Norwich Union Super Grand Prix, London

The Norwich Union Super Grand Prix in London lived up to the hype. The build up all week was for the 100 meters and the women’s pole vault. The event that shocked the fans was the shot put, as Reese Hoffa threw 22.43 meters or 73-2.25 in the vernacular. This was Hoffa’s first throw over 22 meters and he did it with style, using his last throw to take the lead from Christian Cantwell. Hoffa’s throw, the 11th farthest in history, is the longest throw in the world this year.
Tyson Gay showed his stuff, winning the 100 meters in 10.02 over Francis Obikwelu of Portugal, one of the most talented ( and my pick to spoil for a medal in Osaka over 100 meters). While Tyson’s time was not fast, he did put himself in the favorite position in the 100 meters (this writer’s picks-Gay, Adkins, Powell, Obikwelu to spoil).
For all of those fearful of Jeremy Wariner’s shape, worry no more. Wariner and Merrit went at it for 385 meters, until Jeremy moved to the lead and won in 44.05 to 44.23.
( this writer’s picks for Osaka at 400 meters: Wariner, Taylor, Merrit, Kikayo to spoil).

Over 200 meters, the predictions are getting more and more problematic. Bolt beat Spearmon here, 20.06 to 20.11.
The 1,500 meters saw Bernard Lagat take his biggest win of the season with this tactical win over Kemboi, Baddedly and Sullivan in 3:35.71. With the exception of
the Spaniards and the Moroccans, this could be the final in Osaka.
A long hard trip for Craig Mottram, but Buster made this a non race over two miles as he cruised 8:11 for a nine second win over Mo Farah, in 8.20.6. ( Mottram and Bekele should have one of the best moments of Osaka at 5,000 meters in three weeks!)
Veronica Campbell defeated Torri Edwards over 200 meters, showing the world that this race will not be a U.S. sweep.
Over 400 meters, Sanya Richards won, in 49.79 over Alyson Felix in 50.17, a personal best. Dee Dee Trotter continues to falter, running in the 52s in this event. If Felix truly wants to run the 4 x 100 and 4 x 400 meters, this writer sure hopes she gets the chance.
After Lauren Fleshman won a fine 5,000 meters in 15:08 last week, she took a long 250 meter sprint to the finish to win the 3,000 meters in 8:43.
The highlight event tonight was the women’s pole vault, with Yelena Isinbayeva over Svetlana Feofanova and Jenn Stucyzinski. Jenn, the American record holder, was in just her second performance since the nationals, after which she has had back troubles.
The Norwich United Super Grand Prix is one of the meet sponsorships that Norwich United, the British medical carrier, is looking to build on it’s tie ins with UK athletics and the run for London 2012. The Fast track agency, founded by Alan Pascoe, manages these events.
The fields, developed to bring in stars, entertain the fans as well as develop athletes, are a great combination of local talent and global talent so that the local fans have something to cheer about. Congratulations to Ian Stewart and his team on the success of this meet!
03/08/2007
Norwich Union Super Grand Prix
London (CP), 03/08/2007
Men’ results
100 Metres – Men Final Wind: -0.8 m/s
Pts
1 Gay , Tyson USA 10.02 20
2 Obikwelu , Francis POR 10.18 16
3 Devonish , Marlon GBR 10.26 14
4 Pickering , Craig GBR 10.28 12
5 Lewis-Francis , Mark GBR 10.31 10
6 Dixon , Leroy USA 10.31 8
