by Larry EderThe Nike Prefontaine is on Sunday and one of the largest attractions will be the men’s 110 Meter hurdles.
If there is a man who has reason to have performance anxiety in this world, then it is LIu Xiang of China. The curent world record holder, LIu Xiang had a scare over his hamstrings last weekend and pulled out of the 110 m hurdles at the Reebok GP. Showing alot of class, Xiang spoke in Chinese fans in NY in Chinese last weekend and
had Lewis Johnson gave his message and English to the crowd..
EME NEWS (JUNE 6, 2008) UPDATE
Dietzsch in check
BERLIN (GER): Sueddeutsche Zeitung reported that discus world champion Franka Dietzsch has been to a Berlin hospital for an intense check. The 40-year-old said that it was ‘nothing orthopaedic’. Dietzsch had cancelled her start at the meeting in Kassel on June 6th. She has not yet the qualification standard for Bejing.
Liu last minute decision
EUGENE (USA): Some of 2008’s fastest hurdlers will compete in the 34th annual Prefontaine Classic 100-Meter Hurdles field on Sunday. Among them is the world leader, Damu Cherry, along with the 5th fastest thus far in the world, Brigitte Foster-Hylton, and the 7th fastest Joanna Hayes, the Olympic gold medalist from 2004 making an impressive comeback. World Recordholder Liu Xiang of China would like to compete, but the Hayward Field fans and international television audience may not know until the start of the race whether he will. The Olympic gold medalist and World Champion felt a tightness in his leg before the New York Grand Prix meet last weekend and opted not to run. For the Pre Classic this Sunday, he will warm up and then he and his coach, Sun HaiPing, will make the decision. Organizers are informing. With or without Liu’s participation, the event is a classy one. Venerable ’96 gold medalist Allen Johnson will advance his preparations to make yet another Olympic team at age 37. Ranked No. 6 in the world last year by Track & Field News, AJ will be joined by world top 10 athletes Anwar Moore (No. 4), David Payne (No. 5), and Ryan Wilson (No. 8).
Savigne 14.77, Robles 13.28
TORINO (ITA, June 6): With a best effort of 14.77m, triple jump world champion Yargelis Savigne of Cuba achieved top notch result in the 9th Primo Nebiolo Memorial (European Athletics Premium) held on Friday night in Torino, confirming her 14.78m from La Havana last week-end. Ukraine’s Olga Saladuha was second with a wind-aided 14.61m ahead of Russian Oksana Udmurtova ‘s 14.59m. Other Russian, Anna Pyatykh is still far from her level of the previous years, taking the 6th place with a wind-aided 14.29m. The women’s 100m also produced an exciting finish with US Angela Williams and Briton Emma Ania settling for the same hundredth (11.21), a new season’s best for Williams and a new personal best for Ania. Cuban hurdles star Dayron Robles felt probably a little lonely as he crossed the line in 13.28, 44 hundredth of seconds ahead of Czech Petr Svoboda (13.72). 2000 Olympic champion Anier Garcia failed to finish the race. Kazakh Marina Aitova tied her personal best to win the women’s high jump (1.96m), while local star Antonietta Di Martino had to settle for third (1.90m). In the men’s event Russian Yaroslav Rybakov started the season with a 2.27m win. In the pole vault Russia’s Pavel Gerasimov recorded a season’s best of 5.70m to defeat fellow countryman Viktor Chistyakov (5.60m). Three athletes went below 56 seconds in the women’s 400m hurdles, Ukraine’s Anastasia Rabchenyuk finishing first in 55.05 ahead of Christine Spence of the United States (55.40) and Pole Anna Jesien (55.57). There was a victory for Kuwait as Mohamed Al Azemi was the strongest in the men’s 800m in 1:46.10 ahead of Sudan Ismail Ahmed (1:46.22). Kenyan Justus Koech and Wilfred Bungei had poor outings finishing resptectively 8th (1:48.34) and 9th (1:48.96). Zambian junior Tonny Wamulwa, who trains in Eldoret HPTC, is starting to shake the record books of his country, with a new national record in the 3000m (7:49.51) set in a close finish with Spaniard Sergio Sanchez (7:49.84, also a new PB) just five days after his Zambian 5000m junior record of 13:35.54 in Roma. British Craig Pickering took the 100m in 10.38 in his season opening after having his indoor season cut short by a hamstring tear. In the men’s 400m US Erison Hurtault edged fellow countryman Jamaal Torrance 46.13 to 46.16. US Candice Davis had the best over Anay Tejeda of Cuba in the 100m hurdles (12.91 to 13.01). The women’s shot put was dominated by Italy’s Rosa Chiara (18.66m) and the javelin by Cuba’s Olseydys Menendez (61.90m). In the men’s 4x100m the Polish quarter of Kuc, Jedrusinski, Masztak and Chyla just dipped below 39 seconds (38.99) to claim victory ahead of the Netherlands (39.03), Italy (39.15) and Great-Britain (39.48). Italy (Salvagno, Cali, Arcioni, Alloh) won the women’s race in 43.85, thus moving up to 15th in the list of the teams qualified for Beijing, while Lithuania was second in a new national record of 44.28. Italy also moved up one rank to 14th in the women’s 4x400m Beijing-bound list with their 3:30.89 win over Lithuania (3:32.32)
Moreno the winner, Sayers beats Obergfoll
