by Larry EderKim Collins of St. Kitts, the 2003 World Champion at 100 meters, opens in Kingston on May 2. Churandy Marina opens May 1 in Guadelupe…(sorry for short updates, got flu over weekend).
EME NEWS (APR 6, 2009)
Collins to start in Kingston, Martina in Guadeloupe
AMSTERDAM (NED): Top Caribbean sprinters are planning to open their summer seasons within a month. Former world champion Kim Collins of St. Kitts plans his first 100 m for Jamaican Invitational in Kingston on May 2. He ended his indoor season on a high note in Praha on Feb 26 clocking his season best 6.58 at 60 m. Netherland Antilles national record holder Churandy Martina ran his last race at Van Damme Memorial last September as 7th at 100 m (10.24). The sadly disqualified athlete in medal position in Beijing will start at Guadeloupe meet on May 1.
Felicien returns this weekend
TORONTO (CAN): Former 100 m hurdles world champion Canadian Perdita Felicien will return this weekend into racing. She missed the Beijing Olympics because of a foot injury. Her first meet will be the Sun Angel Classic on April 11 in Tempe, Arizona followed by Kansas Relays and Drake Relays. “It’s been a long time since she’s raced, so I think the idea is she’s just got to get back in,” said her long-time coach Gary Winckler. “She may not be totally ready to race yet, but I think it’s time to get back into it and get the rhythm and everything else. That’s why we’re going to start earlier this year.” A world silver medallist in 2007, Felicien hasn’t raced since Feb.2, 2008, indoors at the Millrose Games in New York. She injured her foot while training shortly after and, while initially it wasn’t thought to be serious, it kept her out of the Beijing Games. Winckler also said he thinks there’s a good chance Felicien will race in the Festival of Excellence track meet featuring Jamaican superstar Usain Bolt at the University of Toronto on June 11. Writes Toronto Star.
Zurich with clear anti-doping position
ZURICH (SUI): At the annual assembly of the VfG LCZ, the Club organising the AF Golden League meeting Weltklasse Zürich, the club members were pleased to hear that the 2008 edition of the meeting closed with a small profit of 240 000 Swiss Francs. Honorary President and legendary former meeting director Andreas Brügger congratulated the organising committee and especially its chairman Patrick Magyar not only for their good work in 2008, but also for his active role in the creation of the IAAF Diamond League. The assembly also discussed whether Weltklasse Zürich should invite athletes after a two years major doping violation ban. In the final voting 50 members voted against and only two members for the invitation of such athletes. Meeting Director Patrick Magyar commented: “We already applied this policy based on the recommendation of Euromeetings in the past. With this clear decision of our highest body, we feel reinforced and confirmed in our position. It is clear that our members, who in the end are the owners of the meeting, do not wish to spend their money on such athletes and we of course will adhere to this policy. It would be great if other meeting directors would get the same kind of support from their members, as such strong majorities also show what is expected from us at grass roots level.†Three new honorary members of VfG LCZ were named, legendary athletes Maria Mutola and Lars Riedel and track journalist Peter A. Frei.
OTHER NEWS
OSLO (NOR): The Norwegain Race Walking Federation is from 1st April 2009 a part of the Norwegian Track & Field Federation. The Race Walking Federation in Norway was a own Federation from 1936. Sweden most probably now remains as the only country with separate walking federation.
KINGSTON (JAM): Jamaica’s legendary sprinter Grace Jackson was made an ambassador of the inaugural Caribbean Games set for July 12-19 in Trinidad and Tobago. Jackson joins T&T Olympic medalists Hasely Crawford and Ato Boldon as ambassadors. Some 26 countries are scheduled to participate in the Caribbean Games and will compete in five sporting disciplines – boxing, netball, tennis, track & field and volleyball. The Games will be held every four years in the year immediately following the Olympic Games.
BALTIMORE (USA): World Express Athletic Management announced that 2008 Olympic Long Jump finalist Brittney Reese will open her season at the Jamaica Invitational on May 2nd in Kingston. Reese who was the NCAA Indoor & Outdoor Champion as well as US Olympic Trials Champion; won her first US indoor LJ national title in March 2009 on her last jump. Thus the titles keep collecting on her young athletic resume. Reese will open her season in Jamaica and then prepare for two head-to-head meetings in Brazil (May 17 and May 24) against 2008 Olympic Long Jump Champion Maureen Maggi of Brazil. Also traveling to Brazil to regain her world-class form will be 2005 World Championship silver medalist at 200m Rachelle Boone-Smith.
