by Larry Eder
photo by PhotoRun.net
Galen Rupp said he wanted to double, and he was a bit surprised. After fifteen races with Bernard Lagat, Galen won his first race against Bernard Lagat!
BOLT 10.06, BLAKE 10.00
KINGSTON (JAM, Jun 28): It was smooth sailing for Jamaica’s top athletes as the JAAA/Supreme Ventures National Senior Athletic Championships began Thursday at the National Stadium. Writes Trackalerts. Olympic winner and world record holder Usain Bolt recorded 10.06 (+0.2) to win his heat in the men´s 100 m. World champion Yohan „the beast” Blake also had little problems in executing his heat posting 10.00 (+0.8). Former world record holder Asafa Powell clocked 10.19 seconds and placed second in his heat behind compatriot Nesta Carter also 10.19 (+0.2). Also qualifying were Michael Frater and Lerone Clarke with 10.09 and 10.15 (+1.3) respectively. Blake, Carter and Powell will be in first semifinal and Bolt in second. Olympic silver medalist Novlene Williams-Mills and Shericka Williams both eased their way into the semi finals stage of the womens 400m. Williams-Mills clocked 52.18 seconds and Williams 52.13 as both recorded victories in heats one and four respectively. Fastest Christine Day 51.50. In the men’s section national record holder Jermaine Gonzales ran 46.39 seconds to qualify from heat three. Former National champion Ricardo Chambers clocked 46.19 seconds to take heat 6. Fastest was Dane Hyatt with 45.70 and Errol Nolan 45.76. World and Olympic champion Melanie Walker and compatriot Kaliese Spencer, easily qualified for the finals of women’s 400m hurdles after posting 54.88 and 55.92 seconds respectively to win their respective heats. Holmwood sensation Janieve Russell recorded a personal best time of 57.04 seconds erasing her previous mark of 57.71 seconds. In the men’s equivalent Joseph Robertson recorded the fastest time 50.03 to qualify. Veteran hurdler Danny McFarlane ran 50.96 and former national champion Isa Phillips 50.21, both are also into the final.
RUPP WITH A DOUBLE
EUGENE (USA, Jun 28): Galen Rupp thrilled the Oregon crowd as he broke the Trials record held by Steve Prefontaine and added the 5000 m title to the 10 000 m crown from the first day of the U.S. Olympic Team Trials. More than 22,602 fans were in the stands to witness Rupp’s win, with another 6,349 watching from the festival. Rupp broke the 40-year-old Trials record of 13:22.8 held by the legendary Prefontaine, with a dramatic run down the homestretch to beat American Record holder Bernard Lagat by 0.15 in 13:22.67. Lopez Lomong grabbed the third London berth with a time of 13:24.47, and Andrew Bumbalough was fourth at 13:26.67. Only four men in the 5,000m had the A standard coming into the final, and they took the top four places. Needing to meet the Olympic A standard of 65.00m on his final attempt to make the London team, Millikin University graduate Lance Brooks came through with a marvelous clutch performance to sail the discus 65.15. Jarred Rome nabbed his spot on the team with a sixth-round blast of 63.35, and Jason Young took the third slot with a final-round 62.15. Lowering his lifetime best by more than three seconds with a stellar 8:17.40, Evan Jager raced to a convincing win in the men’s 3000m steeplechase. Princeton’s NCAA champion Donn Cabral overcame a near-disaster on a hurdle near the end of the penultimate lap to claim the second spot with an 8:19.41, while Kyle Alcorn was third at 8:22.17. Daniel Huling was in contention in the lead group until the final water jump, but had trouble and faded to seventh. Julia Lucas had an almost two-second lead heading into the final lap of the women’s 5000m, but over the final circuit Julie Culley (15:13.77) and American Record holder Molly Huddle (15:14.40) powered to the front and went on to finish 1-2 on the strength of sub-67 second laps. Behind them the drama came as Kim Conley sprinted down the home stretch to catch Lucas for the third spot, outleaning the fading Lucas 15:19.79-15:19.83. It was a five-second PR for Conley and met the Olympic A standard of 15:20 to give her