byLarry Eder
Marina Muncan just edges out Carmen Douma-Hussa in NB women’s mile, photo by PhotoRun.net.
Global Athletics & Marketing has produced, developed and managed the meet over the past sixteen years. Sponsorship is a very fluid activity, and sponsors are constantly in development. GAM was preparing to produce the 2011 meet without a title sponsor, and with good fortune, New Balance came forward and has agreed to take title for a reported four more years! Rebranding an event has to be a challenge, but with a team of twenty who have worked on most of the events over the past decade and a half, GAM did their job and the New Balance Indoor Grand Prix was revealed several weeks ago!
That New Balance’s needs and the needs of GAM met is the goal in event sponsorship. New Balance sponsored this meet because it was good for the sport, good for their invovlement in the Boston area and a great branding activity for New Balance. The NB branding on the meet was well done. Large signage in the Reggie Lewis Center, as well as thoughtful and fun TV commercials. The TV commercials were well received. Their athletes did well, and the TV broadcast was well done! All in all, an excellent start to 2011 for indoor track & field. The top agents and managers in the sport supported the event, bringing their top athletes to the event. And most importantly, the athletes did their part: two and a half hours of great racing! The 2011 New Balance Indoor Grand Prix is an example of our sport working together!
Jenny Simpson running for the finish in Women’s 3,000m, photo by PhotoRun.net.
New Balance athletes did well in this meet as well! Marina Muncan won the women’s mile and Jenny Barringer Simpson had the crowd with her when she went after Sally Kipyego. Finishing less than two seconds behind, Jenny excited the crowd on her game run for the tape! More on the meet on Tuesday!
As
always, it’s in the competition. The men’s 3,000 meters had bone
shattering cheering and foot thumping from the 4,000 plus fans, as Dejan
Gebremeskel, who had been without a shoe since the third step of the
race, battled with Mo Farah, double European champ and Nixon Chepseda.
After the race, Mo Farah told us that he thought the guy might drop
back, but he did not. Running a last lap in just under 27.3! Dejan
Gebremeskal held off Mo Farah, both running well, with Dejan getting the
nod over Mo, 7:35.73-7.35.81!
Without a shoe or not, Dejan Gebremeskal wins over Mo Farah, photo by PhotoRun.net
And
then, the final event was the men’s mile. Several story lines there.
Nick Willis, 2008 Olympic silver medalist, versus Garrett Heath, sixth
place, 2010 World Indoor champs, 1,500m, and an attempt by Lukas
Verzbicas to break four minutes for the high school mile. Adding some
drama to the race, Alan Webb, who has been training since the fall with
Alberto Salazar, was sporting a lighter body, and also had just gotten
over the flu.
The
race was a great tactical affair. Going out in 1:58, paced by Christian
Hesch, Nick Willis and Garrett Heath were duking out when Garret’s
training partner, Russell Browne, also a former Stanford Cardinal, flew
by for the win, in 3:54:81. Heath took second in 3:55.87 and Willis was
third in 3:56.29. To make it sweeter for Browne, 20 of his family
members watched his victory!
Russell Browne is finally training
injury-free. First, he tore his right hamstring, then his left
hamstring. After a winter of strong training, and in front of his
family, Browne moved past Willis, then Heath and took the win!
Russell Browne wins 2011 New Balance Men’s Mile, photo by PhotoRun.net
Then, there was Lukas Verzbicas, who hit 59, 2:01 and 3:02 for the
1,200. Running on pure guts, Lukas improved his pb to 4:03.88, but
missed that elusive sub four minute mile! The crowd was chanting
Verzibacas name, “Luke, Luke” as he came down the final stretch. The
crowd left the Reggie Lewis center with a lot of excitement and the
knowledge that they had seen an amazing sporting event!
Lukas Verzibas picks up the pace in the 2011 NB Mile, photo by PhotoRun.net.
autographs, and as Alan Webb finished a workout, a still excited Browne
could be seen jogging around the track, still not able to come down from
his victory at the 2011 New Balance Indoor Grand Prix!
BOSTON (USA, Feb 5): The 16th annual New Balance Boston Indoor Grand
Prix was highlighted by a thrilling run by Ethiopian Dejen Gebremeskel
(7:35.37) who provided the crowds with a win over double European
champion Mo Farah in the men’s 3000m. Gebremeskel lost his shoe during
the race but kept following Farah until taking the lead in the final
lap. Mo Farah pushed hard to break his own British record but crossed
the finish line in 7:37.81. Third Nixon Chepseba 7:37.64. In the women’s
3000m World indoor 1500m champion Kalkidan Gezahegne (8:52.05) couldn’t
respond to Kenyan Sally Kipyego who pushed through in the final laps
and won in 8:49.74 over Jenny Simpson (8:50.78). Former 100m world
champion Lauryn Williams returns after an off year with a win in the 60m
in 7.17. Marshevet Myers (7.18) and Lisa Barber (7.23) rounded the top
3. Trell Kimmons managed the win in 6.60 over Chris Davis (6.66) and
Ivory Williams (6.68). Russell Brown (3:54.81) outkicked the big names
in the men’s mile edging out Garretth Heat (3:55.87), Nick Willis
(3:56.29) and Henok Legesse (3:58.06). High school champion Lukas
Verzbicas finished a respectable eighth in the elite race, in a time of
4:03.88, faster than his outdoor personal best. In a close 800m Phoebe
Wright (2:01.01) claimed the win over Morgan Uceny (2:01.65) and Maggie
Vessey (2:01.87). Natasha Hastings clocked a fast 51.88 in the 400m
while Jenn Suhr is back in action in the pole vault with a 461 jump and a
victory. Calvin Smith jr. won the 300 m in fast 32.93 and Duane Solomon
was the best in the 600 m in 1:17.00.
