by Larry Eder
Tomasz Majewski, Olympic champion from Poland, leads his country’s team to WIC-Doha, photo by PhotoRun.net.
With less than ten days before the World Indoors start, teams are being named, and Alfons Juck, our man about the world, has provided us with some of the key teams!
TEAMS FOR DOHA
RUSSIA: 45 athletes strong team hopes for some wins specially in women events. The headliner is Pole vault queen Yelena Isinbayeva. Questions were over female long and triple jump after the nationals, at the end young Darya Klishina despite being only third got the place over veteran Tatyana Kotova. In triple jump Anna Pyatykh will travel, was only third too. men – 60 m: Vashurkin, Smirnov, 400 m: Buryak, Alekseyev, 4×400 m: Buryak, Alekseyev, Dyldin, Kruglyakova, Trenikhin, Antmanis, 60mH: Borisov, Dremin, HJ: Rybakov, Ukhov, PV: Starodubtsev, Gripich, TJ: Spasovkhodskiy, SP: Sidorov, Hep: Pogorelov, Drozdov. women – 60 m: Polyakova, Katsura, 400 m: Firova, Nazarova, 4×400 m: Firova, Nazarova, Migunova, Vdovina, Gushchina, Pospelova, 800 m: Savinova, Zinurova, 1500 m: Alminova, Zolotova, 3000 m: Zadorozhnaya, 60mH: Fedoriva, Dektyareva, HJ: Gordeyeva, Shkolina, PV: Isinbayeva, Feofanova, LJ: Nazarova, Klishina, TJ: Taranova, Pyatykh, SP: Ivanova, Avdeyeva, Pen: Chernova, Goncharova.
BELARUS: Nine athletes will travel, headliners both shot putters Andrey Mikhnevich and Nadezhda Ostapchuk. Also in the team second athletes in these events Pavel Lyzhyn and Natalia Mikhnevich. Olympic medalist Andrey Kravchenko competes in heptathlon. The others are Maksim Lynsha at 60 m hurdles and women Natalya Koreyvo (1500 m), Alina Talay (60mH) and Veronika Shutkova (LJ).
JAMAICA: In total 16 athletes headed by two-time Olympic 200m champion Veronica Campbell-Brown for 60 m. With her in this event also Sheri-Ann Brooks. In men´s 60 m the two fastest Nesta Carter and European circuit meetings winner Lerone Clarke. Dwight Thomas will compete in the men‘s 60m hurdles while Vonette Dixon and Lacena-Golding-Clarke are down for the women 60m hurdles. Ricardo Chambers and Edino Steele will run the men‘s 400m with Sanjay Ayre and Lansford Davis to join them for the 4×400m. Novlene Williams-Mills and Bobby-Gaye Wilkins are the women‘s 400m persons, along with Davita Prendergast and Clora Williams, who will join them for the 4×400m. Jovanee Jarrett will be the lone competitor in the long jump. Confirms TrackAlerts.com.
GERMANY: 19 athletes are selected to compete in 12 events, which means Germany takes a larger team to Qatar then previously in Valencia and Moscow. Four German athletes are currently ranked in the top three of the world: pole vaulter Malte Mohr, high jumpers Ariane Friedrich and Meike Kröger and Sosthene Moguenara in the long jump. Missing is ill Silke Spiegelburg in pole vault. Second shot putter Petra Lammert is having the priorities in summer after long break. men – 1500 m: Klein, 60mH: John, Schwarzer, HJ: Gunther, PV: Mohr, Straub, LJ: Reif, SP: Bartels, Storl wom – 60 m: Kwadwo, 60mH: Nytra, Hildebrand, HJ: Friedrich, Kroger, PV: Hingst, Gadschiew, LJ: Moguenara, Kappler, SP: Kleinert.
