by Larry Eder
Tyson Gay, shown here from Athletes Only Summer 2008, vol 13, number 2.
During the ESPN2 broadcast on Saturday night, May 16 of the adidas Track Classic, Tyson Gay made it abundantly clear that he was, ” 100 percent mentally and physically.” He has run two consecutive personal bests at 400 meters, 46.34 and 45.54. He will be running 200 meters at the Reebok GP on May 30, 2009, at the Icahn Stadium. All I can say is-you need to be there, if you live within six states. The meet is amazing and the season will only get better.
EME NEWS (MAY 19, 2009)
GAY PLANS 200 m IN NY, DIBABA TO OPEN IN 2009 AT 5k
CARSON (USA): World champion Tyson Gay who is yet to open the season in short sprints (raced twice at 400 m so far) confirmed during the Carson weekend that he plans to open at Reebok Grand Prix in New York at 200 m. That also means he will not clash with Jamaican star Asafa Powell who is planning to run a 100 m at Icahn Stadium. Another world top star confirmed for New York is double Olympic winner Tirunesh Dibaba of Ethiopia for 5000 m. This should be her first competition of the year 2009. Her challenge will be from Kim Smith from New Zealand, Werknesh Kidane of Ethiopia, the 2003 World Cross Country Champion and 10,000 meter silver medalist at the 2003 World Championships; and Genzebe Dibaba, Tirunesh’s younger sister. The younger Dibaba won the 2009 World Junior Cross Country Championships and just two weeks ago won her first Ethiopian national title at 5000 m. In women´s 100 m two last world champions will compete, Jamaican Veronica Campbell-Brown in season debut against Lauryn Williams. Olympic winner at the distance Shelly-Ann Fraser of Jamaica will opt for the longer 200 m. After dueling at 200 m in Carson another clash Allyson Felix vs. Sanya Richards will happen in New York, but this time at 400 m. Also in the field world and Olympic medalists from Jamaica Novlene Williams and Shericka Williams. Men´s 5000 m will see world champion Bernard Lagat racing against surprise World CC Champion Gebre-egziabher Gebremariam, Kenyans Edwin Soi and 10 km road world record holder Micah Kogo. Two-time Olympic silver medalist Terrence Trammell, Jamaican Olympic finalist Maurice Wignall, 2005 World Championship gold medalist Ladji Doucouré of France will square off against 2008 Olympic silver medalist David Payne in the men’s 110 meter hurdles.
NOVA INTERNATIONAL WITH IAAF
MANCHESTER (GBR): Brendan Foster‘s foresight in fetching international athletics onto the streets of major cities had already received approval from the International Association of Athletics Federations even before Sunday‘s epic programme in Manchester. Foster now hopes the Jamaican‘s stunning display and equally outstanding ones from the other top athletes at the meeting, will allow his company Nova International to take the concept not only around the United Kingdom but worldwide. Earlier the proposed programme had already received the approval of a delegation from the IAAF headed by president Lamine Diack who were on a whistle stop visit to the country over the weekend. The IAAF itself determined to make the sport even more more attractive to spectators and attracting youngsters into athletics as part of the development of its World Athletics Plan, instantly recognised the massive value of Foster‘s innovative concept. Diack said: „I was very happy to accept an invitation to come up to Manchester from the Olympic stadium in London, because I believe that Brendan Foster, and his Nova team, has exactly the right idea when it comes to promoting our sport in a different way. Not only is the Great Manchester Run a great road race – with superb support from the general public and 30,000 participants of all ages and abilities – but now he is enhancing that by adding sprint events on a special track, laid especially. I totally support creative ideas like this one, which help to bring athletics to the city centre – out of the stadium to the streets – and especially when you invite top athletes like Usain Bolt and Christine Ohurougu which increases the promotional value. My personal view is that while “traditional†athletics of course, is still very popular at Olympics, World Championships and Golden League level, we need to be more open minded and creative about reaching the general public with our sport – more often – and in new ways. As IAAF – we need to have creativity in our sport if we want to remain relevant – especially to the young.“
BOOK ABOUT SPOTAKOVA
PRAHA (CZE): Czech javelin Olympic winner and world record holder Barbora Spotakova presented today in Praha a book called “Bara†(the short version of her name). It is a biography about her childhood, youth age, training and golden Olympic throw among others. At the presentation also the legendary male thrower Jan Zelezny was as a special guest and helped to christen the book. The author is Petr Cermak a writer who also was responsible in the past for a book about decathlete Tomas Dvorak. “I had more offers to write a book after Olympic games. My first thoughts were, maybe it is too early for that, I m not ending my career, but then I realised that the Olympic win was a kind end of one part of my career. And it was also a special story,†she was quoted. She plans to open the season next week on May 26 in Turnov at Danek Memorial and the continue on June 3 in Strasbourg, France on June 8 in Praha at Odlozil Memorial and on June 17 in Ostrava at Golden Spike IAAF Grand Prix meeting. “My training was good, the shape is pretty much the same as last year in the same time. Yes, I think it is possible to break the world record, my last year mark in Stuttgart should not be the final word,†Spotakova said for Czech media.
