by Larry EderThe skies are overcast in Eugene, Oregon, as the 35th version of the Nike Pre Classic is about to get underway. RBR interviewed Anna Willard, Dawn Harper, Andrei Silnov, Jesse Williams, Sanya Richards and LaShawn Merritt in the press conference.
Of the fields for 2009, Meet Director Tom Jordan said, ” I will be happy to put our fields up here against any meet in North America, including the past two US Olympic games. This is thanks to Nike, our presenting sponsor and Nutrilite, our supporting sponsor. The meet starts at 10.45 AM tomorrow!
EME NEWS (JUNE 6, 2009) UPDATE
Portugal gets three golds
RIBEIRA BRAVA (POR, June 6): Home Portugal got three out four gold medals at 13th European Cup 10 000 m at Madeira Island. The event was first time held in June (previously in April). Both individual winners clocked second fastest times in Europe this year. Portugal´s Ines Monteiro 31:34.17 PB ahead of Serbian Olivera Jevtic (31:35.92) and team-mates Dulce Felix (31:40.60 PB) and Ana Dias (31:42.94). French Christelle Daunay was fifth (32:02.03) ahead of double winner of this event from past Fernanda Ribeiro (32:20.08, she won before in 1998 and 2003). Portugal was the best women team with second Great Britain the only other women team. Jose Manuel “Chema†Martinez of Spain won this competition for second time after 2004, but this year he was faster with 27:57.61. Silver for home Rui Pedro Silva (28:01.63) and bronze for another home runner Jose Rocha (28:15.44). It was seventh individual Spanish male win. Portugal men team were clear winners ahead of Russia, Spain and Italy. Home teams dominated the event for 8th time (women) and 4th time (men).
Fast British sprinters
GENEVE (SUI, June 6): Dwain Chambers was not missed at this Swiss Meeting as James Dasaolu impressed with great PB at 100 m 10.09 (+0.9) in rain and windy conditions. Harry Aikines-Aryeetey was second (10.17) ahead of Craig Pickering (10.31). In the 200 m Rikki Fifton improved to 20.46 (+0.5) what is European leading time 2009 ahead of Dutch Patrick Van Luijk who got 20.52 PB. In the main race the sprinters were not so fast. Marlon Devonish achieved 20.60 ahead of French world junior champion Christophe Lemaitre (20.68). Former European indoor champion David Gillick of Ireland posted 45.53 400 m win ahead of Briton Conrad Williams (45.70 PB). World junior silver winner Ashlee Nelson won the women´s 100 m in 11.43 (+1.2), Emily Freeman was the fastest at 200 m (23.09, +0.1) and Lee McConnell at 400 m (51.98). British day in Switzerland was then confirmed in relays. Men second team (Dasaolu, Pickering, Fifton, Aikines-Aryeetey) was faster than the first team (Malcolm, Edgar, Devonish, Williamson) with European lead 38.55 against 38.83. Third Netherlands clocked 39.30 ahead of Switzerland (39.44). Women GBR team (Turner, Freeman, Nelson, Douglas) was also pretty fast with 43.33.
Gomes 690, Bayer third
BAD LANGENSALZA (GER, June 6): European indoor champion Sebastian Bayer started his summer season with third place at 16th Long Jump meeting in light rain and 10 degrees. But he was the only one with legal 8 metres mark as his 802 was aided by +1.8. His next meets are ISTAF in Berlin and Golden Spike in Ostrava. The winner Nils Winter achieved 812 (+2.9, legal 795 +1.1) and Briton Chris Tomlinson as second 810 (+2.1, legal, 794 +0.4). Top two years European women marks were achieved by World indoor champion Naide Gomes of Portugal (690, +1.4) and Russian Olga Kucherenko (684, +1.4). Third Karin Melis-Mey improved the Turkish record to 677 (+1.9).
Thorkildsen wins
SEINAJOKI (FIN, June 6): Olympic javelin winner Andreas Thorkildsen won this years first duel with world champion Tero Pitkamäki. Informs sul.fi. At Seinajoki javelin meet he achieved already in first throw second best of the year 88.97 and confirmed the shape in third round with another massive throw 88.86. In 8-10 degrees Pitkamäki in his season opener was even not second, his 82.90 was enough for third.
Second place for Teemu Wirkkala with 84.68. Over 80 also fourth Ari Mannio (82.78). The career head-to-head is now 22:19 for Pitkamäki per Tilastopaja. They will meet next at Golden League opening in Berlin on Sunday June 14 in the jackpot quest.
OTHER RESULTS
ARLES (FRA, June 6): Overnight leaders at IAAF Combined Events Challenge meeting are Italian William Frullani in decathlon (4004) and home Gabriela Kouassi (3488) in heptathlon. Ghana´s favourite Margaret Simpson is only 6th but her 3434 are not far away from the number one position.