7 Edgar , Tyrone GBR 10.33 6
8 Thomas , Dwight JAM 10.33 4
100 Metres – Men Heats Race 1 Wind: -0.6 m/s
1 Gay , Tyson USA 10.09
2 Pickering , Craig GBR 10.23
3 Edgar , Tyrone GBR 10.24
4 Dixon , Leroy USA 10.25
5 Thomas , Dwight JAM 10.28
6 Patton , Darvis USA 10.41
7 Baptiste , Leon GBR 10.66
Blake , Yohan JAM DNF
100 Metres – Men Heats Race 2 Wind: -0.6 m/s
1 Obikwelu , Francis POR 10.19
2 Lewis-Francis , Mark GBR 10.23
3 Devonish , Marlon GBR 10.33
4 Grimes , Mickey USA 10.41
5 Gardener , Jason GBR 10.41
6 Samuels , J-Mee USA 10.43
7 Ross , Joshua AUS 10.44
8 Ellington , James GBR 10.63
200 Metres – Men Wind: -0.1 m/s
Pts
1 Bolt , Usain JAM 20.06 20
2 Spearmon , Wallace USA 20.11 16
3 Johnson , Joshua J. USA 20.48 14
4 Martin , Rodney USA 20.49 12
5 Hession , Paul IRL 20.61 10
6 Fagan , Luke GBR 21.11 8
7 Nelson , Alexander GBR 21.11 6
8 Malcolm , Christian GBR 21.19 4
400 Metres – Men
Pts
1 Wariner , Jeremy USA 44.05 20
2 Merritt , LaShawn USA 44.23 16
3 Wissman , Johan SWE 45.03 14
4 Steffensen , John AUS 45.22 12
5 Benjamin , Timothy GBR 45.28 10
6 Blackwood , Michael JAM 45.69 8
7 Steele , Andrew GBR 45.92 6
8 Williamson , Darold USA 46.66 4
1500 Metres – Men
Pts
1 Lagat , Bernard USA 3:35.71 20
2 Kemboi , Nicholas KEN 3:36.13 16
3 Baddeley , Andrew GBR 3:36.68 14
4 Sullivan , Kevin CAN 3:37.40 12
5 Fountain , Mark AUS 3:37.42 10
6 Kiptum , Bernard Kiptanui KEN 3:38.45 8
7 Blincoe , Adrian NZL 3:39.63 6
8 Kealey , Mitchell AUS 3:40.31 4
9 Lancashire , Thomas GBR 3:40.60 3
10 Davies , Stephen GBR 3:40.66 3
11 Myers , Rob USA 3:41.25 3
12 Speaight , Neil GBR 3:45.80 3
Hoffman , Paul AUS DNF
Two Miles – Men
1 Mottram , Craig AUS 8:11.16
2 Farah , Mohammed GBR 8:20.47
3 Kibowen , John KEN 8:21.34
4 Takezawa , Kensuke JPN 8:24.69
5 Dobson , Ian USA 8:24.98
6 Kipkorir , Edwin KEN 8:29.24
7 Cragg , Alistair Ian IRL 8:31.08
8 Geele , Moumin SOM 8:34.80
9 Koborsi , Radwan USA 8:35.64
10 Ueno , Yuichiro JPN 8:36.30
11 Birmingham , Collis AUS 8:40.37
12 Thompson , Christopher GBR 8:40.80
13 Ford , Antony GBR 8:40.94
14 Skinner , Michael GBR 8:41.59
15 Songok , Boniface Kiprotich KEN 8:45.14
Kipsang , Churchill KEN DNF
Kosgei , Shadrack KEN DNF
110 Metres Hurdles – Men Wind: -0.8 m/s
Pts
1 Wilson , Ryan USA 13.27 20
2 Merritt , Aries USA 13.35 16
3 Bramlett , Ron USA 13.47 14
4 Payne , David USA 13.59 12
5 Brown , Joel USA 13.61 10
6 Turner , Andrew GBR 13.61 8
7 Scott , Allan GBR 14.01 6
8 Merlino , Justin AUS 14.10 4
High Jump – Men
Pts
1 Holm , Stefan SWE 2.32 20
2 Janku , TomâˆšÂ°â‰ˆÂ° CZE 2.29 16
3 Williams , Jesse USA 2.26 14
4 Mason , Germaine GBR 2.22 11
4 Walerianczyk , Aleksander POL 2.22 11
6 Thomas , Donald BAH 2.22 8
7 Dilling , Jim USA 2.22 6
8 Bernard , Martyn GBR 2.22 4
9 Ton , Svatoslav CZE 2.22
10 BâˆšÂ°ba , Jaroslav CZE 2.18
Long Jump – Men
Pts Wind
1 Tomlinson , Christopher GBR 8.16 20 +1.4
2 Johnson , Brian USA 8.14 16 +1.5
3 Morgan , Nathan GBR 7.95 14 +2.2
4 Jensen , Morten DEN 7.87 12 +1.6
5 Moffitt , John USA 7.84 10 +1.4
6 Moore , Jonathan GBR 7.66 8 +1.7
7 Parravicini , Tim AUS 7.53 6 +0.3
8 Winter , Nils GER 7.38 4 +0.3
Triple Jump – Men
Pts Wind
1 Wilson , Aarik USA 17.58 20 +1.6
2 Sands , Leevan BAH 17.55 16 +2.5
3 Lewis , Randy GRN 17.43 14 +0.0
4 Oke , Tosin GBR 16.86 12 -1.3
5 Martâˆšâ‰ nez , Alexander SUI 16.46 10 +1.8
6 DobrovodskâˆšÎ© , Jaroslav SVK 16.03 8 +1.5
7 Golley , Julian GBR 15.87 6 +1.7
