Svetlana Biryukova long jumped 6.98m to take a win over Klishnia, who cleared 6.68m on January 12 in Moscow, Russia, and showed a mighty improvement from 9th qualifying in 2013.

BIRYUKOVA NEARLY 7 METERS AND BEATS KLISHINA

MOSCOW (RUS, Jan 12): At the Indoor Christmas Cup Svetlana Biryukova (formerly Denyayeva) who was last winter in Goteborg first non-qualifier as 9th improved hugely to 698 cm in the long jump. Second the winner from Goteborg Darya Klishina with 668 cm. Surprise improvement of two high jumpers clearing 230, first Ivan Ilyichev (previous best 228) and Lev Missirov (previous best 226). Relay Moscow World champion Kseniya Ryzhova posted fast 37.23 in the 300 m and 400 m Hurdles Euro winner 2012 Irina Davydova 1:10.12 in the 500 m (over Yulia Terekhova 1:10.23). Good pole vaulting for Angelina Krasnova 450 followed by former World Youth medalist Tatyana Stetsyuk 440 PB and Anastasiya Savchenko 430. Viktoriya Yarushkina won the 60 m (7.41), Svetlana Karamysheva the 1000 m (2:39.16) and Irina Tarasova shot put (17.82). Other top men results: junior Rushan Abdulkaderov improved in the 60 m to 6.71, Vyacheslav Sokolov got 2:24.03 in the 1000 m, Yevgeniy Borisov 7.82 at 60 m Hurdles, Aleksandr Petrov 787 in the long jump and Aleksandr Lesnoy 19.90 (indoor PB) in shot put over Maksim Sidorov 19.33.

STORL OPENS WITH 20.37 M

GAMMERTINGEN (GER, Jan 12): World champion David Storl opened the season at special shot put meet with 20.37. European Indoor Champion Christina Schwanitz achieved good 19.27. Storl has dropped 7kg in preparation for the 2014 season, reports bild.de. „I have lost seven kilos, am 128 kilos to 121 kilos down. With my belly I was almost competition for our coaches!,” exclaimed the 23 year old German. He believes that he is in good shape heading into the indoor season, revealing that he has become faster in certain elements of his training.

KENYAN WINS

ROVERETO (ITA, Jan 12): Kenyan wins at the 37th Cross della Vallagarina (EA CC Permit). In the men 9.07 km Robert Ndiwa 27:01 ahead of Moroccan Yassine Rachik 27:36 and third best Italian Michele Fontana 27:38. Women 6.44 km saw Linah Cheruto winning in21:41 over best home runners Silvia Weissteiner 22:09and Silvia La Barbera 22:20.

AYALEW AGAIN ON TOP

ELGOIBAR (ESP, Jan 12): The second EA CC Permit of the day was the 71st Cross Internacional Memorial Juan Muguerza with African wins too. Ugandan Timothy Toroitich was the surprise 10.796 km men race winner in 32:04 over Kenyan Emmanuel Bett 32:11 and Diamond League steeple winner Conseslus Kipruto 32:25. Then best Spanish followed with Ayad Lamdassem 32:26, Ivan Fernandez 32:32 and Javier Guerra 32:34. Ethiopians ruled in women 6.624 km as steeple specialist Hiwot Ayalew scored another win after Campaccio in 21:59 with team-mate Alemitu Haroye second 22:02. Then Kenyans Linet Masai 22:08 and Mercy Cherono 22:15. Top Spanish Alessandra Aguilar 22:47 and Diana Martin 22:54as 5th and 6th.

OTHER INDOOR RESULTS

UDINE (ITA, Jan 12): Slovenian record holder Tina Sutej cleared here 450 in the pole vault in her season opener. Her national indoor mark is 455 cm. She tried at the meet in Italy overall national record 462.

OREBRO (SWE, Jan 12): World Youth Champion Irene Ekelund posted at Orebro Indoor Games 7.59 in the 60 m and mainly 23.97 in the 200 m.

SPALA (POL, Jan 12): Youth talent Ewa Swoboda equaled national U17 indoor record at 200 m with 24.55. European U23 200 m champion Karol Zalewski posted 300 m best 33.74.

ALEKSANDROW (POL, Jan 12): World all-time youth best holder with 5 kg shot Konrad Bukowiecki improved with junior 6 kg implement to 19.23.

NOGENT (FRA, Jan 12): French Benjamin Pires clocked here solid 3:44.96 in the 1500 m.

HANAU (GER, Jan 12): Moscow heptathlon fourth placer Claudia Rath won here the long jump (632) and 60 m hurdles (8.57).

SAARBRUCKEN (GER, Jan 12): Italian hurdler Paolo Dal Molin clocked at the regional championships in Germany 7.78 over the hurdles.

ANCONA (ITA, Jan 12): Top Italian female sprint hurdler Marzia Caravelli tried at the 400 m and achieved overall PB 53.98.

REYKJAVIK (ISL, Jan 11): World Youth champion Anita Hinriksdottir who is celebrating on Monday her 18th birthday won at home in 2:05.68 the 800 m.

HERZEBROCK-CLARHOLZ (GER, Jan 12): German Mateusz Przybylko cleared 223 personal best at the special high jump meet.

BIRMINGHAM (GBR, Jan 12): Midland Counties Open second day saw Italian Marco Fassinotti clearing good 228 cm in the high jump. His best is only 1 cm more.

PRAHA (CZE, Jan 10): At the open meet in Strahov Hall fast 150 m races by Barbora Prochazkova 17.93 and Jan Jirka 16.20.

UNIVERSITY PARK (USA, Jan 11): At the Penn State Relays new collegiate record in women 4×200 m by Penn State (Mahagony Jones, Dynasty McGee, Megan Osborne and Kiah Seymour) 1:35.65. Former mark of Virginia Tech was 1:36.43 from 2008.

OTHER OUTDOOR RESULTS

ORLANDO (USA, Jan 12): South American wins at the 20th Walt Disney Marathon. Brazilian Fredison Costa in 2:21:39 was the top male runner and Angela Brito of Ecuador the top woman in 2:47:44.

CEBU CITY (PHI, Jan 12): Kenyan wins at Cebu Marathon in Philippines. Jackson Chirchir 2:27:16 and Irine Kipchumba 3:12:04 (she was 12th overall).

ELVAS (POR, Jan 12): Portugal road race champions at 10 km are Rui Pedro Silva in 29:38 and Ana Dulce Felix with 33:44.

CUIABA (BRA, Jan 12): At the 30th Corrida de Reis at 10 km Edwin Kipsang in 29:13 and Nancy Kipron (for third time here) with 33:52 scored wins for Kenya. Best Brazilians Jose Marcio Leao as 3rd 30:25 and Sueli Pereira Silva as 4th (34:56).

CHLEF (ALG, Jan 11): Algerian women long distance record holder Souad Ait Salem dominates Algeria’s cross-country season with her 6th victory (in as many participations) in the 7th leg of the FAA CC Challenge at 5.2 km. Men 10.2 km winner was Abdelghanie Bensaadi. Informs Carole Fuchs on africathle.com.