by Larry EderRemember in the movie Blazing Saddles, and the homage to Marlene Dietrich (Lili von Schtupp) by the late Madeline Kahn, in the song, ” I’m tired.” Remember the little backup Prussian saying, ‘ My gosh, she’s tired?” Well, now you get my drift. ( If not, google Blazing Saddles, the seminal Mel Brooks movie, a movie all humans must see to truly appreciate the human condition and western movies.)
Usain Bolt has finally shown us that he, is merely human. A mere human at 6 foot, four inches, who can run the 100 meters in 9.58, the 200 meters in 19.19 and God knows what he can run the 400 meters in? We will, dear readers, just have to wait.
So, our hero, the most popular athlete in the world in 2009, Usain Bolt is running in Thessaloniki, Greece this weekend and then, home to Jamaica, some chicken nuggets, a few late nights dancing with friends and sleep, glorious sleep. No trip to Asia, and a reported $500k payday.
Congrats to US on wining Decanation, 136 points to Germany’s 105, Frances 91 and Russia’s 83. US won 13 of 20 events! One person per event, per country. I want to check that one out next year.
Usain Bolt, August 2008, photo by PhotoRun.net.
BOLT CANCELS ASIA TRIP
DAEGU (KOR): Korean media are informing that world record holder Usain Bolt canceled his Asian trip which was planned after his appearance at IAAF World Athletics Final this weekend in Thessaloniki, Greece. Bolt had initially planned to end his season at a meet in Shanghai on Sept. 20 and Daegu on Sep 25 where the organisers reportedly offered him an appearance fee of more than $500,000 to try to bring the sport‘s biggest star to Korea. The Bolt camp also announced he would not be running in China either and will instead finish his season in Greece before returning home to Jamaica. Organizers will now move to a plan B. „We are trying to invite Asafa Powell of Jamaica and Tyson Gay of the United States, but Gay could be a little hard because he has a thigh injury,“ the committee official said.
USA CLEARLY WINS THE DECANATION
PARIS (FRA, Sep 9): USA was the clear winner of 5th edition of Decanation match in Charlety stadium (men and women are competing in ten events). US won previously twice (2006 and 2008), one win was registered by Russia (2005) and home France (2007). US athletes won 13 out of 20 events and scored 136 points ahead of Germany (105) with home side France distant third (91). Russia fourth (83) with clear margin ahead of Italy (59), Spain (54) and Finland (51). In women category high quality 680 (+1.8) long jump by by Olympic heptathlon medalist Hyleas Fountain. Other US wins to note Monica Hargrove at 400 m (51.59), Maggie Vessey at 800 (2:02.73), Erin Donohue at 1500 m (4:10.62), Damu Cherry over the hurdles (12.85, +0.4). German women had two wins as Verena Sailer was the fastest at 100 m (11.22, +0.6) and Nadine Kleinert the best in shot put (18.92). Russian women scored pole vault win as Tatyana Polnova (455) beat veteran Stacy Dragila (445). But out of team competition world medalist Chelsea Johnson also cleared 455 and had better attempts series than the Russian. Two home wins for Sophie Duarte in steeple (9:43.51) and Melina Robert-Michon in discus (63.04, with Olympic winner Stephanie Trafton-Brown good second 61.55). In men events USA won 8 times, two remaining wins for Germans Christian Reif in long jump 818 (+1.4) and his team-mate discus world champion Robert Harting (66.91). In US team Mike Rodgers posted 10.10 (+0.8) in the 100 m and olympic winner Angelo Taylor 45.68 at 400 m, also fast Joel Brown at 110 m hurdles (13.35, +1.9). Middle distance domination was clear by Nick Symmonds (1:48.68 at 800 m), Will Leer (3:48.65 at 1500 m with German Eberhardt and French steeple European record holder Tahri beaten) and Dan Huling in steeple (8:47.14). Derek Miles scored a great win over French heroes in pole vault with 570 as Romain Mesnil and Renaud Lavillenie cleared only 560. Dan Taylor beat in shot put world medalist Ralf Bartels (20.68-20.56).
OTHER NEWS
LONDON (GBR): Latest Pat Butcher´s blog at www.globerunner.org called Ethiopia’s Charm Offensive, Following in Haile‘s Footsteps.
LAUSANNE (SUI): European Athletics announced the nominations for the 2009 European Athletics Rising Star Awards presented by Mondo, recognizing the future stars of the sport in Europe. Voting takes place on the European Athletics website until 20 September 2009 from a shortlist including stars from this year‘s European Athletics U23 Championships and European Athletics Junior Championships, as well as other athletes under the age of 23 who performed exceptionally well this year. The winners of the European Athletics Rising Star Awards along with the winners of the European Athlete of the Year Awards presented by Mondo will be invited to receive their awards at the European Athletics Convention in Budapest on Saturday 17 October.
HAMBURG (GER): The title sponsor of Hamburg Marathon will continue its support and so the traditional spring marathon will be organised also next year. The 25th edition is planned for April 25 2010. Organisers are hoping for 25,000 runners.
RESULTS
BRNO (CZE, Sep 9): At Long Jump meeting home win for Stephan Wagner (789, +1.7) over Jamaican veteran James Beckford (784, +1.0), olympic finalist Roman Novotny (782, +1.9) and German Nils Winter (769, +2.6).
BREZICE (SLO, Sep 9): World champion Primoz Kozmus won the last meeting of national Grand Prix series in his home-town with 78.20. Matic Osovnikar sprinted to solid 10.42 (+0.4) at 100 m. Miran Vodovnik came close to his national record in shot put (20.42) and Croatian Jurica Grabusic posted 13.62 (+1.4) at 110 m hurdles.
CORRECTION
PORTLAND (USA, Sep 6): The hammer throw result of Koji Murofushi was not in Eugene, but in Portland at the throwing center of Concordia University.
Special thanks to Alfons Juck, EME News, who we worship.
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