Felix, 21.69, Merritt, 12.93, by Alfons Juck, note by Larry Eder

EME NEWS (JUN 30, 2012) NON HELSINKI

Felix 21.69, Merritt 12.93
EUGENE (USA, Jun 30):
Incredibly deep fields were the theme of the day as 14 Olympians
punched their tickets to London (3 world leads 2012) and Allyson Felix
shattered the 200m Olympic Trials record in front of a crowd of 20,791
on a drizzly day at Hayward Field.
Running away from one of the best fields of American 200-meter women
ever assembled, Felix stunned the Hayward Field crowd with a 21.69
(+1.0) victory that took down the 24-year-old meet record of 21.77 set
by Florence Griffith-Joyner and became the fourth-fastest woman in
history. In her wake, 2011 World silver medalist Carmelita Jeter
finished second with a lifetime-best 22.11, and 400m champion Sanya
Richards-Ross claimed her second spot on the London squad with a 22.22.
NCAA winner Kimberlyn Duncan of LSU placed fourth at 22.34. World
Indoor 60m hurdles champion Aries Merritt stepped up in a big way on
the outdoor stage in the men’s 110m hurdles, moving to equal fifth on
the all-time U.S. list and equal eighth on the all-time world list with a
12.93 (+1.2) that saw him beat 2011 World champion Jason Richardson.
Richardson matched his PR from the semifinal with a 12.98 in second, and
the biggest surprise of the day came from Jeff Porter, who took third
with a lifetime-best 13.08 while diving at the finish line. Porter’s
best coming into the final was 13.19, set in the semifinal earlier in
the day. In one of the deepest U.S. races in history, American Record
holder David Oliver was fifth at 13.17, and Ryan Wilson seventh at
13.24.
Chaunte Lowe, the American record holder, and Arizona’s Brigetta
Barrett waged one of the best head-to-head U.S. women’s high jump
competition ever, and it was Lowe who came out on top at a meet-record
201 with no misses through that height. Barrett also cleared 201, the
highest ever by a collegian, but had one miss at 195 and placed second.
Ageless Amy Acuff, who will turn 37 in a couple weeks, made her fifth
Olympic team in placing third with a best of 195.
World Outdoor champion Christian Taylor and World Indoor champion Will
Claye took advantage of still winds early in the men’s triple jump to
take the top two spots and earn the only two berths on the London-bound
team. Taylor bounded a world-leading 17.63 (0.0) in the opening round,
while Claye popped a 17.55 (0.0). Walter Davis, a two-time Olympian in
the triple jump, placed third at 16.69 but does not have the A standard
of 17.20.
2008 Olympic silver medalist Hyleas Fountain didn’t have an A standard
entering the heptathlon here, but her two days of solid work yielded a
6419 score that not only earned her the win, but also a trip to London.
Sharon Day, the only woman coming into the meet with the A, had a
lifetime-best score of 6343 to place second, and Chantae McMillan used a
PR throw of 50.24 in the javelin to help her score 6188 and push her
past the 6150 necessary to go to London.
Battling negative winds in the semifinals of the men’s 200, NCAA champ
Maurice Mitchell had the fastest time overall at 20.43. 2004 Olympic
gold medalist and ’08 silver medalist Shawn Crawford turned in a
season-best 20.48 to also move on, and Wallace Spearmon was an easy
winner in his section at 20.59.
Trevor Barron replaced his coach Tim Seaman on a pair of American
record en route to qualifying for his first Olympic team. Barron’s
winning time of 1:23:00.10 in the men’s 20,000m race walk established
the American record along with his 15,000m time of 1:02:06.57. From
USATF.

