by Larry Eder
Mo Farah, 2011 Nike Pre Classic, photo by PhotoRun.net
All events were updated, but a bit later, due to a difficulty with my battery! Sorry folks! On Saturday, will do live off twitter and updates on runblogrun!
Men’s 3000m Steeplechase
Bisluke Kipkorir Kiplagat took the field through the 1,000m in 2:44.41, with Willy Rutto Komen, also of Kenya, leading through 2,000m in 5:34.78. The final kilo camp down to Rutto, Brian Olinger of the US and Mohammed Khaled Belabbas of France. Willy Rutto Komen took the win in 8:21.40, his seasonal best, with Brian Olinger hitting 8:23.36 and Mohammed Khaled Belabbas taking third in 8:24.63.
Women’s on Camp with Kelly 800 meters
Tara Bird took the field through 58.35, and Tasmyn Manou of Australia had the lead at the 600 meters in 1:29.62, with Jana Hartmann taking the win in 2:01.97, with Tasmyn Manou in second in 2:02.24 and Charlotte Best in third in 2:02.96.
Women’s Triple Jump
Olha Saladukha wins the triple jump on her second round jump of 14.80m (she also jumped 14.73m). Olga Rybakova was second in 14.49m.
Women’s 200 meters
Bianca Knight, running into a 1.8 mps headwind, ran a fine 22.69 to take the win. Sherrone Simpson took second in 22.84 and Shalonda Solomon was third in 22.85. UK young star Jodie Williams ran 22.95 for seventh.
Men’s 110 M hurdles
Dayron Robles of Cuba, the 2008 Olympic champion is back on form. Getting a great start, Robles came out of the blocks hurdling and ran his best time of the year and breaking the meet record of Colin Jackson (13.06, 1992). Robles’ 13.04 showed that he is approaching the form needed to win in Daegu.
Robles noted after the race: “I feel very good because the time is my best this year. I feel
confident but I need to work harder to win in Daegu. I am working to run
under 13 seconds in Daegu – I think I can do it. I may
have won but everyone is coming very fast and they all want to win at
the World Championships.“
Jason Richardson, fresh off his win over David Oliver at the DN. Galan in Stockholm last Friday night, ran his pb here with a fine 13.08. David Oliver, who started behind and just did not get moving until halfway, was third in 13.09.
Women’s 400m hurdles
Kaliese Spencer of Jamaica took the race out from the beginning and did not look back. Running a fine 52.79 for the world leader and a meet record, Spencer showed that she is on form for Daegu. Melanie Walker, the 2008 Oly champ and 2009 World champ, was second in 53.90, running into form as well, but Spencer just could not be stopped.
Perri Shaykes-Drayton of Great Britain, who has had a superb season over the 400m flat and 400 meter hurdles, ran her seasonal best for third in 54.62. Queen Harrison of the US was fifth in 55.51, and Zuzana Hejnova of the Czech Republic, who has run 53.29 this season, was fourth in 54.74.
Women’s Javelin
Christina Obergfoll of Germany won here, in the first meet record of the night, with her 66.74m in round five. Obergfoll’s series was 60.19m, 63.63m, 66.13m, 65.15m, 66.74m, and 65.73, a series so dominating all should take note.
Barbora Spotakova of the Czech Republic was just behind her, with a throw of 66.41m. Her series was 63.72m, 62.81m, 64.26m, foul, 66.41, foul.
Goldie Sayers of Great Britain was third, with a throw of 63.41m. Her series was 61.29m, 60.35m, 61.06m, foul, foul, 63.41m.
Kara Patterson of the US was fifth in 58.25m.
Women’s 800 meters
In a packed race, Tara Bird took the field through the 400 meters in 58.51, with Kenia Sinclair in two, and Jenny Meadows back in fifth place. Kenia Sinclair took over around the turn and the Jamaican star was blasting away, hitting the 600 meters in 1:27.73. Jenny Meadows came off the turn, blazing, and inched up on Sinclair, to the delight of the crowd, and passed her fifty meters out. Running a fine 1:58.60, Jenny Meadows showed that she is poised for a strong medal performance in Daegu. Kenia Sinclair held on for second in 1;59.16 and Lucia Klocova of the Slovak Republicwas third in 1:59.65. Marilyn Okoro of Great Britain was fourth in 1:59.85, and Emma Jackson ducked under two minutes, her 1:59.97 being a personal best. Molly Beckwith of the US took sixth in 2:00.18.
