by Larry EderI was sitting in Birmingham, England the first time I heard about Pamela Jelimo. We were discussing the women’s 800 meters and one keen eyed manager of a footwear brand telling me that Pamela would be very hot soon! He was right!
Hengelo lived up to the early season hype as top athletes from all over the world opened their runs to Beijing, now 76 days away! Five world leading marks gave the crowd of 16,000 alot to talk about! But, now more teases, read on, track geeks, and read bout the 26th FBK Games of Hengelo!
EME NEWS (MAY 24, 2008) UPDATE
Jelimo new world junior record
HENGELO (NED, May 24): The 26th FBK Games of Hengelo lived up to all expectations. Five world leading marks (men 5000, 10 000, Long Jump, women 800 m, 5000 m), one world junior record, one Asian record and excellent Haile Gebrselassie. Full house at around 16 000 people in good, sunny but windy weather (at around 23 degrees).
Kenyan 800 m sensation. African champion Pamela Jelimo in great solo race and first ever in Europe clocked new world junior record 1:55.76. It is also world lead and meet record at FBK Games. Former world junior record was chinese one, 1:57.18 by Wang Yuan in 1993. In senior all-time list it means position number 20. It is also fastest since 2002. 1500 m world champion Maryam Jamal as second clocked new Bahraini national record 1:58.66 and Slovakian Lucia Klocova as first European this year sub 2 minutes (1:59.76). Panama´s Irving Saladino recorded unbelievable 873 (+1.2) in first round and afterwards did not had a valid jump. It was South American record, seventh perfomer of all-time and best result in last 14 years. World indoor champion Khotso Mokoena had his 835 aided by +2.3 wind.
Kenenisa Bekele clocked at 5000 m first sub 13 of 2008 with 12:58.94. Surprise in discus. New Asian record for Ehsan Hadadi of Iran 68.52 and he beat world champion Gerd Kanter (68.28) and olympic winner Virgilijus Alekna (66.82).
All-time great Haile Gebrselassie finished at 10 000 m race as second with 26:51.20. This might be enough to qualify for Olympic Games. Because he was beaten only by Sileshi Sihine who clocked world leading 26:50.53. With Kenenisa Bekele they should build the Ethiopian trio for Olympic 10 km race. “It was windy, but fantastic,” said Mr. Hengelo Haile. Earlier in the year he confirmed that marathon in Beijing is not his target, but he wants to qualify at 10 000 m. Hengelo was his most probably only chance and ended with succesfull result. Ethiopian federation wants to name the team mainly based on times. Former 5000 m world champion Eliud Kipchoge was third (26:54.32) and fourth Leonard Patrick Komon clocked new PB 26:57.08. Gelete Burka clocked first years sub 15 minutes at 5000 m, her new world leading time is 14:45.84. Meselech Melkamu was clear second (14:46.25) ahead of another young Ethiopian talent Belaynesh Fikadu (14:46.84, PB). Best Kenyan Linet Masai clocked PB 14:47.14 as fourth.
Osaka medalist Richard Matelong clearly won the steeple (8:13.00), second junior Benjamin Kiplagat achieved new Ugandan record 8:14.29 and world champion Brimin Kipruto was only fourth (8:18.06). European champion Kim Geveart won the 100 m with 11.25 against -0.7 and her countrymate and another Goteborg 2006 winner Tia Hellebaut was only third in High Jump (193, win for Nicole Forrester of Canada with 193 after jump-off). US Lolo Jones dominated 100 m Hurdles (12.87), and German Nadine Kleinert the Shot Put (19.64). Dutch wins by Rob Lathouwers at 800 m (corrected to 1:45.80 PB), Marcel Van der Westen at 110 m Hurdles (13.46, -1.7). World Indoor Champion Christian Cantwell was the clear shot put winner (20.88) and world leader Krisztian Pars of Hungary in hammer (79.93). The only men sprint winner Churandy Martina of Netherlands Antilles clocked 20.50 with -2.0 wind.
QUOTES
Haile Gebrselassie: “Great crowds as always. Only the wind was not very helpful. I hope to qualify for the Olympic 10 000 m race.”
Pamela Jelimo: “I m not surprised, I have hard training behind me back home in Kenya. I think I can be faster, maybe in Berlin.”
Irving Saladino: “Today I was enough quick and good in technique. I hope to come close to world record this year.”
