Kara Goucher Runs 1:08:05, Wins RNR Chicago, by Alfons Juck, Notes by Larry Eder

EME NEWS (AUG 1-2, 2009)

Second gold for Semenya

BAMBOUS (MRI, Aug 1-2): Ethiopian Abera Kuma Lema won the 5000 m at African Junior Championships with 13:42.53. Kenyans John Mwangangi (13:42.88) and Kennedy Kithuka (13:43.94) followed. South Africans Caster Semenya and Cornel Fredericks each won their second individual gold medals in contrasting styles. Earlier on Semenya’s prevailed in the women’s 800m in a world leading 1:56.72, while Fredericks claimed the gold medal in the men’s 400m Hurdles. The moment of truth came in the last 200m. Semenya surged to the lead and held on to win the 1500 metres in a championship record of 4:08.01. Such was the pace of the race she improved her lifetime best by over eight seconds. “The headwind made running very difficult,” Semenya said. “So I could not hold onto the lead all the time. I think I will prefer competing in only the 800m at the World Championships in Berlin, Germany,” she was quoted by IAAF. At the 110m Hurdles Cornel Fredericks (14.36) was confirmed a winner over Nigerian Martins Ogieriakhi (14.42). Genzebe Dibaba of Ethiopia, the younger sister of double Olympic winner from Beijing won the 5000 m.

Fast juniors: Davis 13.08 and Rowland 10.03

PORT OF SPAIN (TRI, Aug 1-2): World junior record by World Youth Champion 2007 Wayne Davis was the highlight of Pan-Am junior championships. He clocked at 110 m hurdles (99/100 cm) 13.08 in ideal +2.0 wind support. He was already fast in heats with national record 13.19 (+1.5). Close to world junior record of 10.01 also Marcus Rowland of USA who won in 10.03 (+0.7) ahead of D´Angelo Cherry (10.17) and Brazilian Diego Cavalcante who clocked South American Junior record 10.30. Grenada´s young star Kirani James confirmed his status with 45.43 400 m win over US Tamaris Tate (45.50). Mason Henley tossed the 1.75 kg discus to US national junior record 65.34 m. Chalonda Goodman won the 100 m in 11.22 (+0.8) and Natalie Willer was the best in pole vault (430). Jamaica’s Nickel Ashmeade (20.40) and American Chalonda Goodman (23.08) won the men’s and women’s 200m races. USA dominated the sprint relays. The women’s quartet of Jessica Davis, Amber Purvis, Tasha Allen and Chalonda Goodman stopped the clock in 44.09 to beat Jamaica (44.96) and Trinidad & Tobago (45.38) while the men’s team, which was made up of Keyth Talley, D’Angelo Cherry, Trevante Rhodes and Marcus Rowland won in 39.06, a Pan Am record. Brazil finished second in 39.64 and Jamaica third in 40.06. In the men’s 400m hurdles preliminary, USA’s William Wynne ran 49.89 for a new Pan Am Champs record, beating the previous best of 50.03 Angelo Taylor, also of USA, ran in Havana in 1997. He was even faster in finals with 49.31, another meet record.

Antyukh clocks 54.19

TULA (RUS, Aug 1-2): Russian Cup meet was the last qualifier for World Championships. Aleksandra Kiryashova with 465 beat Yulia Golubchikova (460) in pole vault and opened her chances heavily to be selected for Berlin. Big improvement for 400 m specialist in first serious hurdles try, Natalya Antyukh clocked very fast 54.19. She qualified with that for Berlin as she beat other candidates Yelena Churakova (55.62) and Natalya Ivanova (55.74). Yekaterina Kayukova achieved good 14.31 in triple jump. World record holder Tatyana Lysenko in her second meet after doping ban registered solid 74.19 in hammer. Mariya Abakumova showed signs of improvement in javelin after losing the national championships with 64.67 m. Berlin-bound at 400 m Anastasiya Kapachinskaya won the 200 m in 22.92 (-0.2). Mariya Konovalova posted solid 5000 m (15:13.85). In men events Aleksandr Shustov cleared 230 in high jump, Anton Lyuboslavskiy 20.08 in shot put, Vladimir Antmanis 49.94 at 400 m hurdles and Igor Vinichenko 78.19 in hammer. Ivan Teplykh tried without success for Berlin standard in the 200 m (20.96, +0.4).

