2011 European Indoor Championships, Day 2, Session 2: C’est vrai, Viva La France! by Larry

Anna Avdeyeva of Russia fouled on her first throw, but, on her second attempt, hit 18.70m, and followed that with 18.52m, a foul, 18.43m and a foul in round six. Her second round throw of 18.70m held up for the gold medal.

Christina Schwanitz of Germany also fouled in round one, then18.48m, 18.65m, 18.38m, a foul and finally, 18.46m. Her third round throw of 18.65m held on for the silver medal.

Josephine Terlecki of Germany gave her country their second medal in the shot put for women, with her series of 18.09m, a personal best, then, 17.95m, 17.86m, 17.47m, 17.57m and 17.89. Terlecki’s first throw of 18.09m held on for the bronze medal.

Cerival of France was fourth in 17.84m. Anita Marton of Hungary was fifth in 17.84m, as well, but Cerival had a better second throw (17.82m). In sixth was Sophie Kleeburg of Germany, who threw a 17.63 pb!

The Germans took two medals in both the men and women’s shot put competitions here!

The gold medalist, Anna Avdeyeva of Russia told the media: ” I really wanted a medal and of course, I dreamed about gold. The compeition started with a fault for me and just in the second, I managed 18.70m. I was so happy that I almost could not concentrate for the other attempts. Christina Schwanitz achieved 18.65m in the third round and was really close to me. But, despite the fact that I was not able to keep the technique in the last attempts and could not concentrate very well in the end, I am very happy I am the winner.”

Women’s 60 meter semi-final

Semi final 1

Mariya Ryemyen of the Ukraine continued to blister up this track with her 7.16. In second, Veronique Mang of France wowed the crowd with her 7.20. Hyrstyna Stuy of the Ukraine made it two Ukrainians for the final, running 7.22, a pb, for third. In fourth Lina Grincikaite of Lithuania ran 7.27, a pb, as all four moved to the final.

Semi final 2

Olesya Povh of the Ukraine made it three Ukrainians in the final, as she ran 7.13, the European leader! In second, Myriam Soumare of France ran 7.13, a personal best! In third, Ezinne Okparaebo of Norway ran 7.20. And in fourth, in her personal best, UK sprint sensation Jodie Williams ran 7.21.

Mo Farah wanted to defend his title from 2009. Two weeks ago, he broke the European and British indoor records for the 5,000 meters in Birmingham, England at the Aviva Indoor GP. Two weeks before that, he had lost a closely fought 3,000 meter race in 7:35 at the New Balance Indoor GP. 

Hayle Ibrahimov of  Azerbijan lead through 1,000 meters in 2:52.25, with Mo Farah, the defending champion, floating behind. Farah did not seem to like the slowness and took the lead over the second kilometer, hitting the 2,000 meter mark in 5:26.58, a second kilo in 2:34.

Andy Baddeley of Great Britain had moved up through the pack, running a nearly perfect race. Baddeley moved into third place, with Halil Akkas of Turkey and Jesus Espana of Spain right on his back.

Running a last kilometer in 2:27, it still came down to the last lap. Mo Farah, running 25.8 for the last lap, held off Hayle Ibrahimov, 7:53.00 to 7:53.32! Farah defended his title from Torino in 2009 with this masterful race.

In the battle for the bronze, Andy Baddeley finally succumbed to the kick of Halil Akkas of Turkey, as Akkas ran 7:54.19 to Baddeley’s 7:54.49.

Jesus Espana of Spain was fifth in 7:54.66 and Rui Silva of Portugal was sixth in 7:59.49.

Mo Farah, after his victory, had this to say:

” It was a tough race. I had to push myself in the last lap. But, I was ready for that. I worked hard in training for these kind of races. I could not see anything on the screen during the race, that is why I was focused on my pace. But, I knew the second guy, Ibrahimov,would be very strong until the end. Now, I am gonna train for my next goal, a half marathon in New York at the end of March.”

