by Larry Eder
RESULT OF THE DAY
World lead of Sergey Shubenkov 7.49 at 60 m hurdles. European lead of Nevin Yanit 7.89 at 60 m hurdles.
SURPRISE OF THE DAY
Balkan supremacy in men shot put.
FAVORITE FALLS
Britons Chambers and Rimmer in the heats, Russian Bolshakova in pentathlon due to injury.
AGENTS BY GOLD MEDALS
1 Rene Auguin, Pavel Voronkov, Alibey Shukurov and Asmir Kolasinac is listed without an agent.
OTHER POINTS
BALKAN CHAMPS: Top two in shot put were from Balkan Countries, both winning first ever medals for their countries at European indoors. Asmir Kolasinac with 20.62 for Serbia and Hamza Alic 20.34 indoor PB for Bosnia and Hercegovina.
HEPTATHLON: World indoor leader and favorite for gold at European Indoor in woman pentathlon Yekaterina Bolshova made only three events in Scandinavium arena and withdrew from further competitions. Three days before Goteborg 25-year-old Russian injured foot but had hopes she’ll be able to perform but unfortunately pain in the foot became stronger from one event to another and Bolshova had to end her performance after first attempt in shot put.
HURDLES: One thousand of a second decided about the final place in the 60 m hurdles between Finland´s Nooralotta Neziri and Czech Lucie Skrobakova (8.081 and 8.082).
GOTEBORG: “There was no pain. I think what happened is that I spent all my time getting ready to get on the plane injury-free and I didn’t prioritise my time to prepare for the championships.” Said Dwain Chambers after beeing out from heats with 6.78. Chambers’s demise was not the only shock for Britain as Michael Rimmer, the fastest 800m runner in Europe this year, missed out on the semi-finals when he finished third in his heat.
EUROPEAN JUNIOR INDOOR BEST: In women 400 m Ella Rasanen of Finland 52.37 in women 400 m heats.
LEQUIPE: The French daily writes that at this championships 37% of European medalists in relevant events from London Games competes in Goteborg and 60 % of Helsinki 2012 medalists also in relevant events.
SPECIAL SITUATION: Two pentathletes were disqualified in last event the 800 m, Dutch Nadine Broersen and Romanian Beatrice Puiu, both for lane infringement.
FAST HURDLES FINALS: Fast hurdles finals as in total from 16 runners 9 set personal bests and 2 more at least season best. Only five remained with no special remark.
60mH: Shubenkov won first gold for RUS at this event in Euro Indoor Champ; of course Soviet has won this even at Euro Indoor.
60mH: Yanit won first gold (& medal of any kind) for TUR in this event at Euro Indoor Champ. Talay won first silver (& medal of any kind) for BLR in this event.
Pentathlon: The winning margin of 8 points is smallest ever at Euro Indoor Champs. Previous lowest difference was 17 points. Djimou became only the second (after Kluft) to defend the Euro Indoor Champ title in pentathlon. Her 8.12 is second fastest ever in pentathlon at Euro Indoors.
Shot Put: Kolasinac won first ever medal for Serbia at Euro Indoors, Hamza Alic who qualified with last throw on Thursday won first ever medal for Bosnia and Hercegovina at Euro Indoors.
3000 m: 7:50.55 by Hayle Ibrahimov is the fastest heat time in Euro Indoors.
BERLIN (GER): Malte Mohr said ahead of his competition he is feeling fit and healthy again and has good hopes for the pole vault competition. Mohr confirmed he is jumping without worries or fear as he already jumped 580 this year.
BERLIN (GER): Germany’s new national sprint coach Tony Lester has spoken highly of German top sprinters Verena Sailer and Julian Reus ahead of the start of the European indoor championships. Lester believes Reus could break the 10 seconds barrier while he predicted Sailer could run 7.10 over 60m and close to 11 seconds over 100m.
GOTEBORG (SWE): Dutch decathlete Eelco Sintnicolaas confirmed he is the top favourite in the men’s heptathlon and feels confident about his chances this weekend. After just recently posted the European leading mark, he thinks he can still improve on his best.
