|
|
Athletics News - 11.04. |
Canadian Whyte had a great start in Azusa
AZUSA: At Multi Events which are already part of MtSAC Relays Canadian Olympian (6th in Athens 2004 at 100 m Hurdles) Angela Whyte started a splendid heptathlon. She has 3554 points after first day. Her best was of course 12.95 (+1.9) at 100 m Hurdles. The 10th fastest in the history during a heptathlon, subject she finishes at least with 5000 points (as registered by statistician Hans Van Kuijen). She then got 166, 11.85 and 24.16 (+2.9). She has a best of 5745 back in 2003.
MEETINGS
ZURICH: The seating places offered by Weltklasse Zurich for the first time in the history were sold in one hour. The interest for the Sep 7 event in the new stadium was extremely big. It looks like only few tickets remained for families and for standing places. The new stadium will have increased number of sitting places (from 10 000 to 21 500).
EUGENE: Prefontaine Classic in Eugene will see on June 10 the first ever outdoor race in USA for Ethiopian running star Kenenisa Bekele. He will run 2 miles, his first time outdoors in this event, indoors he was running it twice in 2005 and 2006 in Birmingham (8:15.49 and 8:05.12). He competed so far twice in US indoors – 2005 in Boston (3000 m) and 2006 in New York (mile). He is scheduled to run 2 miles also in Hengelo on May 26 at the Thales FBK Games. The world best at this event is 7:58.61 by Daniel Komen in Hechtel (BEL) in 1997.
SHEFFIELD: World record holder and Olympic Champion Liu Xiang from China commited for Sheffield Norwich Union British Grand Prix on July 15. The 110 m Hurdles hero is yet to announce whether he will compete at Golden League because his event is featured among the golden ones for this coming season. If attacking the jackpot he would need to compete already on June 15 in Oslo, Norway.
OSTRAVA: Czech Golden Spike of Ostrava announced for its 46th meet (June 27) the participation of most popular female athlete Russian Pole Vaulter Yelena Isinbayeva. She competed there back in 2003 and was third (452 cm). Now she is returning as a great star. The organisers are hoping that in her second start of the summer season (after Golden League begin in Oslo) she will be ready to attack the global mark. For world record the offered bonus is 25 000 USD.
GOTZIS: The best multi events meeting in the world, the 33rd hypomeeting in Gotzis, Austria, announced for the last weekend of May (26-27) the participation of both current world champions Carolina Kluft from Sweden and Bryan Clay (USA). They even said that Clay wants to attack the world record of Roman Sebrle set in 2001 in Gotzis (9026 points). Kluft goes for her 5th Gotzis win, Clay only for second. Because czech Roman Sebrle was the repeated winner in time 2001-2005. Everything looks good so that also Sebrle will compete together with Asian Games winner Dmitriy Karpov from Kazakhstan and former World Champion (2003) Tom Pappas from USA (subject to his health situation). After some time the best multieventers will again compete together.
LONDON: Fresh European Indoor Champion Phillips Idowu gave his ok for London Norwich Union Grand Prix in Crystal Palace. He will contest one of the last triple jumps before the World Championships in Osaka on Aug 3. The 28 years old athlete aims to better his outdoor best which is 17.68 since Manchester Commonwealth Games in 2002.
AFRICA NEWS
NAIROBI: Kenya´s The Nation reports that national athletics federation chairman and IAAF Council member Isaiah Kiplagat told a media briefing that despite several challenges, the recent World CC championships in Mombasa were successfully held following a collective effort between the government, various departments and the media which sustained public interest at home and abroad. The chief executive officer of the championships, Isaac Kalua, said he and Kiplagat continue to receive emails, phone calls and letters from many people across the globe who were impressed by Kenya's efforts in staging the championships which attracted over 30,000 spectators which is the highest number recorded in history.
KAMPALA: Best Ungandan female athlete Dorcus Inzikuru is already qualified for the July African Games in Alger as there are no qualfying standards in her event. The 3000 m steeple for women will be for first time held at the games. Inzikuru is going to start her Italian preparation end of the week. „ I hope I can win gold in Algeria,“ she was quoted by Ugandan media.
NAIROBI: Kenyan African Permit meet planned in Nairobi for May 12 had changed the date to May 5. But lack of sponsors makes the situation even worse and cancellation is also a possibility.
MOMBASA: The official results of World CC Championships are now showing one change. After analysis of video Tadesse Tola (ETH) is 7th and all other runners are moved one place down (8th Shami, 9th Soi, 10th Toroitich, 11th Farah etc). But it is still not enough for Ethiopia to be registered in the team ranks with 5 finishers and 4 non-finishers. Ethiopia initially protested against the „dnf“ of Tola in the results.
