by Larry Eder
MERRY CHRISTMAS TO ALL SUBSCRIBERS!
BOLT OVER BLAKE AT 100 M
(GBR): In the annual World Top Ten merit rankings by Athletics
International (and published by Athletics Weekly) in 8 men and 3 women
events Daegu World Champions are not the number ones. The selection
panel consisted of Peter Matthews, Mel Watman, Stan Greenberg, Mirko
Jalava, Alfons Juck , A Lennart Julin and Ed Gordon. The panel assessed
the year’s records of the leading contenders and the ranking order was
determined by consensus. Among the factors considered were athletes’
placings in significant competitions followed with the quality of
athletes’ best marks, their consistency, and win-loss records against
other ranked competitors. Marks made indoors were not considered, nor
were any athletes who were suspended for 2 years during the year for
drug-related offences. In the men´s 100 m Usain Bolt is ranked number
one over World champion Yohan Blake. In similar situation Jason
Richardson at 110 m Hurdles ranked as second behind Cuban Dayron Robles.
In pole vault Pawel Wojciechowski is second to French Renaud
Lavillenie, the same in hammer as Koji Murofushi is second with
Krisztian Pars beeing the leader and Mathias De Zordo second to Andreas
Thorkildsen. Third in rankings from world champions is Dwight Phillips
in long jump (first Mitchell Watt and second Ngoni Makusha), fourth is
David Storl in shot put (ahead of him Dylan Armstrong, Reese Hoffa and
Christian Cantwell as 1-2-3). The lowest from world champions in
marathon as Abel Kirui is ranked 7th with world record holder Patrick
Makau beeing the leader. In rest of 14 events the Daegu winners are
leading the rankings. Women in 2011 had only three cases with Daegu
winners not beeing on top. In the 1500 m Jennifer Simpson is fourth with
her team-mate Morgan Uceny on top followed by Maryam Jamal and Hannah
England. In marathon Edna Kiplagat is third because Lilya Shobukhova and
Mary Keitany are 1-2. World record holder Betty Heidler leads hammer
with Tatyana Lysenko second. The remaining 18 events are having World
champions on top. The prestigious rankings by Track and Field News will
be published on January 1.
CHRISTMAS SPECIALS
TRAINING:
Sprinting super star Usain Bolt had training on December 24 but will
get two extra days off. That is Monday and Tuesday as for him Sunday is
regular rest day. The fastest man on earth will be back to training on
Wednesday. Heptathlon star Jessica Ennis won’t be following the
footsteps of fellow multi-event legend Daley Thompson and training on
Christmas Day. Ennis says for UK media Sunday will be treated as her
usual day off as she prepares for the most important year of her life.
Czech decathlon star Roman Sebrle will have the days off with his two
children and wife Eva. Legendary javelin world record holder Jan Zelezny
gave free time to his group until January 3. They will of course have
some jogs and other activities in the mean-time but nothing major.
Slovak hammer star Libor Charfreitag came home to Slovakia from Dallas
for two weeks and will even compete on December 30 in Trnava in winter
outdoor weight throw. Blade Runner Oscar Pistorius was also in training
on December 24, but will not be at the track on Sunday what is his usual
rest day.
BIRTHDAY: Christmas Birthday for US world medalist sprinter
Wallace Spearmon. He celebrated his 26 years on December 24. He is back
in training after missing most of 2011 due to injury.
OTHER NEWS
VOLGOGRAD
(RUS): Russian star olympic winner and world champion Tatyana Lebedeva
was elected the President of athletics federation of Volgograd region.
She is also vice-president of All-Russia Athletics federation and
prepares for a come-back in olympic year. Another top athlete living in
Volgograd Yelena Isinbayeva supported the decision of Lebedeva to accept
the elections result.
NAIROBI (KEN): Kenya national athletics coach Julius Kirwa
predicts a tough 2012 athletics year for the Kenya after excellent
performances this year. Kirwa believes Athletics Kenya will have to work
hard to ensure to maintain the high standards set by athletes both at
regional and global levels of competition. “2011 was a very good year
for our runners and the challenge now is to ensure we take the same
performances to next year particularly because it is an Olympics year,”
said Kirwa. Kirwa said he will be laying a special focus on reclaiming
the 800m gold medals that were won by Wilfred Bungei and Pamela Jelimo
at the 2008 edition of the games held in Beijing, China. “Kenya has
abundant talent and all that matters is a great understanding between an
athlete and coach,” he said. “I have a vision that we are going to do
well and the athletes have also shown they are ready to work hard as
they did this year.” “You know surprises in Kenya can come from anywhere
and we might even have some unknown athletes making the list the
Olympic Games,” observed Kirwa. All-Africa.com informs.
RIGA (LAT): World long jump bronze winner Ineta Radvica was
voted Latvian Sportswoman of the Year 2011. In the shortlist for that
award also other track athletes heptathlete Aiga Grabuste and javelin
thrower Madara Palameika. In the male short list no track representative
was listed. The traditional awards evening was held in Splendid Palace
Theathre.
NAIROBI (KEN): The Nation informs that a school named in
honour of former world 800 metres champion Janeth Jepkosgei was opened
in Nandi County on Friday ahead of Saturday’s Shoe 4 Africa women’s road
race in Iten. Athletics Kenya national chairman, Isaiah Kiplagat, and
the founder of Shoe4Africa, Toby Tanser, led residents of Kabirirsang
village in the official opening of Janeth Jepkosgei Shoe4Africa Primary
School, Kapsumbeiywo. Shoe4Africa spent 8 million Kenyan shilling on the
project that has an administration block and classrooms.
EGMOND (NED): Boston marathon winner in 2010 Kenyan Robert
Kiprono Cheruiyot signed for the 40th PWN Egmond Half Marathon on
January 8. Also in the field Eritrean Samuel Tsegay and Kenyan Wilfred
Kirwa (last year second placer here).
BUCURESTI (ROU): Hammer throw European U23 Champion and Daegu
6th placer Bianca Perie was named Romanian Athlete of the Year 2011.
Romanian Athletics Federation announced her name from shortlist of other
14 athletes who were also awarded without specific rankings. They are
Marian Oprea, Ligia Grozav, Roxana Perie, Denisa Dragomir, Rebeca Rus,
Andreea Ograzeanu, Esthera Petre, Carmen Toma, Alexandru Ghinea, Bianca
Razor, Alina Rotaru, Elena Panaet, Ioana Doaga and Ioana Dan.
RESULTS
MOSCOW
(RUS, Dec 24): During second day of Students Meet 60 m national
champion Natalya Murinovich won her 300 m heat in 40.18 but overall
fastest was Yekaterina Vukolova 39.68. In the men´s 300 m the fastest by
Artem Vazhov (34.35). Andrey Patrakov cleared 225 in the high jump and
junior medalist Aleksey Fyodorov achieved 16.25 in the triple jump.
Aleksandra Pavlyutenkova posted 2:48.57 in the 1000 m.
MOSCOW (RUS, Dec 24): In the opening indoor meet fast 600 m by only 15 years old Anna Ustinova (born 1996) 1:32.95.
CHARLEVILLE-MEZIERES (FRA, Dec 23): Kenyan Sammy Kagara Main won here a 8 km road race (23:00).
