by Larry Eder
Blanka Vlasic, 2011 adidas NYC GP, photo by PhotoRun.netVlasic changes agents
MONTE CARLO (MON): High jump star, world and European gold medalist Blanka Vlasic
has changed management. After many years with Austrian agent Harald
Edletzberger Blanka Vlasic has now joined agents Daniel Wessfeldt
and Stina Funke in JRS Sports Management, with offices in Monaco and
Sweden. ” I have known Daniel and Stina for many years and feel confident
with them and their network. I am now looking forward to a strong
2012 and I will kick off the season with a training camp in South
Africa and after that a couple of indoor meetings. The main goal for
2012 is of course the Olympic Games in London,” she said in a statement forwarded by Daniel Wessfeldt.
USA Today predictions
NEW YORK (USA): USA Today predicted results of Olympic Games in London.
For athletics they named top 8 in every event. From Daegu winners the
compilers are trusting 10 men (Bolt at 200 m, Kiprop, Kemboi, Borchin,
Bakulin, Rudisha, Harting, J. Williams, D. Phillips and A. Kirui) and 10
women (Jeter, Pearson, Kaniskina, Montsho, Cheruiyot at 5000 m,
Chernova, Reese, Murer, Adams and E. Kiplagat) to win also in London. In
relays they see three repeats from Deagu (men of Jamaica at 4×100 m and
USA at 4×400 m and US women at 4×400 m). Interesting to see their
prediction of Yohan Blake winning the 100 m ahead of Asafa Powell with
Usain Bolt third. US wins are foreseen in 110 m hurdles (Oliver), 400 m
(Wariner) and shot put (Cantwell). From Europeans they trust to Mo Farah
at 10 000 m, Andreas Thorkildsen in javelin, Renaud Lavillenie in pole
vault, Philips Idowu in triple jump and Krisztian Pars in hammer. Other
wins for Cuba (Suarez in decathlon), Ethiopia (Merga at 5000 m) and
Puerto-Rico (Culson at 400 m hurdles). In women events US win for
Allyson Felix at 200, from Europeans Betty Heidler in hammer, Blanka
Vlasic in high jump and Barbora Spotakova in javelin. Africa should get
golds in the 10 000 m (L. Masai), steeple (Chemos) and 800 m
(Jepkosgei). Asian wins in the 1500 m (Jamal) and triple jump (Rypakova)
and remaining are Yareli Barrios for discus, Melaine Walker at 400 m
hurdles and Jamaican women in the 4×100 m relay.
Bolt and Jeter by All-Athletics.com
BUDAPEST (HUN): Respected data and stats website All-Athletics.com
announced its Athletes of the Year 2011. They are sprinters Jamaican
star Usain Bolt and US 100 m world champion Carmelita Jeter. On the
continental level the best in Africa are David Rudisha and Vivian
Cheruiyot, in Asia Liu Xiang and Maryam Jamal, in Europe Mo Farah and
Tatyana Chernova, in Oceania Mitchell Watt and Sally Pearson and in
South America Fabiana Murer and two male athletes sprinter Bruno de
Barros and long jumper Irving Saladino. For North and Central America
the top ones are the world best.
Bolt´s fan base growing
KINGSTON (JAM): Usain Bolt publicist Carole Beckford informs that with
210 days to go before the London Summer Olympic Games, Usain Bolt is
about to set another record. His Social Media numbers have been
improving rapidly and even in off season, he seems to be attracting new
fans. Bolt’s Facebook numbers are moving closer to 6 million and he
stands to achieve that before the Games. On Twitter his number has
doubled in less than six months. Facebook Fans total 5.72 million, while
Twitter has shown great growth since May moving from 125,000 then to
328,000. The interaction for Bolt, who talks ‘often’ to his fans has
opened up a new set of opportunities for him. Since November he has
added over 87,000 fans on Facebook and just under 20,000 Twitter
followers. Although Bolt is reaping rewards from the track, off the
track he has been making a significant contribution to charity, by
pledging his support to the 14th Sigma Corporate Run (February 19,
2012); and continues to support projects through his Usain Bolt
Foundation. Coming up early in 2012 a few major projects will be
announced including business partnerships and more charity activities.
