GAY STILL AT ONLY 75 PERCENT

DANVILLE (USA): World leader Tyson Gay commented on his Saturday 9.79 for kentucky.com: "It was a real relaxing environment, a home track meet, and I just wanted to go out there and run with my teammates and see how things went. My hip's been bothering me a little bit from wear and tear over the years -- just pounding and pounding and pounding; just some things that the body goes through." About his fitness he said: "Honestly, I'm about 75 percent, just based on how my body feels and just the aches and stuff like that." Gay also said he is not planning to run too many 200 m races because his training has been off. His next race before US Championships will be adidas Grand Prix on Saturday at Icahn Stadium of New York. The 100 m will have also heats, in the entry list his training group colleagues second fastest of the year Steve Mullings and improved young Jamaican Nickel Ashmeade and from sub 10 category this year other Jamaicans Nesta Carter and Michael Frater with Trinidad´s Keston Bledman.

 

VAN ZYL WANTS FIRST SUB 47.5

JOHANNESBURG (RSA): World leader at 400 m hurdles and this year so far unbeaten LJ Van Zyl spoke to times.co.za about his season. Now reunited with coach Hennie Kotze, with whom he had much previous success, Van Zyl said he had not done any sharpening yet, referring to the speed work used to bring an athlete to peak performance. He attributes his return to top form to Kotze, who "is good for me and gives me confidence". Asked if he has thought about Kevin Young's 19-year world record of 46.78, he said: "Let me run sub-47.5 first." He competes this Saturday at adidas Grand Prix in New York against Bershawn Jackson and David Greene among others. After that his plan is to compete in Lausanne and Paris Diamond Leagues before World Championships in Daegu.

 

SEMENYA AIMS FOR FAST TIME

OSLO (NOR): The Dream Mile so often the showpiece at the EXXONMobil Bislett Games has been further enhanced by the confirmation that two very exciting athletes will join the classy field. Kenyan Champion Augustine Choge a prolific winner on the European Circuit, will be a very welcome addition to the race. Saudi Arabia's Mohammed Shaween is also now a confirmed starter, he was outstanding in Hengelo where took a surprise victory in the very fast time of 3.31.82 for the 1500m. It is the 3rd fastest time in the world for 2011. With brilliant pacing expected from Kenyans Vickson & Collins Cheboi (winner of the 1500m in Rabat), the presence of Cheboi & Shaween enhances a top quality field that already includes Olympic Champion Asbel Kiprop, Shanghai winner Nixon Chebseba, Eugene winner Haron Keitany & last season's fastest man at 1500m Silas Kiplagat. In the women 800 m reigning world champion Caster Semenya aims for a fast time. "At the Bislett Games, the time is very important, probably more important than first place", the African runner explains. "You may eventually win with a slow time. That's not my goal. I want to run fast." Another highlight could be women´s 5000 m with former world record holder Meseret Defar against unbeaten Kenyan Vivian Cheruiyot and Ostrava 10k winner Meselech Melkamu. European runners will be represented by European Champion Alemitu Bekele of Turkey and Sara Moreira of Portugal. With help from Diamond League and IAAF websites.

 

TAMGHO ADDED

NEW YORK (USA): World indoor Record holder Teddy Tamgho, the exciting young triple jumper who lit up Icahn Stadium last year with one of the best jumps in history, is returning to the adidas Grand Prix on Saturday (11), the sixth stop in the Samsung Diamond League series. His late-breaking addition to the field means the crowd will be treated to a rematch of the top three jumpers here last year: Tamgho, Phillips Idowu and Christian Olsson. Among them, they have won six World Championship titles. In the women's 100m Hurdles it's another USA-Jamaica rivalry, with reigning World Champion Brigitte Foster-Hylton of Jamaica meeting two-time World Indoor 60m champion Lolo Jones and 2011 world leader Kellie Wells. With a victory last weekend, Jamaica's Kenia Sinclair solidified her spot as the world's top 800m runner so far this year. Here, she will step up to the 1500m, meeting Americans Anna Pierce, Morgan Uceny and Shannon Rowbury. Also coming off a big win in Eugene is Abubaker Kaki of Sudan, who brings a world-leading time of 1:43.68 to the men's 800m against reigning World champion Mbulaeni Mulaudzi and Khadevis Robinson, the American veteran who staged an upset victory over a top field in Rome late last month. Informs IAAF.