KASSEL (GER, June 6) – Cuban Yipsi Moreno produced an irregular series but managed to get one good throw over 74m (74.12m) to win the hammer event of the 11th Internationales Askina-Meeting, in Kassel on Friday night (European Athletics Permit). Behind her, Pole Anita Wlodarczyk improved her personal best to 72.65m while German Betty Heidler (71.71m, world champion) and Kathrin Klaas (70.14m) were third and fourth. The German women’s shot putter had a good outing with a best effort of 19.44m for Nadine Kleinert, 19.22m for Christina Schwanitz and 18.83m for Denise Hinrichs. The javelin throwers were not as successful as Christina Obergfoll (63.65m) and Steffi Nerius (62.33m for her season debut) were defeated by Goldie Sayers of Great-Britain who improved her season’s best to 63.96m. 22 year old Yvonne Hak of Netherlands defeated Namibia’s Agnes Samaria in the women’s 800m (2:00.61 to 2:00.91) confirming her progression after her 2:00.10 from Hengelo on May 24. Russinan Maria Savinova was third in 2:01.23. German Carolin Nytra improved her personal best to 12.84 in the heat of the 100m hurdles before claiming the final in 12.90 ahead of British Sarah Claxton (12.92) and Irish world indoor champion Derval O’Rourke (12.99). Netherlands Marcel van der Westen also had a strong outing in the men’s race, defeating American Audrey Herring (13.38) and lowering his personal best to 13.35 in the process. Germans Willi Mathiszik and Thomas Blaschek tied for third in 13.54. Danny Ecker and Bjorn Otto both cleared 5.70m in the pole vault, Ecker in his first and Otto in his third attempt, while Alexander Straub was third with 5.60m. Raphael Holzdeppe took the junior event with 5.50m. In the men’s long jump Botswana’s Gable Garenamotse recorded a season’s best of 8.17m. South Africa’s Pieter de Villiers had little competition in the men’s 400m hurdles that he finished in 49.82 as well as Kenyan Vincent Kiprop who crossed the line in 13:22.96 in the 5000m. Achraf Tadili won the men’s 800m in 1:45.88, his third time below 1:46.00 this season, thus filling the time standards to make the Canadian team for Beijing. The last condition will be to make the top four at the Canadian Championships in Windsor on July 4-6. Wolfram Muller won the men’s 1500m in 3:38.78 while Jonna Tilgner dominated the women’s 400m hurdles in 56.29 and Nadine Muller the discus with a best throw of 60.72m. Kamghe Gaba was the only one below 46.00 in the men’s 400m (45.75) and Markus Esser won the hammer throw with 75.13m.
Mazuryk 582 cm
YALTA (UKR, June 6): During first day of Ukrainian Cup Maksim Mazuryk improved in Pole Vault to excellent 582 cm and tried even higher at 591. Second Dennis Yurchenko and third Oleksandr Korchmyd both good 570. Solid women pole vault 445 by Natalya Kushch. Olympic medalist Viktoriya Styopina comes back in right time with clearing 195 cm in High Jump. Oleksandr Nartov was the best man with 230 cm. Super talent Mykyta Nesterenko (17) achieved this time 60.12 with men discus. Women discus winner Natalya Semenova-Fokina threw good 63.80. Good women running by Natalya Tobias (4:08.81 at 1500 m) and Natalya Berkut (15:21.20 at 5000 m). In the heats Natalya Pigida 51.57 at 400 m and Stanislav Melnikov improved to 49.83 at 400 m Hurdles.
Polnova 471
SOPOT (POL, June 6): Russian Tatyana Polnova is coming into shape as she won today the women Pole Vault competition on the pier in Sport with clearing 471 cm. She then tried 481 cm. Home favorites Monika Pyrek (461) and Anna Rogowska (451) were behind her. Fourth junior Vanessa Vandy of Finland with 431 cm ahead of Martina Strutz of Germany (also 431).
Fast 10 000 m times
SAINT-MAUR (FRA, June 6): Said Berioui and Christelle Daunay were crowned 10,000 m French champions in Saint-Maur on Friday night. Berioui, who clocked 27:59.36 finished 5th of a race won by Ethiopian Jida Iman Merga in 27:33.53 while Dauney achieved a time of 31:57.40.
Montebrun beats Falzon
NANTES (FRA, June 6): French hammer throw record holder Manuela Montebrun won her duel with French season’s leader Stephanie Falzon in a local meet in Nantes on Friday night. Montebrun improved her season’s best by 14cm to 73.25m, while Falzon finished second with 71.95m. Amélie Perrin was third (66.56m). 4th-placed from Valencia, Eloyse Lesueur made a 6.50m debut in the long jump. Cindy Billaud won the 100m hurdles in 13.05 as 40 year old Patricia Girard, Olympic bronze medallist in Atlanta finished 5th in 13.43 after a 22-month maternity leave. American Chris Thomas dominated the 110m hurdles with a time of 13.54. 20 years-old Ethiopian Gelana Tiki ran a solo 8:55.88 in the women’s 3000m, while Moroccan Mourad Maaroufit dominated the men’s race in 7:49.42. Yvon Rodrigue Sialo had a small edge over Canadian Hank Palmer in the men’s 100m (10.35 to 10.36).
Kitwara 28:18.2 in Nairobi
NAIROBI (KEN, June 6): On the first day of the Kenyan Police chmapionships, Sammy Kitwara took the men’s 10,000m title in 28:18.2 and Mary Wacera the women’s 5000m (16:12.6). Talented miler Asbel Kiprop qualified for the 1500m final after winning his heat in 3:45.0.
Czapiewski wins
KEDZIERZYN KOZLE (POL, June 6): During opening of a new stadium former world medalist Pawel Czapiewski won a close 800 m race with 1:46.86 against Slovakian Jozef Repcik who with 1:46.90 qualified to Beijing.
NOTE: Oslo will be part of EME NEWS of June 7.