Bolt and his Racers Track Club team mates are in full preparation mode
for the active 2012 track and field season. He has been also nominated
for the RJR Sports Foundation Awards, scheduled for Friday, January 20
in Kingston.
France has the biggest number of top meetings
BUDAPEST (HUN): In one day meetings rankings by All-Athletics.com France
has the biggest number of events in the top 100 with 10. Second is
Germany 9 followed by Italy and USA with 8. Fifth position in this
ranking for Belgium (6) ahead of Brazil with 5. Four meetings in the top
100 rankings are organised in Switzerland, Spain and Sweden. Three in
Great Britain, China, Canada and Finland. Three countries are not havig a
meeting in the top 100 but had one in 2010. They are Greece, Ireland
and India. Although Weltklasse Zürich achieved the highest Participation
Score, it is Herculis Meeting of Monaco which has the best total
Competition Score and is ranked first in the 2011 All-Athletics.com
Competition Rankings in the Invitational/One-day outdoor competitions
category. Writes All-Athletics.com. Best meets in other areas are Rabat
in Africa, Doha in Asia, Sydney in Australia and Rio de Janeiro in South
America.
END OF THE YEAR RACES
MADRID (ESP): Double olympic winner from Beijing Tirunesh Dibaba is
returning to racing at 47th San Silvestre Vallecana end of the year race
on Saturday in Madrid. She will face home star Marta Dominguez at the
10 km distance. Last competition of Dibaba is registered from August
2010 in London at the 5000 m on the track. Also in the field Ethiopian
Gelete Burka and other home star and Daegu 1500 m bronze winner Natalia
Rodriguez. In men´s race Ayad Lamdassem, Chema Martinez, Jesus Espana,
Manuel Olmedo are facing Eritrean Teklemariam Medhin and Portugal´s
veteran Rui Silva.
BOLZANO (ITA): New addition into the field of 37th BOClassic end of the
year race in Bolzano is Half Marathon world champion Wilson Kiprop.
Already earlier announced were world champions
Imane Merga with Vivian Cheruiyot. The elite races (women 5 km, men 10
km) will be broadcast live by RAI Sport 1. Another top name is Kenyan
Edwin Soi who won here already three times. Also to mention Spanish
European 1500 m champion Arturo Casado, Moroccan Abdelaziz El Idrissi
and Ukrainian Sergiy Lebid. In the women field to mention Ibtissam
Lakhouad from Morocco, Portugal´s Ana Dias, Hungarian Krisztina Papp,
Ethiopian Afera Godfay and home top runner Silvia Weissteiner.
PEUERBACH (AUT): The Austrian end of the year race in Peuerbach will
have top quality field on Saturday headed by road world record holder
Leonard Komon for the men´s 6.8 km. Also in the race Josphat Bett of
Kenya, Moroccan title defender Najim El Qady, Germans Jan Fitschen and
Steffen Uliczka, Czech group is headed by miler Jakub Holusa. Women´s
5.1 km race has last two years winner Asmera Work Bekele of Ethiopia
running with German marathon star Irina Mikitenko and Hungarian Aniko
Kalovics. Austrian elite is fully represented and headed by Gunther
Weidlinger, Andreas Vojta and Andrea Mayr.
NEW YORK (USA): Canadian Carmen Douma-Hussar and Landon Peacock lead the
elite fields for Saturday night’s Emerald Nuts Midnight Run in Central
Park. The New York Road Runners, who will organize this iconic
four-mile road race held at the stroke of midnight for the 33rd time,
expect 5000 runners to take part.
SAO PAULO (BRA): For San Silvestre of Sao Paulo at 15 km top Kenyans Matthew
Kisorio, Martin Lel, Duncan Kibet will face Ethiopian Tariku Bekele and
home star Marilson Gomes dos Santos. The Brazilian best runner won here
already three times in 2003, 2005 and 2010.
