by Larry EderA tale of two cities. Kingston and Des Moines. Banged up Jamaican sprinters, Bolt wins in 9.94 and Powell is seventh in 10.22. Blake not running. Tyson Gay runs 9.75 and English Gardner runs 10.85.
Bolt wins, Powell seventh
KINGSTON (JAM, Jun 21): Usian Bolt won the anticipated 100 m final at Jamaican Champs in 9.94 (-1.2) over Kemar Bailey-Cole 9.98 and Nickel Ashmeade 9.99. This 3 will run in Moscow together with wild-card holder Yohan Blake. First non-qualifier Nesta Carter 10.14 (but 9.97 -0.5 in semis), Asafa Powell was 7th in 10.22. Kerron Stewart won the women sprint in the absence of Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce in 10.96 (+0.9) ahead of Sherone Simpson 11.03 and Shillonie Calvert 11.07 making her first individual team. Fourth Sheri-Ann Brooks and fifth Carrie Russell both 11.14. In the 400 m hurdles finals Leford Green won the men race in 49.20 ahead of Annsert Whyte 49.30 PB and Isa Phillips 49.59. In women competition Ristanana Tracey won in 54.52 PB over Danielle Dowie also PB 54.94 and Nickiesha Wilson 54.94. Other winners Kemoy Campbell13:43.20 in the 5000 m, Francine Simpson 635 (+3.7) in the long jump, Wilbert Walker 16.40 (+2.2) in the triple and Allison Randall 58.97 in women discus.
4 WL: Gay 9.75, Gardner and Pierre 10.85, Day 6550
DES MOINES (USA, Jun 21): Tyson Gay’s 9.75 win in the 100m led the way for world-leading marks by English Gardner, Barbara Pierre and Sharon Day on the second day of US Championships (7622 spectators). Gay dominated the field from 60 meters on, to run a 9.75 (+1.1) to win his fourth USA Outdoor title in the 100m. Gay’s time improved his previous world-leading mark of 9.86, it equalled the Drake Stadium record, and is the 10th fastest 100m time ever recorded, his fastest since 2009. Justin Gatlin finished second in 9.89, while NCAA Champion Charles Silmon finished third in 9.98 PB over 4th placer Mike Rodgers by only two-thousandths of a second. Fifth Mokie Salaam 10.01 ahead of Dentarius Locke 10.05 and Isiah Young 10.12. In her first meet as a professional athlete, English Gardner won the 100m in 10.85 (+1.8) WL to equal the Drake Stadium record. Gardner is the first woman since Carlette Guidry (Texas) in 1991 to win both the NCAA and USA Outdoors titles in the same year. Octavious Freeman of the University of Central Florida claimed the runner-up spot in 10.87, and Alexandria Anderson finished third in 10.91. In the women’s 100m semi-finals earlier in the day, Pierre set a stadium record and world leading mark of 10.85 with a legal +2.0 wind. Pierre placed fifth in the final with a 10.94. Fourth was Jeneba Tarmoh 10.93 (top four PB´s). Sixth Auriyeall Scott 11.00 (10.96 PB in semfinal) and seventh Muna Lee also 11.00. In the women’s heptathlon, Sharon Day had the performance of her life to win a second USA Outdoor title. Day recorded 6550 points in setting a personal best by 207 points, the fourth world lead of the day. Day’s score makes her the No. 5 U.S. performer all-time. She tied her PR in the 100m hurdles at 13.54 and set a lifetime best in the 200 at the end of day one, clocking 24.02. She set a lifetime best in the javelin at 47.38 before running 2:12.12 in the 800. Bettie Wade second 6018 points, and Erica Bougard third 5990. All three are ok with standards. Olympian Lance Brooks won his second consecutive national title in the men’s discus in 62.29. Russ Winger second 62.03 and James Plummer third 61.96 PB. None of the men have the IAAF B standard, but still have the chance to chase it until July 20. Brad Walker won his fifth outdoor national title in the men’s pole vault as he and Jeremy Scott both cleared the bar at 5.65. Jack Whitt third 560. A.G. Kruger won his fifth USA Outdoor title in the men’s hammer throw 75.52. He is the only from top 3 with Worlds B standard. In the first day of the men’s decathlon, 2012 World Junior champion Gunnar Nixon set or equaled four lifetime bests on the way to a 4449 points (10.80, 762, 217, 48.63) to lead Olympic champion and world record holder Ashton Eaton by 44 points (10.47 and 46.89 as top marks of the day). Reigning world champion Trey Hardee with a wild card competed in four events (10.52, 709, 15.29 and 48.10 but dq for lane violation). From USATF website.
