BOLT AT 200 M IN KINGSTON

KINGSTON (JAM): It is now clear which event Usain Bolt will contest at the 2013 Jamaica International Invitational Meet (IAAF World Challenge) on May 4. It will be his first 200 m of the year as the final event of the meet. The six-time Olympic gold medallist should get some good competition from his training partner and 2012 Olympic Games 200m bronze medallist Warren Weir, as well another fellow Jamaican and the 2012 Diamond Race winner Nickel Ashmeade. Into the bargain, US sprinter Wallace Spearmon, who was fourth in London over 200m and Norway’s Jaysuma Saidy Ndure are in also in the 200m. Also already reported was the 100 m duel of Veronica Campbell-Brown and her American rival Allyson Felix. Trinidad and Tobago’s 2011 IAAF World Championships 100m bronze medallist Kelly-Ann Baptiste, who was sixth in the event at the London 2012 Olympic Games and Ivory Coast’s US-based Murielle Ahoure are the other two confirmed names for this race. Two-time Olympic Games 100m champion Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce will run the women’s 200m, and will have as her main opponent Bianca Knight, who ran the third leg on USA’s World record-breaking 4x100m team in London. Jamaica’s Kerron Stewart, the 200m bronze medallist at the 2008 Olympic Games, will also be running. The men’s 100m will now be missing local hero Yohan Blake after the reigning World 100m champion tore his hamstring last weekend at the UTech Classic. Nevertheless, the 100m still has an aura of class about it with the American pair of Ryan Bailey and Darvis Patton, Trinidad and Tobago’s Richard Thompson, along with Jamaicans Nesta Carter and Kemar Bailey Cole. Local star Hansle Parchment will face the man he beat for the 110m Hurdles bronze medal in London, Great Britain’s Lawrence Clarke. The women’s 100m Hurdles also sees two London finallists, USA’s silver medallist Dawn Harper and Canadia’s Jessica Zelinka, who was seventh along with US Ginnie Crawford. Jamaica’s Melaine Walker, the 2008 Olympic Games 400m Hurdles champion, is also expected to line up for her first race in the sprint hurdles event since 2006. In the women’s 400m, another Beijing champion, Great Britain’s Christine Ohuruogu, will face Jamaicans Novlene Williams-Mills and Rosemarie Whyte. As in the women’s 400m are two other top Jamaicans: current world leader Stephanie McPherson, who ran a personal best of 50.74 at the UTech Classic last Saturday, and Kaliese Spencer. Dominican Republic’s Luguelin Santos, who went on from winning the World Junior title in Barcelona to silver at the Olympic Games last summer, is the big name in the men’s 400m, while the men’s 400m Hurdles has Trinidad and Tobago’s 2010 World junior champion Jehue Gordon of Trinidad & Tobago and the USA’s two-time World champion Kerron Clement. In the field events, the pick of them could be the men’s Shot Put with US big men Christian Cantwell and Ryan Whiting coming to Kingston to face Jamaican record holder Dorian Scott. From IAAF and Jamaica Gleaner.

BLAKE NEXT RACE AT JAMAICAN CHAMPS

KINGSTON (USA): Cubie Seegobin, manager of world 100m champion Yohan Blake, has made it clear that no risks will be taken with his client and that every step is being taken to ensure that the athlete fully recovers from a lower right hamstring injury before he returns to the track. An MRI on Monday showed that Blake suffered two ‚minor’ tears to his lower hamstring during his ill-fated run at the UTech Classic last Saturday inside the National Stadium and is set to miss six to eight weeks of action, ruling him out of the Jamaica International Invitational along with Diamond League meetings in Doha and Shanghai. Seegobin also confirmed that the area was swollen over the last weekend but noted that it is slowly subsiding. That means the next competition for Blake will be the 200 m at the Jamaican Championships in June. As defending champion he has the wild card in the 100 m for the World Championships in Moscow. However, Seegobin, underlined that the athlete will not be rushed back into competition with the focus now being solely on his full recovery. „We are not going to rush him back, he is not a regular athlete where you can say in two weeks he is ready to go. The doctors say it will take six weeks for him to be healthy again and, of course, he has to train, so we are looking for him to be ready at the Jamaican championships in the 200m,” Seegobin added. Writes Jamaica Gleaner.

TWO WORLD LEADS, EATON 20.76 PB

WALNUT: Two world leads at MtSAC Relays. Will Leer won the 5000 m in PB 13:21.55 (previous best 13:36 level). Second Rory Fraser of Great Britain also personal best and European leader 2013 13:24.07. Third Ecuador national record holder Byron Piedra 13:28.81. Second world lead for Brenda Martinez in the women 1500 m 4:04.86, it is also her lifetime best (4:06.96 from 2012). Second London 5000 m Olympian Kim Conley in 4:10.03 PB. World record holder Ashton Eaton showed top shape with personal best 20.76 (+1.8) in the 200 m. He had 21.03 before. In another race 4×400 m Olympic medalist Bryshon Nellum posted windy 20.49 (+2.9). Another top distance time in women 5000 m as Abbey D´Agostino improved by more than 7 seconds to 15:11.35. Second Lucy Van Dalen of New Zealand 15:21.08 and third Ireland´s Mary Cullen 15:23.12, European lead 2013. World discus leader Julian Wruck back from Australian championships won again with 64.55. Briton James McLachlan bettered his best in long jump with winning 786 (+1.3). Joe Morris clocked 10.33 (+0.9) in the 100 m. Ashton Eaton future wife Brianne Theisen clocked the fastest 13.13 (+2.3) in the 100 m hurdles, Olympic 400 m hurdles finalist Georganne Moline showed speed improvement with 23.37 (+1.0) 200 m best. Keshia Baker was timed with 51.97 in the 400 m and 2012 NCAA Champion Whitney Ashley achieved for first time in her career 60+ in discus with 60.34. The main international programme here will be staged on Saturday.

