TYSON IS OK

CLERMONT (USA): Good news from fast sprinter and US record holder Tyson Gay (30). The other day when he opened up around a curve in Clermont he nearly stopped mid-stride as he felt, well, nothing. Informs AP. No twinge in his hip. No tweak in his groin. No tightness in his hamstring. That hasn’t happened in years. „Things are finally going in a good direction,” Gay said in a telephone interview. Gay is training wiser to give his body more of a break. He intends to be around – and healthy – for the 2016 Summer Games in Rio, hoping to capture that elusive individual Olympic sprint medal. He plans to ease into competition this season with a few local races in Florida. „I’m looking forward to proving myself.” Informs AP.

TWO FOR GOTEBORG

TEL AVIV (ISR): Israel is sending two athletes for the European indoor championships in Goteborg. Donald Sanford for the 400 m and triple jumper Yochai Halevi.

GREAT NUMBERS FOR GIBSON RELAYS

KINGSTON (JAM): Jamaican media are informing that a record number of over 3600 athletes from over 230 teams are down to take part in 37th staging of the Gibson Relays at the National Stadium on Saturday. With two teams in each of 4×100 m and 4×400 m also Racers Track Club will compete. Yohan Blake will take part, it is expected that also Usain Bolt could be part of the team.

OTHER NEWS

TOKYO (JPN): Ethiopian runner Aberu Kebede wants to win the Sunday Tokyo Marathon. „My training has gone well. I have prepared well. If God permits, I want to win.” German Veteran Irina Mikitenko added: „I am honored to run in Tokyo because of marathon tradition in Japan. I trained six weeks in Spain for this race. I am always asked about my age. Am I that old? I feel no different now compared to when I was in my twenties.”

LONDON (GBR): London 2012 heptathlon gold medallist Jessica Ennis has been announced as banking giant Santander’s first female UK brand ambassador. Ennis will appear in the upcoming Santander advertising campaign, following in the footsteps of other British sports stars such as Formula One driver Lewis Hamilton and world number one golfer Rory McIlroy. „Santander UK’s corporate partnerships with Vodafone McLaren Mercedes and Rory McIlroy have been extremely successful.” said Santander UK chief executive Ana Botin. Informs insidethegames.

SAN JUAN (PUR): IAAF informs that Kenya’s Sammy Kitwara is eying a fourth title while Sentayehu Ejigu and Joyce Chepkirui are set for a showdown at the 16th World’s Best 10km, an IAAF Gold Label Road Race, on Sunday afternoon on the Teodoro Moscoso bridge in the Puerto Rican capital. The course record of 30:21, set by British Paula Radcliffe in 2003, still remains as a World record.

EUGENE (USA): The 2013 Pre Classic as part of Samsung Diamond League is scheduled for May 31 and June 1. Tickets for the 2013 Prefontaine Classic Diamond League meet are on sale now and may be purchased online at www.goducks.com, from 1-800-WEBFOOT or in person at the Autzen Stadium ticket window.

TOKYO (JPN): 2013 Tokyo Marathon Symposium was held on Friday. The main attraction of the marathon symposium was the panel discussion by the race directors of World Marathon Majors – Hugh Brasher of the London Marathon, Tom Grilk of Boston Marathon, Mark Milde of Berlin Marathon, Michael Nishi (associate director) of Chicago Marathon, Mary Wittenberg of New York Marathon and Tadaaki Hayano of Tokyo Marathon. The moderator was Glenn Latimer, Secretary General of World Marathon Majors. Two advisors – David Bedford, chair of IAAF Road Running Commission and Sean Wallace Jones, senior manager of IAAF Road Running Commission – were also in attendance. In the first part of the panel discussion, six World Marat
hon Majors race directors shared some information about their races. Tom Grilk explained about the tradition and history as well as their unique (among the Marathon Majors) feature of qualifying with time at the Boston Marathon. Next London Marathon director Hugh Brasher talked about the great field of upcoming race as well as their involvement with charity. Third Mark Milde of Berlin Marathon went over the history of the Berlin Marathon – how the race went from a small race around the wood in west Berlin to the giant race that tours the entire city of great Berlin. After Michael Nishi explained about the tradition and spirit of Chicago Marathon, Mary Wittenberg explained about how the race went from a small race in the Central Park to the five borough race. She summarized it as “Marathon Sunday is the New York’s best day.” To round up the speech from the race directors, Tad Hayano of Tokyo Marathon explained how Tokyo joined the World Marathon Majors. Writes Ken Nakamura.

VENLO (NED): Title defenders Patrick Stitzinger and Andrea Deelstra are the main favourites for the Dutch half marathon championships to be held in Venlo on March 24. Triple Dutch half marathon champion Stitzinger takes on Michel Butter and Dutch marathon champion Khalid Choukoud. In the women’s race it looks to be an easy victory for Andrea Deelstra as Miranda Boonstra had to cancel her participation in order to focus on the Rotterdam Marathon. The international field of the Venlo marathon looks promising as on the men’s side Kenyan athletes Julius Koech and Charles Cheruiyot take on Ethiopean Bonsa Dida. Also in the women’s race Kenya is well presented by Elizeba Cherono, Penina Kigen, Jane Moraa and Valentine Kibet, while also course record holder from Sweden Isabellah Andersson is set to compete.