CZECH REPUBLIC: Both relays made for a big Czech Team for Doha. Medal hope is hurdler Petr Svoboda, Roman Sebrle will compete in his 6th World Indoors in a row. men – 800 m: Holusa, 4×400 m: Prorok, Jares, Vojtik, Jiran, R. Svoboda, 60mH: P. Svoboda, Mazac, HJ: Baba, PV: Balner, SP: Marcell, Hep: Sebrle wom – 800 m: Masna, 4×400 m: Hejnova, Rosolova, Bergrova, Bartonickova, 60mH: Skrobakova, HJ: Strakova, PV: Ptacnikova, Rybova.
POLAND: Without world medalists Monika Pyrek and Sylwester Bednarek the Polish was announced with 16 athletes. World Pole vault champion Anna Rogowska and shot put olympic winner Tomasz Majewski are the main names. men – 400 m: Marciniszyn, 4×400 m: Marciniszyn, Klimczak, Budziejewski, Sobiech, Kedzia, 800 m: Kszczot, 60mH: Bochenek, PV: Michalski, SP: Majewski wom – 60 m: Popowicz, 800 m: Cichocka, 1500 m: Ejdys, Plis, 3000 m: Chojecka, Plis, PV: Rogowska, Pen: Tyminska.
MOROCCO: 6 athletes, five of them runners have been selected. Amine Laalou will decide later about 800 m or 1500 m. men – 800 m: Laalou, 1500 m: Laalou, Iguider, 3000 m: Bellani, LJ: Berrabah wom – 800 m: Benhassi, Hachlaf.
PORTUGAL: Five athletes including long jump title defender Naide Gomes. Also in the team two 3000 m runners Jessica Augusto and Sara Moreira. Two men are Bruno Albuquerque for 1500 m and shot put record holder Marco Fortes.
AUSTRIA: Three runners have been selected. Ryan Moseley at 60 m, Clemens Zeller for 400 m and Andreas Rapatz for 800 m.
SLOVAKIA: Only two athletes have been selected, both triple jumpers. Torino bronze winner Dana Veldakova and Berlin finalist Dmitrij Valukevic.
CUBA: 13 athletes selected with the big star Dayron Robles at 60 m hurdles. Tough decision in triple jump more than two candidates. Another star is women triple world champion Yargelis Savigne. men – 60 m: Lescay, 400 m: Collazo, 60mH: Robles, Capetillo, LJ: W. Martinez, TJ: Girat, Betanzos, Hep: Suarez wom – 60mH: Tejeda, TJ: Savigne, Gay, SP: Gonzalez, Vargas
ROMANIA: Three women will travel with team leader former great runner Gabriela Szabo. Adelina Gavrila for triple jump, Anca Heltne for shot put and Ancuta Bobocel for 1500 m and 3000 m.
FINLAND: Two male jumpers will travel. High jumper Osku Torro and long jumper Tommi Evilä.
CANADA: Six athletes and only one man, shot putter Dylan Armstrong. Biggest medal hope is hurdler Priscilla Lopes-Schliep, she will be joined by Perdita Felicien in 60 m hurdles. Also in the team Tabia Charles in long jump, Kelsie Hendry in pole vault and Nicole Edwards for 1500 m.
BELGIUM: The Belgian World indoor team now consists of seven individual athletes and the men‘s 4x400m relay team. Four athletes will contest the 60m hurdles with European indoor champion Eline Berings leading the charge along with Elisabeth Davin. The men are represented by Adrien Deghelt and Damien Broothaerts. Kevin Rans is in top shape for the pole vault while Fatmata Bangura is in the 60m women‘s race with her time of 7.32. Svetlana Bolshakova will compete in triple jump. Relay composition: Jonathan Borlée, Kevin Borlée, Nils Durincks, Arnaud Ghislain, Antoine Gillet and Cédric Vanbranteghem.