Kenenisa Bekele: “I wanted a better time, but against such a wind you cannot do much. I can run faster that is for sure. Hengelo is like my second home. Marathon in future? I m not thinking about it now, but maybe…”
Sanchez and Turava wins
KRAKOW (POL, May 24): After withdrawing two weeks ago at the IAAF World Cup in Cheboksary reigning European Champion, Ryta Turava of Belarus for the third time won in Krakow 20 km in 1:28:33. Last year she had to end the season in Krakow, but now she is starting in this town – it was as her first win this year. She was more than two minutes ahead of the field, second Susana Feitor of Portugal with 1:30:36, third Claudia Stef of Romania 1:30:55. The 4th place for reigning Olympic Champion Athanasia Tsoumeleka – 1:31:04, strengthen her with 23 points on the second position in the IAAF Walking Challenge (Norway Kjersti Plätzer is leading with 30 points, was not competing here). Vera Santos of Portugal, 3rd at World Cup finished as the fifth with 1:32:53. In the field no Russian women.
Eder Sanchez from Mexico repeated last year success in Krakow winning the 20 km race. He bettered his own record of the course by 1:02 with the result of 1:19:34. The winner of the World Cup Francisco Javier Fernandez (three times winner in Krakow) was behind by 13 seconds. Third on the finish line was Juan-Manuel Molina of Spain who finished in 1:20:18 (also better than last years record time). The next closing on him were Russian (although living in Poland) Ilya Markov (also 3 times winner in Krakow) 1:20:31 and Irish Robert Heffernan 1:20:34. Sanchez jumped into the lead of IAAF Challenge with 38 points, Norway´s Erik Tysse who was not competing today has 31 and Molina is third (29).
World junior record for Nesterenko
HALLE (GER, May 24): New personal best of Osaka discus medalist Robert Harting (67.63) was one of the highlights of 34th throwing meeting in Halle. Poland´s Piotr Malachowski as second was also very good because his 66.65 was new national record. Ukrainian special talent Mykyta Nesterenko (17) achieved in last attempt new world junior record with 1.75 kg implement 70.13 m. The former mark of Estonian Margus Hunt was 67.32 from World Junior Championships 2006 in Beijing. Markus Esser was best in hammer (76.50) and former Australian record holder Justin Anlezark in shot put (20.29) beating European champion Ralf Bartels (20.07). Former European title holder Joachim Olsen of Denmark was fourth (19.62). Great improvement for European Junior javelin Champion from last year Matthias De Zordo who achieved excellent 82.51 m. Australian world leader Jarrod Bannister as second got 81.76.
In the women events world champion Franka Dietzsch did not compete because of health issues and so the discus win went to European champion Darya Pishchalnikova of Russia (63.98) ahead of experienced Romanian Nicoleta Grasu (63.06). Another German throwing world champion Betty Heidler won the hammer (72.73) ahead of Poland´s Kamila Skolimowska (70.75). European javelin record holder Christina Obergfoll started the season with good 63.86 beating Romanian Monica Stoian who improved to 61.97 and German Katarina Molitor (61.74 PB). World indoor finalist Christina Schwanitz registered outdoor PB in Shot Put 19.23 ahead of Denise Hinrichs (19.07, PB).
World lead by Iguider
REHLINGEN (GER, May 24): Morrocan Abdelaati Iguider improved his own world lead from Doha at 44th Meeting in Rehlingen to excellent PB of 3:32.63 at 1500 m. South African Juan Van Deventer improved his best to 3:34.46 as second. Some 2000 spectators watched the meet in not very favorable weather conditions. European medalist David Fiegen of Luxemburg achieved 1:46.03 to win the 800 m ahead of European Junior Champion 2007 Robin Schembera (1:46.47). German Kamghe Gaba beat good field at 400 m (46.31). US Jeremy Scott won the Pole Vault (550) and African Champion Kabelo Kgosiemang tied for first (215) with Michal Bieniek of Poland. World bronze medalist from Osaka at 400 m Hurdles Anna Jesien of Poland started the season at flat distance with 52.16. Germans Julia Hutter and Kristina Gadschiew cleared olympic norm 450 in Pole Vault.
World lead at women 3000 m, Russian women leading and home men
VILA REAL DE SANTO ANTONIO (POR, May 24): Russian women Finpromko-UPI Team clearly leads after first day of European Champion Clubs Cup A Group in Portugal with 82 points. Russian men of Luch Moscow are second (52) but the home leaders Sporting Clube de Portugal also had the same 52 points. Second day promises a tough fight for win. In women competition Spain´s Valencia Terra y Mar is second ahead of Panelionios from Athens, Greece (63 and 60). In the men section Czech Dukla Praha is third (51) with surprise Spartak Dubnica of Slovakia fourth (43). But the Slovaks have their stronger events on Sunday. At the bottom in men category French CA Montreuil and Turkish Enka Spor Kulubu are clearly 7th and 8th, in women Spartak Dubnica of Slovakia and again Montreuil are in the relegation area but closer to sixth as the men. Top result in about 20 degrees and windy weather was the world leading 3000 m by steeple world record holder Gulnara Samitova-Galkina of Russia who clocked 8:42.96 ahead of Spanish runner Dolores Checa (8:43.00, PB) and Osaka 5000 m medalist Vivian Cheruiyot of Kenya (8:54.00 for Greek Club). Other female top marks are 2:01.90 by world medallist Hasna Benhassi of Morocco competing for Valencia, 55.05 at 400 m Hurdles by US Tiffany Ross-Williams (on behalf of Greek club) and beating reigning European champion Yevgeniya Isakova (55.84). Russian Oksana Udmurtova won the triple jump and her teammates world finalist Yelena Zadorozhnaya the steeple (9:50.47) and Anastasia Shvedova the Pole Vault (430). Spanish Josephine Oniya who is hurdles specialist won the 100 m in 11.70 (-0.5). Bulgarian Tsvetelina Kirilova (for Turkish Club) surprisingly beat at 400 m the Russian specialist Svetlana Pospelova (52.20-52.38).