 

 

 

STOCKHOLM TEAMS

 

 

BIRMINGHAM (GBR): Barcelona gold medallists Dai Greene, Andy Turner and Phillips Idowu will be joined by European Indoor champion Helen Clitheroe in a strong team also featuring other key Aviva GB&NI performers from the last two major championships at the Spar European Team Championships in Stockholm on June 18-19. Dwain Chambers (he is self coached) will line up for the men's 100m having started the season in superb form with 10.01 at a meet in Sao Paulo last month, whilst youngster Danny Talbot, who has already secured a UKA A standard for this summer's World Championships in Daegu, lines up in the 200m. Greg Rutherford is enjoying a run of consistency with four jumps over eight meters in recent weeks including a slightly wind assisted 8.32m at the Diamond League meet in Eugene last weekend. Shana Cox makes her Aviva GB&NI team debut in the 400m - Cox can compete for GB at the European Team Championships because the IAAF do not list the event as one that athletes are ineligible for when changing nationality. Perri Shakes Drayton who has also put in some fast performances over the flat 400m in recent weeks, will line up in the 400m hurdles having clocked a fast season-opener of 55.36 in Eugene last weekend - also a World Championship A standard. World Junior bronze medallist Holly Bleasdale takes the women's pole vault berth following her outdoor lifetime best 4.50m in Ostrava last week, alongside reigning World Junior Champion Sophie Hitchon who will compete in the hammer having set a new senior UK record at Bedford last month. There is also a GB&NI team debut for Shara Proctor in the long jump and Greg Beard in the men's shot. National record holder Tiffany Porter-Ofili is the star at 100 m hurdles. The names for men 400 m and 1500 m are not yet decided.

 

KYIV (UKR): Ukrainian selection for Stockholm includes world leader and European Champion Olha Saladuha in triple jump, Doha winner at 1500 m Anna Mishchenko, European indoor champion Olesya Povh in the 100 m. Other strong women are Mariya Ryemyen at 200 m, Antonina Yefremova at 400 m, another European leader at 800 m Liliya Lobanova. Multiple European CC Champion Sergiy Lebid is scheduled to run the 5000 m. In shape also Anna Titimets at 400 m hurdles. Solid high jump duo Dmytro Demyanyuk with Vita Styopina. Good points are expected from pole vault European medalist Maksim Mazuryk. Women 4x100 m relay team as European Champions should produce a fast time. Dmytro Kosynskyy will represent the young javelin generation with Vira Rebryk on the women side.

 

 

 

OTHER NEWS

 

 

BRUSSELS (BEL): European triple jump medalist Svetlana Bolshakova will not compete in the season 2011. She sustained total rupture of Achilles tendon of left foot in Rabat on Sunday. She will undergo surgery in University Hospital in Leuven. She is out for 6 to 7 months, but mentally very strong and already talking about Olympic Games in London.

 

KASSEL (GER): The Askina meeting (EA Classic) returns on Wednesday into the Aue Stadium after two years in Baunatal. It is because the stadium underwent a reconstruction and will be also the place of German Championships in July. Spectators will specially follow women hammer with world record holder Betty Heidler against former world champion Yipsi Moreno of Cuba. Heidler will then have another competition this weekend in Frankisch-Crumbach at special hammer meet. Mainly German athletes will the headliners of the meet. Silke Spiegelburg is in the pole vault, Ralf Bartels with David Storl in shot put. Sabrine Mockenhaupt runs the 3000 m against a group of Kenyans. European medalist at 1500 m Carsten Schlangen will compete in the 800 m against Luxemburg record holder David Fiegen. Coming with big improvement from Ostrava Thomas Schneider competes in the 400 m with South Africans Ofentse Mogawane and Lebogang Moeng. Jamaican veteran Danny McFarlane is the top name in the 400 m hurdles, Cubans are favorites in long jump (Wilfredo Martinez) and triple jump (David Girat). US Yvette Lewis is the top name in the 100 m hurdles and Vida Anim of Ghana will have it tough with Ukrainians Natalya Pogrebnyak and Hrystyna Stuy in the women 100 m.

