JETER VS. FRASER-PRYCE

EUGENE (USA): Also the sprint fields have now been revealed for the Saturday's Prefontaine Classic in Eugene, the fourth stop of the Samsung Diamond League series. In the men´s 100 m world leader Steve Mullings runs against last year co-world leader Nesta Carter and third top Jamaican in the field is Michael Frater. US Indoor champ Mike Rodgers and returning Justin Gatlin are adding the spice into the race. In the 200 m Olympic 2008 medalist Walter Dix is the top name. Women´s 100 m will see first this years duel of olympic and world winner Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce against fastest US sprinter Carmelita Jeter. Other Jamaicans include Kerron Stewart and Sherone Simpson along with top US runners Lauryn Williams and Marshevet Myers.

 

FAST STEEPLE EXPECTED

OSLO (NOR): With the advice that France's European champion Mahiedine Mekhissi has confirmed his entry into the 3000m Steeplechase at Samsung Diamond League ExxonMobil Bislett Games, we can now expect the race will produce a rash of very fast times. Bob Tahri's continental record stands at 8:01.13, whilst Mekhissi's best is 8:02.52. In the right conditions and with the right pace Mekhissi feels that not only can he take the European record but that he has a realistic chance of achieving a sub-8 minute performance. Olympic and World champion Brimin Kipruto, who has yet to run under 8 minutes for the 3000m Steeple will also appreciate the fast pace and will be looking for a new personal best to become the eighth Kenyan born athlete to achieve this feat. Also in the field and providing great encouragement will be prolific sub 8-minute steeplechaser Paul Koech. The Kenyan Olympic silver medallist has been under the magical 8-minute barrier on no fewer than eight occasions and would like nothing better than to erase Moses Kiptanui's long standing stadium record of 8.03.36 that dates back to 1995. Informs IAAF.

 

EL FOR POLAND´S NOWICKI

DESSAU (GER, June 1): 13th Anhalt meet was first this years EA Classic one day event. Nadine Muller confirmed excellent discus shape with 65.55 ahead of Chinese guests Xuejun Ma (63.93), Li Yangfeng (63.33) and Tan Jian (63.04). Cuban Diamond Race winner Yarelis Barrios was fourth (61.19). Nadine Kleinert achieved another home win in the shot put (18.48). Levern Spencer of St. Lucia cleared 192 in high jump and Ari Mannio of Finland achieved solid 83.57 in javelin ahead of Mark Frank (82.13). Surprise in pole vault as Kostadinos Filippidis went over 552 and beat home elite headed by Malte Mohr (also 552). Bartosz Nowicki of Poland achieved European leading 3:37.97 to beat Barcelona medalist Carsten Schlangen 3:38.50 and Austrian Andreas Vojta who improved his best to 3:38.55 in the 1500 m. Kenyan Japhet Korir won the 3000 m (7:52.44) and Denisa Krebs the 1500 m (4:10.29) ahead of French record holder Hind Dehiba (4:10.62). In sprints former long jump world champion Tianna Madison won the first race of 100 m in 11.48 (+1.7) but Poland´s Marta Jeschke was faster in second one (11.46, +2.4) although wind assisted. Lee McConnell of Great Britain won the 400 m (52.14) ahead of US Mary Wineberg (52.36). Christine Spence was the best at 400 m hurdles (57.00) and South African Thuso Mpuang in the 200 m (20.87, +0.5).

 

1 WL AND 7 EL

YALTA (UKR, May 30-June 1): Ukrainian Cup meet which was selection for the European Team Championships produced on world lead and seven European leading marks of the season. Lilya Lobanova surprised with huge 1:58.30 800 m world lead. It was for her first sub 2 minutes of the career. Great shape for top sprinters. Olesya Povh clocked lifetime best 22.58 (0.0) to win the 200 m (EL) over Marya Ryemyen 22.84 PB, Elizaveta Bryzhina 23.03 and Darya Pizhankova 23.13 (but PB 22.91 in heats). In the 100 m another name appeared as winner Natalya Pohrebnyak in 11.22 (0.0 and PB 11.17 in heats). Another continental top marks for Antonina Yefremova at 400 m (50.69) and the 4x100 m team in 43.03. Hana Titimets posted not only EL but also national U23 record with 54.69 at 400 m hurdles. Second Ana Yaroshchuk improved to 54.95. Doha winner Ana Mishchenko achieved another top time 4:03.71 in the 1500 m. In jumps excellent improvements in triple jump as Natalya Yastrebova got 14.50 EL (+1.7) over Ruslana Tsyhotska 14.45 (+1.3, also PB). Viktoriya Styopina cleared 195 in the high jump, Viktoriya Rybalko got 671 in long jump and Vira Rebryk 61.60 in javelin. New national junior record for Hanna Sheleh 430 in the pole vault. On the men side Turkish guest Ramil Guliyev clocked 10.16 (-1.3) what is new national record. Two European leads in distances. Sergiy Lebid 7:52.25 in the 3000 m and 8:26.21 of Vadim Slobodenyuk in steeple. Good jumps as Dmytro Demyanyuk cleared 231, Maksim Mazuryk 571 and Viktor Kuznetsov 17.01 (+1.5). Superb javelin quality. Dmytro Kosynskyy new national U23 record 83.39 ahead of Aleksandr Pyatnytsa 82.61 and national record holder Roman Avramenko 81.69.

