by Larry Eder
Asafa Powell, from 2007, with his world record. The difference between the finely tuned machine that is an elite sprinter, and a mere shadow of the former self, is a sore ankle, hamstring, back, etc. In this case, Asafa Powell experienced a sore ankle, which was exasperated at his relay run at Penn last weekend.
Photo courtesy of PhotoRun.net.
Powell not in Doha
KINGSTON (JAM): Second fastest man Asafa Powell has withdrawn from the Qatar Super Grand Prix in Doha (on May 8) as a result of a lingering ankle problem that brought him limping home on the anchor leg of the Jamaican 4x100m last week at the Penn Relays. Asafa’s agent Paul Doyle says that “the problem is not serious but it is healing slower than expected. He has a slight sprain that seems to be lingering. He thought he was able to go at Penn but he wasn’t quite ready. The doctor has advised us to pass on any competition for 2 weeks as until the sprain is fully healed he would be putting himself in serious risk of losing his season.” Asafa himself is devastated to have to pull out of the Doha meeting for the 2nd year in a row. “I was really looking forward to Doha” said Powell, “all of my training partners have told me what a wonderful place it is and how great of a meet it is. I am really sorry to have to disappoint again this year, but at the same time, I know it is the only decision I can make.” When asked about his attempt to compete at the Penn Relays last week Asafa replied “I think I tricked myself into thinking I was ready. I saw the large Jamacian crowd and was feeling the support and I wanted more than anything to run in front of that crowd. I know now that I wasn’t ready but at least I am not injured bad and I know I will be fully recovered shortly.” Powell’s next planned competition is scheduled for May 30th at the New York GP, then he will follow up with the Prefontaine Classic on the 7th of June in Eugene.
Fernandez and Plätzer winners
SESTO SAN GIOVANNI (ITA, May 1): Spanish European Champion Francisco Fernandez won the 52nd Sesto San Giovanni IAAF Walking Challenge (third leg) event at 20 km with high quality 1:19:57. Second Norway´s Erik Tysse (1:21:53). In warm weather (27 degrees) fast times were a difficulty. Italian walkers were happy as Giorgio Rubino was fifth (1:23:42) and 50 k Olympic winner Alex Schwazer seventh (1:24:23). Olympic silver medalist Kjersti Platzer of Norway won the women 20 km in little bit better conditions (21 degrees) and 1:28:50 and confirmed her leading position in the challenge series. In close contest Sabine Zimmer of Germany beat home Olympic medalist Elisa Rigaudo (1:29:03-1:29:04). Surprisingly two Russian favorites and Olympic winners Aleksandr Borchin and Olga Kaniskina did not come with the explanation that they are tired from competition in China.
Merlo by acclamation
MILANO (ITA): IAAF Press Commission chairman Gianni Merlo was re-elected by acclamation as AIPS President at the 72nd congress of the organisation. National sports journalists’ associations from 110 nations today voted for the new executive committee which will steer AIPS for the next four years. Ms Laima Janusonyte (Lithuania), Mr Konstantinos Vernikos (Greece), Mr Faisal Al Qanai (Kuwait), Mr Nickolai Dolgopolov (Russia) and Manouchehr Zandi (Iran) make up the team of Vice-presidents. Konstantinos Vernikos is the only new face among the group. Executive Committee Members: Mohammad Al Malki (Qatar), Emanuel Fantaneanu (Romania), Zhang Haifeng (China – new), Evelyn Watta (Kenya – new), Adolf Ingi Erlingsson (Iceland – new), Mitchel Obi (Nigeria), Dezso Dobor (Hungary – new) and Raul Garcia Salguero (Mexico – new). Re-elected by acclamation were 1st Vice-president Esat Yilmaer (Turkey) and Treasurer, Jorge Ribeiro (Portugal).
OTHER NEWS
MARSEILLE (FRA, May 1): Course record holder Silas Kipruto of Kenya defended his title 10 km du Conseil Général in Marseille, France. Clocking 27:43, Kipruto was well off of his 27:28 course record from last year, but won comfortably over second place Joseph Kitur (28:11). Another Kenyan, Abraham Chebii, was third in 28:17. Informs Race Results Weekly. Kipruto also won the Corrida de l’Est Républicain in Heillecourt on April 26 and clocked here his second sub 28 of the year on the road. In sunny conditions (17 degrees) steeple specialist Boubdallah Tahri was the best European as 6th (29:29). Sylvia Kibet of Kenya won the women’s race in a close contest over compatriot Grace Momanyi. Kibet crossed the line in 31:40 to Momanyi’s 31:43. Peninah Arusei, also of Kenya, was third in 31:45. Fourth best French Christine Bardelle (33:30). In all, 995 athletes finished the race
EDINBURGH (GBR): 2004 Olympic bronze medallist Deena Kastor resumes her racing career at the Bupa Great Edinburgh Run on Sunday adamant that along with Paula Radcliffe she can have an extended marathon career. Kastor who broke her foot after three miles when one of the favourites for the title at last summer’s Beijing Games, runs her first international race since that massive setback. Now Kastor after a lengthy recovery period firmly believes both she and Radfcliffe have the staying the power to be top contenders to chase the gold medal at the London Olympics in three years time. Kastor herself is totally focused on what she knows will be testing head-to-head over 10 kilometres against a field headed by three-time Great Edinburgh Run champion Jelena Prokopcuka of Latvia. The men’s race seems likely to be dominated by the Kenyan pair of defending champion Bernard Kipyego and Micah Kogo who five weeks ago lowered the world 10km record to 27:01. Writes David Martin.