OTHER NEWS
MOSCOW (RUS): Another win for high jump World champion Anna Chicherova.
She was voted Russian Sportswoman of the Year 2011 by the sports daily
Sport Express. In the poll around 100 journalists participated. In an
interview she said her plan for 2012 is to jump 210 or even higher.
PARIS (FRA): Fastest European Christophe Lemaitre said for L´Équipe that
he wants in 2012 more concentrate on the 200 m. He thinks there is more
potential for him at this distance. Lemaitre also confirmed his indoor
season will be short without competing at the World Indoor Championships
in Istanbul. Also summer he is not planning to many competitions apart
of European Championships and Olympic Games.
GLASGOW (GBR): Daegu double bronze medallist Kim Collins will launch
his 2012 assault in Glasgow at the Aviva International Match before
testing his Olympic credentials against former World Record holder
Asafa Powell in an explosive Aviva Grand Prix encounter in
Birmingham. The 35-year-old former World Champion, who defied critics by taking
100m and 4x100m bronze at the IAAF World Championships in Daegu,
South Korea, this summer, will represent the Commonwealth Select
side at Glasgow’s Kelvin Hall on 28 January before heading to
Birmingham to race at the NIA on 18 February. Collins will contest both the 60m and 200m events in Glasgow before
turning his attention to a blistering 60m showdown with Powell in
Birmingham. Collins also aims to run at the World Indoor Championships in Istanbul. Organizers are informing in a release.
EDINBURGH (GBR): Recently crowned European champions Atelaw Bekele and
Fionnuala
Britton will head the European Select men and women’s side at the
Bupa Great Edinburgh XCountry in the New Year. The Belgian and
Irishwoman after their solid victories at the
Championships in Velenje will start favourites in the International
Team Challenge against the Aviva Great Britain and Northern Ireland
squad and Team USA in Holyrood Park on 7 January. Bekele is part of
an extremely strong Euro men’s contingent which
also includes Ayad Lamdessem (second), Joe Sweeney (fifth) and
Javier Garcia (sixth) at the Championships as well as Sergiy Lebid
the former nine time gold medallist who will captain the team.
Britton will captain the continental side in the 6km race which also
includes Spaniard Delores Checa who proved herself to be Europe’s
fastest 5000 metres performer this year in the women’s race which
has been added to the programme for the first time. The Bupa Great
Edinburgh XCountry will also feature what will be a
very fast 3km clash between all of the current Olympic distance
running gold medallists Kenenisa Bekele, Asbel Kiprop and Brimin
Kipruto. Writes David Martin.
DURHAM (USA): Insidethegames informs that US Paralympic sprinter Jerome Singleton has been fitted with a
new prosthetic leg that he hopes will help him win gold at London
2012. Singleton will be a strong contender in London and will hope to
repeat his 100 metres victory over South African Paralympic champion
Oscar Pistorius in Christchurch earlier this year at the IPC World
Championships. Despite being born without a fibula Singleton is currently the
fastest amputee on the planet and has now been fitted with a new
prosthetic leg in Honea Path in South Carolina.
MADRID (ESP): Middle distance runners Natalia Rodriguez and Manuel
Olmedo were voted Spanish Athletes of the Year 2011 by Spanish Athletics
Federation and magazine Atletismo Espanol. The Daegu 1500 m medalist
Rodriguez got 8471 votes ahead of Nuria Fernandez 4270 and Dolores Checa
3855. Best non-runner was fourth placer high jumper Ruth Beitia (3740).
In men´s order Olmedo got 8039 votes ahead of Jesus Espana 6804 and
sprinter Angel David Rodriguez 6234. Fourth is discus thrower Mario
Pestano 4730. Top junior athletes are Tallinn 5000 m and 10 000m winner
Gabriel Navarro and triple jumper Ana Peleteiro medalist from Lille
World U17 Championships. Top ones in the U23 category are 800 m runner
Kevin Lopez and walker Julia Takacs. Enrique Pascual is the coach of the
year (Olmedo) and top club is Valencia Terra i Mar. The Gala awards
evening will be held on January 21 in Sevilla.