KIPSANG AND GELANA BY BOOKMAKERS

LONDON (GBR): The bookmaking site PaddyPower.com gives Kenya’s Wilson Kipsang and Ethiopia’s Tiki Gelana the best odds of winning Sunday’s Virgin London Marathon. Writes Race Results Weekly. Kipsang, the defending race champion and Olympic Marathon bronze medalist, is rated at 9 to 4. Close behind is Kipsang’s compatriot, Geoffrey Mutai, who holds the course records at both the Boston and ING New York City Marathon. He’s rated at 9 to 2. Ethiopia’s Tsegaye Kebede and Kenya’s Patrick Makau are both assessed at 11 to 2, and Virgin London Marathon course record holder, Emmanuel Mutai of Kenya, is rated at 7 to 1. Olympic champion Stephen Kiprotich is a long shot at 20 to 1. On the women’s side, Gelana is an 8 to 5 favorite, followed by Olympic Marathon bronze medalist Priscah Jeptoo of Kenya (3/1), then reigning world marathon champion Edna Kiplagat, also of Kenya, at 4 to 1. Japan’s top entrant Yoko Shibui is assessed at 35 to 1.

A. MERRITT TO RUN IN BR

BATON ROUGE (USA): World record holder Aries Merritt will have his second meet of the year on Saturday at the LSU Alumni Gold meet at the Bernie Moore Track Stadium. Former LSU Tiger national champion Richard Thompson is among three other medalists from the London Olympics in Saturday’s field as he will anchor the Tiger Olympians in the 4×100-meter relay final. Saturday’s action in Baton Rouge even features four other event finalists from the 2012 Olympic Games as USA’s Lolo Jones will run the women’s 100-meter hurdles, France’s Mickael Hanany will compete in the men’s high jump and Canada’s Jared Connaughton and Justyn Warner will run for their country in the men’s 4×100-meter relay.

ABEYLEGESSE IN NICE

NICE (FRA): The 22nd edition of Nice Half-Marathon will have double olympic medalist Elvan
Abeylegesse from Turkey as the main star. She will face on Sunday Kenyans Mary Wachera and mainly Gladys Chemweno who will do her debut at the distance (32:49 at 10 km her best). In the men field 3 runners with sub one hour bests. Kenyan Ezekiel Chebii (59:05) and Simon Cheprot (59:20) and Ethiopian Dino Sefir (59:42). Also to note top home runner James Theuri and debutant Kenyan Yusuf Biwott with solid track past, for example Ostrava 3000 m win 7:31.08 in 2010.

OTHER NEWS

KISLOVODSK (RUS): Reigning world and Olympic champion in women steeplechase Yulia Zaripova plans to perform at World University Games. Student of Kazan State University who will turn her 27 next Saturday told to Eurosport from her training camp in Kislovodsk: “Government of Tatarstan Republic makes a lot for sport development in the region. I also want to contribute to that and make something significant for track-and-field and its promotion. As national team member I have to spend a lot of time in different training camps. Pedagogues from Kazan University have lot of understanding for me. They help me as much as they can. Participation at Universiade will be my turn to say them thank you very much for their support and sympathy.”

KINGSTON (JAM): Jamaican Gleaner writes that sprinting star Asafa Powell has admitted to feeling the effects of Michael Frater’s recent move from the MVP Track Club but made it clear that he has never considered leaving the University of Technology-based club, as he weighed in on the recent moves affecting the unit. Powell, who recently resumed training after suffering a hamstring injury while competing in Australia at the Stawell Gift Festival over the Easter weekend, had trained with Frater for over 10 years at MVP but is still learning to come to grips with the absence of his close friend. „The atmosphere in the camp is not the same because he (Frater) was pretty much my training partner, we trained together,” said Powell. „I feel most comfortable when he is there training with me, but I will just have to do without. I have been training with him for 10 years or so now, so it’s about transitioning and it’s a bit different, you just have to do what you have to do.” Powell said he will be working a lot closer with Nesta Carter now. Powell is scheduled to race next at Beijing IAAF World Challenge meet on May 21 against Justin Gatlin.

