Global Track Village-Kipsiele Koech is out, as is David Rudisha in Kenyan 800 meters, EME News, by Alfons Juck, Notes by Larry Eder

EME NEWS (JULY 5, 2008)

Kipsiele Koech out, Rudisha the same
NAIROBI (KEN, July 5): Reigning world champions Alfred Kirwa and Brimin Kipruto were defeated on the second day of the Kenyan Trials, but still managed to book their place for the Olympic Games. Kirwa took only third place of the 800m (1:45.49) behind world indoor champion 2006 Wilfred Bungei (1:45.08) and newcomer US-based student Boaz Lalang (1:45.21) but was awarded a wild card, which means that young African champion David Rudisha, currently injured, has been ruled out. Brimin Kipruto placed second in the 3000m steeplechase (8:13.60) after a thrilling finish that saw four runners finish in the same second. Ezekiel Kemboi claimed victory in 8:13.56, Richard Matelong took third in 8:13.89, while the big loser was the current world leader, Paul Kipsiele Koech, who already missed Osaka's world championships last year and had to settle for fourth in 8:13.98 after being tripped on the last water jump. However, national Olympic Committee chairman Kipchoge Keino has threatened to drop Kemboi from the team if he doesn't change his behaviour over the obstacle, a Reuters release informs. "I will monitor him and ensure he adopts the jumping methods that are acceptable to athletics rules. He was not jumping over the barrier but was jumping outside it," Keino said, adding "We can't risk such an athlete at the Olympics. If he does not improve, we shall take Koech and drop him. The top three got their selection in the other men's races, as Augustine Choge (3:36.41) edged Asbel Kiprop (3:36.53) and Nicholas Kemboi (3:36.66) in the 1500m with Daniel Kipchirchir Komen only seventh (3:38.90). Edwin Soi (13:29.5) got clear of Eliud Kipchoge (13:32.4) and Thomas Longosiwa (13:34.1) in the 5000m, while 5000m world leader Moses Masai dominated the 10000m in 28:02.03 ahead of Osaka bronze medallist Martin Mathathi (28:03.95) and Micah Kogo 28:08.92.

World junior record holder Pamela Jelimo logically won the 800m in the fastest time on the Kenyan soil 1:57.71 ahead of world champion Janeth Jepkosgei who clocked 2:00.90. In the 400m, Elizabeth Muthoka continued her surprising progress, lowering her PB to 50.82 national record since her 51.56 at the national championships last week-end. She had never run below 52.00 before this year. Irene Jelagat won the 1500m in 4:12.70 but wasn't included in the team for the moment as she doesn't have the A-standard. Second and third placed Viola Kibiwott (4:13.01) and Nancy Jebet Lagat (4:14.09) will go. In the 3000m steeplechase 2007 All African Games Ruth Bosibori defeated African record holder Eunice Chepkorir, 9:48.78 to 9:51.28, while Veronica Nyaruai, who clocked 9:37.11 in last May in Neerpelt, was preferred to third placed Mercy Njoroge despite finishing fifth in 10:22.22. In the 5000m Priscah Jepleting was the strongest, clocking 15:32.66 ahead of the 10000m winner Lucy Kabuu (15:35.09), Sylvia Kibet (15:35.07) and Vivan Cheruiyot (15:42.39) who also got her spot in her team as Kabuu has been retained for the 10000m only.

The Kenyan team for Beijing (here also interesting to see that Linet Masai was given the 10 000 m spot):

Men - 400 - Vincent Mumo ; 800 - Wilfred Bungei, Boaz Lalang, Alfred Kirwa ; 1500 - Augustine Choge, Asbel Kiprop, Nicholas Kemboi ; 5000 - Edwin Cheruiyot Soi, Eliud Kipchoge, Thomas Longosiwa ; 10000 - Moses Masai, Martin Mathathi, Micah Kogo ; 3000m steeplechase - Ezekiel Kemboi, Brimin Kipruto, Richard Matelong ; Marathon - Martin Lel, Samuel Wanjiru, Robert Cheruiyot ; 20 km walk - David Kimutai.

Women - 400 - Elizabeth Muthoka ; 800 - Pamela Jelimo, Janeth Jepkosgei ; 1500 - Viola Kibiwott, Nancy Jebet Lagat ; 5000 - Vivian Cheruiyot, Prisca Jepleting, Silvia Kibet ; 10000 - Lucy Wangui Kabuu, Grace Momanyi, Linet Masai ; 3000m steeplechase: Eunice Jepkorir, Ruth Bosibori Nyangau, Veronica Nyarwai ; Marathon: Catherine Ndereba, Martha Komu, Selina Kosgei.