BOLT WANTS TO DEFEND IN 2012
MANCHESTER (GBR): Star sprinter Usain Bolt has denied reports that he will not defend his 100 metres and 200m title at the 2012 London Olympic Games. Writes David Martin. Bolt who thrilled spectators at Sunday‘s Bupa Great CityGames sprint when achieving the world‘s fastest ever 150m time of 14.35seconds, insists in his quest to become a sporting legend that he wants to retain both gold medals. The 22-year-old Jamaican, said: „It is always great to go and defend your title. I could never have said that. That would be a great feat for me. I want to be a legend and if I am going to be a legend that would be a milestone for me.“
THREE OLYMPIC WINNERS
UBERLANDIA (BRA): The third out of four Brazilian top meetings will be held on Wednesday in Uberlandia as GP Caixa Sesi 09 and it will be finally an evening event after mornings before. Again scoring as Area Permit for IAAF World Athletics Tour (and long throws having points as GP meet) three Beijing olympic winners will compete. Slovenian Primoz Kozmus in hammer, Portugal´s Nelson Evora again against Cubans and also bronze winner from Beijing Leevan Sands in triple jump and New Zealand´s Valerie Vili in shot put. She improved in Rio last Sunday to world leading and area record 20.69 and hopes to attack 21 metres. US Mike Rodgers runs again 100 m and 200 m, Brazilian in-shape Kleberson Davide will compete again at 800 m. Romanian Rio winner Nicoleta Grasu will be again forced to prove her qualities against Cubans Yarisley Collazo and Yareli Barrios and former world record holder Osleidys Menenedez competes in javelin. In women triple jumpe world leader and world champion Yargelis Savigne of Cuba is the top name. Long jump world leader Brittney Reese will this time run the 100 m. New event is men High jump not only with best home jumper Jesse de Lima but also US Dusty Jonas, Jamie Nieto and Briton Martyn Bernard.
IAAF WITH SAMSUNG
MONTE CARLO (MON): The IAAF is delighted to announce the conclusion of a worldwide marketing partnership with Samsung, the world’s leading consumer electronics‘ brand concerning the World Championships in Athletics. Samsung has agreed to become an Official IAAF Partner of the 2009 and 2011 IAAF World Championships in Athletics in Berlin and Deagu and the 2010 IAAF World Indoor Championships in Doha. Samsung will also help the above mentioned World Championships events with products and provide support for the IAAF‘s Continental and National Championships programmes, thus providing a more direct benefit to the IAAF Areas and Member Federations. With the conclusion of this agreement, the IAAF secures its seventh marketing partner for the 2009 World Championships with the other partners being TDK, Toyota, adidas, Epson, Seiko and VTB as well as Official IAAF Supplier, Mondo.
OTHER NEWS
RABAT (MAR): Kenyan 800 m Olympic champion Wilfred Bungei is out of Rabat meet (this Saturday) due to injury. He will be most probably out of competition until June 15 due to tendon injury in right leg.
GOTZIS (AUT): Because of foot injury thr German world indoor champion Andre Niklaus cancelled his participation at the Hypomeeting in Gotzis end of the month. Last weekend he was forced to stop his competition before the third event. Ratingen will be so his last chance for World Championships qualification. The winners from Ratingen (June 20-21) if having the necessary norm will be proposed to be included into the German team for World Championships in decathlon and heptathlon.