 

TOP MEN´S 800 M EXPECTED

BYDGOSZCZ (POL): European Athletics Premium category circuit starts on Friday in Bydgoszcz at the Enea Cup, the 11th edition of European Athletic Festival meet. The top event will be the last one. In the 800 m duo of best home runners, European champion Marcin Lewandowski and European indoor champion Adam Kszczot will clash with reigning world champion Mbulaeni Mulaudzi of South Africa. World champion Philips Idowu is the star of triple jump. Another Berlin winner competing is Ryan Brathwaite at 110 m hurdles. Great men´s pole vault will see best Poland´s jumpers Pawel Wojciechowski, Lukasz Michalski against Ukrainian Maksim Mazuryk and former olympic medalist Yevgeniy Lukyanenko who is returning after illness to the place of his highest jump (601 in 2008). Kenyan junior Hillary Yego is the best in the steeple, former world champion Perdita Felicien at the 100 m hurdles. Men´s hammer will see European Champion Libor Charfreitag against Krisztian Pars, Markus Esser, Sergey Litvinov and Dilshod Nazarov. Recently improved to sub 11 Nigerian Damola Osayomi is the star of women´s 100 m. European 400 m hurdles leader Hana Titimets of Ukraine will clash against Jamaican Nickiesha Wilson. Briton Marilyn Okoro and Canadian Diane Cummins are the favorites for women 800 m. Jamaican veteran Danny McFarlane is the 400 m hurdles favorite (against young generation Bultheel, Melnykov, Robertson). In the flat 3000 m race the return after injury for steeple specialist Wioletta Frankiewicz. Berlin discus fourth placer Zaneta Glanc will fight against 2004 olympic winner Natalya Sadova of Russia.

 

OSTRAVA 50TH CELEBRATION

OSTRAVA (CZE): Javelin legend Jan Zelezny was satisfied after the 50th jubilee Ostrava Golden Spike meeting on Tuesday (IAAF World Challenge). In total 3 world leads and 7 meet records in excellent weather and before full stadium (18 000 this time allowed) was a superb birthday party for the meet. In the stands legends like Irena Szewinska, Donovan Bailey, Maurice Greene, Uwe Hohn, Grazyna Rabsztyn, Tana Kocembova, Imrich Bugar, Sarka Kasparkova, Roman Sebrle, Helena Fibingerova added by ice-hockey star Jaromir Jagr and legendary tennis player Ivan Lendl. The best mark of the evening was the 100 m improvement of Veronica Campbell-Brown to 10.76 in the 100 m. It is 8th best performer, 20th best performance ever and 4th fastest performer after 2000. And for statisticians the world best at 100 yards when she was timed en-route to her 100 m world lead with 9.91 (and Katerina Cechova 10.49 European best). Usain Bolt achieved 9.14 in the 100 y split. Of course there would be faster times, but were not officially timed. Another top ones included four seconds meet record improvement of Paul Kipsiele Koech in solo steeple race after 1.8 km (and missed WL by only 0.27), first ever sub 48 second in Czech Republic by LJ Van Zyl. Others were close. Ivan Ukhov with Raul Spank at would-be WL 236. Silke Spiegelburg also tried 472 WL in the pole vault. Mariya Abakumova missed the WL in javelin by 8 cm, De Zordo got second best mark of the season in javelin. Betty Heidler got 9th best ever hammer performance. Blade Runner Oscar Pistorius clocked his fourth fastest of the career 46.19 and best at IAAF category meeting. Interesting outing by US hurdler Johnny Dutch who first improved his season best to 48.72 at 400 m hurdles and after 50 minutes won the B-race at 110 m hurdles with another 2011 top mark 13.64. Usain Bolt won for fifth time in Ostrava (2006, 2008-11) and Dayron Robles for fourth time (2008-11). Zelezny was asked by Czech media whether the meet would be ready to join the prestigious Samsung Diamond League in case such a possibility opens. "As we said from the beginning the Ostrava meeting is ready and would be happy to join the series at any time. One important step is that the stadium will be renovated and standing places will be changed to seating positions. The work will start in autumn, first Ostrava will host in July the European U23 Championships," said meeting director Zelezny.