Harting 68.10 season best

WATTENSCHEID (GER, Aug 2): The traditional German federation DLV Gala meet showed that some of the home stars are well ready for the World Championships in their home country. For example discus thrower Robert Harting improved his season best to 68.10. Ralf Bartels won the shot put (20.53, with Australian Justin Anlezark improving his season best to 20.39 as second), Raul Spank cleared 228 to win the high jump. High Jump world leader Ariane Friedrich went over 199 to win her event (second Russian Tatyana Gordeyeva 197). Nadine Kleinert was also impressive in shot put (19.71). Christine Obergfoll won this time the javelin (60.33), but Steffi Nerius was absent. Nadine Muller was better in discus then world champion Franka Dietzsch (59.47-58.73). Both German 4x100 m relay teams produced superb European leading times 38.40 and 43.12. Even when windy still highly respectable 11.11 (+2.6) for Verena Sailer beating Jamaican olympic medalist Sherone Simpson (11.12). Carolin Nytra was second at 100 m hurdles (12.88, -0.6, beaten only by US Yvette Lewis 12.87). Stefan Eberhardter was third in the 1500 m in 3:37.36 (won by Kenyan Bethwell Birgen 3:35.88) and Arne Gabius fifth at 3000 m with 7:46.05 (winner Kenyan Sammy Mutahi 7:42.08 meet record). Czech athletes scored two wins as Petr Svoboda won the 110 m hurdles (13.44, +1.3) and Lenka Masna the 800 m (2:01.81). Briton Steve Lewis achieved a excellent 572 win over German elite in pole vault. Former World champion Kim Collins had his day. First he won the 100 m in windy 10.08 (+2.3, second US Mark Jelks 10.09 and third Francis Obikwelu 10.10) and then the 200 m in season best 20.45 (-0.2).

OTHER RESULTS

STAIKI (BLR, Aug 1): Hammer olympic winner Oksana Miankova improved her season best at Ovsyannik and Yulin Memorials meet with 76.32 m. New Belarus javelin record for Marina Novik with 63.25 m. Anna Mozgunova achieved in discus 61.20, good also Pavel Lyzhyn 20.83 in shot put. Top hurdler Maksim Lynsha clocked 13.56 at the 110 metres. Slovak guest (former citizen of Belarus) Dmitrij Valukevic leaped to 17.09 in triple jump.

TEL AVIV (ISR, Aug 2): At national meet Irina Lenskiy clocked 13.09 (+1.0) at 100 m hurdles and Yochai Halevi leaped to 16.65 (+1.8) triple jump.

PRAHA (CZE, Aug 2): In last qualifiying meet Jan Kudlicka cleared 562 in pole vault and will travel to Berlin and Michal Balner (561 during the week) will stay at home. Denisa Rosolova tried in long jump after injury-break but 646 was not enough in long jump.

HENDON (GBR, Aug 1): In North London competing as a guest in a national club meeting India’s Krishna Poonia threw the discus SB of 60.78. In men’s events Darren St Clair won 400m in PB 46.17, Emeka Udechuku the discus in season best 59.23 and Mark Dry won the hammer with 70.81, the best by a British athlete in 2009.

KUTNA HORA (CZE, Aug 1): Universiade winner Jirina Ptacnikova achieved at special pole vault meet in historical city of Kutna Hora good 452 cm win. It was special also because she was jumping with borrowed poles as her own ones did not arrive yet from Barcelona meet. Roman Sebrle tested his shape with 482 cm clearance, “I m still tired from tough training, but healthy what is the most important,” he said.

KRUPKA (CZE, July 31): At another meet in part of city Usti nad Labem after Wednesday Jamaican Lerone Clarke clocked another solid 100 m win with 10.25. Antonin Zalsky achieved 19.54 in the shot put.

