byLarry EderRajne Söderberg, the Meet Director of the 2011 DN. Galan Stockholm DL had much to be proud when he considers the success of this years DL meeting! A sell out crowd of 15,000 plus, WL performances, some great head to head matches and a text book example of how track & field, to grow and prosper, needs to be true entertainment.
Tero Pitkamaki, 2010 DN. Galan Stockholm DL, photo by PhotoRun.net
We met Söderberg a few hours before the meet, as he was walking around the stadium, one of the world’s most iconic and one that has hosted all of the greats, from Paavo Nurmi to Ron Clarke to Usain Bolt to Vivian Cheruiyot. Like all successful meet directors, Söderberg loves the sport (it should be noted that the DN. Stadium will host thousands of young athletes all weekend, from Saturday to Sunday. It should also be noted that the likes of David Oliver, and several other elite athletes help out at the youth meets as well).
From the on field updates for the fans, to the introduction of Swedish U23 medalists, to the San Jose Shark hockey player who is Swedish to Dolf Lundgren, Söderberg and his team understand that, with one of the most educated track crowds in the world, it must be more than a track meet. And, as many of Sweden’s top track athletes are in their swansong or retired, Söderberg deftly promotes Swedish athletes (saw Susanna Kallur’s little brother running national hurdle race) and the world stars.
The DN. Stadium dates back to the 1912 Olympics. The likes of Jim Thorpe, Hannes Kolhemainen have walked these hallowed walks. If athletics stadiums are where we come to worship the track gods, then the DN. stadium is one of our prime cathedrals. Even in track mad Sweden, though, there was a huge uproar over sharing the stadium with a local football (soccer) team. The DN. stadium won out as a track ONLY stadium, where six or seven of the city’s top track clubs also train.
What may be most remarkable about Mr. Söderberg, who is a medical professional by trade and meet director by avocation, is his control of the Swedish weather. Perhaps he has a relationship with the Scandanavian gods of the old days? Meteorologist all over Sweden were calling for gripping rain, and the meet was blessed with tremendous weather!
Vivian Cheruiyot, 2011 Nike Pre Classic, photo by PhotoRun.net
Shalane Flanagan’s gutty run over 5,000 meters showed that the AR is tough and that Flanagan is ready to run a medal worthy 10,000m in Daegu. From Cantwell’s continued improvements, to LaShawn Merritt’s brilliant first race over 400 meters, to David Oliver having an off day, proved once again, as the late Payton Jordan once noted, that track & field is the ONLY sport, all others are merely games.
Usain Bolt, 2011 Ostrava, Autographs, photo by PhotoRun.net
I also have to comment how lucky we are in this sport with out top athletes. I watched, from David Oliver, to Andreas Thorkildsen, to Yelena Isinbayeva to Usain Bolt, signing autographs with the young fans especially.
Next post will be on revelations from the DN. Galan Stockholm DL which had some great surprises!
