by Larry Eder
Renaud Lavillenie, 2011 Euro Indoor Champs, photo by PhotoRun.net
One of the wonderful moments of coming to the European Athletics Indoor Champs for 2011 is seeing many of my friends and colleagues. One of my favorites is Alfons Juck, the meet director of the Ostrava Golden Spike and the man behind our global daily updates. Alfons is an agent, raconteur, meet director, but most importantly, he is a man who loves our sport, and I am honored to have him as a friend.
Saturday at Paris-Bercy Palais des sports was one of the most memorable days of my sporting life. Watching the French crowd enjoy Renaud LaVillenie break both the meet record (at 5.91m), but then, the 6.03m World leader, European leader and French National record. And Jermoe Clavier took second in the pole vault.That same night, Leslie Djhones won the 400 meters and Goomis Kafetien of France took the silver, with Teddy Tamgho just .05 out of the silver and .02 out of the bronze in the long jump! Truly an evening of pride for the French sports fan!
And let me tell you, if Christophe Lemaitre wins the 60 meters tomorrow, well, the Palais des Sports will set a record for boisterous cheering!
Palais des Sports, Paris-Bercy, March 5, 2011, photo by PhotoRun.net.
BERCY
– SATURDAY (both sessions)
QUOTE OF THE DAY
“I went to bed on Thursday at 10 pm and she in return did not
celebrate yesterday and went to bed with me at 10 pm,” Sebastian Bayer
about his girlfriend Carolin Nytra, both gold medalist. Slight chance for
something similar in Czech Team, Petr Svoboda´s girlfriend Jirina Ptacnikova
jumps in pole vault final.
RESULT OF THE DAY
Six world indoor record attempts (three by Ivan Ukhov at 244, after
clearing 238 and three at 616 by Renaud Lavillenie after clearing world leading
national record 603). It is first six metres jump after Steve Hooker 601 at
Doha world indoors. Ukhov tried in total 9 times at world indoor record height
this winter (Hustopece, Banska Bystrica, Paris).
SURPRISE OF THE DAY
Denisa Rosolova former long jumper/combined eventer at 400 m beating
Russian finalists. She started seriously with 400 m a year ago. Also Russian
newcomer Yelena Arzhakova beating favorites in the 1500 m, she competed at
world juniors 2006 in steeple.
FAVORITE FALLS
In the men´s 3000 m no medal for Spanish/Portuguese camp. New countries
like Azerbaijan and Turkey coming in. Russian favorite Anna Nazarova out in
long jump qualification. Two Russians out of high jump (Kuchina and Klyugina).
Another surprise in qualification world junior record holder Angelica Bengtsson
also out when all 9 qualified jumped the standard 455.
WINNERS OVERVIEW
Two Russian gold medals for Avdeyeva in shot put (18.70) expected and
unexpected Arzhakova at 1500 m over Nuria Fernandez. Polish girls out of shape.
Denisa Rosolova surprised all in the 400 m and beat Russian favorites. World
lead for Simona La Mantia twice 14.60 in triple jump over returning mother
Olesya Zabara (Bufalova) and Slovak Dana Veldakova who repeated the bronze from
Torino – only third Slovak medal at the European indoors ever. Mo Farah
fulfilled the expectations slow or fast. Leslie Dhjone destroyed the field in
national record and european lead at 400 m (45.54). Ivan Ukhov had 11 jumps to
win (four fouls) and Renaud Lavillenie also 11 (6 fouls). Sebastian Bayer with
two valid jumps (both enough for win) won the long jump (816 and 810).
SPECTATORS
5200 on Friday, 7211 on Saturday
OTHERS
Title defender Alemitu Bekele was out after 2 km in 3000 m heats, feeling
not totally healthy.
So far 4 title defenders succesfull out of 13 events (Lavillenie, Farah,
Ukhov, Bayer).
Roman Sebrle leads after first day in his last Euroindoors 3493 but his
score is lower than in February at Czech Nationals (3513).
Christophe Lemaitre 6.59 and 6.55 in heats and semis, superb display of
shape.
STATS (by Ken Nakamura)
Women shot put: Avdeyeva is the sixth (after Chizhova, Slupianek,
Veselinova, Kumbernuss and Ostapchuk) SP to win both Euro Indoor and Euro
Junior (outdoor). She is also the third
(after Storp and Ostapchuk) SP to win Euro Indoor Gold and a medal in the World
Junior Champ (outdoor).
Men high jump: with 2.38m, Ukhov tied highest indoor jump in France. It is also the highest jump in Paris,
replacing 2.37m by Dalton Grant. Ukhov also tied the highest jump by RUS jumper
in Euro Indoor Champ. And he became the eighth high jumper to win multiple gold
medal in Euro Indoor Champ. Baba became the first CZE jumper (not counting TCH)
to win silver in Euro Indoor Champ. His jump is the highest jump by CZE jumper
in Euro Indoor Champ.
Women triple jump: La Mantia is the first ITA triple jumper to win Euro
Indoor Champ. Her jump, 14.60m, is the longest triple jump by Italian TJ in
Euro Indoor Champ, replacing 14.54 by Martinez from 2005.
Men 3000m: Farah is one of the four runner who won Euro Indoor 3000m and
Euro (outdoor) 5000m (Ian Stewart, Baumann, Alberto Garcia are other). With
another gold at 3000m in Euro Indoor, Farah now joined Stewart as only runner
who won two Euro Indoor Gold at 3000m as
well as Euro outdoor gold at 5000m.
