The Berlin ISTAF meet gave 40,000 fans the thrill of a world record by David Rudisha. Here are Alfons Juck’s observations on ISTAF Berlin and the other meetings this weekend…..

EME NEWS (AUG 22, 2010)

RUDISHA FIRST TRACK SENIOR RECORD OF THE YEAR

BERLIN (GER, Aug 22): ISTAF
sensation world record of David Rudisha at 800 m 1:41.09. He had
deliberately played down his intentions of having a crack at Wilson
Kipketer’s long standing performance. Rudisha before the IAAF World Challenge
event made no secret that he intended attacking the ISTAF meeting record of
1:42.98 which Brazil’s legendary Joaquim Cruz achieved 25 years ago. That saw
Rudisha move a little bit quicker than he planned when setting the World’s
first outdoor track record of the summer to the delight of an enthusiastic
47,000 plus crowd who roared him on every inch of the way. Rudisha showing no
signs of nerves or tiredness, sliced a narrow margin from Kipketer’s time
after putting together a perfect first lap where he sat slightly back as
fellow Kenyan pacemaker Sammy Tangui passed the bell in 48.68sec. Rudisha then
powered into the lead and using every ounce of energy and speed in his body the
former World Junior champion went to the front and powering down the
backstraight held a lead of 25m from his floundering rivals with 200m
remaining. Rudisha who came into the race as world leader with a time of
1:41.51, didn’t falter around the last bend and hitting the home straight
maintained his concentration to erase Kipketer’s long standing performance.
„Last year I had a bad time in Berlin,” said Rudisha who suffered
a shock elimination at the 2009 World Championships. „The weather was not
very good and I did not make the final. So I did not want to talk too
much about the world record before today’s race. But I knew it is my day.
I trained very hard, the weather was good. I told the pacemaker to
run the first lap under 49 seconds – he did a great job.” Boaz Lalang and
Abraham Kiplagat in a Kenyan clean sweep claimed the other podium
positions with times of 1:44.34 and 1:44.49. The action packed meeting also saw
Tariku Bekele just two days after winning the Weltklasse Zurich 5000 on Friday
produce a scorching 3000 display. Bekele showed no signs of weariness when
blasting a world leader of 7:28.99 which was also a personal best and
erased the meet record of 7:30.76 set by Ali Saidi-Sief a decade ago.
Kenyan pair of Vincent Chepkok and Edwin Soi who finished in PB and
a season’s bests of 7:31.41 and 7:33.21. There were hopes Silas Kiplagat
would challenge his world 1500m lead and possibly emulate the ISTAF record
which Said Aouita set 25 years ago of 3:29.46. But it wasn’t to be as
unchallenged over the final 400m he did win in an impressive 3:30.61, with
Ethiopian Mekonnen Gebremedhin spoiling a Kenyan 1-2 when dashing
Augustine Choge’s hopes by 0.23sec with a PB of 3:31.57. Christina
Obergfoll gave a massively noisy and enthusiastic crowd at the ISTAF 2010
meeting in Berlin the start they needed when producing a home win to take
the javelin with a season’s best throw of 67.57 metres. Ariane
Friedrich the world silver medallist was pushed to the limit by Antonietto Di
Martino before winning on countback ahead of the Italian who was fourth on that
occasion. The German favourite although keeping a clean sheet to
a height of 1.97m failed when the bar was raised to 2.00m as did Di
Martino who had earlier failures at 1.80m and 1.93m. The biggest failure
however came from pole vaulter Steve Hooker. Desperate to atone for no
heighting in London the previous weekend the Australian had two no-jumps with
the bar at the opening height of 5.41m. Then passing until 5.51m the Olympic
and World champion crashed out adding to his woes of what has been
a season mixed with good and bad results. Italy’s Giuseppe Gibilisco won
with a height of 5.71m with Lukasz Michalski and Giovanni second and third
on countback ahead of Derek Miles, Richard Spiegelburg, Brad Walker and Fabian
Schulze who also vaulted 5.61m. European long jump champion Christian Rief was
struggling to make a podium finish until launching a winning effort
of 8.06m with his final attempt. Another German hero Robert Harting was also in
fine form and after finally getting it right and going into the lead in the
third round with an effort of 65.53m produced further efforts of 66.44m, 66.50m
and 68.24m for a conclusive victory. Former world title holder Reese Hoffa
pulled off his shot victory with fifth round throw of 21.29m to narrowly beat
Olympic champion Tomasz Majewski whose furthest was 21.26m with the host
nation’s Ralf Bartels third after his first effort of 20.73m. Back on the track
the 100m sprints saw Olympic silver medallist Sherone Simpson looking
a lot fitter after injury score her first victory since the Jamaican
Championships in May. Simpson powered through in the last 15m to win clearly
ahead of Kelly-Ann Baptiste by 0.05sec in 11.09sec with European champion
Verena Sailer on home soil third in 11.24sec. There was a Jamaican 1-2 in the men’s event from
Nesta Carter and Mario Forsythe with clockings of 9.96sec and 10.11sec while
Caribbean neighbour Richard Thompson the Olympic runner-up, was third in
10.18sec. Jermaine Gonzales the world 400m leader until superseded when beaten
by Jeremy Wariner in Zurich on Friday returned to winning ways with an easy
victory in a time of 44.90sec. Kaliese Spencer fresh from winning the
Samsung Diamond League 400 hurdles overall prize gave world leader Debbie Dunn
a run for her money in their very close 400m encounter. The pair with Dunn
leading were neck-and-neck almost to the tape, the American winning by 0.08sec
as the Jamaican 23-year-old set a season’s best of 50.64 with her teammate
Shericka Williams third in 50.85sec. World leader Priscilla Lopes-Schliep after
wins in London and Zurich scored a third 100m hurdles victory in nine days
when beating off fellow Canadian Perdita Felicien by 0.14sec in 12.57sec. Ryan
Wilson after his third place over 110m hurdles in Zurich triumphed ahead of the
British pair of Andrew Turner and William Sharman with a mark of 13.27sec.
The two Brits who were wooden spoonists in the Leitzigrund Stadium posted times
of 13.30sec and 13.44sec. World 800 metres champion Caster Semenya after an
authorative victory at
the ISTAF 2010 meeting in Berlin on Sunday confirmed she wants to represent South Africa at the Commonwealth
Games in October. That wish came to fulfilment when the 19-year-old achieved
the target with a time of 1:59.90 ahead of a strong field. Writes
David Martin.