ADDIS ABABA (ETH, Apr 30): World indoor 1500m champion Derese Mekonnen (3:45.14), African women’s 1500m champion Gelete Burka (4:12.36), and World junior Cross Country champion Genzebe Dibaba all comfortably negotiated tricky heats on the second day of the 38th Ethiopian Athletics Championships.Informs IAAF. Adugna Kumasa beat world championship semi-finalist Mekonnen Gebremedhin in the fastest of the three round heats in 3:43.11. Genzebe Dibaba, Sule Utura, and Belaynesh Fekadu are turning out to be the new faces of women’s distance running in Ethiopia judging by results of the previous year. While Fekadu has already distinguished herself at senior level with a respectable fourth place at the African Championships last year, Dibaba and Utura have proved prolific at junior level with a two World junior Cross Country titles and a World junior 5000m crown respectively. In the first of the heats, Utura had to shake off the challenge from upcoming Meseret Mengistu in the last lap to take victory. Genzebe, much like her sister Tirunesh, chose to run behind the front runners in her heat before kicking at 300m for victory. But Fekadu led for nearly 10 of the 12-and-half lap race before crossing the line in 16:35.14.
KINGSTON (JAM): Despite the absences of Usain Bolt and Veronica Campbell-Brown the Jamaica Invitational on Saturday in Kingston (IAAF Area Permit) will still offer high quality athletics. In the 100 m two Olympic medalists from Jamaica Shelly-Ann Fraser and Kerron Stewart will meet together. Against them Americans Bianca Knight and Marshavet Hooker. Dawn Harper and Melaine Walker are the other Olympic gold medalists down to compete. Harper, however, will compete in the women’s 100m Hurdles, her pet event, which gave her gold in Beijing while Walker will start in the flat 400m event. Deloreen Ennis-Landon, Lacena Golding-Clarke and Vonette Dixon, all Jamaicans, will challenge Harper in the sprint obstacle. In the men’s 100m, Trinidad & Tobago’s pair of Richard Thompson, who finished second behind Usain Bolt in Beijing, and Marc Burns, along with American Darvis Patton, who recorded 9.89 in Eugene last season, Kim Collins, the 2003 World champion from St Kitts and Nevis, Jamaicans Yohan Blake and Dwight Thomas headline the field. World champion at 400 m Hurdles Kerron Clement along with Jamaicans Danny McFarlane and Isa Phillips, are the big names in the men’s 400m Hurdles. Kenia Sinclair and Hazel Clarke will face-off in the 800m while Olympic bronze medalist Tasha Danvers will contest the 400m Hurdles, which include Jamaicans Nickesha Wilson, Shevon Stoddart and Kaleise Spencer. Writes IAAF.
NAIROBI (KEN): Despite earlier announcements London marathon champion Samuel Wanjiru and reigning World champion Catherine Ndereba will lead a quality Kenyan squad at the 12th IAAF World Championships in Athletics, Berlin 2009, Athletics Kenya announced today. The association also named a team of 10 reserves who include World champion Luke Kibet and four time Boston Marathon champion Robert Cheruiyot. Selina Kosgei who conquered Boston last month and Irene Limika will be other seasoned runners in the team while Wanjiru will be joined by James Kwambai, Duncan Kibet, Daniel Rono and Emmanuel Mutai. Men: Samuel Wanjiru, James Kwambai, Duncan Kibet, Daniel Rono, Emmanuel Mutai, Women: Agnes Kiprop, Helena Loshanyang Kiprop, Irene Limika, Catherine Ndereba and Salina Kosgei. Reserves: Men: Luke Kibet, Abel Kirui, Martin Lel, Robert Cheruiyot, David Kipkorir , Women: Martha Komu, Risper Jemeli, Lydia Cheromei, Edith Masai, Irene Mogaka.
FRANKFURT (GER): One of the decisions expected from European Athletics Council Meeting on Saturday is the city which will host the European Junior Championships in 2011. Candidates are Rieti, Italy and Tallinn, Estonia. Also to approve will be a new system of one-day meetings on European level starting from 2010.
SARANSK (RUS): At Saturday´s Russian National Marathon Championships in Saransk will after doping ban return the former big marathon winner Lyubov Denisova. The event is one of the qualification races for Russian World Championships Marathon Team.ght
Special thanks to Alfons Juck, EME News.
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