No fast time from Chambers
BIRMINGHAM (GBR, Feb 5): No sensation from world indoor champion Dwain
Chambers at Birmingham Indoor Games. After a sluggish 6.83 (heat) and
6.72 (semi) pulled out of the final.. He is not injured, looks just not
in good shape. Race was won by the new find Joel Fearon in career
fastest 6.62 from Harry Aikines Ayreetey 6.68. Womens 60 resulted in a
fine win for Bernice Wilson with 7.26, equalling her best. Laura Turner
was second in 7.33. 800 m specialist Marilyn Okoro showed good speed to
win 400 in 53.61. Fastest in men´s 400 m was specialist hurdler Jack
Green (47.04).
Return of Baala
MONDEVILLE (FRA, Feb 5): Olympic medalist Mehdi Baala returned to
competition here at the international meeting with 2:20.68 win over 1000
m. Noureddina Gezzar was the best in 3000 m (7:52.21). US Jeff Porter
won again during his European tour after Bratislava and Linz in 7.62 at
60 m hurdles ahead of Belgian Adrian Deghelt 7.67. Heni Kechi posted
51.58 in the 400
m hurdles and former world indoor champion Yevgeniy Lukyanenko cleared
541 to win the pole vault. Cubans dominated in triple jump as Alexis
Copello achieved 17.02 beating Arne Girat 16.67.
OTHER INDOOR RESULTS
LINCOLN (USA, Feb 5): Martynas Jurgilas of Lithuania won the 60 m
here with life-time best 6.65. Jeremy Dodson clocked 20.96 in the 200 m.
ALBUQUERQUE (USA, Feb 5): One of the fastest woman in the world
Carmelita Jeter clocked here 7.23 at 60 m. Candice Davis got 8.14 in the
60 m hurdles. In men sprints Ryan Milus posted 6.67 and Jarrin Salomon
46.79 in the 400 m.
SOUTH BEND (USA, Feb 5): World junior champion Kirani James of Grenada
achieved here on oversized track 45.47 at 400 m. Zye Boey got 20.89 in
the 200 m.
NEW YORK (USA, Feb 5): At New Balance Collegiate Jeneba Tarmoh achieved
22.98 in the 200 m and Jessica Beard 52.25 in the 400 m. Errol Nolan got
46.46 in the 400 m.
LUBBOCK (USA, Feb 5): Hurdler Omo Osaghae is running fast and clocked
twice 7.07 in the heast and finals of 55 m hurdles. Jamaican Jura Levy
posted 23.39 in the 200 m.
GENEVA (USA, Feb 5): At Intercollege meeting in Ohio Harry Adams got
6.64 at 60 m and Kind Butler 20.93 in the 200 m. Other solid times for
Charles Cox in the 400 m (46.51) and Maverick Darling 7:52.31 in the
3000 m. Bahama´s female talents won the sprints. Sheniqua Ferguson 7.34
and Nivea Smith 23.30.
EAUBONNE (FRA, Feb 5): Dimitri Bascou is the force to count with. He
achieved personal best 7.57 in the 60 m hurdles here. Alice Decaux was the best woman
in 8.10. Solid also the 46.69 of Yoann Decimus in the 400 m.
LODZ (POL, Feb 5): Qatari Rashid Al-Mannai cleared 219 at local meet in
Londz. Adrian Swiderski improved to 16.66 in the triple jump and
Malgorzata Trybanska leaped to 650 in the long jump.
OSAKA (JPN, Feb 5): In junior indoor match Japan – USA – Germany the US
Nyasia Jacobs got 7.41 in the 60 m and home Takumi Kuki was the best in
boys race (6.74).
ROAD AND CC RESULTS
MARUGAME (JPN, Feb 6): Kenyan Samuel Ndungu won the Marugame Half
Marathon in 1:00:55 over best home runner Tsuyoshi Ugachi 1:00:58 (his
life-time best and 3rd Japanes all-time). In women´s race Kayoko Fukushi
was the best 1:09:00 beating Poland´s Karolina Jarzynska 1:10:36. Elvan
Abeylegesse of Turkey was not competing. Her withdrawal was announced
on Saturday.
OITA (JPN, Feb 6): Moroccan Ahmed Baday won the 60th Beppu-Oita Mainichi
marathon in personal best 2:10:14. Second Daniel Njenga 2:10:24 and
third Kazuhiro Maeda clocking career best 2:10:29. Chiyuki Mochizuki was
the best woman in course record 2:39:57.
