by Larry Eder
Christian Taylor, Tirunesh Dibaba, by PhotoRun.net
EME NEWS (JUN 2, 2012)
What a night to celebrate Geoff Hollister, Nike employee número three. More detailed stuff to come, but a superb night of track and field. Some deep thoughts:
Christian Taylor is the real thing. Total student of sport, this man is next coming of American triple jumping. He gets it, including competition. Will Claye took second to Taylor’s 17.62m. I believe that we will have two triple jump medals in London. Phillips Idowu will have his hands full.
Alysia Montsho hit 55.49 for 400 meters and held on for dear life. Not since Meredith Rainey and Jearl Miles Clark have I seen such running. Montsho is a medal contender for London. Maggie Vessey, a huge talent, did not hear call for race. As Steve Forbert, a folk singer from the 80s once penned, ” You can not win if you don’t play.”
Alice Schmidt showed her stuff, running a sweet pb at 1,500 meters. Jenny Simpson is about where she should be. Gabriel Anderson is a damn revelation. That girl can finish.
Men’s mile: Russell Brown should be in fray. Centrowitz is coming back from injury , and Alan Webb is having tough time.
Kenyan men’s 10,000 meters. Well, it was a race. 13:43 for first 5,000m, then 13:18 for second 5,000m, as Wilson Kiprop, a 2:09.09 marathoner used a 2:31 last 1,000m, 2:01 last 800m, and 58.6 last 400m to dispatch the best field of the year, with his 27:01.98, pb by twenty-five seconds. Moses Masai took second in 27:02.25 and Bitan Karoki took third in 27:05.50. I was heart broken for Eliud Kipchoge, who suffered through cramps.
Despite cramps, Tirunesh Dibaba ran her best race in three years with her 30:24.6 for 10,000m as world leader. Marathoner Florence Kiplagat ran 10,000 meters in racing flats with five weeks post marathon training.
Loved the women’s hammer throw as Jessica Cosby in fourth, set new AR of 74.19m, as Betty Heidler, with round five throw of 75.93m, showed why she continues to build on her mastery of the hammer throw.
KIPROP, MASAI, KAROKI FOR LONDON
EUGENE (USA, Jun 1): It was just a starter, the main course comes on Saturday. But still what a starter. Three world leads, four meet records and one US record during the Hollister Night at Hayward Field.
Event by event review
Men
International mile: Kenyan James Magut wins in 3:54.16 (3:39.73 1500 m split) over Russell Brown 3:54.48. US mile heroes defeated, Centrowitz 8th (3:57.44), Webb 11th (3:59.47).
10 000 m: Kenyan OT without pacemakers and in rain. Wilson Kiprop world leading 27:01.98 PB (58 last lap like Defar in Rome), the versatile man with 2:09:09 marathon best is an unexpected winner. Moses Masai follows 27:02.25 and Japan-based Bitan Karoki third 27:05.50. This three were confirmed for London. Junior G. Kirui 5th (27:08.44), other favorites E. Kipchoge 7th, M. Kogo 9th, P. Tanui 11th. All 15 finished under 28.
TJ: World champ Christian Taylor as it should be. World lead and meet and stadium record 17.62 (+1.9). Claye (17.49) clearly beats Idowu (17.05) as second.
Women
800 m: Alysia Montano opens the season hugely: 1:57.37 second fastest of the year and meet and stadium record. Behind her two sub 2 personal bests, US Geena Gall 1:59.28 and Canadian Melissa Bishop 1:59.82.
1500 m: 30-years old Alice Schmidt wins with 4:05.64 PB and world champ Jenny Simpson good second 4:06.10.
10 000 m: Tirunesh Dibaba with 30:24.39 world lead (meet and stadium record) qualified for London practically despite stomach pain. It was her first track race at this distance since 2010. Florence Kiplagat who was not selected for olympic marathon was excellent second 30:24.85 but still must qualify at Kenyan trials at home. Third Belainesh Oljira has good chances with 30:26.70 PB for second spot in Ethiopian team. Fourth Werknesh Kidane 30:50.16 small chances, remains to see whether Defar will try at this distance.
DT: Eurochamp Perkovic wins with meet and stadium record 66.92 over former Eurochamp Russian Pishchalnikova 63.76. Oly winner Brown-Trafton three no marks.
HT: Heidler remains unbeaten 2012, this time 75.93 over Wlodarczyk 75.60 and Lysenko 74.95. Fourth Cosby US record 74.19. Bad fall in circle for German Klaas, ended with stitches on her head.
