by Larry Eder
Usain Bolt, shown here winning the 200 meters in a world record last Summer in Beijing, (photo by Photorun.net), anchored a world leading 38,10. On the other side of the world, Asafa Powell ran 45.94 for fourth place, behind Sean Wroe, but also anchored an MVP relay in Sydney, Australia to 38.96.
Bolt anchors world leading 38.10
KINGSTON (JAM, Feb 28): Running in lane three in front of an estimated 20,000 spectators, world 100 and 200 metres record holder Usain Bolt ran an effortless anchor leg to bring Racers Lions Track Club to victory in a world-leading 38.10 at 4×100 m. After Kenroy Anderson, Yohan Blake and Xavier Brown gave him a five-metre lead, the triple Olympic gold medallist extended the lead to about 10 metres and even had time to pose for the cameras. The formidable team chopped 0.60secs off the 2007 record of 38.70secs set by High Performance Training Centre. “I’m feeling pretty good. it’s my first really sprint race of the season, so I’m feeling pretty good,” Bolt told reporters, indicating that he’s getting better each week in training. The other Racers’ team finished second in 38.48 seconds ahead of GC Foster College, 40.40secs. The MVP team with Asafa Powell clocked 38.62 in Australia. Later, Bolt returned to run the third leg of Racers Lions team, which included Ricardo Chambers, a semi-finalist in the 400m at the Olympics and Commonwealth Games bronze medalist Jermaine Gonzales, to help them to an easy win in 3:04.27. The quartet of Oshane Bailey, Ramone McKenzie, Warren Wier and Ricardo Powell blazed 39.95 seconds to shave 0.12 seconds off St Jago’s 2007 mark of 40.07secs in the Class One Boys 4x100m. In the men’s long jump open final, Jermaine Jackson of MVP, took the event with a leap of 7.72 m, a record mark. Jamaican media are informing.
Tergat wins in Japan
LAKE BIWA (JPN, Mar 1): Surging away from Jose Rios, his final challenger, with 1300m to go, Paul Tergat won the Lake Biwa Marathon in a slow winning time of 2:10:22. It was his third marathon victory, after 2003 Berlin and 2005 New York, for Tergat. For the second time since 1995, the winning time was over 2:10. The winning time was slow, but the anticipation of the climax made it an exciting race. The real racing started after three pace makers dropped out at 30Km. At that time five runners – Paul Tergat, Jose Rios, Yared Asmeron, Masaya Shimizu and Abiyote Guta – were left in the lead pack. Against the strong wind, Shimizu pushed the pace most of the time, with Asmeron occasionally taking over the lead. After the race Tergat gave compliment to Shimizu: “I think Japanese young man who was pushing the pace (Masaya Shimizu) could be a future of the marathon.†Rios made a strong move with about 3Km to go, which broke the race open. Asmeron covered Rios’ move right away and Tergat, who was running mostly in fourth place, also moved into the striking position. With Tergat taking the lead at 40Km, Asemeron lost contact with Tergat and Rios. Then with 1300m to go in the race, Tergat surged away from Rios for the win. Rios, two –time defending champion, who won in 2004 and 2006, finished second in 2:10:36. Asmeron, who was fourth in the World Championships and eighth in the Olympics, was third (2:10:49), followed by Masaya Shimizu who did most of pace making work finished fourth (2:10:50). Since he was first Japanese in the race, he is assured of a spot on the World Championships team. Abiyote Guta finished fifth while Masaya’s twin brother Tomoya Shimizu came from behind strongly to finish sixth (2:12:30). In-between Guta of Ethiopia was fifth (2:11:18). Total of 162 runners started the race. Informs Ken Nakamura.
Manson highlighted US Nationals with 232
BOSTON (USA, Feb 28): US Indoor Championships first day at Reggie Lewis Center registered the best result in men´s High Jump. World indoor medallist Andra Manson retained his title with 232 clearance ahead of US list leader Jesse Williams who jumped 229. Jeremy Scott won the Pole Vault (560) and Randall Flimmons the Long Jump (779). Many stars are passing the indoor season or the championships from different reasons. The event is no qualifiying for any global meet. Tim Seaman got his record 11th 5000 m walk (19:59.06). Jillian Camarena got the 5th shot put title in a row (18.59) and Amy Acuff also fifth in High Jump (190). An upset victory and two close finishes highlighted the middle and long distance action. Former University of California miler David Torrence used a perfectly timed move in the last lap of the men’s 3000m to take his first ever USA national title over a solid field of 16 in 7:53.67. Rob Myers also called upon his kick to win his third U.S. indoor title at 1500m. Off of a slow pace, the former NCAA champion from Ohio State took the bell with U.S. mile record holder Alan Webb, then shot ahead with Webb keeping just one stride behind. Myers still had the lead into the final 50m and was just able to hold off Webb by less than one tenth of a second in 3:45.73. Olympian Amy Begley used the opposite strategy to win the women’s 3000m title. Notching up the pace with each successive lap in the final kilometer, the 10,000m runner managed to drop everyone but Sara Hall. She reached the finish line in 8:53.27, a personal best by about ten seconds. Hall (8:53.72) and third place Julie Culley (8:55.62) also set career best times. Notes with help of Race Results Weekly.
