by Larry EderThe AREVA Paris Meeting was the second Samsung DL meeting after the USA Outdoor champs. With a crowd of 49,000 plus fans, the nearly three hour meet entertained and had fans on their feet. The local relays started the event and are always a nice way to get the local crowd going. The French crowd was great, their only frustration was when the hurdler Bascou was disqualified.
Hats off to the interview area for media and the quality of the interviews. I think that it may be the best interview area ever, and the interviews opps were excellent. Robles & Oliver, Semenya, Wariner, Lavillenie, Lemaitre were all very good.
My first time back to Stade de France since 2003, and what a facility! Nice organized, orchestrated and produced!
Usain Bolt, 2011 Ostrava, photo by PhotoRun.net
Here are some of the highlights (more details below):
Men’s Events
Saving the best for last, Usain Bolt, reportedly, with a cold, ran a controlled 20.03, his slowest 200 meters since June 2009. To the delight of the crowd, Christophe Lemaitre, the 21 year old sensation of France, ran a brilliant race, running 20.21, which is his second best, and seasonal best. Darvis Patton ran 20.59 for third.
In the 400 meters, Christopher Brown upset Jeremy Wariner. Brown ran well, running 44.94 and broke Wariner’s winning streak in AREVA Paris. Oh, how the mighty have fallen, as someone once said. .
A fast 1,500 meters where the American men all hit the standard.
A epic 110m hurdle race between Dayron Robles and David Oliver.
A discus duel between Robert Harting and Piotry Malachowski.
And a huge screaming steeple victory by a Frenchman!
Meseret Defar dominates the 5,000 meters, Flanagan almost gets AR, almost.
Kelly Ann Baptiste wins 100m over Veronica Campbell Brown from start to finish!
Titanic shot put comp!
Men’s Events
Saving the best for last, Usain Bolt, reportedly, with a cold, ran a
controlled 20.03, his slowest 200 meters since June 2009. To the delight
of the crowd, Christophe Lemaitre, the 21 year old sensation of France,
ran a brilliant race, running 20.21, which is his second best, and
seasonal best. Darvis Patton ran 20.59 for third.
In the 400 meters, Christopher Brown upset Jeremy Wariner. Brown ran
well, running 44.94 and broke Wariner’s winning streak in AREVA Paris.
Oh, how the mighty have fallen, as someone once said. Jonathan Borlee of
Belgium ran 45.05, Jermaine Gonzales of Jamaica was third in 45.43 and
Jeremy Wariner was fourth in 45.50. On his neck was Oscar Pistorius, the
runner who runs on artificial feet (below the knees) and is coming oh
so close to making the standard at 400 meters for the World Champs. He
ran 45.84 here for fifth.
In the men’s 1,500m the field went out fast. 54.71m for 400meters,
1:53.56 for 800 meters and 2:51.98 for 1,200 meters. Amine Laalou of
Morocco got the best of World Champ Asbel Kiprop, with Lalou winning in
3:32.15. Kiprop ran 3:33.04 and Bernard Lagat was third in 3:33.11. Nick
Willis, Olympic silver medalist, was fourth in 3:33.22.
And then, the Americans: Leonel Manzano runs 3;33.66, his sb. Manzano
was sixth. In ninth was Andrew Wheating, who ran a sb of 3:34.39, and US
champ Matt Centrowitz, Jr, ran his personal best, taking llth, running
3:34.69.
In the race that got the French on their feet, Mahiedine Mekhissi
Benabbad of France, an 8:02 performer and big man, ran closely behind
Ezekial Kemboi and Benjamin Kiplagat as they destroyed each other.
Waiting until the last lap, Mekhissi took control and just ran away from
Kemboi an Kiplagat, running within .5 of the NR, with his personal best
of 8:02.09!
The race of the night. Dayron Robles versus David Oliver. First, a false start by Dimitri Bascou, who false started.