PEARSON 12.74/11.31
BRISBANE (AUS, Jun 2): Hurdles world champion Sally Pearson in her first competition since World Indoor Championships and before trip to Europe won on home soil both 100 m hurdles and 100 m in 12.74 (-0.4) and 11.31 (+0.9). Pearson said: “A bit quicker in the hurdles would have been nice, I was pushing for a time similar to what they ran in Rome yesterday, but the conditions aren’t ideal today and we’re talking about a small meet in Brisbane rather than a big stage like that. The times here today are almost the same as what I ran before heading over for world champs prep last year, and that was in beautiful warm sunshine on the Gold Coast so on the whole I am pretty happy,” she said per Athletics Australia. Her first meet in Europe where she will remain now for the whole season will be in Oslo on June 7. To be based in Cologne, Germany for the coming few weeks, Pearson will then compete at the Paris and London the Samsung Diamond League meets. She will join her Australian Flame teammates in camp at the Tonbridge School in Tonbridge Wells in mid-July. In other events Ben Offereins won the 400 m in 46.11.
ALEMAYEHU 3:38.51
MONTBELIARD (FRA. Jun 1):Alemayehu wa
s fourth 2009 at World Youth Championships, made it to semifinals last year in Daegu and had previous PB 3:34.59 from last year. This season he clocked two 3:37 times in Germany (Dessau, Rehlingen). Second Soufiyan Bouqantar of Morocco clocked 3:38.60 personal best (he is a junior). Other Ethiopian wins here Bereket Desta in the 800 m 1:47.60, Gete Dima women 1500 m 4:14.95 and Mantegbosh Melese women 800 m 2:03.15 PB. Ukrainian Mariya Shatalova won women steeple in 9:49.54. Second former French record holder Elodie Olivares at age of 36 her best steeple since 2009 9:55.73.
s fourth 2009 at World Youth Championships, made it to semifinals last year in Daegu and had previous PB 3:34.59 from last year. This season he clocked two 3:37 times in Germany (Dessau, Rehlingen). Second Soufiyan Bouqantar of Morocco clocked 3:38.60 personal best (he is a junior). Other Ethiopian wins here Bereket Desta in the 800 m 1:47.60, Gete Dima women 1500 m 4:14.95 and Mantegbosh Melese women 800 m 2:03.15 PB. Ukrainian Mariya Shatalova won women steeple in 9:49.54. Second former French record holder Elodie Olivares at age of 36 her best steeple since 2009 9:55.73.
OTHER NEWS
OKOHAMA/LONDON (JPN/GBR): Triple Olympic gold medalist and multi world record holder Usain Bolt continues to be an hot promotion person. Japanese car maker Nissan announced the partnership with Bolt to advertise in Japanese market for the new Nissan Global Brand Campaign. Nissan has launched its first-ever global brand campaign, including a series of airport billboards featuring Bolt and his Nissan GT-R. In other issue on Friday the Jamaica Olympic Association and Puma launched the Jamaican Team uniforms for the London 2012 Olympic Games, including podium and ceremony wear with the help of Jamaican Track Athlete and World’s Fastest man Usain Bolt. Fashion designer Cedella Marley, daughter of Reggae icon the late Bob Marley, unveiled her designs alongside Usain Bolt.
LILLE (FRA): European champion and Beijing bronze winner in the 1500 m Mehdi Baala sustained an foot injury during his training and olympic participation is now under question. Everything will depend on his recovery according to his coach Jean-Michel Dirringer. „If he starts with training in a couple of days, the Olympics will be possible. But if it takes five weeks, it will be very difficult, he needs also to run the standard until July 6,” says Dirringer per L´Equipe.
COLORADO SPRINGS (USA): USADA announced that an independent American Arbitration Association (AAA) arbitrator has issued a decision upholding the two-year sanction of sprinter Mark Jelks (9.99 100 m PB in 2008). The 28-years old Jelks a member of the USADA Registered Testing Pool, which consists of a select group of athletes subject to certain whereabouts requirements in order to be located for USADA Out-of-Competition testing, failed to comply with the whereabouts requirements and, as a result, accrued three Whereabouts Failures within an 18-month period. In 2010, Jelks was sanctioned with a two-year period of ineligibility after he failed to respond to numerous communications from USADA concerning his anti-doping rules violation. In December of 2011 Jelks contacted USADA and requested a reduction in his period of ineligibility. USADA declined to unilaterally reduce Jelks’ period of ineligibility; however, due to the unique circumstances of his case, USADA agreed to have the matter heard by an AAA arbitrator. The hearing commenced on April 18, 2012 and was declared closed on April 30, 2012. On May 25, 2012 the arbitrator issued a decision denying Jelks’ request for a reduction in his period of ineligibility. As a result, Jelks’ two-year period of ineligibility will be completed on August 22, 2012. Informs USADA.
