by Larry EderThe second day of the AVIVA London Grand Prix had clouds, coolness, but a little warmer than last night. The early events have finished, and we are now into the final three hours of the competition!
Check back during the day for the rest of the events. The Saturday schedule goes from 12:30 pm to the 4:30, with the Emsley Carr Mile!
Javier Culson battling Bershawn Jackson, AVIVA London GP, PhotoRun.net.
Last night, we failed to recognize Bershawn Jackson’s last meter victory in the
400 meter hurdles, in 48.12, with Javier Culson, who challenged Bershawn
the entire way!
Men’s Discus
Gerd Kanter won the men’s discus. On his third throw, Gerd hit 67.82m, which is a meet record! Zoltan Kovago of Hungary was second in 65.54m, and Virgilijus Alekna of LIthuania was third in 65.33m, a seasonal best. Casey Malone of the US was fourth, with a best of 65.16m.
Men’s Shot Put
For the first time in twenty competitions, Christian Cantwell fell short. In the mixed zone,Cantwell noted, ” I really don’t know what was wrong. I was just a wus, I have no excuses, no niggles, or anything. It was just a bad day.”
Cantwell had fouled, then 19.87m, then 20.22m, then a 20.78 heave which put him in third.
Tomasz Maewksi, the Olympic champion, threw 20.29m, 21.08m, 21.20m, and 21.08m.
Today was Reese Hoffa‘s. Reese has had an off year, so this victory comes in at a nice time for him. Hoffa threw 20.71m, 20.91m, 21.34m and adding on some distance with 21.44m for the fourth throw. The always quotable
Hoffa told the AVIVA/UK athletics mixed zone team:
“I tend to throw well in Britain – here,
Birmingham, Gateshead, wherever. If you’d have me I’d be British
tomorrow! I’m just came out ready today. I’m really happy to get to
win and to get back over 21m.The fans here really embrace me. I have so much fun here,
they really know a good throw when they see one. I’m looking forward to
2012.”
Men’s 200 meters
Wallace Spearmon owned this race. He acts like the race is a 100 meter jog, then he wakes up and kicks for home. Spearmon came off the turn even with four others, and then, just blazed the straightaway for home. He opens up his stride and Churandy Martina, Jaysuma Ndure and Ryan Bailey were fighting for second, third and fourth.
Spearmon blasted down the straightaway, lifting his knees, pumping his arms, and looking for that finish line. Wallace got there first, running 20.12 for the win.
Womens’ Pole Vault
What a strange competition! Low heights and some of the big stars just did not reach the heights that we have come to expect. In the end, it was Fabiana Murer of Brasil, who cleared 4.46m, the same height as the top five, but had the least amount of attempts. Murer cleared 4.46m on her first attempt and missed three times at 4.61m.
Jillian Schwartz, of Israel, cleared 4.31m on her third attempt, 4.46 on her first attempt and missed at 4.61 three times. Schwartz was second. In third, Kate Dennison, cleared 4.31m on her first attempt, 4.46m on her second, and missed 4.61m on three attempts. Dennison, the Uk record holder, has broken that record nine times, and looked close tonight. In fourth was Svetlana Feofanova, the European champion.
Men’s Javelin
What can you say about Andreas Thorkildsen? Well, Andreas had two fair throws today, his first and his third throw! His third throw, 87.38m, held off the 86.97m throw by Mathias De Zordo, of South Africa, who dropped that bomb in the second round. Tero Pitkamaki, who had defeated Andreas in Stockholm, finished third in 84.71m.
Women’s 400 meters
Allyson Felix has had a busy weekend! First, she wins the 200 meters on Friday night, blazing a 20.34. Then, in the 400 meters, Allyson had to battle to the wire!
Coming off the final turn, Allyson Felix was fighting Debbie Dunn of the US, who looked just ready to pounce with about fifty meters to go. As Felix battled Dunn, Tatyana Firova moved up and looked ready to take Dunn, and perhaps Felix.
Trained by Bobby Kersee, Allyson Felix has the strenght of a 400 meter hurdler. Felix held her form down the final stretch, as Dunn faded and Firova moved up. In the end, Allyson Felix took first in 50.79, Firova in second in 50.84, and Debbie Dunn in third in 50.89!
Women’s 800 m
In a fast and furious women’s 800 meters, Alysia Johnson, the DL leader, went out in 57.42, with Savinova, Jepkosgei, Simpson and Uceny right there. Jenny Meadows and Lisa Dobriskey were also in attendance.
Mariya Savinov had the most reserves today as she pushed on to win, running a fine 1:58.65. In second, Janeth Kipkosgei ran 1:59.16, with Jemma Simpson taking third in 1:59.26. Looking great was Morgan Uceny, who ran up the inside, taking fourth in 1:59.32. Morgan has had a great European season, running pbs at 1,500 meters twice! European silver medalist Jenny Meadwos was fifth in 1:59.40. Anna Pierce, the US steeplechaser turned 800m/1,500m, ran 1:59.64 for sixth. Lisa Dobriskey was rewarded for her hard work with a nice pb, 2:00.14 for seventh!
400m hurdles
Kaliese Spencer of the US, used the AVIVA London GP to run a fast 400 meter hurdles, running 53.78. She was running a 52 point, but slowed down over the last hurdles. Zuzana Hejnova of the Czech Republic took second in 55.11 and Eilidh Child took third in 55.16, per personal best.
Ivan Ukhov won this competition today. Clearing 2.16m, 2.20m, 2.24m on his first attempts, then took three attempts at 2.27m. Jesse Williams of the U.S., cleared 2.16m, 2.20m, 2.24m, and 2.27m, all on his first attempts. But, that was as high as Williams got today. He missed three times at 2.29m.
On his second attempt, Ivan Ukhov won the high jump with his clearance of 2.29m. He then moved the bar to 2.35m, a world leader, if he had cleared it, and had two game attempts, but called it a day.
Donald Thomas of the Bahamas cleared the 2.27m, on his second attempt, and finished third.
400 meter, Men
Jeremy Wariner is in shape. Running just at 22 seconds for the first 200 meters, Jeremy ran the third 100 meters, between 200m and 300m, and came off the turn in first. Jermaine Gonzales, of Jamaica, the fastest 400m in 2010 (44.40), tried to challenge Wariner down the stretch, but it was not to be.
Wariner won the race ein 44.67, with Gonzales in second in 44.80 and Ricardo Chambers in third in 45.18.
100 meters, women
Carmelita Jeter has been running well all season, Veronica Campbell Brown has the fastest time of the year, 10.78 (she was not here). But Marshevet Myers, formerly Marshevet Hooker, was here and in shape!
Marshevet Hooker challenged Carmelita Jeter from the start, and the race came down to these two American sprinters.
Men’s 110m hurdles
This morning, I was interviewing Brooks Johnson, David Oliver’s coach. During our interview, David came jumping into the coffee shop, obviously psyched and ready to race. He mentioned to Brooks,’ “who is more excited, you or me?”.
Well David has had a great summer. American record of 12.89 this summer, Oliver can, with some good weather, put the World record away.
David Oliver got out clean, and took the race over, and Dwight Thomas was racing Garfield Darien for second. Oliver, running a clean race, ran 13.06 into a headwind, setting a stadium record! Thomas ran 13.32 for second and Garfield Darien was rewarded with 13.34, a personal best, for his efforts!
I am running for the bus, but last two results: Dwight Phillips won the long jump in 8.18m and Augustine Choge won the Emsley Carr Mile in 3:50.14, his pb and in third, in his PB was Leonel Manzano, in 3:50.64!
More in a few hours. Goodbye from Crystal Palace!