ROAD RACES

PORT ELIZABETH (USA, Aug 1): Kenyans Edward Muge and Irene Limika scored convincing victories at the 12th annual TD Banknorth Beach to Beacon 10 km. Muge held his pace to the tape in 28:05 (28:04.5), five seconds up on Boaz Cheboiywo. Abrajham Jeilan of Ethiopia won the battle for third over three-time Beach to Beacon champion Gilbert Okari, 28:20 to 28:22. Limika held her lead over her strongest chaser, Bahrain's Nadia Ejjafini, clocking her second 10-K personal best of the summer of 32:07 (32:06.1). Ejjafini, who was born in Morocco but lives in Italy where she is married to an Italian, landed second place comfortably in 32:13. Berhane Adere was timed at 32:28 in third. Limika said today's race was a very good sign that she is fit and ready for the World Championships. Informs Race Results Weekly.

CHICAGO (USA, Aug 2): Two-time USA 5000m champion Kara Goucher completed a very successful tune-up for the IAAF World Championships Marathon in Chicago winning the inaugural Rock 'N' Roll Chicago Half-Marathon in 1:08:05. Goucher, 31, beat all 14,437 other finishers of the race, including all of the men. Although not a career best time, Goucher ran her fastest-ever half-marathon on a record-standard course. She actually ran faster in her debut at the distance at the 2007 Bupa Great North Run in Newcastle, England, but that course is slightly aided. Today's mark was just 31 seconds slower than Deena Kastor's American record 1:07:34 set in Berlin in 2006. It was Goucher's first-ever half-marathon in the United States. Informs Race Results Weekly.

ASUNCION (PAR, Aug 2): South American half-marathon champions in 12 degrees and 88 percent humidity were crowned Brasilian Clodoaldo Gomes (1:04:09) and Jimena Misayauri from Peru in national record 1:14:38.

BOGOTA (COL, Aug 2): More than 45 000 runners in a half marathon (and 10 km) were running in Bogota to finish in Simon Bolivar Park. Kenyan Isaac Macharia won in 1:02:49 ahead of his team-mates Wilson Chebet (1:03:14) and Patrick Nthiwa (1:04:52). In women category also Kenyan win for Lydia Cheromei (1:12:29) ahead of Mexican Maria Dulce Rodriguez (1:12:38) and her team-mate Pamela Chepchumba (1:14:18) with marathon world champion Catherina Ndereba fifth (1:16:07).

OMSK (RUS, Aug 1): Sergey Lukin clocked 2:15:06 to win the jubilee 20th Omsk Marathon ahead of Oleg Marusin (2:16:09). Yevgeniya Danilova was best woman in 2:34:52 beating Gulnara Vygovskaya (2:35:05) and Liliya Yadzhak (2:35:39).

OTHER NEWS

SAO PAULO (BRA): Brazilian Athletics Federation announced provisional suspension of female 400 m hurdler Lucimar Teodoro. The multiple national champion had positive doping test in June. As a result she will not travel to World Championships in Berlin where she was initially selected.

LONDON (GBR): UK Athletics announced two additions to the Aviva GB and NI team for the IAAF World Championships in Berlin next month. James Brewer will join Andy Baddeley and Tom Lancashire in competing the 1500m in Berlin, whilst Will Sharman after his PB in Loughborough will line up alongside fellow Brits Andy Turner and Gianni Frankis in 110m hurdles.

KINGSTON (JAM): Ramone McKenzie, Samantha Henry and Lerone Clarke are the athletes likely to be added to Jamaica's squad for the World Championships, following positive drug tests for five Jamaican athletes at last month's national senior track and field championships. The five Jamaican athletes who tested positive at the National trials held in June, have still not been told when the hearings will be held. TrackAlerts also writes that the inclusion of McKenzie and Clarke which was confirmed in Jamaica’s team for the Berlin World Championships, has nothing to do with the positive findings of five previously selected Jamaican athletes. “