CANTWELL 21.91, ADAMS 20.37

DUBNICA (SVK, Aug 22): Full
stadium with 5000 people saw at 8th Athletics Bridge (EA Classic) meet in
Slovakia meeting records in 10 out of 15 main events. Nice summer weather was
favorable, the only problem was head-wind for the sprinters. The main star was
home European hammer champion Libor Charfreitag who ended third with 77.71 as
he was beaten by his rival Hungarian Krisztian Pars (78.03 and 77.96 both
enough to win) and surprisingly also by Kuwaiti record holder Mohamed
Al-Zankawi (77.93). „I was hoping for a win, but in tough battle
centimeters decided. I think my shape will grow in next days and hope to
come again close to 80 m.
For today 77 was not bad as I did not had enough training after returning
from Barcelona,” said the Slovakian after his first meet since Barcelona.
Slovak athletics did not celebrate a win, but still could be happy from
new national record in the 1500
m women race. Russian pacemaker Olga Soldatova posted
a solid pace (65 and 2:12) and Ukrainian olympic finalist Anna Mishchenko
finished with meet record 4:07.86. With huge finish 800 m Barcelona 4th placer
Lucia Klocova in her first serious 1500 m was second with national mark 4:08.86,
former record of Andrea Sollarova 4:11.91 was achieved in 1993 in Bratislava. „I will
still remain at 800 m
in next two years, I m not switching, but I must admit I m also
surprised with my time,” said Klocova. Diamond Race winner Wallace Spearmon
also clocked meet record in the 200
m at tight curves on the track here and against -3.3
with 20.57. Hopes for Slovak all-comers record in 100 m (10.07) were smashed by
-1.5 wind, still in this conditions Ryan Bailey posted fast 10.13 ahead of
Michael Frater (10.19) and Mike Rodgers (10.21). Both shot put competitions
registered excellent results. First in women Valerie Adams registered two 20+
throws in last two rounds (20.16 and 20.37). The second meet record and season
best for the New Zealander. „New technique with my new coach since April is
starting to bring results,” said Adams. Second Cleopatra Borel-Brown improved
her Trinidad and Tobago record to 19.30. Male world champion Christian Cantwell
after two fouls improved with every throw and ended with meet record and Slovak
All-comers record 21.91 (his fourth best of the season). Poland´s 800 m European champion
Marcin Lewandowski won crowded 1000
m in 2:17.29 what is meet record and Slovak All-Comers
best, but he missed the national mark of Pawel Czapiewski by only 0.07. Young
Kenyan Job Kinyor was second (2:17.53) with Australian Ryan Gregson third
(2:17.69) and Czech Jakub Holusa fourth (2:17.82). Top 9 went under 2:20.
Olympic medalist Micah Kogo was a clear winner of 5000 m (13:26.03, meet
record). Czech European leader Petr Svoboda repeated his last year win and with
the same time 13.39 and again against wind (-0.5). In B-race legendary Allen
Johnson raced for last time (14.22) and had a farewell ceremony in the
stadium at the end of the meet with a firework. „I want to coach now
somebody to medals and records,” said Johnson about his plans. European silver
winner Maksim Mazuryk cleared new meet record 566 in pole vault and tried
at his PB height (583). Honorary guest, legendary Jan Zelezny was satisfied
with his throwers as both returned to 80 meters shape. Vitezslav Vesely twice
improved the meet record (81.99 and 82.89) and Petr Frydrych was second
(81.23). Interesting situation in women 400 m as US Shana Cox clocked 51.82 in B-race and was
the overall winner in changing wind conditions when Denisa Rosolova was slower
by 0.01 in
the A-race (51.83). Expected meet record also for 400 m hurdles European
champion Natalya Antyukh (55.30). Croatian Ana Simic was the surprise of the
afternoon in the high jump as she cleared in third attempt 192, her improvement
by 3 cm.
Blanka Vlasic will finally have at home another solid jumper. Cuban world
champion Yargelis Savigne was a clear triple jump winner with 14.57. All
her valid marks were enough to win. Special guests at the meet also olympic
walk winner Jozef Pribilinec and Czech triple world champ Sarka Kasparkova.
Crowds also applauded for Chicago Black Hawks ice-hockey stars and Stanley Cup
winners Marian Hossa with Tomas Kopecky. Miss Sympathy award went this year to
Valerie Adams.

