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Athletics News - 08.04. |
Abeylegesse as expected, surprise by Pollmacher
FERRARA: Elvan Abeylegesse from Turkey succesfully defended her title at 11th European Cup 10 000 m on Saturday in Ferrara, Italy. Her winning time was 31:25.15, world leading and her second best of career after 30:21.67 winning this event last year. If stats ok it was only her 4th race at this distance including dnf at European Champs last year in Goteborg. As she announced she plans to double in Osaka. Her next races will be on track at European Clubs Cup end of May in Portugal. She is the first succesfull male or female title defender of the event. Silver medal went to European CC Champion Tatyana Holovchenko who in her debut clocked excellent 31:59.98. Belgian Nathalie de Vos (10th in Goteborg) got bronze with 32:07.62. It is first individual medal from the event for Belgium. Another debuting runner Jo Pavey from Great Britain finished fourth (32:21.19). German co-favourite Sabrina Mockenhaupt did not finished („It was too hot to achieve the standard, so I did not see the sence to continue“), the same goes to another british top runner Hayley Yelling. Only top two got Osaka Standards (A 31:40, B 32:00).
Germany got unexpected gold in men race. European Championships U23 2005 silver medallist Andre Pollmacher from Chemnitz won the race achieving new best of 28:17.17. Austrian steeple specialist Gunther Weidlinger was second in also best 28:19.11. They showed interesting sprint battle in last 200 metres. Some 15 seconds behind the winner Carlos Castillejo as best from favoured Spanish team arrived for bronze (28:32.70). Jose Rios winner from 2001 was only 9th. Pollmacher´s winning time is second worst in the history of the event and fourth gold for Germany after two triumphs of Dieter Baumann (1997 and 2002) and win of Sabrina Mockenhaupt in 2005. Austria got its first medal at this event. Nobody fuflilled Osaka standards (A 27:49, B 28:06). „Unfortunately nobody followed the pacemaker. We were already at begin behind the Osaka standard. After six kilometres Weidlinger started to push, but no result. In last five laps I was at my limits. At last 100 metres I gave all what I had. For the moment the happinness is more important than missed standard. On the other hand, it is clear I need at least one more race to get the mark,“ said Pollmacher for leichtathletik.de. Weidlinger was more angry: „I did not had any support after the pacemaker finished his work at 6 km. At 7,5 I was still at Osaka standard level, but to be alone for four km is than too much. The silver is not bad, but I would be more happy with the standard and even fifth place. No more 10 000 m races, I will now try to get the standard at 5000 m or steeple. At least I know I can ran a very good 10 km on track in future,“ he was quoted by www.oelv.at.
Germany got after last year European title of Jan Fitschen another male 10 k title. Home European Indoor Champion at 3000 m Cosimo Caliandro did not finished.
As European Athletics reports the event was held in warm (21 Degrees), but windy conditions. Spain got sixth men team title and second on women side, only two women and three men teams competed. African pacemakers helped in both races (Busienei, UGA and Mrisho, TAN).
The 12th European Cup 10 000 m will be held on April 5 2008, the venue is not decided yet.
Medallists:
Men – 1. Andre Pollmacher,GER 28:17.17 PB, 2. Gunther Weidlinger,AUT 28:19.11 PB, 3. Carles Castillejo,ESP 28:32.70
Teams – 1. ESP 1:26:55.09, 2. ITA 1:27:44.24, 3. POR 1:27:48.78
Wom – 1. Elvan Abeylegesse, TUR 31:25.15 WL, 2. Tetyana Holovchenko,,UKR 31:59.98 PB, 3. Nathalie De Vos, BEL 32:07.62
Teams – 1. ESP 1:39:02.23, 2. ITA 1:39:40.51
US ACTION
(hampered by cold and rainy weather, in some places snow storms, some events like Colonial Relays or Indiana Relays were cancelled)
AUSTIN: Cold and rain destroyed the last day of 80th Texas Relays, many of athletes did not showed up and only 2000 spectators came. Jamaican 400mHurdles world lead Nickeisha Wilson won, but was able to achieve only 57.12. „I was aiming for 55 seconds, but weather hurt my goal,“ she was quoted by meet website. Andra Manson went over 220 in High Jump and then stopped. As best result of the event the heptathlon world lead 6205 by Dana Pickler was announced.
GAINESVILLE: During Saturday action at 63rd Florida Relays Dorian Scott registered another Jamaican shot put record 20.60 m. He so surpassed his own in and out marks of 20.52. He is now not far away from CAC record 20.78 held by Cuban Alexid Paumier achieved in 2000. Also women shot produced solid marks – Kristin Heaston missed with 18.55 her best only by 13 cm and Liz Wanless as second achieved 18.16 m. Jamaican Nadine Palmer registered new outdoor best at 200 m (23.39) and British Olympian Donna Fraser was overall fifth clocking 23.84. It was her first race since March 2006 (24.36 in Melbourne). South Carolina got solid 4x400 m with 3:31:58 with Natasha Hastings (400 m WL) as anchor.
POMONA: Also Pomona Pitzer Invitational was held in cloudy weather and only 15 degrees. Former World champs finalist Larry Wade returned after doping ban winning the 110 m Hurdles with 13.73 (+0.6). Decathlon world champion Bryan Clay was second clocking 14.12. He also won the javelin with excellent 71.64 m, only 36 cm behind his best from Helsinki 2005 Worlds. Another great athlete started here his season. Olympic and World Champion at 400 m Hurdles Felix Sanchez (DOM) won his 400 m heat achieving 47.62. It was overall 4th place, the best time went to another hurdler Bayano Kamani (PAN, 46.94). Olympian Jamie Nieto won High Jump (222 cm). Carlos Moore (22) attacked his best at 200 m with 20.83 (0.0), he has 20.78 from last year. On the women side Jade Johnson (GBR) achieved 623 (+0.2) in Long Jump in her preparation for summer. World Champs 2005 participant Becky Breisch achieved good 62.27 in Discus.
