by Larry EderThe athletics world is alive around the globe this weekend! Watch for this report and our second this evening on the African Championships!
EME NEWS (May 3, 2008)
KANTER GOES OVER 70 METERS
CHULA VISTA (USA, May 2): Estonian World Champion Gerd Kanter achieved in discus (wind) paradise of Chula Vista in California first 70 meters mark of 2008. In last series of a competition on Friday the result was 70.38 m. Already in first throw he was better than until-then world leading Virgilijus Alekna (68.68) with 69.54 m. Full series per tilastopaja:
69.54-68.32-x-66.95-65.26-70.38 m. He remains unbeaten since 15 September 2007 that means winning streak of 5 competitions now. New Oceania record and Olympic qualifier for Australian champion Ben Harradine who improved to 65.37 m as second. His former best from last year was 62.99 and area record 65.06 by Wayne Martin of Australia back in 1979. US throwers followed with Ian Waltz (63.77) and Jarred Rome (63.60). Double World championships participant Becky Breisch won the women competition with 62.50 m.
OKORO NEW LEADER IN HEPTATHLON
ADDIS ABABA (ETH, May 3): Patience Okoro from Nigeria is the new leader of women heptathlon at 16th African Championships. After six events she has 4452 points. During Saturday morning session she registered 537 cm in Long Jump and was the best in javelin (40.98). Overnight leader Beatrice Kamboule of Burkina Faso was a non-starter today. The other action by 200 m sprinters was against strong head-wind. In women heats South African Isabel le Roux was the fastest (23.69). But also 100 m winner Damola Osayomi from Nigeria (24.35) and title defender Vida Anim of Ghana (23.86) qualified easily. Interesting scratch by World indoors finalist Franca Idoko of Nigeria. Male fastest 20.81 by Obinna Metu of Nigeria. For the evening session the most awaited race is the women´s 10 000 m where world champion Tirunesh Dibaba will compete.
RUSSIAN TEAM FOR CHEBOKSARY
MOSCOW (RUS): Russian teams will be the main favorites for team titles at IAAF Race Walking World Cup next weekend in heart of Chuvashia. For them to compete well on home soil will be even more important because two best in senior events will also secure Olympic berths. The only other provision is that they must end in top 8 in overall standings. Third Olympic team member will be named based on National Walking Championships in June in Saransk. The teams for Cheboksary are strong and were named according to winter championships in Adler in February. Men – 20 km: Valeriy Borchin, Sergey Bakulin, Andrey Krivov, Ilya Markov (1999 World Champion), Viktor Burayev (2001 Worlds bronze), 50 km: Vladimir Kanaykin (world record holder at 20 km), Sergey Erokhin, Andrey Ruzavin, Denis Nizhegorodov (2004 Olympics silver), Sergey Kirdyapkin (2005 World Champion), women – 20 km: Olga Kaniskina (2007 World Champion), Anisia Kirdyapkina (world junior best holder), Tatyana Shemyakina (2007 World Champs silver), Tatyana Sibileva (2007 World Champs 9th), Lyudmila Arkhipova.
OTHER RESULTS
LYNCHBURG (USA, May 1): 32 years old Jamaican Julien Dunkley clocked solid 10.22 (+2.0) at 100 m during Liberty Invitational meet.
PRINCETON (USA, May 2): New 20 meters shot putter is unattached Jonathan Kalnas (28) who achieved at Princeton Elite Meet 20.19 m. His previous best was 19.52 from 2004. This indoor was 6th at US Championships.
COLUMBUS (USA, May 2): Jesse Owens Classic meet started with good steeple results. Great Britain´s Barbara Parker clocked 9:55.94 and Brian Olinger 8:32.65.
BOISE (USA, May 2): Improvements for Greek students at Bronco Twilight. Eleni Kafourou achieved 654 and Savas Diakonikolas 785 in Long Jump.
FAYETTEVILLE (USA, May 2): 25 years old US Indoor champs finalist James Hatch improved at Arkansas Twilight to early US leading 1:46.27 at 800 m. Second Jeremy Mims also good with 1:46.79. Christin Wurth-Thomas in solo effort won the 1500 m in 4:12.70. Drew Morano of Colorado State improved at 400 m to 45.65. In women´s race solid 51.63 for Monica Hargrove (PB of 51.40 from last year). Sprinter J-Mee Samuels won the 100 m in 10.28 (+0.9) and April Steiner after jumping 442 tried unsuccessfully at 460 in Pole Vault.
PUY (FRA, May 1): Another Ethiopia-Kenya duel on the European roads. At French 15 km race of Puy Tadesse Tola won after 43:49 beating Wilson Kiprop by one second (43:50). Lydia Cheromei from Kenya was the best woman (50:02).
OTHER NEWS
ADDIS ABABA (ETH): First IAAF Vice-President Sergey Bubka who is a guest at 16th African Championships in Ethiopia visited a rehabilitation center for rebellious street children here in an effort to motivate the children to embrace sports as a means to better themselves. Information by Ethiopian media. The Pole Vault world record holder presented board games and sports shoes provided by Nike to the children and discussed with them on various advantages of sports and how best to exploit it. He said it was imperative that they try their utmost to best themselves in sports for a better and healthier living.
MELBOURNE (AUS): 29 years old former world finalist, Commonwealth medalist, world junior medalist and three-time Olympian Lauren Hewitt has announced her retirement from athletics. Her international career spanned 13 years, in an era that contained some of Australia’s most successful athletes including the likes of Cathy Freeman and Melinda Gainsford-Taylor. Informs Athletics Australia. Her future lies in a return to university, where Hewitt will commence her master’s degree in nutrition medicine.
NOTE
We plan an evening update with action from around Europe, Japan and African Championships.
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