SAN DIEGO (USA): Robert Kiprono Cheruiyot a former Boston Marathon champion is the top name competing at the 15th annual Rock ‘n’ Roll San Diego Marathon on Sunday. The Kenyan not to be confused with his namesake the older Robert Kipkoech Cheruiyot a four time winner of New England’s classic event, himself took the title in 2010 which suggests he will come up trumps in California although facing a very strong field. “We are not related,” Kiprono said at a press conference on Friday. “I’m not the one who won Boston four times. But now I have done it and I’m very happy to have done it.” Sunday’s entrants include Pastrick Ivuti of Kenya, a winner at Chicago, Prague and Honolulu, with a best time of 2:07:46; William Kipsang of Kenya, a winner at Rotterdam with a PR of 2:05:49; and Ambesse Tolosa of Ethiopia, the San Diego champion in 2006. The top American is Jeffrey Eggleston, winner of the 2011 Pittsburgh Marathon. Heading the women’s marathon field are Azelosh Woldeslasse of Ethiopia, who has a best of 2:25:23; Alevtiva Ivanova of Russia, a winner of the Nagano Marathon; and Woynishet Garma of Ethiopia, last year’s Honolulu champion. Topping the U.S. list is Ashley Grosse. From David Martin.
LEXINGTON (USA): Nine former high school coaches, athletes, officials, administrators or contributors make up the 26th class to be inducted into the Dawahares/KHSAA Hall of Fame. One of them US star sprinter and national record holder Tyson Gay. He was Kentucky’s fastest student-athlete. Gay won three state championships in the 100 meters competing for Lafayette High School, including a record time of 10.46 in 2001. The 2007 world champion is yet to begin his season.
SAARBRUCKEN (GER): World javelin champion Matthias de Zordo canceled his participation in Ostrava and Eugene because of back problems. He plans to return for Oslo on June 7 and St. Wendel on June 10, but both events are still under question. His coach Boris Henry wants to make a last minute decision here. They do not want to risk before the Olympic Games.
OTHER RESULTS
YALTA (UKR, Jun 1): During second day of Ukrainian Junior Championships Ihor Lyashchenko won the 10 000 m walk in 42:30.68. World youth medalist Olena Kolesnychenko won the 400 m hurdles with a world leading junior time 57.46.
BUDAPEST (HUN, Jun 1): At 8th Hoppa Parade special long jump meet in the city Spanish Luis Felipe Meliz improved the meet record to exactly 8 meters.
INNSBRUCK (AUT, Jun 1): Golden Roof Challenge in the historical center of Innsbruck registered the meet record in women´s long jump by Russian Elena Sokolova 683. Second German Sosthene Moguenara 653. Poland´s Przemyslaw Czerwinski won the pole vault on count-back 560 over Greek record holder Kostas Filippidis. Briton Steve Lewis was fifth (540). World indoor champion Mauro Vinicius of Brazil won the long jump (798).
HOUSTON (USA, May 31): Ola Sesay of Sierra Leone showed here top shape with 671 (+0.9) long jump leap.
LEVERKUSEN (GER, Jun 1): Nerius Cup javelin meet registered Katharina Molitor winning the women competition with 63.17 over 2010 Eurowinner Linda Stahl 60.20. Sanna Utriainen of Finland got new national U23 record 59.31. Tino Haber was the best male thrower 79.92.
BUCURESTI (ROU, Jun 1): Romanian Judith Nagy improved to 5830 heptathlon score while winning the national Grand Prix meet in combined events.
CARQUEFOU (FRA, Jun 1): Solid African distances at this national meet in France. Kenyan Japhet Korir won the 5000 m in 13:20.88 over Nassir Dawud of Eritrea 13:21.68 lifetime best. Etenesh Diro of Ethiopia was the best in women 5000 m 15:19.77 PB. In the men´s 1500 m Eritrean win for Teklit Teweldrhan 3:38.30 (he is still a junior).
ALYTUS (LTU, Jun 1): Marius Ziukas scored a home win at the 38th walking festival with 1:24:06 at 20 km. Latvian win in women 20 km by Agnese Pastare 1:32:49.
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