SENSATION:
ISAIAH KOECH, 5 WL, 7 MR

DUSSELDORF
(GER, Feb 11): Five world leads, seven meeting records and one world junior
indoor all time best, that is the summary of 6th PSD Bank Meeting in Dusseldorf (EA Indoor
Permit) before capacity crowd of 2500 spectators. Top result of the evening was
the sensational improvement of Kenyan Isaiah Koech (18, World Youth Champion
2009) in the 5000 m
to fourth indoor all-time best 12:53.29. It is not only all-time indoor junior
best but also second junior ever in any conditions. Interestingly only Eliud
Kipchoge (second in 12:55.72) was ever faster as junior with 12:52.61 in 2003.
Former meet record holder Paul Kipsiele Koech was third 13:15.64 ahead of US
Galen Rupp 13:21.83. It was for first time indoors that two runners in the same
race dipped under 13 minutes. Another impressive Kenyan still newcomer is Nixon
Chepseba (20) who won also his third 1500 m of the season in world lead and meet
record 3:34.63 after tough duel with Augustine Choge (3:34.66). Impressive also
William Biwott 3:35.25 and Daniel Kipchirchir Komen 3:36.46. From European
point of view – German Christoph Lohse 3:39.96 and 800 m Eurowinner Marcin
Lewandowski overall PB 3:40.24. In the sprints ever-young Kim Collins won the 60 m in meet record 6.52 (and
equalled the world lead of Nesta Carter from Millrose Games). In close race
second Mike Rodgers 6.53 followed by Mark Burns 6.57 and Josh Norman 6.59.
Ukrainian Olesya Povh remains unbeaten this indoors after strong finish, her
7.13 was PB and European lead 2011. Gloria Asumnu second 7.14 ahead of Mariya
Ryemyen 7.17 and Ruddy Zang-Milama 7.17 (but 7.15 in heats). Kellie
Wells clocked already in heats another PB and world lead 7.84 at 60 m hurdles, in finals she
was on the way to even faster but stumbled little bit after last hurdle and won
in 7.89. Solid second Daniele Carruthers 7.92 ahead of Vonette Dixon 7.96 when
Carolin Nytra because of injury was not running the finals. Men´s race was even
closer when Petr Svoboda also remains unbeaten this indoor and after
technically bad race still managed to win in 7.57 ahead of US Kevin Craddock
who improved his PB to 7.57. Only third Chinese mega star Liu Xiang (7.60)
while Cuban Dayron Robles was not running at the end of the day because of his
back problems. Still to add from races the 800 m win for Boaz Lalang in
1:46.00 over fast closing Richard Kiplagat 1:46.16 and Poland´s Adam Kszczot
1:46.85. Lithuanian Egle Balciunaite won the 800 and improved her own national
record to 2:01.23 beating Czech Lenka Masna 2:02.12. 20-years old Ethiopian
Abeba Arigawi was easy 1500 m
winner in 4:06.10 in her first ever indoor race. In four technical events three
German wins. Malte Mohr cleared in third attempt 585 (indoor PB) what is his
season best in the pole vault and attacked 595. Katja Demut leaped in triple
jump to national record and world leading 14.47 over European Champion Olha
Saladuha of Ukraine
14.45 and Slovak Dana Veldakova 14.05. Ralf Bartels clearly beat in shot put
world leader Ryan Whiting of USA
(20.15) who was late replacement for Christian Cantwell. His 20.91 was meet
record and European lead of 2011. US Funmi Jimoh won women´s long jump (660,
meet record).

OTHER
RESULTS

EAUBONNE (FRA, Feb 11):
European 200 m
champion Myriam Soumare won the 60
m in 7.30 (also 7.30 in semis) at the International Meeting Val
d´Oise. Solid also other French marks. Bruno Naprix 20.98 at 200 m, Jeff Lastennet 1:48.46
in the 800 m
and Hind Dehiba 4:15.90 in the 1500
m. Samuel Coco-Viloin won the 60 m hurdles in 7.69. Foreign
wins for Diego Ferrin of Ecuador in high jump (225 is national record),
Brazilians Jefferson Sabino in triple jump (16.59) and Keila Costa in long jump
(642). Gnima Faye won women´s 60
m hurdles in new Senegal indoor record 8.22.

MOGILYOV (BLR, Feb 11): 2004
Olympic winner at 100 m
Yulia Nesterenko won the 60 m
during evening programme of second day of National Indoor Championships with
7.35 (and 7.30 in
heats). Natalya Koreyvo posted solid 4:13.64 in the 1500 m and also good 665 for
Veronika Shutkova in long jump. World lead Elena Kopets won the shot put with
18.11. From men events best result for Artyom Zaytsev in high jump (224).
European shot put champion Andrey Mikhnevich did not compete.

SEVILLA (ESP, Feb 11): Kevin
Lopez clocked European 800 m
leading time 1:46.06 during Spanish federation special testing meeting for
running events. Second Manuel Olmedo also excellent 1:46.07. Luis Alberto Marco
won the 1500 m
in 3:40.56 and Italian guest Stefano La
Rosa improved his indoor PB at 3000 m to 7:53.86.