29/07/2011
DN Galan
Stockholm, 29/07/2011
Men’ results
200 Metres – Men Wind: -1.2 m/s
Pts
1 Bolt , Usain JAM 20.03 4
2 Edward , Alonso PAN 20.47 2
3 Waugh , Ainsley JAM 20.56 1
4 Saidy Ndure , Jaysuma NOR 20.67
5 Thompson , Richard TRI 20.85
6 Kimmons , Trell USA 20.94
7 Dodson , Jeremy USA 21.32
Anderson , Marvin JAM DQ
400 Metres – Men Race 1
Pts
1 Gonzales , Jermaine JAM 44.69 4
2 Merritt , LaShawn USA 44.74 2
3 Brown , Chris BAH 44.79 1
4 Taylor , Angelo USA 44.82
5 Bartholomew , Rondell GRN 45.32
6 Borlée , Jonathan BEL 45.45
7 Quow , Renny TRI 45.99
8 Wissman , Johan SWE 46.16
400 Metres – Men Race 2
1 Yousif , Rabah SUD 45.60
2 Smith , Miles USA 45.68
3 Torrance , Jamaal USA 45.82
4 Henry , Tabarie ISV 45.90
5 Thomas , Tristan AUS 46.64
6 Bergrahm , Axel SWE 47.78
7 Johansson , Fredrik SWE 49.07
1500 Metres – Men Race 1
Pts
1 Kiplagat , Silas
KEN 3:33.94 4
2 Kiprop , Asbel KEN 3:34.42 2
3 Willis , Nicholas NZL 3:34.49 1
4 Komen , Daniel Kipchirchir KEN 3:34.51
5 Cheboi , Collins KEN 3:35.07
6 Chepseba , Nixon Kiplimo KEN 3:35.83
7 Lomong , Lopez USA 3:35.87
8 Riseley , Jeffrey AUS 3:36.16
9 Mekonnen , Deresse ETH 3:37.89
10 Brown , Russell USA 3:38.44
11 Gregson , Ryan AUS 3:39.08
12 Manzano , Leonel USA 3:40.02
Higuero , Juan Carlos ESP DNF
Ndiku , Caleb Mwangangi KEN DNF
Krummenacker , David USA DNF
1500 Metres – Men Race 2
1 Driouch , Hamza QAT 3:35.73
2 Makhloufi , Taoufik ALG 3:35.77
3 Torrence , David USA 3:35.95
4 Leer , Will USA 3:36.33
5 Birgen , Bethwell KEN 3:36.42
6 Brannen , Nathan CAN 3:37.92
7 Koyuncu , Kemal TUR 3:38.09
8 Mohamed , Mohamed Hamada EGY 3:38.16
9 Legesse , Henok ETH 3:38.28
10 D’Hoedt , Jeroen BEL 3:38.56
11 Roff , Jeremy AUS 3:40.31
12 Kemboi , Nicholas Kiptanui KEN 3:43.54
13 Milne , Taylor CAN 3:43.93
Nowicki , Bartosz POL DNF
Koech , Justus KEN DNF
3000 Metres Steeplechase – Men
Pts
1 Koech , Paul Kipsiele KEN 8:05.92 4
2 Kiplagat , Benjamin UGA 8:14.42 2
3 Ndiku , Jonathan Muia &
nbsp; KEN 8:17.77 1
4 Yego , Hillary Kipsang KEN 8:19.30
5 Kipchoge , Jairus KEN 8:19.41
6 Kipterege , Elijah Chelimo KEN 8:24.98
7 Mateelong , Richard Kipkemboi KEN 8:30.46
8 Kamal , Abubaker Ali QAT 8:38.36
Alcorn , Kyle USA DNF
Huling , Daniel USA DNF
Lagat , Haron KEN DNF
Mbugua , Bernard KEN DNF
Gari , Roba ETH DNS
110 Metres Hurdles – Men Final Wind: -2.3 m/s
Pts
1 Richardson , Jason USA 13.17 4
2 Oliver , David USA 13.28 2
3 Thomas , Dwight JAM 13.40 1
4 Merritt , Aries USA 13.41
5 Akins , Tyrone USA 13.61
6 Osaghae , Omo USA 13.65
7 Brown , Joel USA 13.71
110 Metres Hurdles – Men Heats Race 1 Wind: -0.8 m/s
