byLarry EderChristian Cantwell, the Olympic silver medalist, defeated the Olympic gold medalist, Tomasz Majewski of Poland, the first shot put Olympic champion since 1980! Stefan Holm, who sounds as if he is ending his career, won over Olympic silver medalist Germanine Mason…two more meets in Europe, then the World Final in Stuttgart.
EME NEWS (SEP 7, 2008) DUBNICA SPECIAL
Robles 12.95 in Slovakia
DUBNICA (SEP 7, 2008): Last running event was the expected highlight of 6th Athletics Bridge (EA Permit, 14 olympic medalists competing) in Dubnica, Slovakia. Cuban olympic winner and world record holder Dayron Robles clocked in lane 6 slovak all-comers record and meet record 12.95. And that against -1.7 wind. That showes his supershape and if wind in his back even a world record would be possible. Record capacity crowd of 5500 in nice summer day (30+ temperatures) saw him running in lane 6 as late change because in the outside lane the head-wind was expected not to be so strong. “It was great, excellent atmosphere in such a small city (Dubnica has 26 000) and pity about the wind, I was thinking about the world record,” said Robles who next time competes in Zagreb on Tuesday.
Second Ryan Wilson was far back with 13.68. In total meet records in 9 events were registered out of 15. The emotional highlight was the appearance of Stefan Holm. He won the competition with excellent meet record 232 cm (his 131st competition over 230) and was then driven in an old-timer car for his honorary lap as this was his before-last competition and last at classical one day meeting. The very last will be in Stuttgart and World Athletics Final. “I m now very sentimental, I want to thank to the crowds for staying so long with me,” said Holm because his event ended as last when everything was over. And about his future he said: “I just want to live a normal life.” He beat olympic silver holder Germaine Mason who cleared also excellent 230. The other olympic winners competing were also winning except of one. Dawn Harper clocked against -1.4 great meet record 12.71 and was also then voted Miss Sympathy of meet. Also Slovenian olympic winner Primoz Kozmus achieved a win over a strong field with 78.90 throw. But shot put winner Tomasz Majewski of Poland in his first meet after winning in Beijing lost to Christian Cantwell who achieved great series with 21.13 and 21.39 throws. Majewski had all six throws over 20.50, the best one 20.86. Another olympic champion the 4×100 m first runner Nesta Carter did not had enough luck with wind. He sprinted clearly over the others with 10.27 but against a -3.4 wall. In other situation it looked like a clear sub 10 time. Olympic silver holder Mariya Abakumova clearly dominated the javelin with 62.12 and 62.03 both meet records. Olympic finalist Markino Buckley clocked first ever sub 50 at the stadium 49.74. New meet records also in both longer events with Saudi Arabian Mohamed Al-Salhi (1:46.75 at 800 m) and Kenyan junior Daniel Salel with 7:46.72 at 3000 m. Home star Lucia Klocova achieved Slovak best and meet record at unusual 600 m with 1:26.96. Another home win and meet record for Dmitrij Valukevic 17.36 (-1,5) as he beat olympic medallist Leevan Sands (17.01). In great 400 m duel of olympic finalists the third one was the happy winner Kaliese Spencer of Jamaica with 51.24 over RUssian olympic relay silver holder Tatyana Firova (51.38) and another olympic finalist Rosemarie Whyte fourth (52.26) with Christine Amertil third 52.25. Women´s 100 m US winner Stephanie Durst unfortunately against -2.8 clocked 11.60 to win. Czech Olympic finalist Jan Kudlicka cleared 550 and tried at meet record 566.
full results at www.atletikadubnica.sk