European medalist Tomas Janku of Czech Republic cleared 226 to win the High Jump and produced so the best male result of the first day. European champion Francis Obikwelu struggled against wind -2.4 to win the 100 m in 10.35 ahead of Italian Simone Collio (10.48) and Russian Andrey Yepishin (10.63). Obikwelu then helped his team to win the 4×100 m (39.47). Three wins for Slovak Dubnica with Peter Znava at 400 m (46.58) and guest Kenyans Bernard Kiptum (1500 m, 3:49.22) and Collins Kosgei (5000 m, 13:53.23). Another home win in Long Jump by Gaspar Araujo in Long Jump (793, +3.0) and for Czech champion Dukla Praha by Petr Stehlik in Shot Put (19.14).
Men after first day: 1. Sporting, POR 52, 2. Luch Moscow, RUS 52, 3. Dukla Praha, CZE 51, 4. Dubnica, SVK 43, 5. Fiamme Gialle, ITA 42, 6. Jerez, ESP 35, 7. CA Montreuil, FRA 25, 8. Enka Spor, TUR 24
Women after first day: 1. Finpromko, RUS 82, 2. Valencia, ESP 63, 3. Panellinios, GRE 60, 4. Enka Spor, TUR 54, 5. Fondiaria, ITA 48, 6. USK Praha, CZE 45, 7. Dubnica, SVK 39, 8. Montreuil, FRA 38
Liu Xiang 13.18
BEIJING (CHN, May 24): World Champion Liu Xiang won in 13.18 the 110 m Hurdles at Good Luck Beijing pre-olympic competition. He eased up considerably after the last hurdle, would’ve been much faster without that move. Still second fastest of the year. World Championships finalist Shi Dongpeng was rather close second, but gained a lot when Liu eased running, his time 13.29 and third Ji Wei achieved 13.41. Japanese Asian Games winner Kenji Narisako triumphed in the men’s 400m hurdles final with a time of 48.87. World hammer medalist Zhang Wenxiu won with 70.56. Chinese teams clocked 39.04 and 43.50.
OTHER RESULTS
ZWEIBRUCKEN (GER, May 24): German Ariane Friedrich achieved in first attempt olympic qualifier 195 cm today in cold and rainy weather. She did not continue in the competition. Irish Deirdre Ryan went over 188 as second.
PALAFRUGELL (ESP, May 24): British Robbie Grabarz (20) improved to 226 in High Jump to win at 16th International Meet here at Costa Brava. Second Ukrainian Viktor Shapoval went also over 226. Czech Rudolf Gotz improved to 46.44 at 400 m. Asian Games medalist Guzel Khubbieva of Uzbekistan won both sprints against strong wind, 11.71 (-3.6) and 23.52 (-1.2).
BREMEN (GER, May 24): Dutch sprinter Maarten Heisen clocked 10.26 at 100 m during international meet here, but was denied a PB because of +2.3 breeze. Florian Seitz achieved 33.14 at 300 m and Carolin Nytra improved to 12.93 (+1.7) at 100 m Hurdles.
GOTEBORG (SWE, May 24): Carolina Kluft won silver medal at Swedish relay championships. Her IFK Vaxjo finished second at 4×100 m (46.21) and she ran the second leg. Titles went to men of Malmo AI 40.70 and women of Ullevi FK 46.13.
WEINHEIM (GER, May 24): Osaka fifth placer Bianka Kappler registered solid Long jump season begin with 673 (+0.9) ahead of Melanie Bauschke who improved to 662 (0.0) during the meet in Weinheim. Daniel Schnelting who is European Junior Champion 2005 improved to 20.53 (-0.2) at 200 m. Martin Keller achieved also PB in heats of 100 m with 10.29 (+1.3). European medalist Thomas Blaschek clocked 13.57 to win the 110 m Hurdles.
LEVERKUSEN (GER, May 24): Silke Spiegelburg cleared 450 in Pole Vault during regional event.
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