Robert Harting, WC Berlin 2009, photo by PhotoRun.net.

Take a moment, gentle readers, and look at the picture. Deep breath, look at the crowd in the background and every photographer in the Berlin Olympic Stadium, trying to get a picture of Germany’s hero, Robert Harting, who put it all together, kicking butt on the entire discus field! One of my favorite parts of Berlin WC 2009 were the performances of Germany’s field eventers, in front of their home crowd. Each night, we were treated to one great performance
after another!

Ariane Friedrich, WC Berlin 2009, August 2009, photo by PhotoRun.net.

Ariane Friedrich, the premier German women high jumper, was in the battle of
her life in Berlin, taking a bronze medal. Friedrich had huge pressure on her after the 2.06m clearance. Her coach told me the day after the competition, that he had figured that she had a good shot for the bronze, with Vlasic in top form. The show was the Vlasic-Friederich show for much of that night!

Two of Germany’s most popular athletes, discus gold medalist Robert Harting and
high jump bronze medalist Arian Friedrich, will headline ISTAF Berlin, on August 22, 2010…Harting had the crowd screaming last year in Berlin, when he just dominated the discus field. Ariane Friedrich, who could pass for the lead singer of X, had the crowd roaring during
the Vlasic-Friedrich high jump show in Berlin last August!

EME NEWS (MAY 20, 2010)

PCHELNIK 75.42, MBANDJOCK WINS 100 M

BELEM (BRA, May 19): Fast
sprints, very good 3000 m
and second best hammer of the year by Belarus Darya Pchelnik (75.42)
highlighted the second meet of Brazilian Tour in the State of Para. In 28
degrees and 60 percent humidity and before more than 12 000 spectators in the
evening French Martial Mbandjock beat a solid 100 m field in 10.15 (+0.4).
Trinidad´s Emmanuel Callender and Bahamian Derrick Atkins achieved 10.21 and
Lerone Clarke of Jamaica was fourth (10.23). Jamaican Sheri-Ann Brooks was the
fastest in women 100 m
with very good 11.16 (+0.2) over Gabon´s Rudy Zang Milama (11.25). Another
Jamaican and relay world champion Simone Facey won the 200 m (23.09, +0.1, she was
only 4th in the 100 m
11.50). Very good both one lap races for men. Justin Gaymon clocked 49.17 over 400 m hurdles beating Andres
Silva of Uruguay who celebrated new national record 49.18 and close third
Jamaican Markino Buckley (49.20). 
Bahamian relay medalist Michael Mathieu was the best in 45.56 beating
home Eduardo de Oliveira (45.60) and US Greg Nixon (45.64). Interestingly only
fifth Xavier Carter of USA (46.79). Top six runners went sub 7:50 in the 3000 m in hot weather.
Winning David Bett achieved 7:42.59 ahead of Ethiopian steeple specialist Roba
Gari (7:43.38) and Byron Piedra of Ecuador who improved his own national record
to 7:47.06. In two male technical events US Mark Hollis won the pole vault
(555) and in hammer one cm decided between Dilshod Nazarov (76.94) and Igors
Sokolovs (76.93). From women events to add 13.12 (+0.4) by Brigith Merlano of
Colombia at 100 m
hurdles and close 800 m
when Panama´s Andrea Ferris beat Marian Burnett of Guyana (both 2:02.78).
Natalia Duco of Chile was the best in shot put (17.49) and Levern Spencer of
St. Lucia beat in jump-off Canadian Nicole Forrester (185 to 184).

RESULTS

OSLO (NOR, May 19): At the
Adidas meet in Bislett Stadium new Norwegian junior record for Henrik
Ingebrigtsen with 7:58.15. Second European steeple champion Jukka Keskisalo of
Finland (8:00.96). European junior champ Ezinne Okparaebo clocked national best
over 150 m
in  17.31 (+0.2). Ingvill Makestad
clocked European lead of the season 8:54.57 in the 3000 m.

HONGKONG (HKG, May 16): Tsui
Chi Ho improved the Hong-Kong national 100 m record at 53rd Festival of Sport with
10.28 (+1.3).

WATFORD (GBR, May 19): World
junior champion Stephanie Twell clocked excellent 8:50.96 at the meet in North
London, but could not be on top of the list as it was together with men.

