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Athletics News - 03.03. |
BIRMINGHAM Day 2: Five world leads and one european – great 400 m races, local success in triple jump
Great competition and excitement caused by British medals made the second day better than expected.
Irish David Gillick retained the Madrid title at 400 m with excellent european lead 45.52 as he missed the world lead by LaShawn Merritt only by 0.01. Second German Bastian Swillims bettered his best to 45.62. Both never run faster even outdoors. For Gillick this means 5th place on european all-time list as is the winning mark and national record 50.02 for Nicole Sanders at 400 m for women. Great depth as 46.17 was not enough for bronze and the same goes for two sub 52 seconds time in women section.
Another succesfull title defender was Naide Gomes in Long Jump. New world lead (689) and national record in her fifth jump was sensational. But she also had 672 and 673 enough for gold. Silver goes to Concepcion Montaner (669) from Spain and great battle for bronze between former world junior champion Denisa Scerbova from Czech Republic and German Bianca Kappler ended in one centimetre favour for the czech talent.
Unknown Italian Cosimo Caliandro surprised everybody in slow 3000 m final as he went last 200 m under 26 seconds. He beat all favourites Tahri, Espaňa, Farah and Cragg who were at next places, including Akkas from Turkey.
3000 m champion Lidia Chojecka choosed different tactics as she went in front early enough to secure the best position going into last round. Her reward was a gold and nearly one second advantage at the finish. New generation of russian runners came into next medal places – Natalya Pantelyeva and Olesya Chumakova. Chojecka will go for another gold Sunday in the 3000 m where no heats were staged.
Germany got the expected gold in Pole Vault, but it was not world leader Bjorn Otto, but Danny Ecker. After bronzes end of nineties he finally gets a gold. Result was not impressive 571 was enough for medals. Ukrainian Denys Yurchenko beat on count-back the favourite Otto who remained left with bronze.Last time 1985 and 1986 a 570 was enough to win. „I changed my poles during the competition, that was not good,“ said Otto.
Local crowds at nearly capacity filled NIA Arena were satisfied with triple jump finals. Both brits showed their supremacy. Phillips Idowu destroyed the field in his first effort. He did 17.56 new world lead and event best. Also his indoor best, outdoors he has 17.68 from Commonwealth Games 2002. Nathan Douglas had the next two best jumps 17.47 and 17.41, also a new indoor best for him and best ever second place in the history of European Indoor Champs. Rich Russian tradition in this event was saved by Aleksandr Sergeyev who was the only next one to go over 17 metres. „My aim today was to get big first jump in and then be a spectator for the rest of the competition,“ admitted Idowu.
At 199 high jump women finals looked to finish as a small disaster. But in her second attempt European Champion Tia Hellebaut saved the event. Then as a confirmed winner she started to fly and went over 201, 203 and 205 in first jumps. She even gave to the public one try at world indoor record height 209 cm. Silver and bronze were give for only 196, which was lower than expected after all great results during the previous weeks. The other favourites ended in following order – Di Martino, Veneva, Beitia and Vlasic. „I woke up today feeling I could go over two metres. I never thought I would be able to attempt a world record,“ explained Hellebaut who confirmed her wise decision to pass pentahtlon and concentrate on high jump. Her 205 is a new world lead, championships best, belgium record. Only Bergqvist (208), Henkel (207) and Kostadinova (206) jumped indoors ever higher.
Hepathlon
Title defender Roman Sebrle started the 60 m after a bad start with 7.06, but came into the lead due to excellent long jump 779 and confirmed his position with best shot put 16.12. But in High jump his fortunes were not so good as he did only 202 and has after first day lead of 19 points over Russian Aleksandr Pogorelov. Only poor shot put was the reason that Belarus talent Anderei Krauchanka is far behind but still can fight for bronze. Sebrle said after first day:“Generally Im pleased, I am where I really wanted to be after all what happened this winter, first injury and then the accident with javelin. 60 could be better, long and shot ok, but I was bad in high jump. I could not get used to the run-up starting from the oval. Every jump was different. I want to win, but I think I would need to fight till last event.“ Last time he did indoors 202 in heptathlon was back in 1999.
Qualifications
women
Kim Gevaert clocked a world lead and national record 7.10 for Belgium in 60 m semifinals. „I did not expected it,“ she reacted. UK Jeanette Kwakye achieved new best of 7.17 while winning the first semifinal. All favourites advanced for Sunday finals including Greek Katherini Thanou and hurdles champion Susanna Kallur (new best 7.24). In the morning heats Gevaert was the fastest also with 7.17, while super vet Merlene Ottey achieved very respectable 7.33. Only 0.03 s behind her 45+ masters world indoor best.
Brits dominated men 60 m semifinals. Jason Gardener and Craig Pickering winning their races in 6.58. It looks like french european record holder Ronald Pognon is the only threat for them (6.59).
Womens 800 m semifinals were more quiet than yesterday heats, all runners finished and all favourites advanced. Russian Oksana Zbrozhek registered the best time 1:59.53, but Ceplak and mainly Petlyuk were equally impressive.
In the women´s Pole Vault qualification 450 in second try was enough to qualify. Czech, Spanish and German record holders Badurova, Agirre and Hingst did not made into the finals. In shot put qualification only five throwers were eliminated and 16.78 was enough to make top 8. Russian Olga Ryabinkina was the best 18.21 m.
Men
Men´s HJ qualification saw 9 athletes over 230 and 227 and that made the finals. No major failures, maybe to mention Czech´s 6th from Goteborg Svatoslav Ton and Slovakia´s 230 this year Peter Horak.
Two 8 metres jumps were registered in long jump qualification by Greek Louis Tsatoumas (809) and Salim Sdiri from France (800). European champion Andrew Howe made it to the finals as a last with 781 cm. Russians failed, no one qualified.
800 m semifinals saw two spanish runners to advance, while both Brits were out and also two irish runners. It looks wide open for the final, unless the best in lists Arnaud Okken from Netherlands will try for a fast pace and so decide the race.
1500 m heats made no big headlines all the names considered will be in the finals. Juan Carlos Higuero from Spain was the best 3:43.02.
US Indoor Action
FAYETTEVILLE: US record holder Wallace Spearmon clocked a world lead at Arkansas Last Chance Meet 20.39 at 200 m. It was his only 200 m race of the indoor season. Second placed William Perry got 20.95. Decathlete Trey Hardee showed great shape in long jump 785 cm. Prince Mumba from Zambia achieved new national indoor record at 800 m 1:47.73. He has also 1:47.19 from last year, but that was on oversized track at Ames.
BATON ROUGE: Juanita Broaddus registered very good 7.19 at LSU Last Chance Meet.
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Alfons Juck
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