FRANCE: Nine women and nineteen men are headed to Doha to represent the French colours. World leader Renaud Lavillenie is traveling with confidence after his 585 clearance this weekend as well as hurdler Ladji Doucoure and triple jumpers Teddy Tamgho and Colomba Fofana. Salim Sdiri and Kafetien Gomis are on top of the world as well in the long jump. Newly crowned French champion Christophe Lemaître is not going to Doha but the French are sending Ronald Pognon and Teddy Tinmar for the 60 m and Myriam Soumare and Véronique Mang for the women‘s 60. men – 60 m: Pognon, Tinmar, 400 m: Fillon, 800 m: Hautcoeur, 1500 m: Bakhtache, Mekhissi, 60mH: Darien, Doucoure, HJ: Hanany, PV: Lavillenie, Dossevi, LJ: Gomis, Sdiri, TJ: Fofana, Tamgho, 4×400 m: Fillon, Fonsat, Grillas, Maunier women – 60 m: Mang, Soumare, 400 m: Michanol, 1500 m: Dehiba, Felix, 60mH: Diawara, Decaux, HJ: Melfort, Pen: Nana Djimou
NORWAY: Norway will send out three athletes to the Doha. Christina Vukicevic, who this weekend clocked a strong 7.94, will lead the team. Also representing Norway is Folake Akinyemi in the 60m and Stine Kufaas in the high jump.
DUBLIN (IRE): Athletics Ireland has announced its final team. The large 15 member squad includes double European Champion and currently ranked number two in the world David Gillick and former world indoor champion in the hurdles Derval O‘Rourke. men – 400 m: Gillick, Gregan, 800 m: McCarthy, 4×400 m: Gillick, Gregan, McCarthy, Hogan, Murphy, Ryan, Crowe wom – 60 m: Brady, 60mH: O´Rourke, 1500 m: McNeice, Galligan, 3000 m: D. Byrne, Murphy, HJ: Ryan, LJ: Proper
DOMINICAN REPUBLIC: 4×400 m relay is selected with Arismendy Peguero, Yoel Tapia, Alvin Harrison, Kelvin Herrera, Gustavo Cuesta and hurdles star Felix Sanchez.
OTHER NEWS
HOUSTON (USA): USATF and the organizers of the Chevron Houston Marathon will make a joint announcement that the 2010 USA Olympic Trials for both men and women will be held in Houston in January, 2010.
MADRID (ESP): 50,268 people watched the Spanish national championships in Valencia this weekend through internet-tv writes rfea.es. The 50,268 hits came from 310 cities in 40 countries.
KARLSRUHE (GER): German Athletics Federation DLV plans to bid to organise the 2013 European Team Championships. The candidates are Kassel, Braunschweig, Ulm and Erfurt. The national indoor championships in 2011 will be held in Leipzig.
LONDON (GBR): Latest Pat Butcher blog at www.globerunner.org is having the title: Of Beer and Lactic Acid – Reviews.
RESULTS
HAVANA (CUB, Feb 25-26): World medalist Guillermo Martinez achieved excellent 86.38 in javelin during 4th open meet in Cuba. It is his third best of the career and best of 2010. Jorge Fernandez improved in discus to 64.13 m. Excellent start into the season also for world and olympic discus medalist Yarelis Barrios with 64.06 m. Arasay Thondike achieved 70.06 in hammer. Fast hand timed sprints. Manuel Ramirez (17) clocked windy 10.0 at 100 m, Ignacio Morales also windy 13.3 at 110 m hurdles. In women races Roxana Diaz 11.0 (+3.5) at 100 m and Yenima Arencibia 12.8w at 100 m hurdles.
KHERSON (UKR, Feb 28): At special high jump meet Oleksandr Nartov cleared 225 and Doha bound Olena Demidova 188 to win.
LUKOVIT (BUL, Feb 28): Bulgarian CC Champions are Kiril Nikolov at 10 km (33:26) and Silvia Danekova 30:17 in the women 8 km. Milka Mikhaylova was second (31:01).
KHEMISSET (MAR, Feb 28): Moroccan CC Champions are Abdellah Taghraft (31:51 at 12 km) and Maria Laghrissi (24:31 at 8 km).