MARATHON NEWS
BOSTON: The biggest worry for the first World Marathon Majors event of the year, the oldest classical marathon, the 111th in Boston on next Monday, is the weather. The organisers said in their statement that they are expecting heavy rain and windy conditions. On the other hand they will have great TV exposure - coverage in 190 countries. For first time the start will not be at noon, but the main at 10 am with wheelchair and elite women at 9.25 and 9.35 am. The current leaders of WMM Robert Kipkoech Cheruiyot (KEN, last year winner of Boston and Chicago) and Jelena Prokopcuka (LAT) will compete in Boston. Kenyan media reported that Cheruiyot suffered recurrent headeaches since his fall at Chicago Marathon last year. "I may have trained well but due to the headaches, I can not say I am 100 percent. But I'll still give it my all. One of my strongest points is that I believe in myself and I'm confident of doing well," he was quoted. His rival from last year Benjamin Maiyo is going to run again along with Stephen Kiogora who was second in New York last year. But on the top of PB´s list is Robert Cheboror with 2:06:23 in Amsterdam, 2004. On the women side defending champion Rita Jeptoo (KEN) and olympic medallist and US record holder Deena Kastor (2:19:36, the fastest female entrant) should build the biggest challenge for the Latvian.
There will be other top marathon races during the weekend which makes it most probably the busiest of the year – Paris, Rotterdam, Debrecen, Debno, Linz, Torino, Canberra and Ostend.
BRIEFS
LAUSANNE (SUI): European Athletes of March are british sprinter Jason Gardener and portuguese long jumper Naide Gomes. That is the result of the monthly poll organised by European Athletics. Next places went to other European Indoor Champions in male section Roman Sebrle (CZE, Heptathlon), Stefan Holm (SWE, High Jump) and David Gillick (IRL, 400 m). Surprisingly European Champion Tia Hellebaut (BEL, great 205 cm in Birmingham) was second and world CC champion Lornah Kiplagat (NED) only third, fourth place went to Nicola Sanders who won the 400 m indoor title for local team.
LONDON (CAN): Canadian media are reporting that Paul Hardy will be new IAAF Competitions Director. The post was vacant since September last year when IAAF opened applications. It is one of senior executive positions in Monte Carlo. Former director was Sandro Giovannelli, who continues as senior adviser for the meetings circuit. Canadian Hardy in the past worked already for IAAF in technical department back in nineties and was also hugely involved in the World Championships 2001 in Edmonton. Currently is manager of Sport Tourism in London, Canada. As per canoe.ca he will leave his current post on May 23.
INDIANAPOLIS: Wasserman Media Group (WMG) has entered into long-term exclusive partnerships with USA Gymnastics, USA Swimming and USA Track & Field. The company will represent the named bodies for sponsorship, events and marketing opportunities, and develop digital platforms to broaden distribution and original programming.
NEW YORK: Virginian Pilot reports that Federal prosecutors on Wednesday revealed that Tim Montgomery's sports agent, Charlie Wells, was charged in the case and pleaded guilty to one count of bank fraud last month.
ALFAS DEL PI (ESP): At Spanish meet which is part of Alicante Spring Circuit Slovak Triple Jump indoor record holder Dana Veldakova won her event with 13.66 m. She was jumping as part of her preparation during her training camp in Spain. “It was only a more tougher training,” she said afterwards. Norwegian record holder Mona Holm won the hammer achieving solid 63.53 m, just 1.36 m behind her best.
ATHENS: Greek media are reporting that European and Olympic silver medallist in triple jump Hrisopiyi Devetzi will start her international campaign already on May 5 at Osaka Grand Prix Meeting. She will compete in Long Jump. Meanwhile the European Champion Periklis Iakovakis will have his first outing at national Club Championships on May 12/13. This time he is not travelling to Osaka or Doha because the meets do not have his event (400 m Hurdles) in the programme.
MONTE CARLO: IAAF started to produce newsletter for Kids and Youth Athletes (age 7-15). It is a new initiative, part of World Athletics Plan for future.
MOSCOW: Russian Olympic Track and Field Team already has the place for the pre-Beijing preparation next year. It will happen at the base in Irkutsk, Siberia.
DUBLIN: Australian star runner and twice World Cup winner Craig Mottram will be the headliner for Sunday´s Great BUPA Ireland Run at 10 km.
DONGIO (SUI): At 10 km road race in italian speaking part of Switzerland Edwin Soi surprisingly beat his countrymate and last year world leader on the track at 10 000 m Micah Kogo. The times 28:24.8 – 28:27.0. Let´s watch them for summer track races.
SAN JOSE (USA): Media are reporting about the death of Ladislav Pataki, former Slovakian Shot Putter (best of 18.64 back in 1971). He defected in 1985 into USA and continued in his career as well known expert in biomechanics and nutrition. He died on April 5 aged 60 as a result of brain tumor. He competed also in masters athletics and won several medals there.
DUBLIN (IRL): Former UK Athletics Performance director Max Jones was appointed as Ireland's Director of Athletics.
Utrecht real figures
STOCKHOLM: Renowned statistician and reporter Lennart Julin checked the announced 13 000 participants at Monday Utrecht Marathon. His conclusions: The number of participants given surprised me as they indicated that Utrecht suddenly would have become one of the largest marathons in Europe. So I checked the official results. There I found just 725 runners finishing the actual marathon distance - that is just 5.5% of the 13.000 mentioned. And adding up the results from also the shorter distances (halfmarathon, 10K, 5K, 2K) I still only found some 7.500 names listed in the official results.
David Powell sees great future for Sanya Richards
LONDON: Respected athletics writer David Powell recently wrote in The Times: “While the profiles of Kluft and Radcliffe suffer from them competing rarely and Powell, Bekele and El Guerrouj have lacked personality, Richards has all the tools for sustained stardom.”
|
|
Alfons Juck
|
|
| Impressum