Nadezhda Ostapuchuck, 2011 EXXONMobil Oslo DL, Photo by PhotoRun.net.

Nadezhda Ostapchuk and  Yuriy Borzakovskiy produced a World leader in the women’s shot put (20.94m) an European leader in the men’s 800 meters, in 1:43.99. That the 2004 World Champ is obviously rounding into shape and Ostapchuk could prove menacing to Valerie Adams, defending champ in women’s shot put. I have to admit that I really enjoy watching Valerie get challenged, as she has tremendous last throws!

Yuriy Borzakovskiy, 2009 European Indoors/Torino, photo by PhotoRun.net.

And a happy Fourth of July to all those in U.S. A. and those abroad!

OSTAPCHUK WL, BORZAKOVSKIY EL

ZHUKOVSKIY (RUS, Jul 3): The 53rd Znamensky Brothers Memorial (IAAF
World Challenge) registered world leading shot put by European Champion
Nadezhda Ostapchuk 20.94 in
third round of 4 attempts competition. It is also her best ever outside of Belarus. Second
US
indoor record holder Jill Camarena-Williams 19.15. Men´s highlight was European
leading 1:43.99 by 2004 olympic winner Yuriy Borzakovskiy, his best time since
July 2009. After dramatic duel second Kenyan Boaz Lalang 1:44.20 followed by
three lifetime bests Russian Ivan Tukhtachev 1:45.47, Belarus Anis Ananenka
1:45.58 and another Russian Vyacheslav Sokolov 1:45.69. Olympic winner Andrey
Silnov cleared 232 in
high jump and tried at new meet record 234. Second Euro winner Aleksandr
Shustov 229. Recently improved in Lausanne Jamaican Michael Frater clocked
10.11 against -1.6 wind at the 100
m. Turkish record holder Ramil Guliyev in 10.18 beat Kim
Collins 10.22. European indoor champion Francis Obikwelu was only 8th (10.49).
Fast steeple by Africans, Ethiopian Roba Gary 8:12.74 ahead of Kenyans Elijah
Chelimo 8:16.29 and Patrick Terer 8:21.11. Solid times for Russians Ildar
Minshin 8:21.84 and Andrey Farnosov 8:21.95 (PB at age of 30). Krisztian Pars won
the final stage of hammer (part of IAAF HT Challenge) 79.70 ahead of Kiril
Ikonnikov 78.63, Sergey Litvinov 78.15 and Dilshod Nazarov 76.19. World record
holder Betty Heidler was the best in women final 75.54 ahead of Yipsi Moreno
73.26, Tatyana Lysenko 71.75 and Zalina Marghieva 71.49. Former world champion
Sergey Makarov confirmed top javelin shape with 86.14 win over Igor Janik of Poland 82.81
and Turkish record holder Fatih Avan 82.77. Surprise triple jump winner over
Cubans was Ruslan Samitov 16.90 (+0.5). National 10 000 m title for Sergey
Rybin 28:15.79. US Tiffany Townsend won close 200 m race in 22.84 (-0.9)
ahead of Charonda Williams 22.89 and Ukrainian duo Marya Ryemyen 22.89 and
Olesya Povh 23.09. In the strong home event 400 m Ukrainian win for
Antonina Yefremova 51.07 ahead of Antonina Krivoshapka 51.43.  On the other hand the international field in
the 1500 m
was beaten in tactical race by Yekaterina Martynova in 4:10.76. Ethiopians Sule
Utura (32:06.89) and Wude Ayalew (32:07.26) were the best in the 10 000 m. Third and
national champion was Yelena Nagovitsyna 32:08.00. US duo dominated in the 100 m hurdles (Queen Harrison
12.88 and Kristi Castlin 12.97, +1.2, with Euro winner Nevin Yanit only fourth
13.50). Good long jump depth as Briana Glenn with 670 (0.0) was only 5th.
Winner 2006 European Champion Lyudmila Kolchanova achieved her season best 684
(+1.5) ahead of Ukrainian Viktoriya Rybalko (678, +0.3) and Belarussian duo
Anastasiya Mironchyk (675, -0.5) and Veronika Shutkova (675, +1.4).