While it was a good tactical race, the French crowd was more interested in Teddy Tamgho and Renauld Lavillenie-and could you blame them?

Sara Moriera of Portugal lead through the 400 meters in 61.78, with Yelena Arzhakova of Russia, Nuria Fernandez of Spain and Yekaterina Martynova of Russia in tow. Renata Plis of Poland looked strong.

Moriera lead through the 800 meters in a very slow 2:21.87. Yekaterina Martynova of Russia took the lead, hitting 1,200 meters in 3:28.16.

Virtually, the entire field was still in the race. Yelena Arzhakova of Russia just put it all down on na, running 4:13.78 to take the gold. Nuria Fernandez of Spain rushed by Martynova of Russia, running 4:14.04, taking the silver. In third, Yekaterina Martynova of Russia took the bronze in 4:14.16.

Renata Plis of Poland was fourth in 4:15.16, Isabel Macias of Spain was fifth in 4:15.76, with Lindsey De Grande of Belgium held on for sixth in 4:16.15.

” I   did not expect to win this race. I do not know what was in my mind, I was just running as crazy and I had much luck. The tactics I was told to hold in front and go forward in the last laps. My training was really good this year and I plan to compete at 1,500 meters also this Summer. I am so happy to bring home this gold.”

Leslie Djhone showed his stuff tonight. Running all out from the start, Djhone hit the 200 meters perfectly, pushing himself to take the lead, hitting 21.30 at the half way.

Leslie Djhone has been quite good at making finals. Today, he ran for gold and did it the right way. In front of his home crowd, setting a national record, a European leader, Leslie Djhone ran 45.54, and won the European Indoor title at 400 meters.

The battle for silver and bronze was anything but clear.

Richard Buck of Great Britain looked like he had a shot, but Thomas Scheider of Germany came rushing down the final straight, running 46.42 to take the silver. Richard Buck, holding on, ran 46.62 to take the bronze.

In fourth, Dmitriy Buryak of Russia ran 46.70 and in fifth place, Richard Strachan of Great Britain ran 46.74. In sixth place, Yoan Decimus ran 46.91.

What a night of pole vaulting!

Tim Lobinger of Germany cleared 5.41m on his first attempt, passed 5.51m and missed three times at 5.61m, he finished eighth.

Igor Pavlov of Russia cleared 5.51m on his second attempt, missed twice at 5.71m, and final miss at 5.76m, finishined seventh in 5.51m.

Fabian Schulze of Germany cleared 5.51m on his first attempt, and missed three times at 5.61m, he finished sixth.

Kostandinos Filippidis of Greece finished fifth, clearing 5.41m on his second attempt, then 5.51m, 5.61m on his first attempt, attempting once at 5.71m, missing, then making two final attempts at 5.76m.

Pawel Wojciechowski of Poland needed three attempts at 5.51m, passed at 5.61m, two attempts at 5.71m, and missed three times at 5.76m, and finished fourth.

Malte Mohr of Germany needed two attempts at 5.51m, passed 5.61m, two attempts at 5.71m, passed 5.76m, and missed three times at 5.81m. Mohr took home the bronze.

Jerome Clavier of France cleared 5.41m on his first attempt, then moved to nie and 5.71m, clearing on his first attempts. At 5.76m, Clavier needed two attempts and he missed three times at 5.81m. Clavier took home the silver medal.

Renaud Lavillenie of France had a good day at the office. He needed two attempts at 5.61m, but then, cleared 5.71m on his first attempt, passed on 5.76m, cleared 5.81m on his first attempt as well.

By this time, Renaud Lavillenie had won the competition. So, he moved the bar up to 5.91m, cleared on his second attempt.

And to the thrill of his countrymen, on his first attempt, Renaud Lavillenie cleared 6.03, a world leader, a National record and a championship record, on his first attempt!

Renaud Lavillenie made three game attempts at 6.16 meters,a  new world record, but, he was obviously exhausted. And in the end, all that mattered tonight was gold! Well, and a NR and world leader!