Fast women hurdles
DES MOINES (USA, Jun 21): In qualifying action, the women’s 100m hurdle prelims were run with a stiff tailwind to produce fast times. Hometown favorite Lolo Jones enjoyed the only wind-legal heat of the day to record a stadium record of 12.50 (+1.9) and move herself to No. 2 on the current world list. In heat three, NCAA Champion Brianna Rollins rode a +2.3 tailwind to cross the line in 12.33. Rollins’ mark is the third best American mark under all-conditions. Queen Harrison clocked 12.44 +3.1 mps tailwind to win the fourth heat. 2012 Olympians Georganne Moline and T’erea Brown had the top two times in the women’s 400m hurdles prelims 55.04 and 55.37. On the men’s side, Bershawn Jackson had the fastest time of the day in 48.76 out of heat one. Olympic silver medalist Michael Tinsley won the second heat in 48.84. Francena McCorory ran 50.53 in heat one to record the fastest time in the women’s 400m semi-final. Natasha Hastings ran 50.67 to win the second heat, with Sanya Richards-Ross finishing fourth in the heat to take the last auto-qualifying spot. In the men’s 400m semi-final, LaShawn Merritt ran the fastest time in heat one in 44.36, and the University of Florida’s Arman Hall became the sixth fastest performer on the U.S. junior all-time list with a 44.82 that placed him fourth in the heat. Also to note 44.72 by Tony McQuay and 44.75 PB by David Verburg. Brenda Martinez dipped under 2-minutes in the women’s 800m semi-final with the fastest time of the day in 1:59.84. Alysia Montano won the second heat in 2:00.14. Junior athlete Ajee Wilson equalled her personal best of 2:00.91, which is No. 4 on the all-time U.S. junior list. In the men’s 800m semi-final, seven men ran under the IAAF A standard of 1:45.30. Brandon Johnson ran the fastest time of1:44.78, with Duane Solomon second in 1:45.07. Top non-qualifiers from 100 m semifinals were 2005 World champ Lauryn Williams 11.00 and Diondre Batson 10.04w with Walter Dix only 14.19. From USATF website.
Farah, Ennis and other Europeans
MONACO (MON): Olympic, World and European Champion Mo Farah knows well the Louis II Stadium. Indeed, in his two last races in the Principality he has set new personal bests: in 2009, he ran 3:33.98 on the 1500m, while he established a new national record on the 5000m in 2011, in 12:53.11 which remained the best performance run that year. We will see how Monaco’s track might help him lower down this times on July 19th. Another British star confirmed for the Herculis meet is heptathlon olympic winner Jessica Ennis who is an excellent hurdler and in that event will compete. Anna Chicherova will jump in one of her last events before heading to the World Championships in her country. Meet record 204 will be in danger. Olympic winner Sandra Perkovic is in discus, so far unbeaten this year. In addition to top European names to note 2012 European Champion in javelin and 2013 Diamond Race leader Vitezslav Vesely, the current World Champion in the 400 m hurdles Dai Greene, European indoor and outdoor champion in high jump Ruth Beitia and this years European indoor champions Daniele Greco in the triple jump and Darya Klishina in the long jump.
Sebrle says goodbye
PRAHA (CZE): The best decathloner ever with number of gold medals and 49 scores over 8000 points Roman Sebrle announced on Friday he is ending his career at age of 38. It was mainly his heel which stopped his plans to compete in Gotzis and Kladno and subsequently if qualified also in Moscow this year. The Olympic champion 2004, World Champion 2007, European Champion 2002 and 2006, World Indoor Champion 2001 and 2004 and European Indoor Champion 2002, 2005 and 2007 was the first over 9000 points with his 9026 in Gotzis 2001. He is the best ever in total of 10 best decathlons 87 999, the best ever with 6 scores over 8800, 20 scores over 8500 and 49 over 8000. “You cannot stop the time. It is a tough decision, but Im leaving the decathlon very satisfied with my career. I wanted to compete in London last year, but the injury was against it. My next goal is golf, I want to achieve professional level,” said Sebrle. His last big medal was a bronze at 2011 European Indoor Championships in Paris. His last completed decathlon was 6th last year at European Championships in Helsinki with 8052 points. His first over 8000 back in 1996. He remains also member of Athletes Commission of European Athletics.
Vlasic 200 cm
BUHL (GER, Jun 21): Blanka Vlasic was more than happy to clear again two meters at a special meet in Buhl, Germany. It is her 102nd competition over two meters and first since September 2011 in Zagreb. Also the 197 clearance before was with big emotions and she also tried for 1000 spectators at 202. Second Levern Spencer and third Ariane Friedrich achieved 190. Former African champion Kabelo Kgosiemang of Botswana won the men competition with 228 over Sudanese Idriss Mohamed Younes 225. Legendary Carlo Thranhardt in the category 55+ went over 189 new world best.
OTHER NEWS
DES MOINES (USA): Reigning 400 m hurdles world champion Lashinda Demus scratched from the heats with a leg injury. She has been granted by USATF a medical waiver to use for the IAAF wild card.
