by Larry Eder
Bernard Lagat, 2009 Nike Pre Classic, photo by PhotoRun.net
A slight drizzle, but no thunder claps, so the crowd is coming to adidas Grand Prix 2011. This meet is a testament to the very hard work of the team under the watchful eye of Global Athletic & Management, and the support of the sponsors, including adidas.
With great sprints, throws, jumps and distances, the meet will be tremendous! Looking foward to some great competition.
Lukas Verzibas, 2010 adidasGPNYC Jim Ryun Mile,
photo by PhotoRun.net
photo by PhotoRun.net
Mekhissi will Train
PARIS (FRA): European steeple champion Mahiedine Mekhissi-Benabbad after clocking European lead in Oslo will be back in preparation in Font Romeu. “It was not my day, it was not really my performance,” he commented on his result in Oslo as he was aiming to attack the European record after improving at 1500 m in Rabat. His next race is scheduled for Reims on July 5 at the 2000 m and he thinks about Areva Diamond League on July 8 for the steeple. His main home rival Boubdallah Tahri is planning to open with flat 3000 m in Metz on June 27.
8 SUB 10 RUNNERS IN THE BLOCKS
NEW YORK (USA): The 100 m is now being staged as A and B race in New York and the field for the A-race is superb. Two fastest currently in the lists Tyson Gay and Steve Mullings will run. Also with them other sub 10 runners Nickel Ashmeade, Keston Bledman and US Mike Rodgers. Trinidad’s Richard Thompson and US Travis Padgett and Trell Kimmons are also having sub 10 bests, the only runner with non-sub 10 is Rae Edwards, but he has 10.00. The race is scheduled for 16.50 hrs local time. Weather in New York currently not very favorable.
DE ZORDO AT HOME
REHLINGEN (GER): The 47th Pfingstsportfest in Rehlingen will have on Monday as top headliner the men´s pole vault with German elite headed by Raphael Holzdeppe, Fabian Schulze and Alexander Straub against Russian Sergey Kucheryanu and Briton Steven Lewis. In women pole vault Kristina Gadschiew is the top name. Javelin DL winner Matthias De Zordo who comes from the region will fight with Mark Frank and strong Igor Janik of Poland. 2003 World Champion Kim Collins is the star of the 100 m. French Barcelona medalist Veronique Mang runs the women 100 m, Senegal´s Joumah Fatou the 400 m and Trinidad´s Jo Lucas the 400 m hurdles. In the men´s 400 m Martyn Rooney is the best name. African Champ Kabelo Kgosiemang is the headliner of men´s high jump. Germans Robin Schembera at 800 m and Carsten Schlangen at 1500 m will have tough African opponents. For example Nadjim Mansour of Algeria in the 800 m and Abdelaati Iguider of Morocco in the 1500 m.
MAKUSHA 9.89 AT 100 m
DES MOINES (USA, Jun 10): On the wet track in Des Moines Ngoni Makusha, the long jumper from Zimbabwe made for the headlines with new College record, national record 9.89 (+1.3) in the 100 m. He is also now third fastest African ever behind Fasuba (9.85) and Fredericks (9.86). Second Rakieem Salaam also clocked personal best 9.97 ahead of Maurice Mitchell (10.00, PB). Salaam is the 79th sprinter ever with sub 10. Makusha also remained long jump winner with superb 840, another national record. Kirani James posted a close win from outside lane in the 400 m (45.10). Initially second Gil Roberts (also 45.10) was disqualified, second Tony McQuay 45.14 ahead of Mike Berry 45.18 and Bahama´s Demetrius Pinder 45.23. Fast 800 m by Robby Andrews (1:44.71) with Charles Jock second 1:44.75, Elijah Greer third 1:45.06 and Casimir Loxsom fourth 1:45.31 (for all four life-time bests). Jeshua Anderson fulfilled his 400 m hurdles favorite role in 48.56. Other winners on the men side include Matt Hughes in the steeple (8:24.87, PB), Erik Kynard in high jump (229) and Jordan Clarke in shot put (19.75, PB and first Alaskan win) and Leonard Korir 28:07.63 at the 10 000 m. On the women side Candyce McGrone sprinted to surprise 100 m win in 11.08 (+1.5) PB ahead of Kimberlyn Duncan 11.09 and Jessica Young 11.14 (all three PB´s ). In duel of juniors Aurieyall Scott as fourth (11.19) was better than English Gardner (7th, 11.25). Jessica Beard was the expected 400 m winner (51.10), German Anne Kessering got the 800 m title (2:02.15, PB). Other foreign wins for Patricia Mamona of Portugal in triple jump (14.05, +1.7) and Dorotea Habazin of Croatia in hammer (68.15). Ti´erra Brown won the 400 m hurdles in close duel over Turquoise Thompson (both 55.65). Melissa Gergel was surprise winner of pole vault on count back over Slovenian Tina Sutej (both 445) in pole vault. Ryann Krais scored life-time best 5961 in heptathlon and was also impressive third in 400 m hurdles (55.89).
RESULTS
PIERRE BENITE (FRA, Jun 10): Kafetien Gomis the European medalist leaped to solid 812 (+1.1) at the meet here. Also in women long jump impressive 678 (+1.3) for Eloyse Lesueur. Mohamed Ali Yousef equaled Sudan national record 221 cm to win the high jump.
USTER (SUI, Jun 10): Swiss 10 000 m track champion was Rolf Rufenacht in 29:37.39 and qualified so for World University Games in China.
CLERMONT FERRAND (FRA, Jun 10): Kenyan Paul Melly won the 10 km road race in 28:45 ahead of Ezechiel Nizigiyimana of Burundi (28:46). Best French James Theuri was fourth (28:59). Kenyan Myriam Wangari was the best woman in 32:32 over Nadia Ejjafini of Italy (32:47).
ERFURT (GER, Jun 11): Sabine Krant won not only the national 20 km walk title but also clocked Daegu standard with 1:31:08. Andre Hohne won for 7th time in a row with 1:23:23 but did not come close to the standard 1:22:15. He will have another chance in two weeks in Dublin.
SHENZHEN (CHN, Jun 11): Best resulf of first day of National GP meet was the 801 in long jump by Yu Zhenwei (+0.5).
CHULA VISTA (USA, Jun 9): Top throwing marks for Russ Winger 20.94 in shot put and Vikas Gowda of India 64.91 in discus. Tori Pena of Ireland again improved her own national pole vault record to 434 cm.