a spot on the London team. Variable winds and damp conditions hampered the men’s pole vault, which was won by Brad Walker at 567. Five times a World Indoor and Outdoor medalist, including golds in ’06 and ’07, this is Walker’s second Olympic team. Joining him in London will be runner-up Jeremy Scott and fourth-placer Derek Miles, the ’08 Trials winner. Scott Roth placed third, but did not have the Olympic A standard. The winning height was the lowest at the Trials since 1980. Reigning World Indoor and Outdoor champions Will Claye and Christian Taylor topped the qualifying round of the men’s triple jump, as Taylor needed only one jump to pop a 17.27 to meet the auto advancement standard. Claye’s second attempt yielded a 16.80. All the major players moved on to the semifinals of the women’s 200, including 100m champ Carmelita Jeter (22.63) and 400 winner Sanya Richards-Ross (22.67). The fastest time was turned in by 100m runner-up Tianna Madison, who clocked 22.57 to win the fifth heat. LSU’s NCAA champion Kimberlyn Duncan strided to a 22.69 to win the opening section, while three-time World champion Allyson Felix cruised to a 22.82 win in heat three. American Record holder Lashinda Demus romped to an easy win in heat one of the women’s 400m hurdles, clocking the fastest time of the day at 55.29. Other top finishers included 2008 Trials champion Tiffany Williams, who won heat three in 55.76, and Arizona’s Georganne Moline, the winner in the second section at 55.53. Three women topped the automatic qualifying standard in the women’s shot put, led by American Record holder Jill Camarena-Williams at 19.30. Two-time Olympic champion Angelo Taylor and two-time World champion Kerron Clement were the fastest heat winners in the men’s 400m hurdles, an event that went according to form in the first round. Clement had the best time at 49.37, 0.16 ahead of Taylor. Less than two seconds separated the 24 men who qualified for the semifinals of the 1500m, with former Oregon star Jordan McNamara the swiftest at 3:40.78. Running to eliminate four people on the way to the semifinal, the women’s 1500 had no major casualties. Last year’s world No. 1, Morgan Uceny, was the fastest woman of the day at 4:14.07. 2011 World Champion Jenny Simpson easily moved on, as did Alice Schmidt, who earlier this week earned a berth on the London team in the 800m. The only casualty of the high jump qualification was 2011 World Championships competitor Inika McPherson. From USATF.
FAST 10 000 M AT AFRICAN CHAMPS
PORTO NOVO (BEN, Jun 28): Second day of African Championships saw in the postponed men´s 10 000 m (from Wednesday because of rain) new meet record by Kenyan Kenneth Kipkemoi in fast 27:19.74 over his teammates Mark Kiptoo 27:20.77 and Lewis Mosoti 27:22.54. Best Ethiopian fourth Tedalu Zewdie 28:03.16. Women 5000 m also for Kenya as Gladys Cherono won with another meet record 15:40.04 after a sprint with her colleague Veronica Nyaruai in 15:40.65 and bronze for ethiopian Teklezgi in 15:53.34. Gabon record holder Ruddy Zang Milama won the women 100 m in 11.16 ahead of Nigerian favorites Blessing Okagbare 11.18 and Gloria Asumnu 11.28. South African record holder Simon Magakwe won the men sprint in 10.29 beating Amr Seoud of Egypt 10.34 and Ivory Coast´s Sergio Koffi 10.37. Ghana was best in 4x100m relay with 39.38 over South Africa 39.47. Amantle Montsho looked incredible relaxed in 51.25 400m semifinal. Her country colleague Isaac Makwala also confirmed top position with 45.70 in men semifinal and second fastest Oscar Pistorius 46.14. Senegal´s Kaba Badji won the long jump 814 over Zarck Visser of South Africa 798 and Ignisious Gaisah 773. Another gold for Senegal in women 100 m hurdles Gnima Faye 13.36 and women discus for Chinu Okoro of Nigeria 56.60.
OTHER RESULTS
CALGARY (CAN, Jun 28): Jessica Zelinka scored new Canadian record to win the Olympic Trials and National Championships with 6599 score. During second day 598+2.9, 46.60 and 2:08.95. NCAA Champion Brianne Theisen second with 6393 points. Men decat
hlon went to Damian Warner with 8107 points.