DES MOINES (USA): Ashton Eaton commented after first day of decathlon: “”I have a little tendonitis in left leg, which is my jumping leg. I was trying to take it easy in the high jump. High jump is the only thing it affects because it’s an awkward motion. I was trying to play it safe rather than increase the irritation. Everything else went well besides the high jump.”
DULUTH (USA): Despite the fact that the USA Outdoor Track & Field Championships are being held here through Sunday, the USA Half-Marathon Championships for men and women in Duluth, Minn., –about a 400 mile drive north of here– have attracted very deep fields. Leading the men’s race will be Olympic veterans Meb Keflezighi and Abdi Abdirahman. Other top men entered include Nick Arciniaga, Chris Barnicle, Shadrack Biwott, Josphat Boit, Ian Burrell, Andrew Carlson, and Mo Trafeh. The women’s race is equally deep. The leading athlete is Olympic marathoner Desiree Davila who will be running her second race of the year after a long recovery from a hip and leg injury suffered before last summer’s Olympic Marathon. Other top contenders include Stephanie Rothstein Bruce –whose husband Ben is competing in the first round of the steeplechase here today– Maegan Krifchin, Serena Burla, Michelle Frey, Melissa Johnson-White, Adriana Nelson and Mattie Suver. Informs RRW.
LOS ANGELES (USA): Race Results Weekly informs that Tracey Russell has left her position as the executive director of the Atlanta Track Club (ATC) to become the new chief executive officer of the Asics LA Marathon, ATC and LA Marathon officials announced.
PARIS (FRA): L´Équipe informs that Dayron Robles was excluded from the Cuban national team, but could still run at the meetings. He has a license to compete from a club in Monaco and will next compete in that capacity at Reims Meeting on June 28. The decision of Cuban federation means he will not be allowed to run for Cuba in Moscow at the World Championships.
RESULTS
BILBAO (ESP, Jun 21): Cubans achieved the best marks at the international meet here. Yareli Barrios 64.51 in women discus ahead of Yaime Perez 63.42. Pedro Pichardo 17.49 (+1.0) in triple with only one jump, second Ernesto Reve 16.93 (+1.2). Yipsi Moreno won the hammer 69.09. Briton Jemma Simpson got 2:03.49 in the 800 m, Kenyan Geoffrey Rono 3:40.04 in the 1500 m. British sprintes dominated the 100 m with Deji Tobias 10.30 (+1.1, and also 20.99 +1.6 200 m win) ahead of Greg Cackett 10.31 PB and Aidan Syers 10.32 PB. Australian Cameron Page won the 5000 m in 13:30.64. US Jackie Areson won the women 5000 m in15:39.64.
INGLOSTADT (GER, Jun 21): Malte Mohr cleared at the international meet here 570 over Tobias Scherbarth 560. Kenyan Moses Kibet won the 800 m in 1:46.93.
ELANCOURT (FRA, Jun 19): Dimitri Bascou clocked here 13.63 (+0.4) over the hurdles.
CESSON SEVIGNE (FRA, Jun 19): Leslie Dhjone returned here in first race since June 2012 with 48.14 win at the 400 m.
NAIROBI (KEN, Jun 21): World champion Asbel Kiprop won the 800 m heat in 1:48.1 at the Kenyan Championships. Marathon runners dominated the women 10 000 m. Moscow bound Lucy Kabuu won in 32:44.1 ahead of Sharon Cherop 32:46.3 and Caroline Kilel 32:51.0 PB. Fourth Esther Chemtai 32:55.6 PB and returning Isabella Ochichi fifth 32:58.0.
CALABAR (NGR, Jun 20): African championships silver medalists Regina George won the Nigerian 400 m title in 50.99. Egwero Ogho-Oghene topped the 100 m in 10.18 (-1.6). New PB for Noah Akwu winning the men 400 m in 45.61 ahead of Abiola Onakoya 45.81. Tosin Oke won the triple with 16.64 (+0.2).
PORT OF SPAIN (TRI, Jun 21): National championships started with 100 m heats, fastest times by Keston Bledman 10.19 (+1.6) and Kelly-Ann Baptiste 11.10 (+1.2). Jarrin Solomon posted fastest 400 m heat results 45.75.
MONCTON (CAN, Jun 21): Surprise in men shot put at Canadian Nationals. In the Moncton downtown Tim Nedow won with 20.72 over Dylan Armstrong 20.31. Julie Labonte was the best female with 17.61. Damian Warner scored 8145 points in decathlon and Matthew Hughes got the steeple title in 8:29.50.
DES MOINES (USA, Jun 21): 200 m winners at US Junior Nationals were Just´n Thymes 20.61 (+4.0) and Ana Holland 23.04 (+3.8).