Parchment 13.18, fast 200m semifinals

KINGSTON (JAM, Jun 30): World and Olympic 200m champion Usain Bolt
qualified for the men’s 200m finals with a time of 20.26 (+1.3), whilst
compatriot Yohan Blake qualified with the fastest time, of 19.93 (+1.7)
during second day of Jamaican Trials. Warren Weir 19.99 and Nickel
Ashmeade 20.15 (+1.2) will also be in the final. On the women’s side,
defending Olympic 200m champion Veronica Campbell-Brown, made sure of
her finals spot by clocking 22.79 (+1.6). National 100m champion
Shelly-Ann Fraser Pryce qualified with the fastest time 22.55 (+1.8), to
set up an interesting showdown in the finals. Anneisha McLaughin, who
ran 22.83 to beat Kerron Stewart 22.96, Sherone Simpson 22.66, and
Samantha Henry-Robinson 22.83, will add more fire to the final Olympic
silver medalist Novlene Williams-Mills, ran the fastest time heading
into the finals of the women’s 400m, after posting 50.52 to take the
first heat. Williams-Mills leads Racers athlete Rosemarie Whyte, who
clocked 51.11, to take the second heat. Olympic medalist Sherika
Williams also qualified for the finals clocking 51.58. In the men’s
equivalent, national record holder Jermaine Gonzales qualified for the
finals, running 45.27. Rusheen McDonald ran the fastest time heading
into the finals, clocking 45.23. In the 800m, Kenia Sinclair the
national record holder and defending champion, retained her crown with
victory in 2:01.55 and qualified for her second Olympics. The men’s
equivalent didn’t produce the Olympic standard. Victory went to Ricardo
Cunningham in 1:48.00 seconds. University of the West Indies hurdler
Hansle Parchment, qualified for his first Olympics, by winning the men’s
110m hurdles in a time of 13.18 (+1.3), lowering his previous mark of
13.19. Andrew Riley and Richard Phillips secured the next two Olympics
spots, running 13.28 and 13.43. Earlier Travis Smikle qualified for his
first Olympics with a brilliant throw of 67.12, to take the discus crown
over national record holder Jason Morgan 61.93. In the women’s 3000m
steeplechase, Korene Hinds with 9:46.46 took top honours. Writes
Trackalerts.com.

Gladys Cherono double

PORTO NOVO (BEN, Jun 30): During day 4 of African championships complete
podium for Kenyans in 10 000m women with Gladys Cherono taking a double
after 5k in 32:41.40 over her team-mates Priscah Jepleting 32:45.73 and
Betsy Saina in 32:48.36. Top Ethiopian Merima Hasem was fourth
33:09.25. Chris Harmse won for South Africa again the hammer 77.22 over
Mohsen Anany of Egypt 74.31. Tosin Oke was on top in triple jump for
Nigeria 16.98 (+1.2), Lehan Fourie clocked 13.60 (-1.1) to win the
hurdles. Margaret Simpson who did not finish the heptathlon, won the
javelin for Ghana 54.62. World leader Sunette Viljoen was not competing
at the end of the day. Algerian Yasmina Omrani scored 5924 in heptathlon
to be the best. Mouhcine Cheaouri cleared 510 to take the pole vault.
In the 200 m semifinals fastest times for Nigerian Gloria Asumnu 22.98
(-1.4) and Ben Meite 20.61 (-1.2).

OTHER RESULTS


SAPPORO (JPN, Jul 1): Kenyan Martin Mathathi won the Sapporo
Half-Marathon in 1:01:35 ahead of Mekubo Mogusu 1:01:51 and Joseph Gitau
1:02:00, best Japanese Arata Fujiwara as 6th 1:02:48. Mai Ito was the
best woman in 1:10:52 beating Yoko Miyauchi 1:11.04 and Hiroko Miyauchi
1:11:26.

CALGARY (CAN, Jun 30): At Canadian Nationals Dylan Armstrong won the
shot put title with 21.29 ahead of Justin Rodhe 20.30. In the most
expected 100 m hurdles final heptathlete Jessica Zelinka clocked 12.68
(+0.7) to win over Phylica George 12.72, Nikkita Holder 12.80, Angela
Whyte 12.90 and Priscilla Lopes-Schliep 12.17 (12.81 in semifinals).
Perdita Felicien false started after 12.93 (-1.5) in semis. 200 m races for Tremaine Harris 20.68 (-1.6, but
20.61-0.9 in semifinal) and Crystal Emmanuel 23.27 (-1.7). Geoffrey
Harris won the 800 m in 1:46.49 and Sarah Wells the 400 m hurdles in
55.71 ahead of Fawn Dorr 56.50. Hammer title for Heather Stacy 70.48
over Sultana Frizell 69.21.

SAO PAULO (BRA, Jun 30): Penultimate day of Trofeu Brasil Caixa
Atletismo had Luiz Alberto de Araujo scoring 8276 points in decathlon.
Ronald Odair was the best in the discus 63.13. From semis 20.52 in the
200m by Aldemir Gomes (+0.4) and Bruno de Barros (-0.1), Rosangela
Santos 22.97 (-0.1) in the women 200 m semifinal.