GREENVILLE: American running star Alan Webb won the Furman Invitational mile with 3:57.83. Only Josh McDougal was this year faster, he clocked last weekend 3:57.46.
CLEMSON: Cold and windy weather played the role also at Clemson Invitational. Still fast 100 m was recorded by Travis Padgett (10.05), but aided by +3.8. Jacoby Ford was second in 10.33.
OXFORD: At Ole Miss Invitational Russian 2003 World Champion at 200 m Anastasia Kapachinskaya continues in her attempt to return to world class. She was second at 200 m (24.39, +1.8) and won the 400 m (55.12).
EUGENE: Second largest crowd in the history of Pepsi Team Invitational (5250) saw another 20 m shot by Noah Bryant (20.17). Also interesting double by Carol Rodriguez from Puertorico clocking 11.0 hand (+1.9) and 200 m 23.13 (+1.5). Lionel Larry showed solid shape with 45.67 at 400 m.
AUBURN: Demi Omole registered fast 10.22 (+1.4) at 100 m during second day of Tiger Classic. His time is new facility record. Bahamian High Jumper Trevor Barry bettered his best to 226 cm. Another Bahamians registered wins – triple jumper Leevan Sands in LJ (769) and Shamar Sands at 110 mH (PB, 13.64, +1.2).
CARIFTA
PROVIDENCIALES: At 36th Carifta Games (junior and youth competition for Caribbean Countries) Yohan Blake from Jamaica confirmed his talent. He twice bettered the Jamaican junior 100 m record of Ray Stewart 10.19 back in 1984. First in heats he clocked 10.18 and then in finals 10.11. That moves him into 16th place on the all-time junior list. He got last year while only 16 years old gold in 4x100 m relay and bronze at 100 m at World Juniors in Beijing. He will be 18 end of the year and so still eligible for World Juniors 2008 in Bydgoszcz, Poland. It is actually the fastest time ever for somebody beeing at the time of achievement 17 years and 102 days old (per Tilastopaja), the other similar time is 10.09 by Darrel Brown (TRI) while winning world juniors 2002. At that time he was 17 years and 86 days old. In U17 category other Jamaican Dexter Lee (born 1991!) won with 10.34 and bettered meet record of Darrel Brown (10.36). In girls sprints Shakeera Reese from Barbados (US Collegian at Rice) won with 11.34 and clearly beat Jamaican favourite Schillonie Culvert (11.61). Only 15 years old Michelle Lee Ahye from Trinidad won the U17 section with 11.76. Grenada continues in 400 m tradition (Alleyne Francique) as Kirani James won the U17 in this event clocking 47.86. Also Bahamian HJ tradition (Troy Kemp) goes as Raymond Higgs was the best in U17 with event best of 213 cm. Jamaica registered expected win at 400 m for junior girls by Bobby Gaye Wilkens (53.01). As IAAf reports among the guests also IAAF President Lamine Diack.
ROAD
PADERBORN (GER): Kenyans dominated the 61st Paderborn Easterrace (Osterlauf). In total at 10 km and halfmarathon more than 8000 runners participated. Moses Kigen won 10 km clocking 28:02, he is the winner here since 2003 at 10 k or HM. Stanley Salil was 5 seconds behind and Johnstone Chepkwony as third achieved 28.19. Top 8 were from Kenya, ninth German Stefan Koch was timed 28:54. Peninah Arusei (KEN) was the best in women section (31:46) and also repeated her last year win. Kenyan Abel Kirui was the best at HM (1:01:32) just 6 seconds before Jonathan Maiyo (1:01:38), third Kenyan Francis Kiprop (1:03:57) was already far behind. Fourth place for best European Czech Jan Kreisinger (1:05:04). Top five went for Kenya in women section. The best was Beatrice Omwanza (1:11:15) before Emmah Kiruki (1:11:28).
NEW ORLEANS (USA): Also at 29th Crescent City Classic at 10 km Kenyan male win was registered. George Misoi (22) won (28:15). Nicholas Kamakya was second and Linus Maiyo third, both with same time 28:16. Ethiopian Tadesse Tola was this time fourth (28:19). But his countrymate Teyba Erkesso registered after Cherry Blossom 10 miles another win here. She was the best with 32:08. Kenyan Emily Chebet as second 6 seconds behind (32:14) and Russian Tatyana Petrova third (32:31).
CAPE TOWN (RSA): The classical Ultra Marathon Old Mutual Two Oceans (56 km) in South Africa witnessed on women side Russian success. Top four came from this country, the winner was 42 years old Madina Biktagirova with final time 3:35:04. Her marathon split was 2:40:56. She missed the course record (3:30:36) by less than five minutes. Home win was registered in the men category by 35 years old Bethuel Netshifhefhe with 3:07:56. Atlanta Marathon Olympic winner Josiah Thugwane was second (3:09:39). More than 6600 runners competed in total.
BRIEFS
SAN FRANCISCO: ESPN reports that Trevor Graham trial is set for September 24. The coach was indicted on charges on lying to federal agents.
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Alfons Juck
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