Australian to win an Olympic gold medal at the Atlanta 1996 Games, was appointed after Gillard insisted her „legacy” as Labour leader must include installing an Aboriginal woman in the Senate. After winning gold in hockey at the Atlanta 1996 Olympics Nova Peris went on to claim a further two gold medals at the 1998 Commonwealth Games in athletics Peris, who after Atlanta switched to compete in athletics events and became a double gold medallist at the Kuala Lumpur 1998 Commonwealth Games in the 200 meters and 4x100m relay, thanked Gillard for the „amazing opportunity”. Writes Insidethegames.

DUBLIN (IRL): Sportsnewsireland.com informs that Ireland’s most successful race walker Olive Loughnane has announced that she is to retire from athletics. The Loughrea woman competed at the highest level, and won a silver medal at the 2009 World Championships.

KINGSTON (JAM): Legendary sprinter Merlene Ottey has arrived in Jamaica ahead of a special ceremony on Saturday, February 16 where she University of Technology (UTech) will confer on her the Honorary Doctor of Technology, Sport. The function will be held at Ottey’s alma mater, Vere Technical High School and will form part of the staging of the Ben Francis Invitational III meet being hosted by Vere Technical in honour Ottey. She is still continuing in her career and currently represents Slovenia.

ADELAIDE (AUS): Australian media are informing that in a major blow to Adelaide Track Classic organisers, long jump star and olympic medalist Mitchell Watt injured his ankle at training on Tuesday morning and has withdrawn from Saturday’s event at Santos Stadium. According to Athletics Australia, Watt jammed his ankle at training and although it is not seen as serious, he will miss the Adelaide race as a precaution.

NEW YORK (USA): Tickets for the 2013 adidas Grand Prix will be available for sale starting on February 13. Organisers of this Samsung Diamond League fixture informed (May 25).

PRETORIA (RSA): The 11th African Junior Championships will be held in Pretoria (South Africa) from 27th to 30th June 2013 after Rwanda withdraw from the organisation.

BYDGOSZCZ (POL): Special guest in Poland over the weekend was legendary Kenyan Paul Tergat. He met youngsters in Wloclawek, saw Torun and was running in Myslecinek (the park of the course of the World CC Championships in March) and saw after 20 years again snow.

LONDON (GBR): Spikes website informs that in 2013 olympic 100 m finalist Ryan Bailey plans to run more 200 m races and even try the odd 400 m. He hopes to run a sub-10 second 100m, sub-20s 200m and sub 45-second 400m: a feat Tyson Gay achieved in 2010. He also has some ambitious goals for the 2013 World Championships in Moscow. “I want to make the 100m and 200m team in Moscow, and also run fast enough in the 400m to run both the 4x100m and 4x400m relay.”

RESULTS

DOBRICH (BUL, Feb 12): The traditional indoor meet Akademik was this year held in Dobrich as in Sofia the hall is not allowing athletics currently. 27-years old Georgi Ivanov improved his overall shot put best to 20.59 what is European leading mark 2013. Denis Dimitrov won the 60 m in 6.72 and missed the national junior record only by 0.02 s. In women triple jump 30-years old Gita Dodova bettered her indoor best to 13.99 m. Romanian Anca Heltne achieved 18.40 in the shot put.

BRNO (CZE, Feb 12): Chinese junior indoor record holder Wang Yu cleared overall personal best 230 and won the special high jump meet in Brno. He did so in first attempt and tried at 232. He missed the national indoor mark of 231 only by one cm. Second Jaroslav Baba with 226, he passed 228 and 230 and tried also at 232. Romanian Alexandru Tufa and Bulgarian Viktor Ninov tied at 220 as third and fifth Mihai Donisan of Romania also 220.

HAMPTON (USA, Feb 10): Senegal indoor 60 m hurdles record by Moussa Dembele 7.75.

GOLDEN (USA, Feb 9): Hungarian Barbara Szabo cleared 192 personal best in high jump at the Twilight meet in Colorado. Also to note the improvement for 17-years old Dior Hall at 60 m hurdles to 8.17. She is semifinalist from Barcelona World Juniors. Brendan Ames clocked good 7.64 in men 60 m hurdles.