SAO PAULO (BRA, Jun 28): Jose Carlos Gomes won the 100 m in 10.34 (+0.3) during second day of Trofeu Brasil Caixa Atletismo (national championships) ahead of Bruno de Barros 10.34 and Nilson de Oliveira 10.36. Fabiano Pecanha won slow 1500 m in 3:46.31 and world indoor champion Mauro Vinicius got the long jump with 797 (-1.1) over Rogerio Bispo also 797 (-0.4). In the women 100 m Rosangela Santos clocked 11.28 (+0.3) to win over Ana Lemos 11.42 and Carolina Oliveira also 11.42. Keila Costa confirmed triple jump domination 14.18 (-0.3).
FUKAGAWA (JPN, Jun 27): At Hokuren Distance Challenge Kenyan Gideon Ngatuny clocked 13:32.01. But bigger quality Edward Waweru in the 10 000 m with 27:29.10 over Patrick Mutunga 27:30.32 and John Thuo 27:32.72. Best Japanese was Tsuyoshi Ugachi 27:56.77. Yoko Aizu got in women 10 000 m 32:18.40.
CAIRNS (AUS, Jun 28): At Oceanian Championships Claire Tallent went 5000 m walk in 21:57.48.
OTHER NEWS
EUGENE (USA): Walter Dix and Justin Gatlin are entered for Friday´s 200 m heats at US Olympic Trials. Dix injured in 100 m semifinals and started also in the final, which he was able to finish only just under 11 seconds. Main favorite is Wallace Spearmon. Another 100 m finalist also in the 200 m is Darvis Patton. As expected Tyson Gay is concentrating only at the 100 m.
KINGSTON (JAM): Former World junior champion Jamaican sprinter Dexter Lee signed a four year deal with Chinese sportswear manufacturer 361.
HERZOGENAURACH (GER): Puma announced a long-term partnership with Jamaican hurdler Andrew Riley. The 2011 Jamaica National Champion will wear Puma running spikes and race apparel in all competitive meets, and lifestyle wear off the track. Andrew Riley, the four time NCAA Champion at 100m, 110m Hurdles and 60m hurdles made NCAA history earlier this year when he became the first male athlete to win national titles in the 100m and 110m Hurdles in the same year.
KINGSTON (JAM): World-track.org writes that a top athlete has picked up an injury at the Jamaica National Championships, which could dump the chances of making the team to the London Olympic Games later this summer. The athlete has not been confirmed, but their are speculations that it’s a male sprinter and one who is expected to be a medal favourite at the Olympics.
NAIROBI (KEN): BBC informs that Kenyan police have charged the world’s 3,000m steeplechase champion, Ezekiel Kemboi, with assault after a woman said he stabbed her on Wednesday night. Anne Njeri Otieno alleges that the athlete attacked her when she declined his sexual advances. Kemboi denied the allegations, saying she colluded with thugs to rob him and was injured in the skirmish. The magistrate granted the athlete bail and said he would be allowed to travel to London to compete in the Olympics.
EUGENE (USA): Register Guard informs that 2013 NCAA Outdoor Championships will undergo a significant shift in its competition schedule when the four-day meet returns to Hayward Field next summer. In an effort to enhance fan interest and provide a cleaner presentation for television coverage, the NCAA has decided to separate the men’s and women’s events onto different days. Both NCAA championship meets will still be held at the same venue, but instead of overlapping storylines each day, the two genders will now get their own spotlight. For example, the men’s semifinals and finals could be held on Wednesday and Friday, with the women taking over on Thursday and Saturday, or vice versa.
HAVANA (CUB): Dayron Robles plans to compete at Herculis Diamond League meet in July in Monaco, reveals his coach Santiago Antunez for Reuters. „Dayron has been preparing well, very good,” Antunez told Reuters. „He has had two and a half weeks since resuming training in Havana after a small swelling in his leg prevented him from competing in the United States.” „We are 95 percent through the preparation, and seek greater intensity in Europe,” added Antunez, who said Robles would compete in the Diamond League meeting in Monaco on July 20.