BOSTON (USA): Irishcentral.com writes that Ricky Simms, manager to Jamaican olympic gold medalist runner Usain Bolt, was just 100 meters from one of the Boston explosions and discussed the horror. “I was 100 yards away having lunch when we heard the explosion, it was unreal.” Simms was accompanying one of his athletes, Micah Kogo, who finished 2nd overall in the race. “I was with the elite athletes and they had all finished so the people who were crossing the line when the bombs went off were there for dif
ferent reasons. Many are there for personal goals or to raise money for charity and reaching the finish line is supposed to be an incredible experience for them and then this happened,” Simms explained.

LONDON (GBR): Nearly 100 sporting projects in and around the capital have received a boost from the London Marathon Charitable Trust this year to help them build, preserve, refurbish or purchase sports and recreation facilities for Londoners. Grants worth more than 3.5 million GBP from the surplus made by the London Marathon organisation last year have been awarded in grants to 91 projects in 24 local authority areas in London and Northampton. The Trust set aside a further 900 000 GBP towards its commitment to support community legacy facilities after the London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games. Says a release by the organizers.

JERUSALEM (ISR): Nader al-Masri, the Palestinian Olympian who competed in the 5000 m race at Beijing 2008, is one of 22 Gaza athletes who will miss the chance to run in the West Bank’s first marathon after Israel denied them permits to travel between the two Palestinian territories. Human rights campaigners say that despite an official request from Palestine Olympic Committee (POC) leader Jibril Rajoub, Israeli military authorities have not issued the 21 male and one woman runners the travel documents needed to compete at the race in Bethlehem on Sunday (April 21). Writes insidethegames.

RESULTS

ZANIEMYSL (POL, Apr 20): Grzegorz Sudol posted new personal best 1:20:46 when winning the 11th edition of the walking meet here. Second Lukasz Nowak also lifetime best 1:20:48 and third Rafal Augustyn 1:21:13 with Ecuador´s Andres Cocho fourth in 1:21:26 PB. Paulina Buziak as top woman clocked 1:30:50 ahead of Agnieszka Szwarnog 1:31:35 and third Agnieszka Dygacz 1:32:01. Fourth Katarzyna Golba improved toí 1:32:37.

PARDUBICE (CZE, Apr 20): Kenyan John Tanui won the Vine Half Marathon here in 1
:04:23. Second Joel Komen and third Vit Pavlista defended Czech HM title in 1:05:35. Women winner Ivana Sekyrova also national title holder in 1:14:06.

AYVALIK BALIKESIR (TUR, Apr 20): Turkey was the best country at the 14th Balkan Walking Championships with 46 points. In senior races at 20 km wins for Serbian Vladimir Savanovic 1:28:42 and Romanian Adriana Enache 1:39:17. In junior 10 km races top places for Ionut Dragomir of Romania 42:45 and home Gamze Ozgur 49:28. In youth races Muratcan Arapinar clocked new Turkish youth record 42:29 at the 10 km and was faster than the top junior. In girls 5 km race Greeke Athanasia Vaitsi clocked 24:43 to win.

US FRIDAY RESULTS (Rollins 12.73w, Locke 10.08)

HAMMOND: Jamaican discus thrower Jason Morgan continues in solid throws with 63.47 win at the Southeastern Lion Invitational. Adonson Shallow improved his own St. Vincent national hammer record to 70.41. Chelsea Hayes leaped to 668 (+1.9) in women long jump.

COLUMBUS: World Champs participant Jarred Rome got 62.22 in discus at Jesse Owens Memorial in his season opener.

NASHVILLE: At Vanderbilt Invitational Tucker Peabody (20) improved to 20.69 (-1.0) at the 200 m. It was his first sub 21 ever. Another PB for women 200 m winner Felicia Brown 23.19 (+2.0).

EUGENE: Former NCAA Champ and top US miler Andrew Wheating won the 800 m at Oregon Relays in 1:49.24. Long distance runner Hassan Mead won the 1500 m in nice PB 3:41.03. In the women 5000 m Jordan Hasay in 16:01.54 beat steeple specialist Bridget Franek 16:01.59.

AZUSA: Remontay Clain clocked 20.54 (+1.9) to win the 200 m at the Bryan Clay Invitational. In the 100 m Canadian Sam Effah posted windy 10.17 (+3.0). Canadian Sarah Wells won the women 400 m hurdles in 56.35.

RALEIGH: At ACC Championships NCAA Champ Brianna Rollins clocked 12.73 in heats of 100 m hurdles, but was aided by +2.9. Her legal best is 12.70 but from last year, this years she showed great improvement indoors and that should be seen very soon also outdoors. Dentarius Locke was more lucky as his 10.08 in the 100 m heats was helped by legal +1.6 that means new lifetime best. Darrell Wesh as second 10.20. South African Stefan Brits, the World Youth 2009 medalist, improved to his first 8+ jump with exactly 805 (+0.4) in the long jump.

CHARLOTTE: Jamaican Roxroy Cato continues with sub 50 times, at Charlotte Invitational he was timed with 49.56 at 400 m hurdles. His season best is 49.15 and personal best 49.03 from last year.

STERLING: Last year relay world junior champion Tyreek Hill posted 10.23 in the 100 m at the Tabor Invitational. Unfortunately wind information is not available.

ABILENE: Jason Young achieved 63.08 in discus at Hardin Simmons Invitational.