by Larry Eder
Richard Thompson ran 9.85 at his national championships (Port of Spain) on August 13, which established a new national record and placed him near the top of the sprinter food chain for Daegu, Korea. The Trinidadian is one of the most dangerous and effective sprinters active today. As one Olympic bronze medalist reminded me, ” If you do not consider everyone in a final as potential medalists, you are making a huge mistake.” Thompson is running into shape perfectly.
Caterine Ibarguen, the Columbian record holder in the triple jump, is looking like a real threat in Daegu, with her fine 14.99m NR, WL triple jump. Should be a fascinating event.
And the NB Falmouth Mile, which was won in a new course record by Jordan McNamara, from the Oregon Track Club, who blasted a 3:54.89 mile, leading nine other runners under the 4:00 mark. Canadian Nicole Sifuentes won the women’s mile in 4:31.98 (she won the 5,000m at Payton Jordan Invite on May 1).
THOMPSON 9.85 NR
OF SPAIN (TRI, Aug 13): Olympic silver medalist Richard Thompson set a
national record of 9.85 (+1.0) to win his third national title during
first day of TT Championships. His former mark was 9.89 from Beijing
Olympics final (second behind Bolt). Thompson with his Saturday time is
now 9th in the all-time list with Burrell, Gatlin and Fasuba. It was a
kind of surprise as Thompson did not had sub 10 this year until this
weekend. He said per TrackAlerts: “I know I felt good before the race
and I was ready to dip under 10 seconds, however 9.85 was beyond what I
expected. I am just thankful for it.” Second Keston Bledman got 10.06
ahead of Aaron Armstrong 10.07, Marc Burns 10.09, Emmanuel Callender
10.12, Darrell Brown 10.13 and Rondel Sorrillo 10.17 showing great depth
of sprinting at the Island with population only slightly over one
million. World 400 m medalist Renny Quow won the 400 m in 45.89. In
women 100 m windy 11.00 (+2.2) for Semoy Hackett ahead of Kai Selvon
11.19 and Michelle-Lee Ahye 11.20. Jamaican Richard Phillips won as
guest the 110 m hurdles in 13.61 (+0.9). In guest races Oral Thompson of
Jamaica got the 400 m (46.17) and Miguel Lopez of Puerto-Rico clocked
10.31 (+2.2) in the 100 m.
IBARGUEN 14.99 AR AND EQUALED WL
BOGOTA
(COL, Aug 13): Caterine Ibarguen of Colombia continues in fine shape
ahead of Daegu and improved again the South American triple jump record
to 14.99 (+1.7) at the Gran Premio Internacional de Atletismo at Bogota
altitude of 2644 m (part of South American Grand Prix circuit). She also
equalled the world lead of Yargelis Savigne of Cuba (14.99 in Paris on
July 8). Ibarguen (best mark before Saturday was 14.83 in Stockholm)
started with windy 14.71 (+2.1), had a foul in second before the record
which came in third round. She passed afterwards remaining attempts. In
other events Alvaro Gomez clocked 10.34 (-0.5) at the 100 m, Paulo
Villar 13.52 (0.0) at 110 m hurdles, Dairon Marquez improved to 79.36 in
javelin on the men side. In the women sprints Alejandra Idobo won the
100 m in 11.43 (+0.4) over Eliecit Palacios also 11.43. Yenifer Padilla
clocked life-time best 23.35 (+0.1) at 200 m and Lina Florez 13.12
(+0.2) at 100 m hurdles. Dominican Republic 400 m runners dominated as
Arismendy Peguero got 45.60 and Luguelin Santos 45.97.
MCNAMARA AND SIFUENTES
(USA, Aug 13): As the Elite Women’s race here at the New Balance
Falmouth Mile was finishing up –with Canadian Nicole Sifuentes taking
the win in 4:31.98– Oregon Track Club’s Jordan McNamara was dancing to
the music playing over the P.A. system. Shaking out his legs to the
beat, the 24-year-old from Auburn, Wash., didn’t think he would be the
one dancing as winner after the Elite Men’s race which would be
completed in a little over four minutes time. But that’s just what he
did after breaking the tape in an event record and personal best of
3:54.89, with nine men following him under the four-minute mark. Informs
Race Results Weekly. Jeff See was second in 3:55.24 and AJ Acosta third
3:55.30. In women race second Brenda Martinez 4:32.29 ahead of Erin
Donohue 4:32.52.