Men’s 800 meters
This may have been the race of the night. David Rudisha, the world record holder and Abubaker Kaki, World Champion and one of the toughest runners in the world. The race went out perfectly, with a fine 49.61 from Sammy Tangui. David Rudisha charged to the front at 500 meters and kept running hard, hitting the 600 meters in 1:16.68.
After that, it was David Rudisha charging and Abubaker Kaki trying to catch him. Kaki did not give up, but David Rudisha was relentless, running a meet record of 1:42.91, with Kaki in second in 1:43.13, his seasonal best. In third, Boaz Kiplagat Lalang ran 1:44.13, and in fourth, running a very gutty race, was Nick Symmonds, who moved up from dead last to fourth, fighting over the last 300 meters, running 1:44.40!
Great 800 meters!
Men’s 400 meters
If the 800 meters was a great race, the men’s 400 meter was a view into the future. Kirani James, running the last hundred meters in total control, ran the world leader of 44.51 and showed the world that he is gold medal contender in Daegu. Jermaine Gonzales of Jamaica was second in 44.85 and Christopher Brown of the Bahamas was third in 45.04, but James was the story of this race. His running style, his composure, and his savvy off the final turn was quite impressive. Angelo Taylor the 2000 and 2008 Olympic champ at 400m hurdles, ran 45.50.
Men’s Long Jump
Mitchell Watt, the former rubgy player from Australia, continued his domination here, with a MR of 8.45m. He had two jumps, a foul, 8.45m, a pass, 8.22m and two passes.
Chris Tomlinson of Great Britain had a superb series, finishing second with a wind-aided 8.30m. His series was 8.14m, 8.25m, 8.13m, 8.30m, 6.43m and 8.02m. Tomlinson is showing his talent, but also the focus he needs to medal in Daegu, he and Watt should be in that hunt.
Greg Rutherford, the British record holder at 8.35m, was third here in 8.19m. His series was 8.19m, 7.74m, 8.17m, 8.16m, 7.89m and 8.08m.
Irving Saldino, the 2007 World Champ, was fourth here in 8.14m. His fifth round 8.14m, shows he has the potential to come back into form this year, with Daegu three weeks away.
Men’s 5,000 meters
In a 5,000 meters set up for Chris Thompson to make the 5,000m A standard, Craig Buster Mottram, the 2005 World Champ bronze medalist, took the show, running a solo 13:23.97. Americans Ben True took second, in 13:28.21 and Brandon Bethke was third in 13:33.16. Chris Thompson put on a game run, and finished fourth in 13:34.31, close to the standard, but no standard.
Men’s 100 meter final
Yohan Blake of Jamaica, running into a head wind of -1.6mps, won here in 9.95, equaling his seasonal best, but also telling one and all that Blake should be in the medal hunt for Daegu. Nesta Carter, also of Jamaica, was second in 10.01. Mike Rodgers of the US, who told us that he just came up too early in the race, was third in 10.04 and continues to improve.
Men’s 3,000 meters
With the pace maker taking them through the 1,000 meters in 2:35.15 and the 2,000 meters in 5:10.20, Collin Birmingham was pushing the pace. With 500 meters to go, Allistair Cregg took the lead with Mo Farah in tow. Over the back stretch, positions changed a but, but Mo Farah took a 25.9 final two hundred meters to wow the crowd and win the race in 7:40.15.
Here is what Mo Farah told the crowd after his race: ”
I’ve been looking forward to competing in Crystal
Palace and it’s fantastic to be here with so many people looking up to
me. The crowd were fantastic out there.
It’s just pure hard work and graft, nothing is easy, you know, I just keep training. You have to make sacrifices.
Today was just to see where I am, to try a
different strategy and go hard at the end there. I wanted to go out with
one lap to go.
This is my last race so I’ll go back to the US tomorrow, and then Daegu. After that maybe the Great North Run. We’ll see.
In Daegu, I’m definitely going to give 110 per cent
in the 10k and then see what happens. I’ll see how the legs are then go
for it in the 5 after.”
A great end to day 1!
