byLarry EderIn Beijing, the absolute stunning victory was that of Steve Hooker, the brilliant but unlucky, up til then, Australian pole vaulter. He jumped high when he had to in Beijing and higher than anyone else under the most pressure and took the gold! Also joining Hooker will be Nick Willis, Kiwi bronze medalist at 1,500 meters and Jenn Stucyznski, US, silver medalist in the womens’ vault in Beijing.
As part of our goal to make runblogrun.com into the track gossip column (joke, will never happen), Alfons has added a note on the divorce of Susan Tiedke, former long jumper. We hope that you will enjoy it. Soon, we will have pictures of Paris Hilton throwing the javelin. (Actually, never, but do not get me started on that conundrum).
Lots to write about, however, I am exhausted from travel and will catch up on
Under Armour and ASBA by Thursday. Thanks for your patience!
HOOKER IN BOSTON
BOSTON (USA): Organizers are informing that Olympic winner in Pole Vault Australian Steve Hooker will be among the headliners at the 2009 Reebok Boston Indoor Games on Feb. 7. For the 26 years old six metres jumper this will be only fifth indoor competition of his career. He had three in 2007 and won silver this year at World Indoor Championships in Valencia. It will be also his return to Boston, in 2007 he jumped here still valid Oceanian indoor record 581 as winner. Another announced star is US female record holder Jennifer Stuczynski, who won the Olympic silver medal in the women’s pole vault. She is double defending Reebok Boston Indoor Games champion after 2007 (463) and 2008 (460) triumphs. Third confirmed top name is Nick Willis who became the first New Zealand track athlete in 32 years to bring home an Olympic medal when he won bronze at 1500 meters in Beijing. The 2006 Commonwealth Games champion and national record-holder at 1500 meters, Willis also broke the New Zealand indoor mark and NCAA record for 3000 meters here in 2004 (7:44.90) while competing for the University of Michigan. This year he was fifth (7:51.35). Since the Reebok Boston Indoor Games began in 1996, more than 100 Olympic and World Championship medalists have competed in the event, which has also played host to six World Records and nine American Records.
FLYNN WILL REPRESENT DOBRISKEY
NEW YORK (USA): As Race Results Weekly confirms, top British female miler Lisa Dobriskey, who finished fourth in the 1500 m at the Beijing Olympics, will now be represented by Flynn Sports Management. The 2006 Commonwealth Games 1500 m champion had not previously used a professional manager. „Lisa is one of the best 1500m runners in the world, and at the age of 24 is poised to do great things in the lead-up to the 2012 Olympic Games to be held in her home country,” said Ray Flynn, the former miler from Ireland who founded Flynn Sports Management. Dobriskey runs for adidas, and Flynn is looking forward to helping her contend for the world title in Berlin next August. She will also try to compete at medal level at European Indoor Championships in Torino.
ODRIOZOLA UNOPPOSED
MADRID (ESP): IAAF Council member and current president Jose Maria Odriozola will go for Saturday´s election of Spanish Athletics Federation (RFEA) unopposed. There is no other candidate aiming for the president post. It will be his sixth term since 1989 when he was first time voted to this function. Other re-elections happened in 1992, 1996, 2000 and 2004. During the General Assembly of RFEA on Saturday also other posts will be elected.
RULE CHANGE CONFIRMED
NEW YORK (USA): As already informed new rules will be valid for possible ties at World Marathon Majors (WMM) since 2009-2010 series. In case of same points the first criteria is the head-to-head. If this brings no solution new rules will aply. Namely, the runner with fewer scoring races will prevail, if this will not help then the number of wins and if not then average of times in the scoring races. If the new rule would be used in this years situation Irina Mikitenko would be the winner because she scored the points in three races and Gete Wami in four.
NEW FRENCH INDOOR CIRCUIT
PARIS (FRA): French Athletics Federation announced a new indoor circuit for 2009. It will consist of five meetings. The circuit will begin in Bordeaux on January 25, continue in Metz three days later (Jan 28), follow in Mondeville (Jan 31), Reims (Feb 3) and Eaubonne (Feb 6). After this five meetings also a ranking will be established based on points received at each. In the build-up towards national championships (Feb 20-21 in Lievin) the meeting climax will come with two top events, the IAAF Permit of Lievin (Feb 10) which is returning after break and the Paris-Bercy meet on Feb 13.
TIEDTKE AGAIN ALONE
FRANKFURT (GER): Former German Blonde Long Jumper Susen Tiedtke (PB 700 cm in 1991) divorced again. This time with tennis player Hendrik Dreekmann and is now alone. Her first marriage with US Long Jumper Joe Greene went wrong after five years.
MUINDI BELONGS TO HONOLULU
HONOLULU (USA): The last big marathon of 2008 in Honolulu this weekend is having in Kenyan Jimmy Muindi something special. As Race Results Weekly writes, in 1993 he first came here with Benson Masya, another Kamba tribesman who had already won Honolulu twice in 1991 and 1992. Masya’s agent, Zane Branson, brought Muindi, the 1992 world junior steeplechase champion, to be a pacemaker. Muindi liked this tropical city, the capital of the state of Hawaii, immediately. He’s come back every year since and registered already six wins. This year, Muindi’s toughest challenge comes from his brother-in-law, 2007 Bank of America Chicago Marathon champion Patrick Ivuti, who is married to Muindi’s sister, Marietta. Also in the field is 2005 Boston Marathon champion Hailu Negussie of Ethiopia, who is trying to get his career back on track after failing to finish three of his last four marathons. He’s the third-fastest man in the field (2:08:16 PB), so he can’t be counted out. While Muindi’s training was fine, the weather might not be. Heavy rain is predicted for the next two days here, and those rains may stick around through Sunday. Forecasters are also calling for strong trade winds which could also slow the race.
Special thanks to Alfons Juck, EME News.
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