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Athletics News - 16.02. |
Bekele and Isinbayeva for world records, Pavey for world best
BIRMINGHAM: Saturdays Norwich Union Grand Prix is one of the richest in the world in the indoor scene. And so the fields are also looking extremely good. So far the leading position according to the scoring is held by Stuttgart meet, but this could be under threat on Saturday at the venue of this years European Indoor Championships. The headliners from international point of view are Ethiopean running hero Kenenisa Bekele and flying russian artist Yelena Isinbayeva. Both have world indoor records in their plans. Bekele will run 2000 m for the first time in his life (of course he has many interesting splits at this distance from previous longer races). His target is the mark of his countryman Haile Gebrselassie 4:52.86 achieved also in Birmingham on Feb 15 in 1998. Other thing is his current shape, he because of the injury was skipping last Saturdays 1500 m in Valencia. Isinbayeva will have her 4th meet of the indoor season and at everyone she tried for new world indoor record, but only one was succesfull (Donyetsk 493). As Great Britain is her beloved place (her first five metres jump) it should be possible to get her 21st global mark and jubilee 10th indoors. Another interesting try will be at 2 miles for a new world best by UK runner Jo Pavey, who is in excellent shape after her great 3000 m run in Stuttgart behind Ethiopeans. Her target will be 9:23.86 of Regina Jacobs (USA) back on Jan 27, 2002 in Boston. The fastest 200 m runner of last year Xavier Carter came to this only race to Europe and will offer a 400 m show. Two other interesting things are the men 60 metres and a mile. For the sprint only European runners have been invited and for the mile a new concept „Devil take the hindmost“ will be used. In some events you can bet at www.athleticbet.com
Weekend preview
This weekend in Europe is totally given to National Championships, for many one of the last opportunities to qualify to European Indoor Championships. French champs are starting already on Friday in Aubiere. German Champs in Leipzig will be another event of importance. Fans can also bet on Leipzig events at www.athleticbet.com. First time there is a new possibility to bet on head to head clashes (who will finish in better position), not only to bet on the winner. In some events like Pole Vault for men it will be very interesting. National titles will be decided also in Spain, Italy, Poland, Finland, Switzerland (new hall in St. Gallen), Portugal, Austria, Holland, Belgium, Latvia, Hungary. Special will be Irish Championships with international competition in Belfast including decathlon world record holder Roman Sebrle (CZE) and walking european champion Francisco Fernandez (Spain). US indoor scene continues this weekend with Conference Championships.
Summer action is continuing in Australia with Saturday´s Telstra A-series meet in Sydney where not only local heroes will compete (Craig Mottram at 1500 m, Kym Howe after her ocenian record in Donyetsk in Pole Vault) but also US stars olympic winner Shawn Crawford and world champion Michelle Perry.
South African Yellow Pages Ultimate Series will have its fourth stop also on Saturday in Oudtshoorn. By the way, from South African scene is now clear that the superfast time 9.95 by Lee Roy Newton at 100 m will not be ratified by the federation as new national record. The reaction time was -0.046 thus over the allowed limit 0.100. Also the photo finish camera as reported by South African federation was one meter before the finish line and the sprinter himself did not undergo a doping control at the venue. Newton achieved 9.95 on Feb 3 in Durban.
On the road race scene the hot topic is the Tokyo Marathon on Sunday with more than 30 000 entries for marathon and 10 km race. The interest was reported to be close to 100 000, but the technical limits on the streets are allowing only the mentioned number. The invited foreign runners as Ken Nakamura reports are: Sammy Korir (KEN 2:04:56 in Berlin, 2003), Daniel Njenga (KEN), Vanderlei de Lima (BRA), Chris Isegwe (TAN), Getuli Bayo (TAN) and Vladzimir Tsiamchyk (BLR). In Europe the marathon in Valencia, Spain is the main event.
Anti-doping corner
COLORADO SPRINGS (USA): Olympic gold medallist and world champion Justin Gatlin has requested an arbitration hearing on doping charges against him. He requested the hearing ahead of Friday's request deadline via his lawyer.. When Justin Gatlin accepted a positive test and a doping offence, part of the agreement was that he had the right, if he choose, to challenge only the eight-year suspension. Gatlin, now 25, is facing a ban of up to eight years unless cleared by an arbitration panel. Interesting situation occurs in connection with his two wild cards for Osaka World Championships after his individual gold medals in Helsinki 2005. If ban confirmed he will not be able to use them. They could possibly went to the Michael Frater (100 m, Jamaica) and Wallace Spearmon (200 m, USA), but that does not look to be a possibility, his ban should most probably start in 2006.
News section
ZURICH (SUI): After 3 and half days already 50 % of available tickets of special activity for September 7 Weltklasse Meet in new Zurich Stadium were sold. It is a result of special action by the organisers, Swiss Athletics Federation and sponsors (UBS, erdgas Ostschweiz AG, Migros). The action will be finished by March 9. Every member of the national athletics federation has the right to buy four sitting places for the meet and also additional standing places. Only after the deadline the official selling process for the public will start. It is not said how much from all tickets were given to this special action.
ALBUQUERQUE (USA): The management group of agent Charlie Wells Vector Sports Management is organising this weekend a new professional meet. The name is „New Mexico Invitational Blending of Champions“. The headline star is triple jump world champion Walter Davis, who is scheduled to compete in Long Jump. Another big name involved is Danielle Carruthers at 60 m Hurdles.
LAUSANNE (GBR): EAA informs that Double Olympic finalist and former World Indoor Champion, Piotr Haczek from Poland (best 45.43 in 2000), will in work as the new scottishathletics Sprints and Hurdles Manager next month.
Haczek, currently coaching and teaching in Copenhagen, will relocate to Edinburgh for a 12th March start date.
He was the European under-23 Champion in the individual 400m in 1999 and part of a strong Polish 4 x 400m squad that enjoyed success over a six-year period culminating in winning the indoor world title in Lisbon, 2001. The development of strong Scottish relay squads is likely to be a priority during his three-year contract.
Results corner
MANHATTAN (USA, Kansas, Feb 15): US leading High Jumper Jamie Nieto although saying he will pass the indoor season won with 221 cm.
PRAHA (CZE, Feb 13, addition): wom – 200 m: 1. Jitka Bartonickova 24.73, SP: 1. Jana Karnikova 15.71
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Alfons Juck
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