OSLO (NOR): Norwegian athlete of the year 2011 is sprinter Jaysuma Saidy Ndure. He was Daegu 4th placer in the 200 m race.
HENGELO (NED) : The FBK-Games stadium might add an indoor facility
to its complex reveals newspaper The Stentor. The warm-up area that
is currently used for the FBK Games will be removed, opening up
plans to add an indoor warm up area that could be used for the IAAF
World Challenge meeting in Hengelo.
DUBLIN (IRL): Ciaran O Lionaird is among the Irish athletes with
preliminary entries for the world indoor championships in Istanbul
in March and the Irishman is ready to answer the call if things go
to plan. O Lionaird is now training with Alberto Salazar in Portland
and told the Irish Examiner “Everything is great here in Beaverton,
I spent Christmas at Nike WHQ, staying in the routine. We are in the
middle of a hard training block here so I didn’t want to disrupt
it.” O Lionaird is one of Ireland’s hopes for the London Olympic
Games.
SOFIA (BUL): Bulgarian Athlete of the Year 2011 Vania Stambolova is in
preparation for the indoor season and aims to run the 400 m at World
Indoor Championships in Istanbul. She was world championships finalist
in Daegu at 400 m hurdles.
ROAD TOWN (BVI): With three national indoor records under her belt and four NCAA All
America Honors to her credit in her senior year, Chantel Malone was
crowned the 2011 Sol British Virgin Islands senior Female Athlete of The Year, during the
BVI Athletics Association’s 3rd annual Athletes Awards Recognition
Gala, held at Drakes Point at Fort Burt, on December 28. Malone, who was the 2009 and 2010 Sol BVI Jr. Athlete of the Year,
completed her eligibility at the University of Texas. During the
season she broke Ashley Kelly’s 400m National Indoor Record, after
running 53.23 seconds, then improved on her Long Jump standard with
a leap of 665 and extended her own triple jump mark to
13.45m. There was no senior male award presented for the second successive
year. Informs CAC website.
AUSTIN (USA): Michael Johnson believes Usain Bolt can cement his
legendary status by stepping up to 400m and has backed the Jamaican
to break his world record. Johnson believes Bolt has the talent to
break his world record if he decides to step up to the one-lap
event. “He was a 400m runner before he was a 100m and 200m runner,”
Johnson told ESPN. “He has always been great as a 200m runner but he
was a good 400m runner when he was very young.
LONDON (GBR): Latest blog by Pat Butcher at www.globerunner.org: The
Coe & Ovett Olympics on BBC Radio.
RESULTS
TRNAVA (SVK, Dec 30): At the traditional Weight Throw competition (10.5
kg) outdoors European Champion 2010 Libor Charfreitag won with good
41.65 m. In the 29th edition he achieved already his 17th win, his meet
best is 43.28 from 2003. Charfreitag was satisfied as he is not
preparing for weight throw competitions this season. Second was another
NCAA Champion Marcel Lomnicky with personal best 39.91 m. World 2009
medalist Martina Hrasnova won the women competition with new meet record
25.94 m. Her previous one was 24.64 from 2007. Charfreitag returns to
his training base in Dallas on January 4, Hrasnova travels early January
to her first training camp in South Africa (Potchefstroom) and Lomnicky
will fly back to Blacksburg, Virginia to complete his last NCAA indoor
eligibility season.
SITTARD (NED, Dec 29): At an indoor pole vault meet German Bjorn Otto
cleared 552 and Belgian Chloe Henry went over new national indoor women
record with 422 cm.
CHELYABINSK (RUS, Dec 17): Late addition from Russia. World pole
vault finalist Dmitriy Starodubtsev improved twice his best during an
indoor students competition. In first attempt at 580 and also at 590. He
tried then three times at six meters. His former best was 575 from
2008, he is also World Junior champion 2004 and European Junior champion
2005.
CORRECTION
GENT (BEL): The international meet will be held on February and not January, the 18th.