 

 

 

OTHER NEWS

 

 

AMSTERDAM (NED) : After a disappointing outing at the FBK Games in Hengelo last weekend Rutger Smith will skip his upcoming competitions and return in July. The Dutch athlete feels he needs more time to train and be fit by the IAAF World Championships in Daegu in August.

 

LAUSANNE (SUI): World triple jump champion Phillips Idowu has confirmed he will compete for the British team at the 2011 SPAR European Team Championships in Stockholm on June 18th and 19th. Idowu added that he expects world record holder Teddy Tamgho to be present as well in Stockholm, in what will be their second duel of the season after also competing in New York on June 11th. 2004 Olympic triple jump champion Christian Olsson is also expected to jump writes European Athletics.

 

LAUSANNE (SUI): Former European U23 silver medallist Indrek Turi has been selected to design the medals for the European junior championships in Tallinn in July. Turi, a former decathlete and now graphic student at the Estonian Academy of Arts, has made a design that symbolises the unstoppable force of young athletes reports European Athletics.

 

RATINGEN (GER): Jennifer Oeser has announced she is aiming to win for the third time in as many years the IAAF Combined events Challenge meeting of Ratingen in July. The 15th edition of the Erdgas-meeting in Ratingen promises to showcase the top German athletes such as Lilli Schwarzkopf and Julia Mächtig in the heptathlon, as well as Pascal Behrenbruch and Normal Müller in the decathlon. Sensationally improved Jan Felix Knobel remains uncertain as he might prefer the European U23 Championships who are held in the same week. For the top German athletes Ratingen will be decisive for the World Championships selections. Double Ratingen winner Yordani Garcia as well as fellow Cuban Leonel Suarez will compete too. Over 4000 spectators are expected to attend the event reports Leichtathletik.de.

 

BERLIN (GER): German decathlete Michael Schrader ends his season and again will undergo surgery on his foot. Schrader has been troubled with stress-fractures in his feet throughout his career and only managed one decathlon in 2010 when he won the German national championships with 8003 points confirms leichtathetik.de.

 

EUGENE (USA): A special 10,000-meter race set up on 'Distance Night in Eugene', one day before the Prefontaine Classic on June 4th, to help Ethiopian and Kenyan runners make their cases to represent their countries in the World championships has landed the presence of former University of Oregon star Galen Rupp.

 

NEW YORK (USA): Reigning World Champions Phillips Idowu and Brittney Reese, as well as world leaders Renaud Lavillenie and LJ van Zyl are among the athletes named to the star-studded lineup for the adidas Grand Prix on June 11 organizers report. Idowu will face Christian Olsson in what promises to be a fascinating match-up between triple jump champions, while van Zyl tops off a deep 400-meter hurdles field that already includes the top three hurdlers in the world last year: Bershawn Jackson, Kerron Clement and Javier Culson.

 

LONDON (GBR): London 2012 has signed up Thames Water as the Official Water Utility Services Provider of the London Olympic Games. As part of the deal, Thames Water will be a Tier Three sponsor and will provide all water utility and waste water services at London 2012 venues, ensuring clean, reliable tap water and sanitation to the Games reports Insidethegames.

 

LONDON (GBR): London Mayor Boris Johnson has announced that he is giving each Borough in the capital 82,000 dollar to decorate high streets, squares and public spaces in order to spread the "look and feel" of the Olympics and Paralympics across the capital reports Insidethegames.

 

LONDON (GBR): The proposed London 2012 Olympic marathon course has received a glowing review as the first test event for the Games took place and saw just under 50 athletes try out the iconic route around the capital which starts and finishes in front of Buckingham Palace. Athletes described the course as portraying the city well and gave positive scorings. The only minor glitch for the London 2012 organisers came from complaints about the Paralympic course writes Insidethegames. In the 20 km walk Chinese Wang Zhen achieved 1:24:10 and in women race home Jo Jackson 1:31:50.

