Athletics News - EAA Congress

De Carlos and Hansen new vicepresidents, very new council

CANNES: Elections at 20th European Athletics Congress brought new blood into governing bodies. Hansjorg Wirz (SUI, president) and Karel Pilny (CZE, treasurer) remained unupposed in their positions. But two vicepresident posts will become new names. Director of Spanish federation and meeting director of top spanish meets Jose Luis de Carlos got the spot along with other meeting organiser Svein Arne Hansen (NOR). Long time boss of Oslo Bislett Games and former Euromeetings president is currently also president of Norway Athletics Federation. Hungarian Agoston Schulek (vicepresident since 1999) did not succeeded along with Philippe Lamblin (FRA) and Vadim Zelichonok (RUS). Other vicepresident until Saturday Valentin Balakhnichev (RUS) did not bid for the post. Only de Carlos got the necessary majority in first round (29) and in the second Hansen had 25.

The next election was about 13 council members. Only four persons remained from the old body and nine are new. That also shows that European Athletics has the chance to be new and ready for „the need to change“. All three unsuccesfull vicepresident candidates were hoping for a council place and two of them got it (Lamblin, Zelichonok). From other old council members three remained (Ludmila Olijar/LAT, Jorge Salcedo/POR and Janez Aljancic/SLO who finally did not bid for vicepresident post). In the group of eight remaining new members very interesting the position for triple jump world record holder Jonathan Edwards (GBR) and two top executives of recent championships Antti Pihlakoski (FIN, Helsinki 2005) and Toralf Nilsson (SWE, Goteborg 2006). Franco Arese from Italy, the former European Champion at 1500 m (1971), was also elected. Remaining names are Sylvia Barlag (NED), Frank Hensel (GER), Dobromir Karamarinov (BUL) and Salih Munir Yaras (TUR). For example such great names like Valeriy Borzov, Erki Nool, Boguslaw Maminski and Dragutin Topic did not had the luck to be elected.

Nool got at least place in development committee (12 candidates) along with Jean Gracia (FRA), Ihor Hotsul (UKR) and Nick Davis (IRL). Four members of competition commitee (15 candidates) are Libor Varhanik (CZE), Ivica Matijevic (SER), Anna Riccardi (ITA) and Jean-Pierre Schoebel (MON).

European Championships every two years, European Team Championships from 2009

CANNES: After elections competition structure changes were approved. Long aimed every two year European Championships are finally here. The first possibility is in 2012 and the goal is to stage the event during US Olympic Trials. Bad news for long distance runners (10 000 m, marathon), walking and combined events, all will be excluded. New would be qualification possibility at big meetings. It remains to be said whether the format three per country will be also used. All other details of this championships in olympic year will be decided later. Next classic European Championships will be held in 2010 in Barcelona.

As expected the change of format and name of European Cup was also approved. New name is European Teams Championships. Men and women will build one team per country and the countries will compete as currently at three levels. But the numbers will be different – 12 teams in Super League and First League and remaining countries will be divided into two groups of Second League. If approved this could start in 2009.

Next European Athletics Congress will be in 2009 (Lausanne), next venues of autumn Calendar Conference are Amsterdam (2008) and Miskolc (HUN, 2009). This years Calendar Conference will be held in Malta.

Montenegro was officially approved as 50th European Athletics member country.

Turava and Brugnetti winners, Adams and Plätzer new leaders of IAAF Race Walking Challenge,

RIO MAIOR: European Champion Rita Turava (BLR) started the season with an excellent win at 16th „Grande Premio Internacional“ in Rio Maior (third leg of IAAF Race Walking Challenge). Her time at 20 km distance was 1:28:01 new world lead. In windy conditions she missed her event record from 2005 (1:27:19). Norway´s Olympic silver medallist from 2000 Kjersti Plätzer (35) finished second 53 seconds behind (1:28:54). Third place went to title defender Melanie Seeger of Germany (1:29:32). Local hero Susanna Feitor finished 7th (1:30:53).

Olympic champion Ivano Brugnetti from Italy made up ground after his heavy loss in China in March and won this time clocking 1:20:21. Australian Luke Adams was one place better than last year and finished second (1:20:50). Only six seconds behind another podium place for Norway: Erik Tysse was for the first time in his career so high at IAAF Challenge as third (1:20:56). Male home Goteborg medallist Joao Vieira finished 9th (1:24:46). Last two years winner Francisco Fernadez (ESP) did not competed this time and his event record 1:19:02 (2005) remained

unchallenged. New IAAF Race Walking Challenge leaders are Australian Luke Adams (15 points) and Kjersti Plätzer from Norway (19 points). Next leg (4th) will be on May 1 in Sesto San Giovanni, Italy.