Then, the race went off, with Dayron out best. David Oliver caught
Dayron at hurdle three and they battled until the last hurdle. Robles
made the first move at the lean at the tape and it was a photo finish,
with Dayron Robles getting the nod, both in 13.09. Dwight Thomas of
Jamaica was third in 13.18.
Jaroslav Baba of the Czech Republic showed why he is so dangerous,
jumping 2.32 over Aleksy Dmitrik of Russia, also in a height of 2.32m.
Ivan Ukhov, the Russian, superstar was third in 2.30m.
The French were happy again as Monsieur Perche, Mr. Pole Vault, Renaud
Lavillenie, won the pole vault in 5.73m, on his second attempt at the
height. Jerome Clavier made it un, deux in le perche as Clavier took
second, with a jump of 5.63m.
Irving Saldino of Panama is back, with his jump of 8.40m in the long
jump. He had to be, as Chris Tomlinson of Great Britain broke his NR
with a huge jump of 8.35m! Greg Rutherford finished third, giving Great
Britian, 2 and 3: he jumped 8.27m. With five over 8.10m, this was best
long jump of year so far.
Robert Harting of Germany, the defending World Champ and Piotr
Malachowski of Poland, the European champ, had a discus duel, where
Harting won 67.32m to 67.26m.
Women’s Events
Kelly-Ann Baptiste won the 100 meters convincingly and stunningly. With a
great start, Kelly-Ann just dominated Veronica Campbell Brown, which is
pretty unusual. Baptiste ran her seasonal best and second best ever, in
10.91 (her pb is 10.84, which I did not find out until
after her race). Veronica Campbell Brown ran 10.95 for second, and
Kerron Stewart ran 11.04 for third. Ivet Lalova of Bulgaria, who ran a
10.96 recently, was fourth in 11.18.
Caster Semenya, controversial 2009 World champ, jogged to her first win
in a while, running 2:00.18, taking the lead with less than 200 meters
to go. Halima Hachlaf of Morocco caught Jenny Meadows of Great Britain,
2:00.60 to 2:00.74. Alysia Montano of the US was fourth in 2:00.78.
Kenia Sinclair of Jamaica looked like she was shaken up in the fall at
200 meters, and along with Clarisse Moh of France, did not finish the
race. Early pace was a 57.8 first lap.
Dominating is how I would describe it. Meseret Defar of Ethiopia, the
World champ, the Olympic champ at 5,000 meters, just dominated this
race. Hitting the 1,000m in 2:53.62 with Wangari in the lead, Defar and
Sentayehu Ejigu just stayed up front and took control. Wangari took the
pack through 5:48.73 for 2,00 meters, before Sentayehu Ejigu took over
the chores, leading the 3k at 8:45.75. Meseret Defar took over the
duties for 4,000 meters, hitting that mark in 11:42.62.
Defar put two seconds on Sentayehu in the last lap, running 14:29.52 to
SEntayehu Ejigu’s 14:31.66. Mercy Cherono of Kenya held onto thrid with a
pb of 14;35.13.
Shalane Flanagan was in no women’s land through seven laps, in ninth
place, then took off. She went to seventh, then worked her way up to
fourth place, where she was just flying her last two laps. Sprinting
furiously over the last lap, Shalane ran her seasonal best of 14:45.30,
missing the AR for 5,000m by less than a second!
Amy Hastings, who needs to run 15:14 or better for her and Angela
Bizzari to make the Daegu team, just missed running 15:15.30, and Jenn
Rhines ran 15:30.97. Word is that the US women will be running a 5,000
meters next week. We wish them luck.
The epic battle between Valeria Adams of New Zealand and Nadezha
Ostapchuk of Belarus, where the Kiwi World Champion threw 20.48m,
20.78m, 20.72m, 20.34m, foul and 20.26m to show who is queen of the shot
put ring. Jillian Camerena Williams equaled the ancient US shot put
record with her second round 20.18m! Valeria Adams got the Meet record
as well! In fourth, Cleopatra Borel-Brown of Trinidad set her national
record with 19.42m throw!