 

MONTE CARLO (MON): The IAAF reported that they had approved the change of allegiance for marathoner Adriana Nelson, the former Adriana Pirtea, an Romanian national who became a USA citizen last year. Nelson's performances were eligible for USA recognition on 04-Apr-2011, but she has not been cleared to represent the USA until 04-Apr-2014. Informs RRW.

 

BALTIMORE (USA): World Long Jump Champion Brittney Reese enjoyed her first trip to Italy as well as her first time in Europe before the US Championships. The 3-time US Champion wants to continue her streak of consecutive national titles and prepares for her 4th defense in June. Thus traveling to Europe in May wasn't in her immediate plans. But as the defending Diamond League champion in the long jump, Reese also wanted to begin a winning streak there as well. When asked about the Golden Gala meeting Reese stated, "I enjoyed my first time in Rome. We got to tour the ancient city as well as focus on performing well in the meet. I was relaxed and had some excellent practices before we left the US. Everything at the meeting was first-class (hotel, practice track, hospitality). I wanted to jump over 7.00 meters and had a long foul but I know it is coming. I had several goals to accomplish in Rome and achieved two of them. Unfortunately I didn't get the world-leading mark but have another opportunity for that next weekend". Reese's next meet will be in NYC at the Adidas Grand Prix on Saturday, June 11th. It will be her first trip to the Big Apple and she again wants to achieve several goals which include jumping 7.00 meters and taking the lead in the Diamond League jackpot race. It will also be her final tune-up before the US Championships on June 23-26th in Eugene Oregon.

 

SINGAPORE (SIN): Organizers of the Standard Chartered Marathon Singapore announced that they had landed a three-year sponsorship deal valued at S$9.75 millions (USD 7.9 million) from title sponsor, Standard Chartered Bank. The Singapore Sports Council, which operates the event, said that the sponsorship renewal would extend through the 2013 edition of the race. Last year's event, which included a marathon, half-marathon and 10-K, attracted about 60,000 entrants, organizers said. Kenyans Kenneth Mungara (2:14:06) and Irene Jerotich (2:35:22) were the winners in steamy conditions, and each received S$65,000 (USD 52,780). The 2011 Standard Chartered Marathon Singapore is scheduled for Sunday, December 4.

 

HELSINKI (FIN) : The Helsinki 2012 Local Organising committee released they already have 80% of sponsorship revenues for the Helsinki 2012 European Athletics Championships. Helsinki 2012 introduced Li-Ning/L-Fashin Group, Securitas, Puustelli Group, Sodexo, Valio and Veikkaus as National Partners who will join the European Athletics international partners SPAE, Omega, Le Gruyére and Eurovision. Sponsorship revenues of 2 million euros out of a total revenue target of 2.5 million are now in place. The total budget for the championships is 14 million euros writes European Athletics.

 

NEW YORK (USA): American and New Zealand 5000m record holders Molly Huddle and Kim Smith announced that they would both be racing on the weekend of the ING New York City Marathon in November, but in different events. Huddle will run a new 5K road race while Smith will run the ING New York City Marathon the following day reports RRW.

 

NAIROBI (KEN): There were more questions than answers after the first post-mortem examination on marathon star Samuel Wanjiru as it has emerged that the fatal injury could not have been sustained as a result of a fall. It is argued that the injuries to Wanjiru's palms and knees indicated that the athlete landed on his fours and was conscious that he was jumping, which could therefore not explain the fatal injury to the back of his head, which preliminary investigations indicated was inflicted by a "blunt force" reports The Daily Nation.

 

DALLAS (USA): American sprinter Wallace Spearmon has admitted that he has lost ground on Usain Bolt and Tyson Gay, but is confident of racing on the same level with the stars again. "When we first started off, there was Bolt, Tyson and myself. I beat them, they beat me," Spearmon said in a report by AP and added that once he can get healthy again he is confident he can be back up there with Bolt and Gay.

 

SAN DIEGO (USA): American Meb Keflezighi is ready to compete in the Dodge Rock 'n' Roll Marathon and Half-Marathon in San Diego on Sunday. Keflezighi on Sunday morning will compete in the half marathon and will also be promoting his book 'Run to overcome'.

 

PARIS (FRA): The Paris Stade de France stadium has been equipped with a brand new track and an all new sound system ahead of the Diamond League stage in Paris the Meetig Areva on July 8th. It is now the only stadium in France to be equipped with the Mondotrack FTX product provided by the Mondo company.

 

 

 

RESULTS

 

 

JINAN (CHN, Jun 2): At National Junior Champs first day good long jump for Li Minja 654 (+0.5).

 

CHISINAU (MDA, May 28-29): New national shot put record by Ivan Emilianov 20.64 during the national championships. Another top mark was national junior record in hammer by Serghei Marghiev 76.45 m.

