POWELL OUT OF TODAY RACE

LONDON (GBR): World leader Asafa Powell will not run Friday´s London race as precautionary measure. "I have had some tightness in my groin since the race in Budapest. I had hoped that it would have cleared by now but it is still there. I am only focusing on Daegu, as much as I would love to run tonight I just can't risk anything with Daegu 3 weeks away," Powell was quoted. His agent Paul Doyle adds: "We're making this decision to not race tonight as a precaution. Asafa has a tightness in his groin that has been getting better every day, but to run tonight would put him at risk for injury. If we had 2 or 3 more days I think he would be fine and able to race, but unfortunately that is not the case."

 

FAST 100 M WOMEN RACE EXPECTED

LONDON (GBR): Saturday´s programme of Aviva London Grand Prix is promising more highlights after top Friday action. For example women 100 m has a top field, the same goes for men´s high jump and discus. Home crowds waiting on Idowu, Ofili-Porter against Pearson and much more.

 

Saturday preview event by event

 

Men

 

200 m: US Champ Walter Dix against the clock.

Emsley Carr mile: B. Lagat has the fast finish, but national champ Shane and title defender Choge also to watch.

400mH (non-DL): Taylor and... (Culson, Gordon).

HJ: Russians Ukhov, Shustov, Silnov with world leader Jesse Williams and super talent Mutaz.

TJ (non-DL): Idowu wants to jump as first and should end as first.

DT: Oly winner Kanter, World leader Kovago, old-timer Alekna, Hadadi comes in and Paralympian Greaves. Meet record 67.82 should go.

4x100 m (non-DL): Jamaica, Great Britain, St. Kitts, Germany, Netherlands, but no USA, should be anyway fast.

 

Women

 

100 m. Jeter vs. Fraser-Pryce vs. Baptiste and vs. Lalova, but first heats.

400 m (non-DL): Will Ohuruogu improve again as she is closer to champs? Shericka, Novlene and Sanya the favorites.

1500 m (non-DL): Dobriskey and England, home win is expected.

5000 m: Clitheroe in a good position.

100mH (non-DL): Pearson is running against Ofili-Porter.

Steeple: Chemos wants remain unbeaten, meet record is hers 9:22.49 but she should improve it.

SP: Another outing Adams vs. Ostapchuk. So far all was in favor of the New Zealander.

 

KEMBOI GETS WARNING

NAIROBI (KEN): Steeple world title defender Ezekiel Kemboi has been given a three-day ultimatum to report to camp at the Moi International Sports Centre, Kasarani or be dropped. Head coach Peter Mathu has no knowledge when Kemboi will be arriving in camp, over a week since he communicated to the athlete. The Kenya team is preparing for the World Athletics Championship, which will be held in Daegu, South Korea from August 27 to September 4. East Standard informs. Abraham Chirchir, Olympic champion Brimin Kipruto and Richard Mateelong, the world silver medallist are all in camp and have been doing joint training. The coach also dismissed doubts Mateelong was not in his best form for the championship in Daegu, saying he has been impressed by the Commonwealth Games champion's commitment in training. As it is known Paul Kipsiele Koech also aimed to be included into the team based on his results on European circuit.

 

FARAH STILL OPEN FOR A DOUBLE

LONDON (GBR): World leader Mo Farah insisted that, despite reports saying he would only run the 10,000 meters at the IAAF World Championships starting in South Korea tis month, he would be keeping his options open to double up over the 5,000m, as he did in winning the two titles for Britain at last year's European Championships.  Farah, who will run over 3,000m at Crystal Palace tomorrow at end of the first day of a two-day Samsung Diamond League meeting, insisted: "I want to give the 10,000 meters 110 per cent and then see how my legs feel afterwards. But if I feel good I can still do the 5000 meters."

 

TIRUNESH AND SILESHI OUT

ADDIS ABABA (ETH): The final composition of Ethiopian team for Daegu will be known next week. But as well informed sources are saying, the pair Tirunesh Dibaba and Sileshi Sihine are definitely out from any considerations to compete in Korea. Still open is the situation with Kenenisa Bekele and the possibility that he might run the 10 000 m in Daegu.

 

TURKEY WITH 23 ATHLETES

ISTANBUL (TUR): Turkey announced its team for World Championships in Daegu. It is composed by 6 men and 17 women. There is no clear medal hope, but some finals are possible. For example for European champion Alemitu Bekele at 5000 m, improved throwers Ercument Olgundeniz in discus and Fatih Avan in javelin. Also selected is another Barcelona winner Nevin Yanit at 100 m hurdles, but she has not the shape from last year. Turkish team - men - marathon: Karayel, DT: Olgundeniz, HT: Apak, Eryildirim, JT: Avan, 20 km walk: Celik, women - 400 m: Saka, Engin, 800 m: Aydin, Kurt, 1500 m: Cakir, Karakaya, 5000 m: A. Bekele, marathon. Dogan, steeple: Uslu, Mingir, 100mH: Yanit, 400 mH: Karedere, Engin, HJ: Ayhan, LJ: Mey, HT: Sahutoglu, 20 km w: Mutlu, 4x400 m: Engin, Saka, Redif, Aydin, Karedere.

 

CROATIA WITH VLASIC AND OTHER FIVE

ZAGREB (CRO): Croatia is sending six athletes to World Championships in Daegu. As title defender and team headliner will travel high jumper Blanka Vlasic. Also in the team marathon runner Lisa Christina Stublic and 400 m hurdlers runner Nikolina Horvat. Three men are throwers, Roland Varga and Martin Maric for discus and Andras Haklits for hammer.