MOSCOW (RUS): Russian jumping national coach Viktor Kuzin informed that the Russian Team for inaugural European Team Championships in June in Portugal will have younger and upcoming athletes in jumping events competing. Kuzin said the likes of Isinbayeva, Lebedeva, Feofanova and Rybakov will not be selected. Olympic winner and Russian Athletics federation vice-president Tatyana Lebedeva visited recently Finland where she in winter underwent Achilles surgery. Kuzin said it was a planned consultation visit. Lebedeva plans to compete in summer after she missed the indoor season. Other top jumper of coach Vyacheslav Dogonkin Oksana Udmurtova was also injured and only now started with slight training. She may compete only during second half of the season.
DAR ES SALAAM (TAN): Vodacom Tanzania launched a new marathon event to be staged in Dar es Salaam on June 21. Informs AfricaAthle twitter.
GEELONG (AUS): As Geelong Advertiser informs, Olympic 400 m winner Cathy Freeman will tie the knot with long time partner James Murch in Ocean Grove on Saturday. Freeman, 36, moved to the Bellarine Peninsula town with Mr Murch, a leading Melbourne stockbroker, in 2007. The couple are keeping the ceremony at a local resort under close-wraps with a lucrative deal signed with a prominent womens’ magazine.The proceeds will go to the Cathy Freeman Foundation charity.
RESULTS
ALA DEI SARDI (ITA, Apr 5): Fresh world CC champion Florence Kiplagat of Kenya won the 32nd 5 km Trofeo Alasport race in Sardinia with 17:33 beating Ethiopian Utura Gedo (17:53). Best Italian was fifth Federica Dal Ri (19:42). In men race Moses Mosop clearly dominated at 10 km in 31:59 ahead of Edwin Soi (32:51).
CARLSBAD (USA, Apr 5): Ethiopian Boston Indoor meet winner Bekana Daba was the best in Carlsbad 5 k during a day with warm temperatures, blue skies and slight breeze. In thrilling finish he clocked 13:19, the same time for beaten 5k indoor world leader Abreham Cherkos. Other two positions also for Ethiopians as Maregu Zewdie got 13:24 and Ali Abdosh 13:25. Australian Collis Birmingham as fifth was best non-African (13:27), steeple specialist Anthony Famiglietti was best US runner (6th 13:28) and Ireland´s Alastair Cragg best European as 8th (13:36). Aheza Kiros scored also women win for Ethiopia in 15:38 as she was stronger in finish than Olympic 1500 m finalist Shannon Rowbury (15:41). Close third Australian surprise Lara Tamsett (15:42).
WASHINGTON (USA, Apr 5): Morrocan Ridouane Harroufi defended his title at the 37th Credit Union Cherry Blossom 10 mile run in 45:56 ahead of Ethiopian Feyisa Leisa (19) 45:58 and Kenyan Silas Sang (45:59). In women race Kenyan Lineth Chepkurui dominated in 53:32 clearly ahead of Ethiopians Belaynesh Zemedkun (53:55) and Teyba Naser (53:58). Marathon world champion Catherine Ndereba was fifth (54:27) ahead of Russian Olga Romanova (54:32). Sally Meyerhoff set US record 54:38 as seventh. Former marathon world champion Lidia Simon of Romania was 12th (55:12). The race was held under ideal conditions on a mild, sunny day. Runners competed for largest purse in event history 40 000 USD.
SAO PAULO (BRA, Apr 5): Anne Cheptanui won the Sao Paulo Half-marathon in 1:11:41 and second place also for Kenya as Eunice Jepkorir clocked 1:13:33.
RIOM (FRA, Apr 5): Olympic finalist 2004 Margaret Maury won the 10 km race here with 34:16. Interestingly she was faster than the men.
SANTIAGO DE CHILE (CHI, Apr 5): Kenyan George Okworo won the Santiago Marathon with 2:18:00 ahead of his team-mate Peter Mwangi (2:18:22). In total 16 000 runners participated. Home win in women category as Erika Olivera achieved 2:36:22.
CLAREMONT (USA, Apr 4): Jamie Nieto cleared 220 at Pomona-Pitzer Invitational. Chad´s Kaltouma Nadjina won 200 m in 23.73 and clocked 52.49 at 400 m.
CHARLESTON (USA, Apr 4): Eastern Illinois sprinter Zye Boey improved to 10.33 (+1.5) and 20.92 (-0.1) at Big Blue Classic meet.
KINGSTON (JAM, Apr 4): To add from Jamaican Boys and Girls Championships is the excellent 400 m time for 14 years old Chris-Ann Gordon. She clocked 52.68 but is unfortunately not allowed yet to compete at U17 World Championships in summer. Best ever for 14 years old girls is 52.18 by Chinese Chen Jingwen from 2006.
Special thanks to Alfons Juck, EME News.
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