Zuzana Henjova of the Czech Republic, battling with Kaliese Spencer of
Jamaica over the entire lap of the 400 meter hurdles, with Henjova out
sprinting Spencer, running 53.29 for the World leader and national
record. Melanie Walker of Jamaica, World and Olympic champion, in fifth,
will be ready for Daegu, as she rounds into shape very fast!
Yargelis Savigne of Cuba, winning the triple jump in 14.99m, another
world leader, with Olha Saldukha of Ukraine in second, in 14.81m.
Christina Obergfall of Germany dominated the javelin with her WL, MR
throw of 68.01 in her first throw! Barbora Spotakova was second in
67.57m, her seasonal best.
Women’s Shot Put ( More details)
The epic battle between Valeria Adams of New Zealand and Nadezha
Ostapchuk of Belarus, where the Kiwi World Champion threw 20.48m,
20.78m, 20.72m, 20.34m, foul and 20.26m to show who is queen of the shot
put ring.
Nadezhda Ostapchuk of Belarus did not give up, she fouled, hit 20.42m,
then 20.49m, then fouled, and a 20.48m followed by a final foul.
Jillian Camerena Williams of the US finished third. She opened at
19.28m, then just let er rip, hitting 20.18m, tying the American record
set a thousand years ago (that means, the eighties!),
and hit 19.80 in her fifth throw.
Michele Carter of the US finished sixth with a best of 18.38 meters.
08/07/2011
Meeting Areva
Paris Saint-Denis, 08/07/2011
Men’ results
200 Metres – Men Wind: -0.6 m/s
Pts
1 Bolt , Usain JAM 20.03 4
2 Lemaitre , Christophe FRA 20.21 2
3 Patton , Darvis USA 20.59 1
4 Forsythe , Mario JAM 20.61
5 Sorrillo , Rondel TRI 20.81
6 Tinmar , Teddy FRA 21.15
7 Crawford , Shawn USA 22.17
Edward , Alonso PAN DNS
400 Metres – Men
Pts
1 Brown , Chris BAH 44.94 4
2 Borlée , Jonathan BEL 45.05 2
3 Gonzales , Jermaine JAM 45.43 1
4 Wariner , Jeremy USA 45.50
5 Pistorius , Oscar RSA 45.84
6 Bingham , Michael GBR 45.84
7 Smith , Calvin USA 45.88
8 Décimus , Yoann FRA 46.88
1500 Metres – Men
Pts
1 Laalou , Amine MAR 3:32.15 4
2 Kiprop , Asbel KEN 3:33.04 2
3 Lagat , Bernard USA 3:33.11 1
4 Willis , Nicholas NZL 3:33.22
5 Moustaoui , Mohamed MAR 3:33.59
6 Manzano , Leonel &n
bsp; USA 3:33.66
7 Kowal , Yoann FRA 3:33.75
8 Mekonnen , Deresse ETH 3:33.84
9 Wheating , Andrew USA 3:34.39
10 Olmedo , Manuel ESP 3:34.44
11 Centrowitz , Matt USA 3:34.69
12 Gebremedhin , Mekonnen ETH 3:34.86
13 Carvalho , Florian FRA 3:35.29
14 Schlangen , Carsten GER 3:35.74
15 Baddeley , Andrew GBR 3:36.47