1 Richardson , Jason USA 13.20
2 Merritt , Aries USA 13.26
3 Osaghae , Omo USA 13.65
4 Nossmy , Philip SWE 13.78
5 Brathwaite , Ryan BAR 14.08
Berger , Dominic USA DNF
110 Metres Hurdles – Men Heats Race 2 Wind: -0.6 m/s
1 Oliver , David USA 13.38
2 Thomas , Dwight JAM 13.42
3 Brown , Joel USA 13.65
4 Akins , Tyrone USA 13.67
5 Shubenkov , Sergey RUS 13.74
High Jump – Men
Pts
1 Ukhov , Ivan RUS 2.34 4
2 Williams , Jesse USA 2.32 2
3 Barshim , Mutaz Essa QAT 2.30 1
3 Silnov , Andrey RUS 2.30 1
5 Shustov , Aleksandr RUS 2.30
6 B√°ba , Jaroslav CZE 2.27
7 Dmitrik , Aleksey RUS 2.22
8 Ioannou , Kyriakos CYP 2.22
8 Spank , Raul GER 2.22
10 Thomas , Donald BAH 2.22
11 Mudrov , Sergey RUS 2.15
Long Jump – Men
Pts Wind
Berrabah , Yahya MAR 8.07 +0.9
1 Watt , Mitchell AUS 8.54 4 +1.7
2 Berrabah , Yahya MAR 8.40 2 +2.5
3 Saladino , Irving PAN 8.19 1 +0.7
4 Crowther , Robert AUS 8.12 +2.0
5 Gaisah , Ignisious GHA 7.99 +1.6
6 Claye , Will USA 7.98 +1.2
7 Jensen , Morten DEN 7.98 +0.7
8 Smith , Tyrone BER 7.92 +1.8
9 Otterling , Andreas SWE &
nbsp; 7.62 +1.0
Shot Put – Men
1 Cantwell , Christian USA 21.70
2 Majewski , Tomasz POL 21.60
3 Armstrong , Dylan CAN 21.00
4 Hoffa , Reese USA 20.91
5 Storl , David GER 20.42
6 Taylor , Daniel USA 20.20
7 Winger , Russell USA 20.14
8 Arrhenius , Niklas SWE 18.87
9 Christensen , Kim DEN 18.65
Arrhenius , Leif SWE DNS
Whiting , Ryan USA DNS
Discus Throw – Men
Pts
1 Alekna , Virgilijus LTU 65.05 4
2 Malachowski , Piotr POL 64.96 2
3 Casañas , Yennifer Frank ESP 63.42 1
4 Cadee , Erik NED 63.21
5 Kanter , Gerd EST 62.98
6 Israel , Märt EST 62.11
7 Harradine , Benn AUS 61.99
8 Wierig , Martin GER 61.92
9 Winger , Russell USA 60.30
10 Härstedt , Axel SWE 58.94
11 Arrhenius , Niklas SWE 55.61
Javelin Throw – Men
Pts
1 Thorkildsen , Andreas NOR 88.43 4
2 de Zordo , Matthias GER 84.37 2
3 Farquhar , Stuart NZL 84.21 1
4 Veselý , Vítezslav CZE 83.44
5 Makarov , Sergey RUS 82.26
6 Pyatnytsya , Oleksandr &nbs
p; UKR 79.83
7 Pitkämäki , Tero FIN 77.82
8 Haatainen , Harri FIN 76.10
9 Sirmais , Zigismunds LAT 75.47
10 Wallin , Gabriel SWE 75.31
11 Amb , Kim SWE 72.95
12 Hazle , Mike USA 66.31
Women’ results
100 Metres – Women Wind: -2.4 m/s
Pts
1 Jeter , Carmelita USA 11.15 4
2 Myers , Marshevet USA 11.21 2
3 Stewart , Kerron JAM 11.27 1
4 McGrone , Candyce USA 11.49
5 Barber , Mikele USA 11.49
6 Ferguson-McKenzie , Debbie BAH 11.52
7 Calvert , Schillonie JAM 11.58
8 Okparaebo , Ezinne NOR 11.61
800 Metres – Women Race 1
Pts
1 Sinclair , Kenia JAM 1:58.21 4
2 Akkaoui , Malika MAR 1:59.75 2
