by Larry EderDusseldorf gave us eight new world leaders! From Dayron Robles, to Lo Lo Jones, to Paul Kipsiele Koech, in the 5,000 meters! RBR can not wait until Saturday night, February 6, 2010, when the rafters will shake at the Reggie Lewis Center and Galen Rupp will try and run Bernard Lagat off his feet, as they chase Rupp’s 5,000 meter indoor record! And a great 60 meters too! More on Rbk BIG tomorrow!
ROBLES IS BACK, 8 WORLD LEADS
DUSSELDORF (GER, Feb 3): 8 world leading marks and 7 new meet records highlighted the 5th edition of PSD Bank Meeting in Dusseldorf (EA Indoor Permit). Officially announced 1802 spectators saw the return of Olympic winner and world record holder Dayron Robles of Cuba in his first race since Berlin World Championships. In heats he clocked easy 7.59 and in finals clear 7.50 win at 60 m hurdles. “I want to improve in every race, today it was at 90 percent level,†he was quoted afterwards. Another top highlight was the fifth fastest time ever indoors (and fourth performer) by steeple specialist Paul Kipsiele Koech at 5000 m in 13:02.95. Only Bekele, Gebrselassie and Daniel Komen have been ever faster. And it could even be faster as the leader before the last lap Daniel Kipchirchir Komen stopped thinking the race is over, he still managed to finish second in 13:06.27. Third Daniel Salel got 13:15.89 and fourth Essa Rashed of Qatar (but former Kenyan) improved the Asian record to 13.19.10. In middle distances two more world leading marks. Augustin Choge clocked in fast finish 3:36.75 at 1500 m ahead of South African Juan Van Deventer who was competing first time ever indoors and improved national record to 3:37.25. Top 6 went sub 3:40 and Karlsruhe winner Gideon Gathimba was this time 6th (3:39.46). In the final race of the evening Yuriy Borzakovskiy prevailed with strong finish in world lead and meet record 1:45.77 at 800 m over olympic Beijing medalist Ahmed Ismail of Sudan (1:45.99) and Poland´s sensation Adam Kszczot (1:46.00 indoor PB). In women 60 m hurdles Lolo Jones overcame last year problems and won in world leading 7.85 (after only 8.05 in her heat) over improved Yvette Lewis (7.90 in heats at that time equaled world lead and 7.91 in finals). For Jones her 7th fastest of the career. Fast times also in 60 m races. Laverne Jones-Ferrette of US Virgin Islands is clearly in her career shape. In heats her time 7.15 was a new meet record and that was improved in finals to 7.09 not only another meet best but also equaled her own world lead from Karlsruhe. And more she beat last year worlds fastest Carmelita Jeter (7.13). Last year US indoor champion Mark Jelks won the 60 m in world fastest time of the year and meet record 6.56. Jamaican Lerone Clarke as second got 6.62 and former European indoor record holder Ronald Pognon of France third (6.64). Long jump world champion Dwight Phillips did not play a role as 8th (6.80). In remaining races Ukrainian Natalya Lupu (European U23 last year medalist) won the 800 m in 2:02.86 and Briton Hellen Clitheroe the 1500 m in second fastest European time of the year 4:10.29. Technical events highlight was the season best and meet record in triple jump by Cuban world champion Yargelis Savigne 14.84 in third round. After her fourth win here she said she wanted more, but still needs to improve technically. Dana Veldakova as second with 14.29 is the first Slovak athlete qualified for Doha. She beat Berlin medalist Mabel Gay of Cuba (14.26). German victories in two men technical events. Ralf Bartels with 20.70 was better in shot put than olympic winner Tomasz Majewski who started into the season with 20.55. Alexander Straub beat on count-back Hendrik Gruber (for him a PB) in pole vault as both cleared 570. The world leading marks: men 60 m, 800 m, 1500 m, 5000 m, women 60 m, 60 m hurdles twice, triple jump. Meet records men 60 m, 800 m, 5000 m, women 60 m twice, 60 m hurdles, triple jump.