OTHER NEWS

LONDON (GBR): West Ham United won the right
to move to the Olympic Stadium after next year’s London 2012 Games when they
were named as the preferred bidder by the Olympic Park Legacy Company (OPLC)
Board. The unanimous recommendation, after months of wrangling with North London rivals Tottenham Hotspur, was widely
expected after being leaked 48 hours previously and will now have to be
ratified by two Government departments as well as the Mayor of London, Boris
Johnson. Although approval for West Ham’s bid seems certain to be given,
Tottenham, who are understood to be unhappy over political issues outweighing
commercial viability, could still call for a judicial review over the process.
Informs Insidethegames.

NAIROBI (KEN): Top runners who opted out of
local selection events will receive limited slots at the national championships
next weekend for the World Cross Country championships, announced Athletics
Kenya. AK general secretary, David Okeyo decried increased incidences of elite
athletes skipping provincial and institutional championships to reserve their
energies for the Trials. Informs Xinhua. The IAAF Permit/KCB National Cross
Country Championships will be held on Feb. 19 at Nairobi’s
Uhuru Gardens. At the end, AK will select the
Kenyan flag bearers to the 6 March inaugural Africa and 20 March 39th World
Cross championships that will be held in Cape
Town, South Africa
and Punta Umbria Spain respectively. AK has 11 provinces and five institutional
teams namely, Armed Forces, Kenya Police, Kenya Prisons, Administration Police
and Universities.

BIRMINGHAM
(GBR): Legendary hurdler Felix Sanchez is set to star in the first ever 400 m indoor hurdles
competition to take place on UK
soil when it is showcased at Birmingham’s
Aviva Grand Prix next Saturday. Sanchez, who won the Dominican Republic’s first
ever Olympic gold, at the 2004 Athens games, will join British runner Rick
Yates at the NIA as the event is inaugurated into the domestic calendar.
Informs UK
Athletics. The innovative event, which originated in France and is staged at
various meets in Europe, sees six athletes tackle eight hurdles – each 30m
apart – as they run two laps of the indoor track.

RAS AL KHAIMAH (UAE): With less
than a week till the 5th edition of the RAK Half Marathon, the anticipation is
building as to just what might unfold in this tiny corner of the UAE, with one
of the strongest elite fields ever gathered for a half marathon anywhere,
preparing to travel. No less than nine of the elite men’s field have broken 60
minutes for a half marathon, while the women’s line-up in Ras Al Khaimah
includes World Record holder over 25km Mary Keitany (KEN) as well as ten other
women who’ve run comfortably under 70 minutes. For the February 18 event reigning
Berlin Marathon champion Patrick Makau headlines the staggering depth of the
men’s field this year. The 25 year old is the third fastest in history with
58:52 from his second RAK win in February 2009, having won the previous year in
59:35. He opens his 2011 racing campaign after a fabulous 2010 run of form that
saw him win the Rotterdam Marathon (2:04:48) in April, followed by that victory
in the German capital last September (2:05:08). The best of the other eight men
under the hour, is Bernard Kipyego (KEN) who’s fourth in the Rotterdam Half of
2009 (59:10) puts him eleventh on the all-time list. Others to watch are Deriba
Merga, Wilson Chebet, John Kiprotich, Titus Masai, Dickson Marwa, Getu Feleke
and Leonard Langat. On the women side add to Keitany Ethiopia’s 21 year old
Mare Dibaba with Dire Tune (ETH), the 2009 RAK Half champion and Aberu Kebede,
winner of the Berlin Marathon last September in 2:23:58 and a 67:39 half
marathon performer. One athlete who could set the cat amongst the pigeons, is French
Record Holder Christelle Daunay (68:34) who with 2nd at the Paris Marathon last
April (NR 2:24:22), enjoyed her best year yet and is one of the few Europeans
to be able to ‘mix it’ with the top Africans. Also running Hilda Kibet and
Aniko Kalovics from the Europeans. Organizers are informing in a release.

PARIS (FRA): No fewer than 414
volunteers have become involved with the organisation of European Athletics
Indoor Championships since having individual interviews to enable their wishes
and particular skill sets to be identified and used to best effect. The
majority of the volunteers are involved in the transport domain, with 99 people
assisting in this area. In total there are thirteen allocated sectors,
including reception, protocol, accommodation-catering, security as well as
press. Informs the LOC in a release.

LONDON (GBR): Sebastian Coe may look back
after London 2012 and regret his decision to switch the route of the marathons
for the Olympics, the MP for Bethal Green and Bow has claimed. Rushanara Ali
has held a meeting with the London 2012 chairman but failed to persuade him to
change his mind to restore the original plan to have the race pass through the
East End and finish in the Olympic Stadium rather than in front of Buckingham Palace. Writes Insidethegames.

FAYETTEVILLE
(USA):
Coached by legend Jackie Joyner Kersee, fast sprinter Marshevet Myers will
return to the long jump after a 5-year hiatus. She’ll be jumping at the
Razorback Invitational in Fayetteville,
site of her 2006 NCAA Indoor title in the event and PB of 671.

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