3 Santiusty , Yuneisy CUB 2:00.06 1
4 Schmidt , Alice USA 2:00.25
5 Klyuka , Svetlana RUS 2:00.44
6 Johnson Montano , Alysia USA 2:00.69
7 Hachlaf , Halima MAR 2:00.70
8 Semenya , Caster RSA 2:01.28
9 Kofanova , Elena RUS 2:01.43
Andrianova , Tatyana RUS DNF
800 Metres – Women Race 2
1 Beckwith , Molly USA 2:00.33
2 Klocov√° , Lucia SVK 2
:00.60
3 Sum , Eunice Jepkoech KEN 2:00.78
4 Manou , Tamsyn AUS 2:00.78
5 Plis , Renata POL 2:02.10
6 Måkestad Bovim , Ingvill NOR 2:03.09
7 Fesenko , Alena RUS 2:04.01
Luchkina , Anna RUS DNF
5000 Metres – Women
Pts
1 Cheruiyot , Vivian Jepkemoi KEN 14:20.87 4
2 Kipyego , Sally KEN 14:43.87 2
3 Kibet , Sylvia Jebiwott KEN 14:45.31 1
4 Flanagan , Shalane USA 14:46.80
5 Cherono , Priscah Jepleting KEN 14:51.55
6 Korikwiang , Pauline Chemning KEN 14:52.51
7 Cherono , Mercy KEN 14:58.66
8 Checa , Dolores ESP 15:02.24
9 Kibiwot , Viola Jelagat KEN 15:05.34
10 Lewy-Boulet , Magdalena USA 15:14.25
11 Barringer Simpson , Jennifer USA 15:18.55
12 Bekele , Alemitu TUR 15:18.85
13 Fleshman , Lauren USA 15:27.30
14 Momanyi , Grace Kwamboka KEN 15:34.62
15 Abdullayeva , Layes AZE 15:41.54
Bishop , Melissa CAN DNF
Golovkina , Olga RUS DNF
400 Metres Hurdles – Women
Pts
1 Spencer , Kaliese JAM 53.74 4
2 Walker , Melaine JAM 54.71 2
3 Wilson , Nickiesha JAM 55.80 1
4 Yaroshchuk , Hanna UKR 56.22
5 Brown , Ti’erra USA 56.58
6 Boden , Lauren AUS 56.60
7 Harrison , Queen USA  
; 56.99
8 Jesien , Anna POL 58.09
Pole Vault – Women
Pts
1 Isinbaeva , Elena RUS 4.76 4
2 Spiegelburg , Silke GER 4.70 2
3 Suhr , Jennifer USA 4.64 1
4 Feofanova , Svetlana RUS 4.64
5 Murer , Fabiana BRA 4.51
6 Pyrek , Monika POL 4.51
6 Strutz , Martina GER 4.51
8 Bengtsson , Angelica SWE 4.41
9 Kiryashova , Aleksandra RUS 4.41
10 Dahlström , Malin SWE 4.26
Hutson , Kylie USA NM
Triple Jump – Women
Pts Wind
Saladuha , Olha UKR 14.76 +1.8
Savigne , Yargeris CUB 14.48 +1.0
1 Saladuha , Olha UKR 15.06 4 +2.3
2 Savigne , Yargeris CUB 14.87 2 +2.1
3 Ibargüen , Caterine COL 14.83 1 +1.9
4 Gay , Mabel CUB 14.57 -0.5
5 Veld√°kov√° , Dana SVK 14.21 +1.3
6 Kuropatkina , Anna RUS 14.06 +2.8
7 Trybanska , Malgorzata POL 14.02 +2.6
8 Demut , Katja GER 13.85 +2.5
Rahouli , Baya ALG &nb
sp; DNS
Shot Put – Women
Pts
1 Adams , Valerie NZL 20.57 4
2 Ostapchuk , Nadzeya BLR 20.37 2
3 Camarena-Williams , Jillian USA 19.87 1
4 Borel-Brown , Cleopatra TRI 19.15
5 Schwanitz , Christina GER 19.14
6 Carter , Michelle USA 19.06
7 Kleinert , Nadine GER 18.98
8 Gonz√°lez , Misleydis CUB 18.53
9 Kolodko , Yevgeniya RUS 18.44
10 Terlecki , Josephine GER 17.74