Shot Put – Men
Pts
1 Hoffa , Reese USA 22.43 20
2 Cantwell , Christian USA 21.66 16
3 Smith , Rutger NED 21.19 14
4 Taylor , Daniel USA 20.86 12
5 Bartels , Ralf GER 19.95 10
6 Myerscough , Carl GBR 19.80 8
4×100 Metres Relay – Men
1 United States “B” USA 38.38
2 United States USA 38.65
3 Poland POL 38.99
4 International Team UND 39.01
5 Australia AUS 39.09
6 Great Britain & N.I. “B” GBR 39.20
Netherlands NED DQ
Great Britain & N.I. GBR DNF
Women’ results
200 Metres – Women Wind: -1.9 m/s
Pts
1 Campbell , Veronica JAM 22.55 20
2 Edwards , Torri USA 23.19 16
3 Gevaert , Kim BEL 23.31 14
4 Stewart , Kerron JAM 23.35 12
5 Moore , LaShauntea USA 23.36 10
6 Kwakye , Jeanette GBR 23.64 8
7 Mothersill , Cydonie CAY 23.72 6
8 KlâˆšÂºft , Carolina SWE 24.03 4
400 Metres – Women
Pts
1 Richards , Sanya USA 49.79 20
2 Felix , Allyson USA 50.17 16
3 Williams , Novlene JAM 50.91 14
4 Sanders , Nicola GBR 50.97 12
5 Wineberg , Mary USA 51.22 10
6 Lloyd , Shereefa JAM 52.12 8
7 Trotter , DeeDee USA 52.13 6
8 Fraser , Donna GBR 53.07 4
800 Metres – Women
Pts
1 KlocovâˆšÂ° , Lucia SVK 1:59.91 20
2 Okoro , Marilyn GBR 2:00.11 16
3 Simpson , Jemma GBR 2:00.18 14
4 Meadows , Jennifer GBR 2:00.30 12
5 Lyne , Rebecca GBR 2:00.86 10
6 Clement , Treniere USA 2:01.50 8
7 Green , Nikeya USA 2:03.81 6
8 Jelagat , Irene KEN 2:04.63 4
9 Teixeira , Sandra POR 2:04.70
10 Burnett , Marian GUY 2:07.71
3000 Metres – Women
Pts
1 Fleshman , Lauren USA 8:43.92 20
2 Pavey , Joanne GBR 8:44.13 16
3 Jamieson , Sarah AUS 8:48.41 14
4 Kastor , Deena USA 8:50.90 12
5 Clitheroe , Helen GBR 8:51.94 10
6 Mockenhaupt , Sabrina GER 8:52.17 8
7 Twell , Stephanie GBR 8:53.34 6
8 Cullen , Mary Teresa IRL 8:53.75 4
9 Elmore , Malindi CAN 8:55.46 3
10 Huddle , Molly USA 8:58.51 3
11 Dean , Hattie GBR 8:58.77 3
12 Kenney , Laura GBR 9:01.21 3
13 Mortimer , Amy USA 9:02.96
14 Wootton , Katrina GBR 9:03.87
15 Bei-Hall , Sara USA 9:04.80
16 Morris , Sophie GBR 9:11.60
17 Fullerton , Faye GBR 9:16.41
Metcalfe , Megan CAN DNF
Reed , Kate GBR DNF
Pole Vault – Women
Pts
1 Isinbaeva , Yelena RUS 4.82 20
2 Feofanova , Svetlana RUS 4.76 16
3 Stuczynski , Jennifer USA 4.70 14
4 Golubchikova , Yuliya RUS 4.70 12
5 Gao , Shuying CHN 4.60 9
5 BadurovâˆšÂ° , Katerina CZE 4.60 9
7 Polnova , Tatyana RUS 4.60 6
8 Murer , Fabiana BRA 4.50 4
9 Hingst , Carolin GER 4.40
10 Dennison , Kate GBR 4.10

Author

Larry Eder
Larry Eder has had a 52-year involvement in the sport of athletics. Larry has experienced the sport as an athlete, coach, magazine publisher, and now, journalist and blogger. His first article, on Don Bowden, America's first sub-4 minute miler, was published in RW in 1983. Larry has published several magazines on athletics, from American Athletics to the U.S. version of Spikes magazine. He currently manages the content and marketing development of the RunningNetwork, The Shoe Addicts, and RunBlogRun. Of RunBlogRun, his daily pilgrimage with the sport, Larry says: "I have to admit, I love traveling to far away meets, writing about the sport I love, and the athletes I respect, for my readers at runblogrun.com, the most of anything I have ever done, except, maybe running itself." Also does some updates for BBC Sports at key events, which he truly enjoys. Theme song: Greg Allman, " I'm no Angel."
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