OTHER
RESULTS

SINGAPORE (SIN, Aug 22): More
finals at the Youth Olympic Games in Singapore where Ethiopian Mohammed Geleto
(2:19.54) and Nigerian Florence Nwakwe (23.46) managed a new personal best
to win the 1000m final and the 200m. Pre-race favorite Chinese Zhenye Xie
stormed to victory in the 200m but his time of 21.22 just narrowly edged out
Japanese Ketsuke Homma (21.27). However in the shot put Polish Krysztof
Brzozowski (23.23) needed a world all time with 5 kg implement to beat Jacko
Gill from New Zealand who also threw a PB of 22.60. Maria Kluchina beat
Italian Alessia Trost in high jump once again with 189 against 186. The long
jump went to Brazilian Cato Dos Santos in 769, Japanese Sho Matsubara jumped
a PB of 765 but only managed second. Easy win for Abrar Osman from Eritrea
in the 3000m with 8:07.24, as well as for Kenyan Gladys Chesir 9:13.58 in the
women’s race. Clear situation also for Argentinian Braian Toledo in the javelin
throw with 81.78, Ukrainian Kateryna Derun won the girls contest with 52.40.

HALDENSLEBEN (GER, Aug 22):
Fast 400m here with LeJerald Betters running 45.40 at the first international
meet here. US Duane Solomon managed 1:46.45 and Jamaican Kenia Sinclair 1:58.77
in the 800m. Fast 22.54 for Anneisha McLaughlin over 200 m (+2.0) over Shareese
Woods (22.71). Jamaican Marvin Anderson clocked 10.32 (-1.9). Kenyan Abraham
Chirchir won the steeple 8:25.98. Slovakian Jana Veldakova won the long jump
with windy 688 (+4.8) over Marestella Torres of Chile (661, +2.7) and Russian
junior talent Darya Klishina (653, +3.9). 18.82 for Nadine Kleinert in the shot
put and 83.50 for Matthias De Zordo in the javelin. Cuban Yarelis Barrios
remains unbeaten in discus (64.83). Przemyslaw Czerwinski of Poland was the
best in pole vault (560).

FALUN (SWE, Aug 22): Final day
of the Swedish championships and gold for Johan Wissman in the 200m with 21.22.
The win in the 100m women’s final went to Lena Berntsson (11.79, -1.1) who
edged out Carolina Kluft (11.83). Kluft went on to win the long jump with 648
(+2.3).

SAO PAULO (BRA, Aug 21-22):
Sandro Viana clocked 10.44 and 20.83 sprint wins at regional championships.

JOENSUU (FIN, Aug 21): Addition
to the meet is that Russian Vyacheslav Shabunin who was 6th in the mile clocked
world masters record with 4:01.62. Former record in the M40 class was by Dave
Moorcroft 4:02.53 in 1993.

SCHORTENS (GER, Aug 21): At the
10 miles
road race course record for Kenyan Shadrack Kemboi clocking 45:23 over
Ethiopian Abera Kuma (45:31). Naomi Mayio of Kenya was the women winner in
55:15.

PARKERSBURG (USA, Aug 21):
Julius Kogo won the News and Sentinel Half-Marathon after 1:02:09 course
record. Mare Dibaba of Ethiopia achieved another course record as best woman in
1:10:20.

AMATRICE (ITA, Aug 21): Steeple
world champion and fresh Zurich winner Ezekiel Kemboi won 8.5 km road race in 24:10 by
one second ahead of Qatari Gamal Belal Salem. Best Italian was Giovanni
Ruggiero as 8th (25:17). Olympic marathon winner Stefano Baldini finished 11th
(25:33). On the women’s side Zhu Xiaolin, fifth at last summer’s IAAF World
Championships Marathon, got the victory in 27:51. She was part of a large
group of Chinese women who competed here, writes Race Results Weekly.

KLAGENFURT (AUT, Aug 22): The
prolific Hungarian road racer Anikó Kálovics won the women’s race, her fourth
road racing victory this year in 1:13:36, writes RRW. Philemon Kisang, who has
a 60:55 half-marathon personal best, won the men’s race easily in 1:02:44.