OTHER NEWS

BERLIN (GER): The biggest one
day meeting in Germany, the ISTAF of Berlin announced first two headliners for
the event on August 22. Discus world champion Robert Harting and high jump star
Ariane Friedrich. Berlin also expressed its interest to stage European
Championships in 2018.

STOCKHOLM (SWE): DN Galan has
this week launched MixedZone, which their own portal with a two-way
communication. By a simple click on Facebook Connect are logged in and the
first thing you encounter is “Welcome to MixedZone  – DN Galans official portal where opinions
are exchanged and the news is fresh. Where the blogs are the most interesting
and the hottest inside tips. Other features are The Expertbooth – Offers livereporting
from all the Diamond League meetings, and helps you follow the Diamond Race.
Play Table – Offers betting tips on the track & field meetings. DN Galan
one Step Ahead – Latest news about DN Galan and Diamond League, gives you the
latest inside gossip/tips. DannyWess – The manager Daniel Wessfeldts blog,
where he writes about everything he experience during his many trips around the
world. In a photoalbum, the athletes that are ready for the DN Galan. The
MixedZone is yet only available in swedish, but the english version should be ready
in the near future.

GOTZIS (AUT): More new names
for Hypo Meeting (May 29-30), part of IAAF Combined Events Challenge. French
European indoor medalist from Torino Antoinette Nana-Djimou is the latest
heptathlon entry. Canadian Jessica Zelinka returns after baby-break. Ukrainian
Hanna Melnychenko was 6th in Berlin and her team-mate Lyudmyla Yosypenko even
fifth. Dutch Yvonne van Langen (formerly Wisse), Sweden´s Jessica Samuelsson
and Swiss champion Linda Zublin arev rounding the field. Already before announced
was that all olympic medalists from Beijing will compete (Dobrynska, Fountain,
Chernova), that means also all World Indoor medalists (including Ennis) and
from Berlin medalists only Poland´s Kamila Chudzik.

LONDON (GBR): Reigning Olympic
and World champion shot putter Valerie Vili is to compete at both of Britain’s
IAAF Diamond League events this summer to maintain her position as number one
in the world. Vili, who is one of 14 IAAF Diamond League Ambassadors, will
contest the Shot Put at the Aviva British Grand Prix held at Gateshead
International Stadium on 10 July and the Aviva London Grand Prix at Crystal
Palace on 13 and 14 August. Informs IAAF. She is making her IDL debut this
Sunday in Shanghai and could be a good candidate for the first place in
Diamond Race in her event.

KALAMATA (GRE): The Greek
European Athletics Classic Meeting of Kalamata planned for May 29 announced its
first top names. Bulgarian 400
m European champion Vania Stambolova will compete. Also
in the men´s 3000 m
Kenyan Vincent Rono and Qatari Rashid Ismail are the headliners.

OTTAWA (CAN): Ahletics Canada
announced sites for future championships. Moncton which is the site for this
years World Junior championships will stage the 2013 and 2014 senior Canadian
Championships.  In 2011 and 2012 the
event will be in Calgary.

SHANGHAI (CHN): Usain Bolt
announced his new partnership after arriving to Shanghai, China. His new
partner is watch maker Hublot. Bolt runs here the 200 m on Sunday.

BERLIN (GER): German decathlete
Arthur Abele will miss part of the season due to another groin injury. Abele
missed the 2009 season because of a similar injury and now faces loosing
the 2010 season as well as surgery will keep him out of training for at least
four weeks. Abele has his strongest season in 2007 when he scored 8372 in Ratingen and ended
ninth at the IAAF World championships in Osaka confirms the
Sindelfigen/boblingen newspaper. 

VIENNA (AUT): Tim Lobinger has
been confirmed for a street pole vaulting competition in Vienna on June 1st.
Also confirmed are Austrian decathlete Roland Schwarzl, US Mark Hollis, German
Michael Frauen and British Paul Walker.

BARCELONA (ESP): Seven of
Spain’s most popular athletes will be the stars of a tv advertisement
campaign in the lead up to the European athletics championshisps in Barcelona
in July. The advertisement focuses on explaining the complexity of athletics
with Spanish elite athletes showing their events. Starring in the advertisement
are Manuel Martinez (shot put), Concha Montaner (long jump), Jackson Quinonez
(110H), Narroa Agirre (pole vault), Angel David Rodriguez (100m), Reyes Estevez
(1500m) and Juan Carlos Higuero (1500m).