National Championships in Europe

GERMANY

NURNBERG (GER, July 5): One of the most expected events during first day of German national championships was the men's pole vault. Here, the experienced jumpers dominated the newcomers: Tim Lobinger and Danny Ecker cleared 5,75m in their first attempt. Youngster Raphael Holzdeppe did so in his third and thus got the bronze medal. These three will represent Germany in Bejing. Tobias Unger clocked a fine 10,20s in the 100m final winning the gold medal. Thomas Blaschek was less successfull over the hurdles concerning the Olympic standard of 13,45s: He defended his national title but took 13,52s. The men's long jump was also an extremely dramatic competition where Sebastian Bayer won with 8,15m before Nils Winter who managed the B-standard a third time with his 8,08m. But the DLV (German athletics federation) can only take one athlete to the Olympics - who will it be? Robert Harting defended his discus title without any doubt: 66,26m. Although Michael Moellenbeck came second behind him with 62,98m, he has to bury his Olympic dreams because the standard is 64,50m. New personal best for Germany's 100m champion Verena Sailer: 11,28s. Cathleen Tschirch crossed the finish line in 11,45 s and got the silver medal. The 5000 m race was a lonely challenge for Sabrina Mockenhaupt who won her seventh national title in 15:38,33. 100m hurdler Carolin Nytra was the favorite and succeeded in this role: She needed 12,87 for the title. High jumper Ariane Friedrich had a convincing competition with 200 cm where she cleared all heights in the first attempt. She failed at 204 only marginally. Nadine Kleinert made it clear that she is the strongest German shot putter at the moment winning with 19,67 before Christina Schwanitz (19,03). World champion Betty Heidler failed to get a result of more than 70m in the hammer final. She achieved 68,64m in front of her clubmate Andrea Bunjes with 64,00m. Only in her last throw (62,18m) did European record holder Christina Obergfoll manage to overtake the then leading Steffi Nerius (61,91m) in the women's javelin.

CZECH

TABOR (CZE, July 5): Olympic qualifier and PB of Martina Sestakova in triple jump (14.16, +0.5) in last attempt was the mark to note during final day of Czech Championships. It is the third best in Czech all-time lists, better are Sarka Kasparkova (15.20) and Eva Dolezalova (14.19), all three coached by Slovak Michal Pogany. In dramatic high jump duel Romana Dubnova got the title with 194 (in first) over Iva Strakova (also 194, but in third attempt). Vera Cechlova got the discus title (59.81) and versatile Denisa Scerbova won also the 200 m over all specialist with PB 23.56 (+0.9). Men´s 200 m saw improvements by Czech sprinters. Vojtech Sulc achieved 20.69 (+1.9), Jan Schiller 20.78 and 100 m winner Lukas Milo 20.89. Roman Novotny tried for Olympic qualifier 805 in Long Jump and missed it with 799 (+0.6). Libor Malina beat in discus his younger rival Jan Marcell (62.88 to 61.57). Lukas Melich won the hammer (76.17) and Ondrej Danek was better in close finish as Michal Uhlik at 400 m Hurdles (50.59 to 50.61). Running revelation Jakub Holusa got his 800 m title in slow race (1:50.86, timed with 12.5 in the last 100 m).

POLAND
SZCZECIN (POL, July 5): 2000 olympic winner Kamila Skolimowska won her 12th national hammer title during second day of the championships with 71.71. Winner of Winter Throwing European Cup Anita Wlodarczyk had the same mark 71.71, but lost on second best (69.84 to 70.75). Another great battle in women pole vault as Monika Pyrek won the 9th title and achieved 470 what was clearly better as her main rival Anna Rogowska (440). World medalist Marek Plawgo won the 400 m Hurdles title with good 49.26, Malgorzata Pskit was the women winner (56.36, in the absence of Anna Jesien). Piotr Klimczak was the best in flat race after 45.74 and other two clocked sub 46 seconds (Rafal Wieruszewski 45.93 and Piotr Kedzia 45.94) what shows the relay possibilities. Women´s 400 m final was a close duel between Monika Bejnar (52.12) and Grazyna Prokopek-Janacek (52.18). In the 800 m finals Anna Rostkowska (2:01.90) and Pawel Czapiewski (1:47.08) got clearly the titles. Javelin thrower Igor Janik won with 79.79 m and fast club time for AWF Krakow 39.16 at 4x100 m.

ROMANIA

BUCURESTI (ROM, July 5): Return of olympic medalist Marian Oprea in triple jump with solid 17.28 (+1.7) was the highlight of first day of Romanian Championships. Word leader Nicoleta Grasu won the discus as expected (63.31). In the 1500 m Cristina Vasiloiu edged Elena Antoci (4:09.70-4:09.73). Former world record holder Mihaela Melinte won hammer (67.88). Another male result to note the 13.74 (+0.5) win at 110 m Hurdles by Alexandru Mihailescu. Claudia Stef won the 20 km walking title (1:32:39).