Top results
Men 20 km: 1. Ivano Brugnetti,ITA 1:20:21, 2. Luke Adams,AUS 1:20:50, 3. Erik Tysse,NOR 1:20:56, 4. Andre Hohne,GER 1:21:04, 5. Benjamin Sanchez,ESP 1:21:21 PB, 6. Rafal Augustyn,POL 1:22:49
Wom 20 km: 1. Rita Turava,BLR 1:28:01, 2. Kjersti Plätzer,NOR 1:28:53, 3. Melanie Seeger, GER 1:29:32, 4. Sabine Zimmer,GER 1:30:12, 5. Elisa Rigaudo,ITA 1:30:42, 6. Jane Saville, AUS 1:30:53, 7. Susanna Feitor,POR 1:31:18

Spanish wins in Podebrady

PODEBRADY: One of the oldes walking events in Europe in Podebrady (75th annual in Czech Republic) registered today very tough conditions with temperatures around 25 degrees. In this summer weather Spanish walkers secured wins in main categories at the European Athletics Permit meet. Former European Junior bronze medallist Beatriz Pascual (24) won the women 20 km in 1:32:57. It was also new course record, the former one 1:33:16 by Barbora Dibelkova from last year.

Spanish this year national champion Maria Jose Poves finished second (1:33:59) and Monica Svensson from Sweden third (1:35:27). Spain clearly won also the nations rankings before Lithuania and Italy. Czech Helsinki 2005 fifth placer Barbora Dibelkova who only on Jan 19 gave birth to her son Matej finished 10th (1:43:14) and secured the national title.

Interestingly 22 years old Luis Manuel Corchete from Spain was not bothered by hot temperatures at all and won in new PB of 1:23:56. He had so far 1:24:41 while beeing sixth at National Championships in March. Another youngster (also 22 years old) Daniele Paris from Italy was second and clocked best too 1:24:35. Slovakian favourite Matej Toth (sixth in Goteborg at European Championships) finished only third (1:25:10). In close team contest Italy was better than Spain because second scoring athlete Lorenzo Civallero (ITA) finished 4th and Mikel Odriozola for Spain only 6th. In all categories 146 walkers from 15 countries competed.

Top results
Men 20 km: 1. Luis Manuel Corchete, ESP 1:23:56 PB, 2. Daniele Paris,ITA 1:24:35 PB, 3. Matej Toth, SVK 1:25:10, 4. Lorenzo Civallero,ITA 1:25:17, 5. Gyula Dudas,HUN 1:25:33, 6. Mikel Odriozola, ESP 1:25:47,...9. Matteo Giupponi (ITA, 88) 1:27:47,...18. Milos Holusa (national champion) 1:32:04,...Jose Dos Santos,BRA dnf, Jose Ignacio Diaz,ESP dq
Teams: 1. ITA 6, 2. ESP 6, 3. SVK 10, 4. LTU 17, 5. SVK B 21, 6. SWE 22, 7. CZE 24, 8. SUI 30
Wom 20 km: 1. Beatriz Pascual, ESP 1:32:57, 2. Maria Jose Poves, ESP 1:33:59, 3. Monica Svensson, SWE 1:35:27, 4. Maria Galikova,SVK 1:36:23, 6. Neringa Aidietyte,LTU 1:36:25 PB, 7. Marie Polli, SUI 1:37:25,...10. Barbora Dibelkova (national champion) 1:43:14
Teams: 1. ESP 3, 2. LTU 10, 3. ITA 11, 4. SUI 16, 5. CZE 18, 6. BLR 20
Juniors
Men - 10 km: 1. Mate Hellebrandt,HUN (89) 43:57
Wom – 10 km: 1. Maria Czakova, SVK (88) 50:09
Youth
Boys – 5 km: 1. David Remjar, SVK (91) 24:30
Girls – 5 km: 1. Veronika Privalincova, SVK (92) 25:24

BRIEFS

DUBAI: Exactly during the hottest period of European Spring Marathon scene the organisers of Standard Chartered Dubai Marathon in 2008 announced very impressive prize money structure. Winners of the race on Jan 18 next year will each get 250 000 USD. For new World Record one million is offered. This year William Rotich (KEN) won with 2:09:53 and Askale Magarsa (ETH) 2:27:19. It is the biggest marathon prize money purse on the circuit.
KRAKOW: Poland´s walking Olympic 7th placer at 50 km Grzegorz Sudol won the national students championships at 10 000 m distance clocking 40:58.89. He is yet to race this year at one of the classic distances.
Alfons Juck

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