RESULTS (230 Drouin in heptathlon, Birmingham sub 13:30)

HOBART (AUS, Feb 23): Linda Leverton has become just the second Australian in history to jump beyond 14 meters in the women’s triple jump at the Briggs Athletics Classic as part of the National Athletics Series. Her best performance of 14.07 was beyond the record of Nicole Mladenis (14.04) but the wind reading of +2.7m/s prevented herleap from becoming the new best ever Australian mark. Collis Birmingham clocked 13:27.35 in the men 5000 m and confirmed his top shape after World CC trials and Marugame Half Marathon. Second Briton Nick McCormack in 13:34.72, while Ryan Gregson and Brett Robinson battled it out up the straight to set personal best times of 13:37.12 (third) and 13:37.72 (fourth). Crossing in a time of 10.75 (+2.2), the Australian Youth Olympic Festival representative Jesse Usoalii took line honours in the 100m from two fellow Tasmanians in 16-year-old Jacob Despard (second 10.76) and 15-year-old Russel Taib (third, 11.05). Returning to the track for the 200m, Usoalii stormed off the bend to take the lead from Olympian Tristan Thomas (third, 22.04) and surge to triumph in 21.77 (+0.7). In the men’s javelin, Chinese athlete Zhao Qinggang set a meet record of 80.77 to win. Touring New Zealander Michael Cochrane won the men’s 400m hurdles in 50.63. Dutch runner Susan Kuijken won the women 1500 m in 4:09.66, with London Olympian Zoe Buckman second 4:10.23.

BLACKSBURG (USA, Feb 22): At ACC Champs German Alexander Ziegler achieved new world lead in weight throw with 23.69, it is new German record and third best all-time European in this US indoor speciality. Brianna Rollins confirmed top shape with 7.92 in 60 m hurdles heats (also clocked 23.60 in the 200 m heats). Another top German mark, the 445 by Martina Schultze in pole vault. In 60 m heats 6.67 for Marvin Bracy and 6.66 for Tevin Hester, in 400 m heats 46.85 for Brunson Miller. James Harris cleared 223 to win the high jump. In women sprints heats Dezerea Bryant was the fastest with 7.26 and 23.35. Marlena Wesh of Haiti posted the fastest 400 m heat 52.95.

GENEVA (USA, Feb 22): 23-years old Maverick Darling clocked impressive improvement 7:50.97 when winning the 3000 m at the Big Ten Championships at the oversized track here. Second Zachary Mayhew 7:51.97 and third Andrew Bayer 7:51.97. But the top mark came from first day of heptathlon as Canadian high jump olympic medalist Derek Drouin cleared 230, the indoor world best in the event during a heptathlon. It is also overall combined events best as the top mark during outdoor decathlon is 227 cm. Drouin leads after first day with 3358 points, he achieved 7.25 at 60 m, 720 in the long jump and 12.04 in the shot put. Also to note fast 600 m heat by Casimir Loxsom 1:16.33 PB and Harun Abda 1:16.81 PB. German Patrick Radler improved to 787 in the long jump. Brandon Stryganek clocked 21.02 PB in the 200 m heats and Ali Arastu 46.99 and Stephen Pamilton 46.51 in the 400 m heats life-time bests.

FAYETTEVILLE (USA, Feb 22): Makeba Alcide of St. Lucia scored new national pentathlon record 4569 points at the SEC Champs. Her individual marks: 8.35, 187, 12.32, 615, 2:16.37.

JOHNSON CITY (USA, Feb 22): Ifrish Alberg clocked in heats of 60 m at the Atlantic Sun Conference Championships 6.69, what is new national record for Surinam.

ALBUQUERQUE (USA, Feb 22): At Western Athletic Conference Championships French Romain Martin won the heptathlon with good 5706 points. Serbian Bozidar A
ntunovic with 20.02 was second in shot put, 3 cm behind Richard Garrett 20.05. Trey Hadnot clocked fast 20.83 in 200 m heats and Clayton Vaughn 6.64 in 60 m heats.

NORMAN (USA, Feb 22): Jack Whitt the last year NCAA Pole vault champion improved his indoor PB at the Southern Conference Championships to 561 cm. Interestingly he is with that the top US pole vaulter of 2013.

SEATTLE (USA, Feb 22): Joe Morris posted solid heat times at the Mountain Pacific Championships 6.69 and 21.06. English Gardner was the fastest in the women 60 m heats 7.35. Ray Stewart improved in 60 m hurdles heats to 7.68.

SPEARFISH (USA, Feb 22): Hungarian Barbara Szabo won the high jump at the RMAC Championships with solid 190 clearance.

TEL AVIV (ISR, Feb 22): At the 52nd Israeli CC Championships wins for Girmaw Amare (men 10.5 km) in 33:31 and Azawant Teka (women 5.1 km) 19:31.

VOLGOGRAD (RUS, Feb 22): First day of Russian Indoor U23 Championships had Pavel Vruchinskiy winning the men 60 m in 6.75. Viktoriya Yarushkina was the fastest in women 60 m in 7.31. Solid 9:16.19 at 3000 m for Gulshat Fazlitdinova. In the pole vault fight for the third spot in Goteborg team the winning Anzhelika Sidorova cleared 445 over Lyudmila Yeryomina 440.