NETHERLANDS

AMSTERDAM (NED, July 5): World medalist Rutger Smith got his seventh Netherland´s discus title with 63.39 during first day of National Championships in Olympic Stadium. Marjolein De Jong clocked good 56.63 in 400 m Hurdles heats.

BELGIUM

NAIMETTE-XHOVEMONT (BEL, July 5): Makelesi Batimala of Fiji running as a guest at Belgian Championships achieved in 200 m heats new national record 23.34 (+0.1). Home sprinter Hana Marien clocked 11.67 and 23.56 in heats in the absence of Kim Gevaert. Finals are on the programme on Sunday.

SLOVAKIA

NITRA (SVK, July 5): During first day of 61st Slovak National Championships hammer world medalist Libor Charfreitag got his expected title and after some mediocfre results in recent days registered solid 79.69 m. It was his 10th national title and most probably last competition before Olympic games. Now a time for final preparation will come. Miloslav Konopka (the twin-brother of banned shot putter) was second with 76.85 and is still missing the Olympic A-qualifier. Women hammer record holder Martina Hrasnova also confirmed great shape with new meet record and her third best ever 74.48. Peter Horak after achieving 220 tried unsuccessfully at Olympic qualifiying height 227 cm. Dana Veldakova won the triple jump with 13.79 m.

OTHER RESULTS

Soboleva opens with 1:55.7 at 800 m

MOSCOW (RUS, July 5): World indoor record holder Yelena Soboleva started her summer season with excellent personal best 1:55.7 hand timed 800 m at Russian Cup Meet in Tula. Due to malfunction of the electronic timing, the results are hand times. But still second fastest in the year behind Pamela Jelimo. Her splits were 56.2 and 1:25.4. Second Mariya Shapayeva improved to 1:57.9. Fast 400 m times for Svetlana Pospelova (50.5) over Tatyana Firova (50.9) in first race and Yelena Novikova (51.3) over World indoor champion Olesya Zykina (51.4) in the second one. Maksim Babarykin achieved 45.7 to be the best in male section.

Junior clocks senior 800 m record

ISTANBUL (TUR, July 5): Turkish junior runner Merve Aydin (18) achieved during last round of Club Championships new senior 800 m record 2:00.33. She is so one of the favorites for World Junior Championships in Bydgoszcz next week. The former record of Sureyya Ayhan was 2:00.64 since 2000. New national record also at women 4x400 m for Enka Team with 3:34.07. The winners are Fenerbahce Men and Enka Women. Women Teams of Enka and Fenerbahce had after three rounds the same total of 398 points. Decision was made on number of wins in all three rounds and that was 27:21 in favor of Fenerbahce.

Fast 100 m in Austria

VILLACH (AUT, July 5): At second of Austrian Top 4 series fast 100 m was registered. US Josh Norman (10.21) and Ernest Wiggins (10.26) took neo-Austrian Ryan Moseley to 10.31 (+0.8) PB. Nikolina Horvat of Croatia improved to new national record and Olympic qualifier at 400 m Hurdles 56.28. Interesting home wins for Bettina Muller-Weissina at 100 m (11.43, +0.6) and hammer thrower Benjamin Siart who first time in his career achieved 70+ result (70.81).

Gibilisco nh

NOVE (ITA, July 5): The return of former World Champion Giuseppe Gibilisco after his doping case which was not confirmed was not a good one. He no heighted at 530 during the next phase of Italian Clubs Championships.

No new standards in Slovenia

NOVO MESTO (SLO, July 5): No new Olympic standards at next Slovenian national Grand Prix circuit meeting. Jan Zumer clocked 21.14 against -1.8 to win the 200 m, Sabina Veit 23.62 with -1.9. Pia Tajnikar won the 100 m in 11.71 (-0.9) with 48-years old Merlene Ottey second (11.90). Croatian discus thrower Martin Maric achieved 60.06 and Italian pole vault record holder Anna Giordano Bruno 435 cm.

Israeli steeple record

METZ (FRA, July 4): More results from Metz meet in France. Itai Magidi set a new record for Israel in the 3000m steeple claiming victory in 8:24.14 ahead of Kenyan David Chemweno (8:25.09). Ukraine's Nadiya Borovska won the 3000m walk in 12:43.36 and Renaud Lavillenie cleared 5.60m in the pole vault.

Ngom is French

PARIS (FRA): Cameroon sprinter Emmanuel Ngom Priso was granted French citizenship on June 5, 2008, L'Equipe informs.

Used with permission of Alfons Juck, the publisher of EME News.