OTHER NEWS
SYDNEY (AUS): Olympic champion Sally Pearson has confirmed she will attend the Sydney Track Classic, despite being forced to withdraw from the women’s 100m and 200m at the meet after suffering a Grade 1 hamstring injury while training on the Gold Coast. Athletics Australia remain hopeful that the Olympic champion will be available to compete in Australia later in the domestic season at the Qantas Melbourne World Challenge and the Australian Athletics Championships next month. “Obviously I am very disappointed. I was genuinely looking forward to competing at the Qantas Australian Athletics Tour in Sydney and being able to run for the many Australian fans that have followed me so closely across the Olympic year and into 2013,” Pearson said.
PARIS (FRA): Top names for Sunday´s Paris Half Marathon include Kenyan Gilbert Masaia and Ethiopian Deriba Merga along with top French Abdellatif Meftah. Fast also another Ethiopian Bazo Worku with 2:05:25 marathon credentials. Kenyan Daniel Salel with 27:07 track personal best at 10 000 m should debut at the distance. Kenyans Pauline Njeri, Carolina Chepkwony and Monica Jepkoech are the women favorites.
RIO DE JANEIRO (BRA): Two Panamerican events which were scheduled for Lima, Peru were moved to alternate sites. The Panamerican Race Walking Cup is going to be held in Guatemala City, Guatemala, May 25-26, 2013. Regarding the 2013 Panamerican Junior Championships, the city of Mayaguez, Puerto Rico is interested in organizing this event and final decision will be made soon.
LAUSANNE (SUI): Agencies are informing that the Court of Arbitration for Sport says former European champion Alemitu Bekele has appealed her four-year ban for doping. CAS says Bekele “requests the annulment of the (Turkish Athletics Federation) decision.” Bekele was banned in December over abnormalities in the blood values of her biological passport. The suspension expires in February 2016, when she would be 38. The court says it aims to give a verdict within four months, though has yet to set an appeal hearing date.
RESULTS
TAICANG (CHN, Mar 1): The 2013 IAAF Race Walking Challenge continued with Chinese wins. Li Jianbo clocked 1:18:52 to be the best in men 20 km over Cai Zelin 1:18:55 and Australian Jared Tallent 1:20:41. Fourth place Zhao Qi 1:20:50 and fifth India´s representative Thodi Kolothum 1:20:59. Best European Ivan Trotski clocked 1:23:29 as 8th. Olympic winner Chen Ding was a non finisher. In women race personal best 1:27:36 for Sun Huanhuan ahead of Lu Xiuzhi 1:27:58 and Qieyang Shenjie 1:28:27. Two more Chinese under 1:30 (Ding Huiqin 1:29:42 and Yang Mingxia 1:29:48). Top non-Chinese Australian Regan Lamble 1:34:03.
ADLER (RUS, Feb 27-28): Top men javelin at Russian Winter Throwing Championships. Good quality personal bests for Dmitriy Tarabin 85.63 ahead of Valeriy Iordan 83.56 and Aleksey Tovarnov 82.54. World champion Mariya Abakumova as top woman got 63.10. Yekaterina Strokina was the best in women discus 61.09.
TAICANG (CHN, Mar 1): In Chinese Championships ranking Yu Wei got 1:19:07 in men 20 km (and other 3 sub 1:20). On the women side Li Yanfei 1:27:40 and Yie Qin 1:27:42. Junior winners Jiang Jie 1:22:32 and Pei Mowen 1:30:33 and youth winners at 10 km Yao Biao 40:43 and Xiao Xianghua 47:52.
BELGOROD (RUS, Feb 28): Winners of Russian Cup in indoor combined events were Ivan Grigoryev 5710 points in heptathlon and Lilyana Aleksandrova 4470 in pentathlon.
JERUSALEM (I
SR, Mar 1): Ethiopian Abraham Kabeto won the 6th Jerusalem Marathon in 2:16:30 course record. The race had some 1000 runners from 50 countries on a hilly course. Second Kenyan Luka Chelimo 2:19:02. Top woman Mihret Anamo of Ethiopia also a course record 2:47:27.