ALMATY (KZK, Jun 30): First day of Asian All-Stars meet registered new
national record for Iran as Reza Ghasemi clocked 10.24 (+0.6). In women
events Viktoriya Zyabkina of Kazakchstan posted 51.67 in the 400 m and
Marina Aitova 195 in the high jump, both Asian leaders for 2012. Olga
Bludova got 11.26 (+0.8) in the 100 m, and Tatyana Azarova 55.71 in the
400 m hurdles and Margarita Mukasheva 2:00.48 in the 800 m, all
confirming solid shape by Kazakhstan athletes. World medalist Olga
Rypakova leaped to 14.49 (-0.2) in the triple jump.

HAVANA (CUB, Jun 29): Roberto Skyers clocked at another open meet 20.58
(+0.1) in the 200 m, Rose Almanza 1:59.55 in women 800 m and Yunior
Lastre at age of 30 new discus PB 65.17 m.

NOTTWIL (SUI, Jun 30): Fast times at Swiss Meeting here. French
Reina-Flor Okori posted 12.72 (+0.1) at 100 m hurdles. Also men hurdles
fast by French Pascal Martinot-Lagarde 13.42 (-0.5) ahead of German Erik
Balnuweit 13.46, the olympic standard. Briton Marlon Devonish posted
10.32, 20.64 wins (both with +0.1). Andrew Steele of GBR won the 400 m
in 45.83.Varg Konigsmark got the 400 m hurdles in 49.54 ahead of another
German Silvio Schirrmeister 49.66. Former 1500m world champion Maryam
Jamal testes her shape in the 800m with 2:00.44.

AMIENS (FRA, Jun 30): David Alerte clocked 20.80 (+0.7) at national
meeting here. Fast 1500 m by Algerian Abderrahmane Anou 3:35.62 ahead of
Kenyan Benjamin Kipkirui 3:37.43 and Ukrainian Oleksandr Borisyuk
3:39.38. Nicholas Gomont leaped to 800 (-0.4) in the long jump.

ETON (GBR, Jun 30): At Last chance meets in England before selectors
choose Olympic team on Monday Joice Maduaka won the 200 m in 23.24
(+3.7) and Eden Francis got 17.10 in the shot put.
.
HENDON (GBR, Jun 30): Richard Davenport won the 400 m Hurdles in 50.37,
Tom Parsons won the high jump on count back from Martyn Bernard at 225,
Chris Tomlinson returned from Helsinki to long jump 793w (+2.7), Abdul
Buhari attained the olympic A standard in discus with 65.24 ahead of
Brett Morse 64.35 (sb) and newcomer Zane Duquemin PB of 63.46. Alex
Smith won the hammer with 74.49. In womens event Lorraine Ugen won long
jump 652w (+3.2) and World indoor champion Yamile Aldama returned after
shoulder injury with 13.03 (0.3) off short approach.

BUCURESTI ((ROU, Jun 29): Romanian 20 km walk titles for Ana Rodean 1:36:20 and Marius Cocioran 1:30:17.

OTHER NEWS

MOSCOW (RUS): Russian star long jumper Darya Klishina did a shoot for
Vogue Russia. She is in preparation for Russian national championships
which will begin on July 3 in Cheboksary.

EUGENE (USA):  Heartbreak gave way to hope for miler Gabriele Anderson
when USA Track & Field officials reinstated her after she was
disqualified last night from heat 2 of the 1500m semi-finals of the USA
Olympic Trials.  She will now be allowed to compete in Sunday’s final
which will determine the USA Olympic team based on order of finish with
Olympic Games “A” standard. “The jury of appeals has met and will be
advancing 13 people to the final of the women’s 1500m, including
Gabriele Anderson,” reported USA Track & Field official Katie Landry
in an e-mail message to Race Results Weekly. Also advancing will be
Alice Schmidt who had originally finished sixth and had been moved up to
the fifth place qualifying position based on Anderson’s original
disqualification.

EBERSTADT (GER): German top high jumper Ariane Friedrich will not jump
on July 1 in Eberstadt in her quest to achieve the olympic standard of
195 cm. She returned on Saturday from Helsinki. She will ask for special
permission to be selected. German Federation will decide on Monday
whether to ask the German Olympic and Sports Federation for such a
permission.