by Larry EderLa Shawn Merrit is on the way to the Nike Prefontaine Classic, to held this Sunday on June 8, 2008. The meet will start with 10,000 meter world record attempt by Kenenisa Bekele, and then a 5,000 meter world record attempt by Meseret Defar, and then the regular meet. The regular meet? How can one say the Nike Pre is a regular meet? Watch for world leaders in an average of six events, and watch for some fast running over two miles, the Bowerman Mile and the women’s 1,500 meters!
EME NEWS (JUNE 4, 2008) UPDATE
Merritt not in Oslo
OSLO (NOR): The expected no-show of Berlin winner LaShawn Merritt at 400 m was today confirmed by Bislett organizers. As he stated in Germany he will be competing in Eugene on June 8 at Prefontaine Classic. Together with Sherone Simpson at 200 m they are two missing Berlin winners in golden events in the second meeting on Friday in Norway. Jeremy Wariner will have it easier on Friday but is for sure full of energy to show who is the king of the event. Other top name no longer in the start list is the long jump world champion Irving Saladino of Panama, what was expected after his loss and injury in Berlin on Sunday. The winner Hussein Taher Al-Sabee of Saudi Arabia is not missing. But event without this names the event promised spectacular things like world record attempt by Tirunesh Dibaba at 5000 m or great women steeple with all the best in the world.
Chambers wins his race with 10.25 and looses 200 m in 21.07
KALAMATA (GRE, June 4): British sprinter Dwain Chambers won his first open 100 m race since 2006 in Kalamata, Greece at Papaflessia European Athletics Permit Meeting. He clocked excellent 10.25 against -1.3 wind. In close finish he beat US Mardy Scales (PB 10.07 and this year 10.11) who was also timed at 10.25. In the 200 m the order was reversed Scales won with 20.90 (+0.1) and Chambers finished second in 21.07. But the best running results were achieved by women. In-form Romanian Liliana Popescu who is having tough racing programme (last weekend at home in Buchuresti two PR´s, then Alger, Berlin) missed her own 1500 m world lead only by 0.01 with 4:00.36. Russian Aanna Alminova was also fast (4:03.44) as second. 2005 world medalist Tatyana Andrianova from Russia clocked first sub 2 minutes after return from maternity 1:59.54.Triple jump win by world leader Marija Sestak of Slovenia 14.68 ahead of Ukrainian Ulha Saladuha who got also good 14.62 exactly on her 25th birthday (per Tilastopaja) and Serbian Biljana Topic who improved to 14.22. Greek Long Jump national record holder Luis Tsatoumas won his event with 816 cm. Secon best this years triple jumper Randy Lewis of Grenada did not had his day and achieved 16.36 as fourth. Russian Aleksandr Petrenko was the winner (16.85). Asian Games winner Marina Aitova of Kazakhstan was the best in the High Jump (195). Close men high jump ended with four athletes over 227 in order Michael Mason of Canada (equalled his outdoor best) winning ahead of Serbian veteran Dragutin Topic, 2005 World champion Yuri Krimarenko and Czech Olympic medalist Jaroslav Baba. But Czechs registered a win by Jarmila Klimesova with 61.02 in javelin. At 400 m hurdles home star and Olympic winner Fani Halkia was only third (57.24), she was beaten by US duo Christine Spence (55.73) and Dominique Darden (56.46). World indoor champion Angela Williams won the 100 m in 11.21 and Russian Yulia Gushchina the 200 m (23.21). US Jamaal Torrance was the best at 400 m in 45.66. Over the hurdles Russian Aleksandr Derevyagin beat with 49.90 home favourite Minas Alozidis (50.13). Former European champion Katerina Thanou was a late scratch at 100 m. The meet was held in 30 degrees and sunny weather.
OTHER RESULTS
SIEDLCE (POL, June 4): Teresa Dobija improved here in Long Jump to 662 (+2.0). Experienced Krystyna Zabawska achieved solid 18.23 in Shot Put.
MOSCOW (RUS, June 4): During Moscow City U20 Championships also former World 200 m champion Anastasia Kapachinskaya was running the 400 m and clocked european leading 51.07.
HAVANA (CUB, May 30): Addition from the weekend is great Shot Put by Carlos Veliz (20.72), world chams bronze holder Yarelis Barrios achieved in discus 63.36 and Yunier Lopez clocked hand timed 45.4 at 400 m.
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