16 Iguider , Abdalaati MAR 3:37.94
Shaween , Mohammed KSA DNF
Maiyo , Hillary Kipkorir KEN DNF
Jolivet , Jeremy FRA DNF
3000 Metres Steeplechase – Men
Pts
1 Mekhissi-Benabbad , Mahiedine FRA 8:02.09 4
2 Kemboi , Ezekiel KEN 8:07.14 2
3 Kiplagat , Benjamin UGA 8:08.43 1
4 Gari , Roba ETH 8:10.03
5 Kipchoge , Jairus KEN 8:11.31
6 Langat , Patrick Kipkirui KEN 8:13.14
7 Ramolefi , Ruben RSA 8:14.36
8 Parszczynski , Lukasz POL 8:15.47
9 Gezzar , Nordine FRA 8:16.03
10 Chelimo , Elias Kemboi KEN 8:21.63
11 Belabbas , Mohamed-Khaled FRA 8:22.38
12 Kitum , Silas Kosgei KEN 8:25.44
13 Zilali , Abdelhakim FRA 8:25.82
14 Keskisalo , Jukka FIN 8:26.72
15 Paulo , Alberto POR 8:35.39
Oubassour , Hassan FRA DNF
Zouaoui-Dandrieaux , Vincent FRA DNF
Lagat , Haron KEN
DNF
Mutai , Abel Kiprop KEN DNF
110 Metres Hurdles – Men Wind: +1.3 m/s
Pts
1 Robles , Dayron CUB 13.09 4
2 Oliver , David USA 13.09 2
3 Thomas , Dwight JAM 13.18 1
4 Merritt , Aries USA 13.27
5 Richardson , Jason USA 13.31
6 Turner , Andrew GBR 13.43
7 Trammell , Terrence USA 13.57
Bascou , Dimitri FRA DQ
Darien , Garfield FRA DNS
High Jump – Men
Pts
1 B√°ba , Jaroslav CZE 2.26 4
2 Thomas , Donald BAH 2.26 2
2 Ukhov , Ivan RUS 2.26 2
4 Silnov , Andrey RUS 2.26
5 Dem’yanyuk , Dmytro UKR 2.26
6 Rybakov , Yaroslav RUS 2.23
6 Spank , Raul GER 2.23
6 Dmitrik , Aleksey RUS 2.23
9 Ioannou , Kyriakos CYP 2.23
10 Cianci , Mathias FRA 2.15
Shustov , Aleksandr RUS DNS
Pole Vault – Men
Pts
1 Lavillenie , Renaud FRA 5.73  
; 4
2 Clavier , Jérôme FRA 5.63 2
3 Filippídis , Konstadínos GRE 5.63 1
4 Schulze , Fabian GER 5.53
4 Holzdeppe , Raphael GER 5.53
4 Mesnil , Romain FRA 5.53
4 Mohr , Malte GER 5.53
8 Straub , Alexander GER 5.33
9 Hollis , Mark USA 5.33
Dossévi , Damiel FRA NM
Walker , Brad USA NM
Long Jump – Men
Pts Wind
1 Saladino , Irving PAN 8.40 4 +0.2
2 Tomlinson , Christopher GBR 8.35 2 +0.9
3 Rutherford , Greg GBR 8.27 1 +0.3
4 Mokoena , Godfrey Khotso RSA 8.25 +0.7
5 Berrabah , Yahya MAR 8.10 -0.1
6 Ts√°toumas , Lo√∫is GRE 8.03 -0.1
7 Reif , Christian GER 7.99 +0.0
8 Lapierre , Fabrice AUS 7.97 -1.0
9 Gaisah , Ignisious GHA 7.90 +0.6
10 Jensen , Morten DEN 7.87 +0.3
11 Gomis , Kafétien FRA 7.55 +1.2
Discus Throw – Men
Pts
1 Harting , Robert GER 67.32 4
2 Malachowski , Piotr POL 67.26 2
3 Kanter , Gerd &
nbsp; EST 67.24 1
4 Kövágó , Zoltán HUN 65.26
5 Harradine , Benn AUS 64.98
6 Wierig , Martin GER 64.20
7 Alekna , Virgilijus LTU 63.74
8 Israel , Märt EST 60.33