 

 

 

OTHER NEWS

 

 

OTTAWA (CAN):  Discus thrower Jason Tunks (36) officially announced his retirement, the three time Olympian and Olympic finalist has decided to formerly step away from competition. Tunks retires as Canada's best ever discus thrower with his name across the record books still proof of his dominating career. He retires as the Canadian record holder and with an astounding 14 Canadian champion titles. "In 2008 my wife Lieja and I opened Olympic Fitness (www.olympicfitness.org) which has become very successful", explains Tunks. "That venture along with our two girls (Julia 5, Jenna 19 months) means that I don't have time to put in the required hours in training, I am looking forward to spending my free time with my wife and kids, and to see the continued growth of Olympic Fitness," he said as per Athletics Canada release.

 

HELSINKI (FIN): Ticket sales for the Helsinki 2012 European Athletics Championships begin on Sunday 7 August, with ticket packages starting from 65 euros. The compact five-day schedule of the 2012 European Athletics Championships through 27 June to 1 July encompasses morning sessions with heats and qualifications and exciting evening sessions packed with finals. With javelin very close to the hearts of Finnish athletics fans, a "javelin package" covering the qualification rounds for men and women on Wednesday 27 June and the men's final on Thursday 28 June is available. Friday 29 June will be a package of its own with 12 finals including the women's javelin final and the first day of the heptathlon. The Saturday and Sunday package offers a staggering amount of action - altogether 20 finals - at the Helsinki Olympic Stadium. Helsinki 2012 ticket sales will start Sunday with a ceremony honouring Finland's men's ice hockey team, with the first tickets presented to the "Leijonat" (lions) who won gold at this year's World Championships. Informs European Athletics. Helsinki 2012 event mascot "Appy" is a virtual character representing the theme of the 2012 European Athletics Championships: technology and design.

 

LONDON (GBR): According to the Daily Mail, former world 10 000 m champion Liz McColgan appeared in court to face charges of "punching husband and throwing his clothes out the window. She denies the accusations. Liz McColgan denies attacking her husband Peter. UK media are informing.

 

HOKKAIDO (JPN): Brett Larner informs on his blog that this year's Hokkaido Marathon is set for Sunday, Aug. 28, directly opposite the Daegu World Championships.  With a 12:10 start time Hokkaido is always hot and has some of the most strategic racing on the Japanese calendar.  The men's race features both Kenyans defending champion Cyrus Njui and 2009 winner Daniel Njenga along with sub-2:12 domestic men Seiji Kobayashi, Masaya Shimizu  and Masashi Hayashi. The women's race likewise features the 2010 and 2009 winners, defending champ Yumiko Hara and course record holder Kiyoko Shimahara, along with 2006 winner Kaori Yoshida who returns to Hokkaido off a sub-2:30 PB at last fall's Chicago Marathon.  Also in the race are former national record holder Yoko Shibui and two-time World Championships marathon medalist Reiko Tosa, Tosa seeking to make a comeback after giving birth to her first baby last year.  The strongest challenge may come from 2011 Asian Marathon champion Noriko Higuchi who finished 2nd at February's Tokyo Marathon.

 

AUSTIN (USA): Reports from USA are saying that US long jump champion Marquise Goodwin, a junior football WR at Texas, is redshirting 2011 to focus on track and field. He is debuting in European circuit on Friday in long jump at Aviva London Grand Prix. But it is not his overall European debut, he won the world junior title 2008 in Bydgoszcz, Poland.

 

KINGSTON (JAM): Track Alerts informs that a 19 member team will represent Jamaica at the 26th World University Games to be held in Shenzhen. The team comprises of both local and overseas based University student athletes will be Jamaica's largest delegation attending the games and will be aiming to attain Jamaica's highest medal tally at the prestigious event. Top names are male sprinters Jacques Harvey (10.09) and Rasheed Dwyer and on the women side Anneisha McLaughlin the world 2009 finalist. The team - women: Indira Spence (100mH, 4x100m), Anneisha Mclaughlin (200m, 4x100m), Carrie Russell (100m, 4x100m), Anastasia Leroy (400m, 4x100m), Shermaine Williams (100mH, 4x100m). Men: Peter Matthews (400 m), Odayne Richards (SP, DT), Jason Young (100m, 200m, 4x100m), Jowayne Hibbert (800 m), Jacques Harvey (100 m, 4x100m), Hansle Parchment (110 m H, 4x100m), Rasheed Dwyer (200 m, 4x100m),

 

TURKU (FIN): Former javelin world champion Tero Pitkamäki will miss this weekends National Championships due to his health issues. He is out competing for at least one week due to results of his blood tests. Traces in his blood may be result of an infectious disease or an allergic reaction. He still could be ready for the Lappeenranta meet on August 13.

 

NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIPS: For many European (and also other) countries the selection process for Daegu will end this weekend. Although the official IAAF deadline is August 15. Finland, Switzerland, Hungary, Denmark, Spain, Austria, Slovenia, Serbia and Ireland will stage its championships. Ukrainian championships will end on Friday.

 

 

 

RESULTS

 

 

TURKU (FIN, Aug 4): Finnish Championships started with 20 km walk races. Wins for Jarkko Kinnunen 1:23:40 and Karolina Kaasalainen 47:01.

 

TEL AVIV (ISR, Aug 4): Junior Khai Cohen clocked 34.64 at the 300 m, it is national junior best mark. Jamaican Lanceford Spence won the 400 m in 46.76 over new Israeli (and former US) runner Donald Sanford 46.81. Another national junior mark at 1000 m for Yimer Getahun in 2:24.61.