Women 400m: Rosolova won first gold
for CZE (not counting TCH) at W400m in Euro Indoor Champ. Her accomplishments
at the Championships are quite unique. She is a 2003 World Youth silver
medalist and 2004 World Junior champion as well as 2005 European Junior
champion, all at LJ.
Men 400m:Djhone won first gold for FRA at M400m in Euro Indoor Champ. His
winning time 45.54, is the fastest by Frenchman at Euro Indoor Champ It is also
the fastest time in Paris by European, replacing 45.60 by Schoenlebe from 1985.
Men pole vault: Lavillenie’s winning height, 6.03m, is the Euro Indoor
Championships record, replacing 5.90m by Bochkaryov from 1994. The margin of
victory, 27cm, is the largest ever in Euro Indoor Champ, replacing 20cm by
Kozakiewicz from 1977. For the third time in Euro Indoor Champ history French
vaulter won gold and silver (previously Vigneron and Quinon in 1984, and
Vigneron and Salbert in 1987, won gold and silver in Euro Indoor). Lavillenie
became the eighth vaulter to win multiple gold at MPV in Euro Indoor Champ
(previously Nordig, Slusarki, Kozakiewicz, Vigneron Gataulin Bochkaryov and
Lobinger won two or more gold).
Men long jump: Beyer became the seventh LJ to win two or more gold in Euro
Indoor Champ. (previously, Ter Ovanesyan, Baumgartner, Rousseau, Szalma,
Emmiyan, and Haaf won two or more gold at Euro Indoor). Gomis won first silver
(FRA has won gold but not silver) for FRA at MLJ at Euro Indoor Jensen won
first medal of any kind for DEN at MLJ at Euro Indoor Championships.
Women high jump:194 cm tied the highest mark in the qualifying round of
Euro Indoor Champ.
Women pole vault:455 cm tied the highest mark in the qualifying round of
Euro Indoor Champ.
AGENTS (gold medals)
Alfons Juck, Rene Auguin: 2
Kerstin Pohlers, Jochen Habermaier, Olga Nazarova, Pavel Voronkov, Esther
Koelmel, Ricky Simms, Gianni de Madonna: 1
Antonietta Nana Djimou has no agent as per informations obtained by EME
NEWS. And unable to find out who is the agent of Yelena Arzhakova.
OTHER NEWS
NEW YORK (GBR): Mo Farah announced his half marathon debut for New York
City Marathon on March 20. It happened before his 3000 m final in Paris.
KINGSTON (JAM): The University of the West Indies Invitational will be on a
live stream on Saturday at televisionjamaica.com. World class athletes like
Kaliese Spencer, Jermaine Gonzales, Yohan Blake and Shelly Ann Fraser are
scheduled to compete.
NEW YORK (USA): Ticket sales for the 2011 adidas Grand Prix on Saturday,
June 11, opened end of the week, event organizers announced. One of the world’s
premier outdoor track & field invitational meets, the star-studded event at
Icahn Stadium on Randall’s Island will be the sixth stop on the international
Samsung Diamond League circuit. Event organizers also unveiled the official
event poster today, featuring adidas ambassadors Tyson Gay and Jenn Suhr of the
United States, Croatian high jumper Blanka Vlasic and World Champion
heptathlete Jessica Ennis from the United Kingdom. Official professional
athlete announcements will begin later in March.
RESULTS
BIRMINGHAM (GBR, Mar 5): Charlotte Purdue in an absolutely dominant display
of front running reminiscent of her European Junior Cross Country Championships
victory in December – recorded yet another outstanding performance with her
first domestic senior cross country title in the McCain UK Cross Challenge
Final and World Cross Trials at Cofton Park. In the end, she won by 30 seconds
in 27:29 at 8 km. Hatti Dean was second in 27:59. Andy Vernon securing his
third successive McCain UK Cross Challenge Series victory, also looked
impressive in taking victory in the senior men’s 12k race in 35:45 ahead of
Mike Skinner (35:53) and Tom Humphries (35:56).
LONINGEN (GER, Mar 5): First German CC title for Steffen Uliczka with 31:28
at 10.2 km. Sabrina Mockenhaupt won the women 6.75 in 23:18 ahead of Simret
Restle 23:25, Anna Hahner 23:46 and Susanne Hahn 23:55.
HAMBURG (GER, Mar 5): Germany won U19 indoor match with 120 points over
France 73 and Italy 71.
FAYETTEVILLE (USA, Mar 4): At Arkansas Last Chance meet Marcus Boyd clocked
fast 46.29 at 400 m. In the 60 m Woodrow Randall beat with 6.65 Cordero Gray
6.66.
SOUTH BEND (USA, Mar 4): Mark Hollis cleared 563 in pole vault at Alex
Wilson Invitational.
BATON ROUGE (USA, Mar 4): Keyth Talley was the fastest at LSU Invitational
with 6.68 at 60 m.
MADISON (USA, Mar 4): Reed Connor achieved 7:56.58 at 3000 m during NCAA
Qualifier meet.
NEW YORK (USA, Mar 4): Irish Stephanie Reilly clocked 15:46.47 at 5000 m at
Columbia Last Chance meet.