VISTA (USA, Aug 13): World indoor record holder Ashton Eaton confirmed
top shape during first day of Jim Thorpe Cup, the 19th edition of
events match USA-Germany. He is competing only in selected events and
clocked in the 100 m fast personal best 10.26 (+1.5). It is second equal
fastest ever in decathlon, but that is in a list of finished decathlons
which he will not do. Chris Huffins posted 10.22 at US Olympic Trials
1996 in Atlanta and Daley Thompson the same 10.26 at European
Championships 1986 in Stuttgart. Eaton also achieved 13.96 in shot put
and 210 in high jump, his outdoor PB. World champion Trey Hardee clocked
10.53 (+1.1) and leaped to 695 (+1.1) in the long jump and olympic
winner Bryan Clay did only 100 m in 10.83 (+1.1). In the match overnight
decathlon leader is German Simon Hechler with 4194 points. Olympic
medalist Hyleas Fountain tested her shape over the hurdles (13.12, +1.9)
and in the 200 m (23.67, +1.9). Here the lead after first day for US
Bettie Wade with 3699 points ahead of German Sara Gambetta 3443.
RODGERS POSITIVE FOR STIMULANT
RALEIGH
(USA): New doping story from sprinters world. Agent Tony Campbell
confirmed for Reuters that Daegu-bound US sprinter Mike Rodgers tested
positive for a banned stimulant. It happened in Lignano, Italy where he
competed on July 19 in the 100 m (third in 10.09) and in the US 4×100 m
team (winners in world leading 37.90). If confirmed this two marks will
be cancelled, but his PB of 9.85 from Eugene Pre Classic will stand.
“Mike made a mistake,” Tony Campbell told Reuters by telephone. “He went
to a club with some friends in Italy and he thought was drinking a Red
Bull (energy drink) but he got one of those energy drinks that had a
stimulant in it.” It is not know exactly what was the substance and
subsequently which kind of ban is Rodgers now facing in case it will be
confirmed after B sample analysis. It could be from warning to longer
bans. “I don’t want anyone to think Mike is a druggie. It was a
stimulant. It was not steroids or anything of that nature,” said
Campbell. USATF did not comment on the case yet.
MULLINGS HOPES FOR CLEARANCE
KINGSTON
(JAM): Jamaica Observer informs that Steve Mullings is confident he
will be cleared of drug cheating charges as allegations swirl after he
returned an Adverse Analytical Finding at the JAAA/Supreme Ventures
National Senior Trials June 23-26. While explaining he was not allowed
to speak to the media yet, when contacted in Florida by the Observer,
the 28-year-old expressed confidence his name would be cleared and he
would be able to continue competing. The Jamaican Team for Daegu is
expected to be finalised on Monday. Observer informs that Mullings B
sample will be tested a day later on Tuesday at the IAAF/WADA-accredited
lab in Montreal, Canada.
I. PHILLIPS TO DAEGU
MANNHEIM
(GER): Jamaican Isa Phillips after running his season best here on
Saturday 48.94 is expected to be included into the World Championships
team. The result, according to Track Alerts’ source, means that
Phillips, who is now the fastest Jamaican, will be included in Jamaica’s
team at 400 m hurdles. Leford Green, Josef Robertson and Roxroy Cato,
along with Danny McFarlane, finished ahead of Phillips at Jamaica’s
trials. McFarlane ruled himself out of contention by saying he doesn’t
want to take the space of anyone who finished ahead of him, especially
since they are the future of Jamaica’s one lap obstacle race. Green
(49.03), McFarlane (49.04) and Robertson (49.37) are the other Jamaicans
apart from Phillips with the A standard while Cato (49.66) has only a B
standard.
ISTANBUL BID
ISTANBUL
(TUR): Istanbul hope that a successful bid for the 2020 Olympics and
Paralympics will be a “platform for change” Turkey’s Prime Minister
Recep Tayyip Erdogan said as he provided more details of their bid.
Erdogan received a standing ovation from a specially selected crowd of
politicians, sports administrators, Olympic officials and international
media as he laid out Istanbul’s plans, claiming that they “learned our
lessons” from its previous bids. Istanbul mounted four consecutive
failed bids, for the 2000, 2004, 2008 and 2012 Olympics. In their last
unsuccessful campaign Istanbul did not even make it onto the shortlist
for 2012, which was won by London. But their chances are considered to
be stronger for this contest and Erdogan, a former Mayor of Istanbul,
has already signalled that he is prepared to offer unprecedented support
to this latest bid. Turkey mounted a strong challenge for the 2016
European Football Championships, only losing to France by one vote in
the election last year. The country will stage World Indoor
Championships in athletics in 2012 and is bidding for European
Championships in athletics 2016. The centrepiece of Istanbul’s bid will
be the Atatürk Olympic Stadium, which was built in 2003 and hosted the
2005 Champions League final between Liverpool and AC Milan. Istanbul
join a field which also includes Madrid, Rome and Tokyo. There could
also be bids from Doha and Durban. The host city will be chosen by the
IOC at its Session in Buenos Aires on September 7, 2013.
RESULTS
ATHENS
(USA, Aug 12): 2007 World Champion Reese Hoffa is tuning his shape
before Daegu at a local meet with 21.41. Second Chang Ming-Huang
improved the Chinese Taipei national record to 20.42 m. Informs
Tilastopaja.