NAIROBI (KEN, June 6): Haague Half-marathon winner over Haile Gebrselassie, Kenyan Samuel Kitwara mantained his good form winning the 5000 m at the Kenya Police Championships with 13:41.2 at Nyayo National Stadium on Saturday. Second in close finish was Alex Macharia (13:41.5). Olympic steeplee bronze medallist Richard Matelong dominated in his event with 8:28.5 over Bisluke Kipkorir (8:39.4). Vickson Polonet won the 1500 m in solid 3:38.5. Women 10 000 m winner was Hellah Kiprop (33:03.8). Milka Cheywa was the best at 1500 m (4:12.3).
FLORO (NOR, June 6): At traditional international meet Norway´s fastest woman, the 2007 European Junior Champion, Ezinne Okparaebo clocked fast 100 m in 11.12, but aided by +3.7. She achieved 11.34 (+1.6) in heats and missed so her national record from last year only by 0.02. Record hurdler Christina Vukicevic confirmed her shape with 12.92 (+2.1) and clear win over British olympic finalist Sarah Claxton (13.46). Sweden´s Stefan Tarnhuvud won the 100 m (10.40, +1.8), Kenyan Edwin Kipkorir the 3000 m in 7:49.94 and home Ingvill Makestad the 1500 m (4:13.80).
STAIKI (BLR, June 6): Reigning European U23 hammer Champion Yuriy Shayunov improved at Romuald Klim Trophy meet to second best mark of the year 80.72 m (his first 80+ mark). Second Pavel Krivitskiy achieved 79.48 m. Oleg Dubitskiy got new junior national record with 77.60 (6 kg). In women hammer Mariya Smalyachkova registered 72.86 ahead of Olga Tsander (71.43). 43 years old former world champion Irina Yatchenko again achieved 60+ mark in discus (60.25).
VALENCIA (ESP, June 6): Ruth Beitia cleared 195 (and missed two metres) at Spanish Clubs League. Beatriz Pascual walked the 5000 m in 22:57.30. In Castellon junior hammer record holder Javier Cienfuegos improved with senior implement to 74.77 (another national junior record). Women of Valencia Terra i Mar won their 17th title and men of Playas Castellon the first.
MOSCOW (RUS, June 6): European indoor champion Yevgeniya Polyakova sprinted at Kuts Memorial to windy 11.21 (+3.5) at 100 m (had 11.43, +0.1 in her heat). Lyudmila Mochalina was the fastest at 400 m (52.35) when reigning world indoor champion Olesya Zykina finished only 5th (53.63). Solid distances by Yelena Kofanova (2:00.21 at 800 m), Yelena Sidorchenkova (4:11.58 at 1500 m) and Natalya Popkova (15:13.68 at 5000 m). Natalya Kutyakova registered 14.01 (+1.6) in triple jump. In men events to note 100 m by Andrey Yepishin (10.45, +1.1), high hurdles by Yevgeniy Borisov (13.90, 0.0), 1999 world champion Vyacheslav Voronin cleared 221 in high jump.
SIAULIAI (LTU, June 5): Fast 100 m sprint at Lithuanian Team Championships. Martynas Jurgilas achieved 10.41 (+1.0) ahead of Rytis Sakalauskas (10.44), PB´s for both.
VELENJE (SLO, June 6): 17-years old Barbara Spiler registered new Slovenian senior record at Club Championships in hammer with 64.90 m.
OSIJEK (CRO, June 6): World junior and youth medalist Marin Premeru (18) improved sensationally with men shot to 19.80 m and beat Nedzad Mulabegovic (19.69) during first day of Croatian Cup meet. For Premeru this is third best European junior mark ever with senior implement, only Udo Beyer (East Germany, 20.20 in 1974) and another Croatian Edis Elkasevic (19.95 in 2002) have been better. Vera Begic won the discus (60.46) and second Sandra Perkovic improved to Croatian Junior record 60.26 m.
ST. POLTEN (AUT, June 6): Austrian TOP 4 series started in difficult weather with close 400 m race. Russian olympic relay winner Anton Kokorin beat home Clemens Zeller as both were credited with 46.20. Ryan Moseley was fastest in the 100 m (10.33, +1.7) and in pole vault Slovenian Jure Rovan and US Mark Hollis went over 552 cm.
PRAHA (CZE, June 6): Czech top division Club League continued with second round at Slavia Stadium. Roman Novotny jumped only carefully in bad weather with 780 (+0.1) win. Slovak Peter Horak cleared 220 in high jump and Petr Szetei posted solid 20.85 (0.0) PB at 200 m. Ukrainian guest Inna Sayenko won the hammer (69.24).
BONNEUIL (FRA, June 6): 2001 World champion Amy Mbacke Thiam of Senegal won the 400 m at this D2 category French meet with 52.59. In men discus Austrian record holder Gerhard Mayer (60.23) again beat US Jarred Rome (59.78).
ROAD
OELDE (GER, June 5): Kenyan Leah Malot won the 10 km road race here after 33:01, best German was Susanne Hahn as sixth (33:31). In men race also Kenyan win for Paul Kipkorir (28:06).
BORSKY MIKULAS (SVK, June 6): Slovak 50k record holder Matej Toth won the 40th jubilee “Zahoracka dvadsiatka†20 km walking competition in 1:27:03 (hot weather) and was also crowned Slovak champion at the distance.
Special thanks to our friend, the never sleeping Alfons Juck, EME News.
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