URECH 12.62 SWISS RECORD

LA
CHAUX DE FONDS
(SUI, Jul 3): Lisa Urech clocked new Swiss 100 m hurdles record 12.62
(+0.5) at the Resisprint meet in favorable altitude of 997 m. Former
mark of Julie
Baumann was 12.76 from 1991. It is also European leader 2011 and Urech
is so
top favorite for European U23 Champs in Ostrava.
Second Derval O´Rourke from Ireland
also impressive 12.84. British Jeanette Kwakye posted second fastest
time in
Europe this year to win the 100
m 11.15 (+1.6) over French European champion Myriam
Soumare 11.25 (she won the 200
m in 23.00, +2.4). In the 4×100 m Great Britain got 43.65 over
Switzerland U23
44.72 NR and Slovenia
44.83 (with anchor Merlene Ottey who in 100 m heats got season best
11.91 at age of
51). Impressive times also in men sprints. Italian Fabio Cerutti clocked
10.22
(+0.8) in heats and finals (+1.6). In heats Briton James Dasaolu 10.24
and in
the B-final Harry Aikines-Aryeetey windy 10.13 (+2.2). Harry A-A posted
also
the fastest 200 m
time, legal PB 20.46 (+0.8) ahead of Arnaldo Abrantes of Portugal
(20.61). In the main race Reto Schenkel of Switzerland achieved 20.51
(+0.7)
ahead of Leon Baptiste (also 20.51) and Marc Schneeberger 20.52. In the
400 m the fastest by U23
Briton Luke Lennon-Ford who improved to excellent 45.56. In first race
Offentse
Mogawane of South Africa
45.65. European Barcelona 4th placer French Dimitri Bascou improved at
110 m hurdles to 13.37 (+1.5)
and even more impressive the lifetime best of Briton Nathan Woodward
48.71 at 400 m hurdles, it is also
British U23 record and European U23 leader. French Mathias Cianci
cleared 226 in high jump and Switzerland clocked 38.98 in the 4×100 m
when Britain and Italy were disqualified.

GREECE AND ROMANIA TEAM
WINNERS

SLIVEN (BUL, Jul 3): Greek men (159) ahead of Bulgaria (157) and Romania (154) were the best at 64th
Balkan Championships. In the women scoring Romania
got 170 points ahead of Greece
160.5 and Bulgaria
150. Due to rain Bulgarian stars Ivet Lalova (200 m) and Venelina Veneva
(HJ) did not compete. Petar Kremenski won for home side the 200 m in 20.79 (-0.2,
personal best), Vania Stambolova the 400 m (53.34) and Momchil Karailiev the triple
jump (16.93, +3.3). Kostadinos Douvalidis won for Greece the 110 m hurdles (13.64, +2.5)
and Eleni Filandra the 800 m
with solid 2:03.31. Bianca Perie achieved 66.69 in hammer for Romania, Ivana Spanovic 656 (+2.7) in long jump
for Serbia and Ercument
Olgundeniz 63.05 in
discus for Turkey.

MPUANG 10.16, ARAJS 10.18

DONNAS (ITA, Jul 3): At 16th edition of the meeting (EAP Category) fast 100 m with South African
Thuso Mpuang improving to 10.16 (+1.4) and second Ronalds Arajs clocking new
Latvian record 10.18. Mpuang won also the 200 m in windy 20.40 (+2.5) ahead of Swedish
European indoor winner Johan Wissman 20.63. Swiss Julien Fivaz leaped to windy
793 (+2.9) in the long jump and Cuban Loy Mikael Martinez achieved his career
third best in discus 65.03. Souma Fatou of Senegal won the women 200 m in PB 23.06 (+1.4).
Dutch Monique Jansen won the discus (59.98) ahead of Suzanne Kragbe who
improved her own Ivory Coast
record 59.32.

SPOTAKOVA 64.65 IN RAIN

BRNO (CZE, Jul 3): Strong rain and only 13 degrees
influenced the second day of Czech Championships. Despite that world record
holder Barbora Spotakova achieved high quality 64.65 javelin win. It is 8th
title for the just 30 years old athlete (celebrated on June 30). Men javelin
title in strong rain for Vitezslav Vesely (77.22). Jan Marcell got the double
with shot put win 19.41. Pole vault was because of the weather not completed.
In the 400 m
hurdles Zuzana Bergrova won in solid 57.25 and in men´s race Josef Prorok 51.26
ahead of national record holder Jiri Muzik who after injuries and surgeries
achieved his best since 2006 51.71. Women 200 m saw Denisa Rosolova winning in 23.42
(+1.0) ahead of Katerina Cechova (23.60, PB) and hurdler Zuzana Hejnova 24.11.

EUROPEAN CUP COMBINED EVENTS

TORUN (POL, Jul 3):
Russia
won both men and women categories at European Cup Combined Events Super
League.
Men scored 23 305 over Estonia
23 095 and Belarus
22 956. Close fourth France
22 935 with Poland fifth 22
159 and Czech Republic 6th 22 113. Relegation for Ukraine 21 773 and
Finland 21 690. Anders Raja got the
individual win with 8114 points ahead of Russian Vasiliy Kharlamov 7935.
In women heptathlon Russia was clear 17 816 ahead of Ukraine 17 600
and France 16 992. Fourth Netherlands
16 884 over Estonia 16 162
and Great Britain
16 095. Relegated Czech Republic 15 612 and Greece 15 508. Russian Anna
Bogdanova was as only one over 6000 with 6225. Ukrainian Lyudmyla
Yosypenko got
5984 and third Dutch Remona Fransen 5965 ahead of Russian Aleksandra
Butvina
5948.