CHANIA (GRE): British triple jump Olympic silver medalist Philips Idowu plans to open the season at 61st Venizelia European Athletics Classic Meeting on June 1 in Chania at Island Creete. Also announced were two important names for women 400 m race. Russian 4×400 m silver medalist from Olympic Games Tatyana Firova and European Champion 2006 Vanya Stambolova of Bulgaria who is returning from doping ban.
WARSZAWA (POL): The 55th Kusocinski Memorial in Warszawa (EA Premium Meeting) on June 7 has its first stars. In men discus Olympic silver medalist Piotr Malachowski will fight against Olympic and world winner legendary Lithuanian Virgilijus Alekna. Special guest at the meet will be the fastest “white†sprinter Marian Woronin who before 25 years at Kusocinski Memorial on June 9 in 1984 sprinted to 10.00. “I m not too sentimental, I would say the time came that somebody will beat my mark. But on the other hand it confirms the quality of my result,†Woronin was quoted by PZLA website.
BAD LANGENSALZA (GER): The traditional long jump meeting in Bad Langensalza planned this year for June 6 will have the best German competing. European Indoor Champion Sebastian Bayer who leaped to 871 in winter will have his first summer competition at home here. As German media are writing possible his also his start at FBK Games in Hengelo on June 1 as opener for him.
NURNBERG (GER): As Derwesten.de informs German city of Nurnberg is no longer the only applicant for the so called „short“ European championships which will be staged for first time in 2012. Now Helsinki a host cityx for the World championships in 1983 and 2005 and European Championships 1994, has also posted its candidature. But first European Athletics still must get the green light from EBU about TV coverage in 2012 what is an olympic year. Also ARD and ZDF are not yet decided. For the next „big“ European Championships 2014 three candidates are known, Zurich, Amsterdam and Helsinki again.
BUCURESTI (ROU): 240 high jumper Sorin Matei was re-elected as head of Romanian Athletics Federation. In the election he got 158 votes over 28 votes for former great middle distance runner Doina Melinte. Former Olympic winner Gabriela Szabo is one of the four vice-presidents.
RESULTS
KYIV (UKR, May 16-17): New national junior hammer record for Andriy Martynyuk 77.58 m (6 kg) at All-Ukrainian Throwing Meet. Senior hammer throwers also confirmed solid shape Artem Rubanko with 78.67 and Iryna Sekachova with 73.02. Andriy Semenov got 20.05 in shot put. 21-years old world junior medallist 2006 Marharyta Dorozhon achieved her first career 60 m mark in javelin with 60.60 m.
VLADIMIR (RUS, May 17): Seventeen years old Russian Valeriy Yordan improved at local meet the U17 World all-time best with 700 g javelin. His mark was 83.02 m, the former best of Finland´s Teemu Wirkkala is 81.85 from 2001. Only five throwers achieved before Yordan 80+ mark with youth javelin, with senior javelin (800 g) the best U17 mark is 79.96 by Aki Parviainen of Finland from 1991.
SANTOS (BRA, May 17): NYC Marathon winner Marilson Gomes dos Santos had planned to run the Healthy Kidney 10-K in New York City the day before this race, but did not receive his passport back in time for the USA consulate in Sao Paulo with his required visa stamp. So, he ran at home about 50 km from Sao Paulo and set a course 10 km record with 28:16. Second Kenyan Stanley Kipleting was clearly beaten with 28:57. Writes Race Results Weekly. Eunice Kirwa of Kenya won the women category in 32:52.
LEIDEN (NED, May 17): Kenyan Simon Kipngetich clocked solid 2:14:07 to win the 19th Leiden Marathon.
GIAVERA A MONTEBELLUNA (ITA, May 17): Italo-Moroccan Said Boudalia won the 10 Mile of Montello road race in 49:12.
PORTO SAN GIORGIA (ITA, May 17): Rotich Solomon from Kenya crossed the finish line as first at the marathon after 2:17:50. Marija Vrajic from Croatia dominated the women‘s race and clocked 2:53:24.
JONESBORO (USA, May 16): Jeremy Scott cleared 572 at Bell Athletics Pole Vault Series meet. As Ed Gordon describes, “we in the US consider the Jonesboro marks as indoors because the entire vaulting pit, etc., plus most of the run, is indoors. There is a door opened at the side of the building to get a longer run.
Special thanks to Alfons Juck, EME News.
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