 

LONDON (GBR): Former Olympic champion Denise Lewis accepts it is only a matter of time before Jessica Ennis breaks her British heptathlon record. Lewis' 11-year-old British record stands at 6,831 points and looks increasingly vulnerable as Ennis gears up for the 2012 London Olympics Lewis said for Sportinglife.

 

NEW YORK (USA): Deena Kastor and four-time winner Lornah Kiplagat are the latest additions to the 40th edition of the NYRR Mini 10K in New York this weekend. Kastor is making her return to competition after giving birth to her daughter Piper Bloom only four months ago. With 2:19.36 the 38-year-old still holds the American marathon record even though she told media she is still far from that form. Previously announced names are Linet Masai, Lilya Shobukhova, Kim Smith and Jo Pavey.

 

LAUSANNE (SUI): Rupert Murdoch's News Corp Fox Sports has begun the bidding for the rights to broadcast the Olympics in the United States after London 2012 by revealing that they would like to secure a deal through until the Games in 2020, even though that event will not be awarded to a host city for more than two years. Their offer ups the stakes for NBC, the current rights holders, and ESPN writes Insidethegames.

 

GATESHEAD (GBR): Top international athletes from both sides of the Atlantic will come together in a head-to-head battle at the Great North CityGames on the NewcastleGateshead Quayside on September 17th. Now in its third year, the unique CityGames event will play out one of the greatest rivalries in international sport; with the Aviva Great Britain & Northern Ireland team taking on their USA counterparts over six disciplines including the pole vault, long jump, track sprints and road races, all the action will be televised live on BBC. The purpose-built running track will be created in front of The Sage Gateshead, set against the spectacular backdrop of the iconic Tyne Bridge and Gateshead Millennium Bridge.

 

BERLIN (GER): German Athletics Federation DLV and top one day meeting, the legendary ISTAF of Berlin agreed to cooperate. The background reason is also promotion for Berlin in its bid to stage European Championships in 2018. ISTAF is this year planned for September 11 (IAAF World Challenge) and reports already 25 000 sold tickets. It will be 90th jubilee anniversary. "Berliner" Robert Harting already confirmed he will compete in discus.

 

OSLO (NOR): 28-years old long distance runner Urige Buta of Ethiopian origin is Norwegian citizen since June 2011. He has superb personal best 2:09:27 last year at Hamburg marathon. He also clocked 1:01:48 half-marathon in 2009.

 

 

 

HAPPY BIRTHDAY

 

 

MONACO (MON): IAAF President Lamine Diack is celebrating today his 78th birthday. Happy Birthday!

 

 

 

ADDITIONS

 

 

EUGENE (USA): Still some stats from men 100 m race in Eugene, in the 8th place it was the best ever result for that position (10.02 by Ivory Williams) and it is only third race ever with 6 sub 10 runners. The other two are 1991 World Championships in Tokio and 2008 Olympic Games in Beijing, of course in both cases the finals.

 

EUGENE (USA): Double olympic medalist Tirunesh Dibaba was a late withdrawal from the women's 5000m on medical advice (to avoid a possible stress fracture to her right shin).

 

RABATA (MAR): Vania Stambolova of Bulgaria completed her national record at 400 m hurdles 53.68 in lane 8 and was so in leading position the whole race. Immediately after the race she asked for doping control, Bulgarian media are informing.

 

CHULA VISTA (USA, Jun 2): US discus leading mark by Russ Winger here with 66.04, also his PB