9 Aurokiom , Jean-François FRA 56.84
Casañas , Yennifer Frank ESP NM
Women’ results
100 Metres – Women Wind: +0.6 m/s
Pts
1 Baptiste , Kelly-Ann TRI 10.91 4
2 Campbell-Brown , Veronica JAM 10.95 2
3 Stewart , Kerron JAM 11.04 1
4 Lalova , Ivet BUL 11.18
5 Solomon , Shalonda USA 11.19
6 Simpson , Sherone JAM 11.33
7 Mang , Véronique FRA 11.33
8 Soumaré , Myriam FRA 11.36
9 Moore , LaShauntea USA 11.39
800 Metres – Women
Pts
1 Semenya , Caster RSA 2:00.18 4
2 Hachlaf , Halima MAR 2:00.60 2
3 Meadows , Jennifer GBR 2:00.74 1
4 Johnson Montano , Alysia USA 2:00.78
5 Déhiba Chahyd , Hind FRA 2:01.45
6 Bouras , Zahra ALG 2:01.73
7 Usovich , Sviatlana BLR 2:01.78
8 Santiusty , Yuneisy CUB 2:02.55
9 Hak , Yvonne NED &n
bsp; 2:08.09
Sinclair , Kenia JAM DNF
Moh , Clarisse FRA DNF
5000 Metres – Women
Pts
1 Defar , Meseret ETH 14:29.52 4
2 Ejigu , Sentayehu ETH 14:31.66 2
3 Cherono , Mercy KEN 14:35.13 1
4 Flanagan , Shalane USA 14:45.20
5 Checa , Dolores ESP 14:46.89
6 Utura , Sule ETH 14:56.05
7 Ayalew , Hiwot ETH 14:57.62
8 Anteneh , Emebet ETH 14:57.66
9 Gebru , Azemra ETH 14:58.34
10 Hastings , Amy USA 15:15.30
11 Yalew , Genet ETH 15:15.67
12 Rhines , Jennifer USA 15:30.97
Félix , Ana Dulce POR DNF
Dibaba , Genzebe ETH DNF
Wangari , Milly Mureithi KEN DNF
400 Metres Hurdles – Women
Pts
1 Hejnov√° , Zuzana CZE 53.29 4
2 Spencer , Kaliese JAM 53.45 2
3 Antyukh , Natalya RUS 54.41 1
4 Shakes-Drayton , Perri GBR 54.79
5 Walker , Melaine JAM 55.06
6 Stambolova , Vania BUL 55.51
7 Tracey , Ristananna JAM 56.32
8 Anacharsis , Phara FRA 56.53 &n
bsp;
Triple Jump – Women
Pts Wind
1 Savigne , Yargeris CUB 14.99 4 -0.1
2 Saladuha , Olha UKR 14.81 2 +0.0
3 Rypakova , Olga KAZ 14.48 1 +0.2
4 La Mantia , Simona ITA 14.33 -0.3
5 Gay , Mabel CUB 14.31 -0.7
6 Veld√°kov√° , Dana SVK 14.25 +0.4
7 Demut , Katja GER 14.06 +0.3
8 Rahouli , Baya ALG 13.97 -0.2
Alekhina , Nadezhda RUS DNS
Shot Put – Women
Pts
1 Adams , Valerie NZL 20.78 4
2 Ostapchuk , Nadzeya BLR 20.49 2
3 Camarena-Williams , Jillian USA 20.18 1
4 Borel-Brown , Cleopatra TRI 19.42
5 Gonz√°lez , Misleydis CUB 18.87
6 Carter , Michelle USA 18.38
7 Kleinert , Nadine GER 18.01
8 Cérival , Jessica FRA 17.12
Javelin Throw – Women
Pts
1 Obergföll , Christina GER 68.01 4
2 Špotáková , Barbora CZE 67.57 2
3 Abakumova , Maria RUS 65.12 1
4 Sayers , Goldie &nbs
p; GBR 62.14
5 Mickle , Kimberley AUS 61.97
6 Viljoen , Sunette RSA 61.74
7 Molitor , Kathrina GER 61.74
8 Patterson , Kara USA 58.21