BRESSANONE (ITA, Jul 3): British men (22 989, third best score of the
weekend) won the First League decathlon teams and qualified to the Super
League. Also promoted second Belgium
22 468. Third Italy 21 838
ahead of Switzerland 21 434,
Sweden 21 152 and Greece 21 139.
Relegation for Netherlands
20 703 and Spain
20 625. Top three scored personal bests, Swiss Simon Walter 7973 and Britons
Daniel Awde 7889 and U23 athlete Ashley Bryant 7747. In heptathlon
promotion for Poland 17 309
and Italy
17 050. Third was Hungary 17
030 ahead of Belarus 16 853,
Finland 16 541 and Switzerland 16
123. Relegated Sweden
15 602. Only seven women teams competed. Poland´s Karolina Tyminska was better
than Super League winner 6297 points but was not overall best of the weekend.
Second Hungarian Gyorgyi Farkas personal best 6068 and third Yana Maksimava of
Belarus 5998.

RIBEIRA BRAVA (POR, Jul 3):
Lithuanian Austra Skujyte won the heptathlon
in the Second League with overall best from all leagues 6338 points
(Sunday
results 611 – 47.34 – 2:19.89). Decathlon winner was Latvian Edgars
Erins 7513 points. In teams men of Hungary 20 922 ahead of Latvia 19
917, Romania
18 724 and Turkey
16 557. In
women team score Spain 16
421 ahead of Romania 16 078,
Lithuania 15 062 and Turkey 12 218.

OTHER RESULTS

NOVE MESTO NAD VAHOM (SVK, Jul 3): Second day of Slovak Championships
for first time held here was hampered by cold (13 degrees) and strong rain. To
note only long jump where Renata Medgyesova won with 651 (+2.5, legal 634) over
Jana Veldakova 643 (+1.7).

MANNHEIM (GER, Jul 3): Second day of Junior Gala meet saw in senior
category German Sebastian Ernst clocking 20.58 (+1.1) at 200 m. Marlon Odom posted
13.57 at 110 m
hurdles (0.0). Germany
clocked 38.96 and 43.46 with senior 4×100 m teams. In junior events Briton
Andrew Pozzi was even faster than on Saturday with 13.29 (0.0) at junior
hurdles. German Daniel Clemens cleared 550 in the pole vault. British world junior
champion Jodie Williams won the 200
m in 23.05 (-0.2) and impressive 660 (+1.1) for
Australian junior Brooke Stratton ahead of German talent Lena Malkus 646
(+0.2).

ANDUJAR (ESP, Jul 3): Iván Jesús Ramos achieved the best result during
second day of Spanish U23 Championships with 20.79 (+0.9) at 200 m.

GUIMARAES (POR, Jul 3): New Portugal U23 record during national
championships of that category when Vera Barbosa clocked 57.25 at 400 m hurdles.

GDANSK (POL, Jul 3): European indoor champion Adam
Kszczot won the 800 m
at National U23 Championships in tactical race 1:48.18. Impressive bests for
Anna Jagaciak in triple jump (14.25,+2.0) and Anna Kielbasinska over 200 m (23.25, -0.2).

BUCURESTI (ROU, Jul 3): Adelina Pastor clocked good 23.88 (-0.6) at the 200 m during second day of
Romanian junior championships.

ROAD AND WALK

HAMBURG (GER, Jul 3): Joseph Kiprono Kiptum won the
17th Hamburg Half-Marathon in 1:03:15. Second Fabiano Joseph of Tansania 1:03:20.
Best woman the Kenyan Monica Jepkoech 1:16:08.

GOLD COAST (AUS, Jul 3): Kenyan Nicholas Manza broke the 22-year-old
race record at the Gold Coast marathon with 2:10:01. Previous mark of
Australian Brad Camp was 2:10:11 from 1989. Second and third also Kenyans
Albert Matebor 2:10:13 and Japhet Kipkorir 2:10:50. Australian Lee Troop was
hampered by a hamstring injury and finished sixth in 2:15:45, well short of the
Olympic qualifying standard of 2:12:00. Ethiopia’s
Goitetom Tesema won the women’s race in 2:30:08, well clear of Australian Roxie
Fraser (2:41:17, PB) and Chihiro Tanaka of Japan (2:43:04).

SAPPORO (JPN, Jul 3) The defending champion Kenyan
Cyrus Njui won the men’s division with 1:01:47 at the Sapport Half-Marathon.
The course record holder Mekubo Mogusu was second with 1:02:11. The 2010 World
HM champion Florence Kiplagat won the women category with 1:10:29 and said she
plans her marathon debut for Berlin
in September. Selly Kaptich Chepyego was second in 1:12:03, while debutante
Megumi Kinukawa was third with 1:12:22.

TESSERETE (SUI, Jul 2): Slovak Matej
Toth won the walking track meet in Switzerland (he is at training camp
in St. Moritz) with 39:56.
Women winner at 5 km
was home Marie Polli 22:55