 

BEDFORD (GBR, May 30): Jody Williams the World junior champion started her season in bad weather with 11.35 (+0.9) at the 100 m.

 

LONDON (GBR, May 30): Mo Farah and Jo Pavey clinched the British 10 kilometer road running titles at the Bupa London 10,000, while Paula Radcliffe struggled to a third place finish in her first race after an 18 month layoff. Farah, representing the Newham and Essex Beagles club, got an easy 22-second victory over Solomon Mehretab (Victoria Park Harriers and Tower Hamlets), clocking 29:15, well off of the 27:44 course record he had run last year. Andrew Lemoncello (Fife AC) finished third in 29:38. Pavey led the race from the start, and was never seriously challenged. She clocked 32:22, 26 seconds up on runner up Gemma Steel, who had caught Radcliffe in the sixth kilometer to move into second place. Radcliffe, who has not raced since finishing fourth at the 2009 ING New York City Marathon, struggled from the starter's gun to establish a rhythm. The 37 year-old marathon world record holder, who gave birth to her second child last September, gritted her teeth to finish in 33:17.

 

ZARY (POL, May 29): At the 8th Slusarski Pole Vault memorial meet Pawel Wojciechowski cleared 550 for the win.

 

CHELYABINSK (RUS, May 29): European champion Mariya Savinova clocked fast 1:58.9 at Ural Championships. Anna Shorstova cleared 194 in high jump for new personal best.

 

WUNJIANG (CHN, May 29): During last meet of Asian series again fast relays, China locked 39.46 ahead of Hong-Kong 39.47 and Korea 39.61. Mahmoud Samimi of Iran won the discus (63.21). In the women tripl jump home win for Liu Xiemei 14.16 (-0.2) ahead of Li Yanmei (14.05, -0.3) and third Mayokha Johny new national record for India 14.02 (+0.1).

 

KAOHSIUNG (TPE, May 27-28): Jamaican relay world record holder Michael Frater clocked fast 10.06 (+0.3) at the International Championships of Chinese Taipei. Another meet record for Australian Matt Davies who won the 200 m in 20.81 (+1.4). Polish guest Igor Janik won the javelin with 80.75, also a meet record. German Nadine Kleinert was the best in women shot put (18.63).

 

ATHENS (GRE, June 1): Paraskevi Papahristou shined at the 12th edition of Filothei Women Gala meet. She leaped to 655 (+0.1) in long jump and 14.34 (-0.5) in the triple jump. Venelina Veneva of Bulgaria was the best in high jump (187).

 

HELSINKI (FIN, May 31): Kenyan Lewis Korir achieved excellent 27:41.33 in the 10 000 m here.

 

SAN JOSE (CRC, May 27-28): Nery Brenes won the 400 m at the national championships of Costarica with 45.92.

 

HAVANA (CUB, May 26-28): At the traditional Barrientos Memorial new generation of names emerged. Raidel Acea improved to 1:45.62 in the 800 m. Orlando Ortega coached by Santiago Antunez posted fast PB 13.56 (0.0) at 110 m hurdles. Noel Ruiz achieved 45.94 in the 400 m (and was second in the 200m 20.70 PB). Michael Herrera won both sprints 10.34 (-1.6) and 20.63 (-0.9). Dena Caballero improved in women discus to 62.94.

 

GUELPH (CAN, May 28): At this low-key meet, Taylor Milne set a Canadian record for the rarely run 2000m, clocking 5:01.57. Informs RRW.

 

OREBRO (SWE, May 28): World junior record holder Angelica Bengtsson is back from injury, she cleared 420 here.

 

MONROE (USA, May 28): New Jamaican record for Jason Morgan in discus with 64.11 m.

 

ASHGHABAD (TKM, May 20-21): Late addition from Turkmenistan. Guest from Iran Ali Akbar Rabiei clocked hand-timed 9.9 at the 100 m.

 

 

 

SAD NEWS

 

 

MINSK (BLR): Hammer Throw legend Romuald Klim died on on 28 May after a long and difficult illness. Klim was 78 and captured two Olympic medals for the former Soviet Union. He won the gold medal in the Hammer Throw at the 1964 Olympic Games in Tokyo, and struck silver in the event four years later in Mexico City. Klim also won the European title in Budapest in 1966 and took continental silver in Athens in 1969. He was also a World record holder in the event, throwing 74.52m at the International Nepszava Cup meeting in Budapest on 15 June 1969. Informs IAAF.