Another Polish win
BAD OEYNHAUSEN (GER, Feb 28): Polish win also in men competition at 8th edition of special Pole Vault meet here. Adam Kolasa and Mateusz Didenkow both cleared 561 and fulfilled the standard for Torino. Kolasa won on count back. Third best German Michael Frauen cleared 551 cm.
US CONFERENCES (FRIDAY-SATURDAY ROUND UP) – Long Jump, 60 m and women mile world leads
BLACKSBURG: Zimbabwean long jumper and Olympic fourth placer Ngonidzashe Makusha leaped to world leading and national indoor record 821 in his first attempt (and passed the rest) at ACC Conference meet. Jacoby Ford equalled the world leading 6.51 to win the 60 m ahead of Michael Ray Garvin (6.59). Makusha clocked another national record in heats of 60 m (6.60) and Maurice Mitchell got the same 6.60. Another excellent performance was the 4:34.11 mile win and PB by Dutch Susan Kuijken, the reigning CC European U23 Champion. Kirsti Castlin won the 60 m Hurdles in 8.03, Michael Bingham clocked good 46.23 at 400 m. Murielle Ahoure confirmed her favorite role with 7.22 (and 7.21 in heats) and 23.16 60/200 m double.
COLLEGE STATION: Jenny Barringer achieved at Big 12 conference meet an excellent world lead and NCAA mile record 4:25.91. Second Kenyan Sally Kipyego also improved to 4:27.19, Kenyan record (and won the 3000 m in 9:09.83). Porscha Lucas clocked the second fastest 200 m of the year 22.94 ahead of Tiffany Townsend (23.22). Jessica Beard fulfilled the 400 m favorite role (52.35). Another meet record was registered by High jumper Destinee Hooker who cleared 193 cm. Men of Baylor clocked years second fastest 4×400 m in 3:06.92. German Fernandez confirmed his excellent shape as he achieved mile/3000 m double 3:55.02 and 7:57.71. The mile time is new NCAA record. Jacob Hernandez achieved 1:48.04 at 800 m and Tevan Everett 1:08.66 at 600 yards. Gil Roberts improved to years third fastest 400 m 46.08. Trey Harts won the 200 m in 20.79, but was faster in heats (20.66, just 0.01 behind the world lead). Jamaican Nicholas Gordon leaped to meet record in Long jump (796).
LEXINGTON: Dorian Ulrey posted 7:55.56 3000 m win during first day of SEC Championships at oversized track of Lexington. Michael Ayers scored 5717 points heptathlon. Fast times in sprint heats. Jamaican Samantha Henry achieved 7.19 and 23.30 in 60/200 m. Calvin Smith jr. clocked 46.64 at 400 m and Torrin Lawrence 20.90 at 200 m. Trinidad´s Rondell Sorrillo in his first ever 60 m indoors was the fastest in heats with excellent 6.60, Trindon Holliday clocked 6.65.
SEATTLE: Jordan Boase clocked fast 46.09 at 400 m (oversized track) during Mountain Pacific Conference championships. Matt Centrowitz won the 3000 m in 7:55.90 and Ryan Whiting posted a good 20.01 in Shot Put. 21-years old Charonda Williams clocked 7.31 at 60 m and 23.44 at 200 m.
UNIVERSITY PARK: Adam Harris was the fastest in 60 m heats during Big 10 event (6.66). Lionel Williams achieved 1:17.74 in 600 m heats.
HOUSTON: Latvian sprinter Ronalds Arajs won the Conference USA title at 60 m with 6.77.
AIR FORCE ACADEMY: Jessica Young sprinted to good 7.26 60 m win at Mountain West Conference meet.
CHARLESTON: Good 6.67 win for Zye Boey at 60 m during Ohio Valley event.
ADDITIONS
SYDNEY (AUS, Feb 28): Asafa Powell also anchored the MVP team to victory in the 4x100m relay in 38.62. Australia finished second with a time of 38.96 ahead of New Zealand who recorded 39.49. The winners run with Andrew Hinds of Barbados and Jamaicans Ainsley Waugh, Nesta Carter and Asafa Powell.
METZ (FRA, Feb 28): From international junior indoor match to note the 21.16 at 200 m by German Roy Schmidt and 20.80 Shot Put (6 kg) by world junior champion David Storl, also from Germany.