OTHER NEWS
AMSTERDAM (NED): New developments in Simon Vroemen case. The Dutch Doping Authority is appealing the decision by the disciplinary committee of the Institute for Sports Justice (ISR) in case of steeple runner Simon Vroemen. The steeple chaser tested positive for the forbidden metandienon in a self-requested test in 2008 after the race in Cottbus. According to the ISR-committee, the doping laboratory in Cologne did not adhere to international standards, leading to the offense not having been proven. The director of the Dutch Doping Authority, Herman Ram, says no procedural errors have been made. If the disciplinary committee does not change its mind, Dutch doping authority plans to take the case to the CAS.
RABAT (MAR): Moroccan authorities demanded legal actions will be issued against Norwegian diplomats involved in the child custody battle between Olympic 10,000m champion Khalid Skah and his Norwegian wife writes AFP. The children fled their Morrocan home in the summer of 2009 and were protected at the Norwegian embassy following threats to their lives. The embassy thereafter handed the children to their mother, who smuggled them out of the country. The Norwegian government however denied being involved directly in the smuggling. The mother, on her turn, has filed charges against Skah for kidnapping, violence and threats. Both parents have obtained custody of the children in their respective countries. Skah (43) is olympic 10 000 m gold medalist in 1992 and double world CC champion in 1990 and 1991.
BOSTON (USA): Strong men´s 60 m at Reebok Boston Indoor Games on Saturday: Millrose winner Ivory Williams with US Champion Mike Rodgers, olympic medalist Walter Dix and strong Ryan (nicknamed Zeus) Bailey are taking on Caribbeans, Daniel Bailey of Antigua and Jamaicans Steve Mullings and world junior champion 2008 Dexter Lee. Also running olympic gold medalist 2004 Shawn Crawford and as surprise entry 400 m hurdles world champion Kerron Clement. He has 10.23 100 m PB but never competed at 60 m indoors.
KINGSTON (JAM): TrackAlerts.com informs that Paul Francis, younger brother of renowned track and field coach Stephen Francis and assistant coach of world classed, MVP track stars Asafa Powell, Shelly Ann Fraser, Brigitte Foster-Hylton, Melaine Walker, Shericka Williams, Nesta Carter and Michael Frater, was last night involved in a car crash on the Spanish Town leg of Highway 2000, in Spanish Town, Jamaica. As of last word, he was admitted to the Spanish Town hospital. Ironically it was the same highway that triple world and olympic winner Usain Bolt, was involved in an accident on last year. The highway is also scheduled to be renamed Usain Bolt’s Highway.
EL PASO (USA): Trindon Holliday a 10.00 sprinter never competed in athletics outside USA. And it looks like it will remain so for 2007 NCAA 100 m champion. The 23-years old sprinter has chosen football over athletics. Writes elpasotimes.com. Already in 2007 when he qualified for World Championships 2007 he did not travel to Japan and gave football the priority. „I‘m a lot better than when I started,“ Holliday said. „I‘m more mature. I enjoy playing football and I want to keep doing it.“ His average of ten best times at 100 m is high quality 10.043 (per tilastopaja).
LINZ (AUT): After Bratislava and Vienna third indoor meet in a row in Central Europe. The Gugl Indoor in Linz will be staged on Thursday. The majority of athletes moved from Vienna to Linz during Wednesday. Again the pole vaulters headed by Greek record holder Kostadinos Filippidis will be there. But new additions are mainly US athletes. For 60 m reigning world indoor champion Angela Williams, for 200 m relay world champion Greg Nixon, for long jump Funmi Jimoh and for 60 m hurdles Joel Brown. Top home sprinter Ryan Moseley takes on Asian 100 m record holder Samuel Francis of Qatar in the 60 m. In men´s shot put German world junior champion David Storl will be there and enjoing his first senior year.
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