by Larry Eder
Blanka Vlasic, Greece, 2009, photo by PhotoRun.net.
Asafa Powell continues on a roll, running 9.82 in Rome. LaShinda Demus runs a world leading 52.84 for 400 meter hurdles-and that is really flying! And Christian Cantwell wins his third Diamond League meeting with 21.67m. Blanka Vlasic and Chaunte Howard-Lowe both clear
2.03m, with Vlasic taking the win due to Howard-Lowe’s miss at an earlier height. Now, on
to adidas Grand Prix in NYC!
EME NEWS (JUN 10, 2010) UPDATE
High jumping dance, Powell 9.82
ROMA
(ITA, Jun 10): In
excellent weather the 30th Golden Gala fulfilled nearly all promises,
fast 100 m by Powell, drama in women 100 m, dancing in women high jump,
excellent shape of Dix and Phillips,great depth in women 400 m hurdles.
Cantwell and Vlasic are having already three wins in Diamond Race. And
surprise of the evening Halima Hachlaf in women´s 800 m. In total six
world leads, four European leads and new (or equaled) meet records in
seven events. The big “Stadio Olimpico” could not be full (80 000
capacity), but still the atmosphere was electric.
Men
100 m: Asafa Powell fulfilled the role and improved his world lead from
rainy Ostrava to 9.82 (+0.6). French beat the rest of the field,
Lemaitre second 10.09 and Mbandjock third also 10.09. This time no
points as it was not part of Diamond Race.
200 m:
Walter Dix coming to Europe since September 2008 in Lausanne for first
time clocked superb meet record 19.86 (+0.5) and clearly beat Spearmon (20.05). Way back third Paul Hession of Ireland (20.60).
400 m:
Jeremy Wariner delivered expected world lead 44.73, but
hurdles olympic winner Angelo Taylor had an excellent finish (44.74).
World indoor champ Chris Brown third 45.05.
1500 m: Augustine Choge clearly dominated this non Diamond race in 3:32.21.
Second Daniel Kipchirchir Komen 3:33.08. Best European Spanish Diego
Ruiz 7th 3:35.06 (missed his European lead from Rabat by 0.02).
5000
m: Imane Merga had again the best finish as in Oslo 13:00.12 over Sammy
Mutahi (also 13:00.12) and Moses Kipsiro (13:00.15). Tariku Bekele was
fourth in this race which did not had any European runner (13:00.81).
110 m
Hurdles: In good weather but not fast as in Ostrava, Dayron Robles
13.14 (+0.9). Dwight Thomas was excellent second (13.31) over strong
field (Brathwaite 13.34, Wilson 13.37).
Long
Jump: World champ Dwight Phillips ruled in second attempt, 842 (-0.8),
world lead. His rivals were not that good, Saladino 813 and Lapierre
811.
Shot
Put: Christian Cantwell registered third Diamond win, this time with
last attempt 21.67. He also equalled the meet record of Ulf Timmerman
from 1986. Dylan Armstrong second 21.47 over Reese Hoffa 21.15.
Majewski only fifth (20.75).
Discus
Throw: Poland´s Piotr Malachowski was in best shape with two 68+ throws
(68.78 also meet record and 68.37). Second Gerd Kanter (67.69) in duel
with rest of the world elite (Kovago 67.26, Harting 66.33).
4×100
m: Martial Mbandjock with great finish won for France in meet record
and European lead 2010 38.50 ahead of Italy who were leading until 30
metres before the finish (38.72). Jamaica with anchor Lerone Clarke
third (39.05).
Women
100 m:
Waterloo of favorites, first Mikele Barber and then world champion
Shelly-Ann Fraser false started. LaShauntea Moore kept the nerves and
won in 11.04 (+0.2). Chandra Sturrup gave her usual 11.14 for second.
800 m:
Moroccan sensation Halima Hachlaf won and clocked world leading
1:58.40. 2007 World champion Jepkosgei second (1:58.85), Meadows third
1:58.89 (European lead 2010) and fourth in new life-time best Egle
Balciunaite of Lithuania (1:59.54).
Steeple:
Milcah Chemos was faster than in Oslo, world leading 9:11.71. Gladys
Kipkemboi improved to 9:13.22 as second. Best European Poland´s Wioleta
Frankiewicz 9:29.68 as fifth.
400 m Hurdles: Lashinda
Demus is in her own class. Again the best, again world lead (and meet
record) 52.84, second best of her career. Kaliese Spencer as second new
personal best 53.48, third Natalya Antyukh of Russia also PB 54.00
(European lead 2010) and fourth Zuzana Hejnova Czech record 54.13.
High
Jump: Dance of the evening. Top two performed for the spectators at the
end. But on the field Blanka Vlasic cleared 203 and Chaunte Howard
also, both equaled the meet record (203 Cloete and Slesarenko in
2004). The decision was based on one more failure of Howard during the
whole competition. Vlasic wins all three Diamond high jumps so far, her
203 is also European lead 2010.
Pole
Vault: Fabiana Murer cleared 470 in first and that was enough. Then 480
was too high. Silke Spiegelburg had 470 in third and Czech Ptacnikova
tied with world champion Rogowska for third at 460.
Triple
Jump: Berlin gold medalist Yargelis Savigne was the winner on second
best attempt over Asian record holder Olga Rypakova (both 14.74, but
second best 14.62-14.61, the closest possible).
Javelin
Throw: Barbora Spotakova after losing in Doha and Ostrava is back. In
fourth round meet record 68.66 (second best of the year). Sunette
Viljoen of South Africa was surprise second (63.04), Obergfoll fifth,
Ratej sixth.
OTHER NEWS
LAUSANNE
(SUI):
Not expected verdict from CAS. The sport’s highest court
reinstated Belarus hammer throwers Vadim Devyatovskiy and Ivan Tikhon.
CAS says their doping tests were invalid. International laboratory
standards were not respected and both will have silver and bronze at
Beijing Olympic Games 2008. The two hammer throwers tested positive for
testosterone and IOC took their medals back. The athletes denied doping
offence and appealed to CAS. That means Deviatovskiy will be second
(81.61) and Tikhon third (81.51) and no medals for Krisztian Pars and
Koji Murofushi.
SIEDLCE (POL, Jun 10): At Gut Memorial meet fast 100 m by Pawel Stempel
who improved to 10.30 (+1.4) and second Grzegorz Zimniewicz achieved
new national junior record 10.37.
