by Larry Eder
Asafa Powell, 2011 Lausanne DL, photo by PhotoRun.net
Matt Centrowitz, Jr. the 2011 WC 1,500 meter bronze medalist, who recently signed with Nike (he is represented by Ricky Simms/PACE Sports Management), will be running at the Millrose Games on February 11, 2012, one week after his indoor debut at the NB Indoor Grand Prix on February 4, 2012. See the release RBR posted on the endorsement and Matt’s future training plans…
EME NEWS (JAN 11, 2012)
Saladino no indoors
NIJMEGEN (NED): Reigning olympic long jump champion Irving Saladino of
Panama will miss the indoor season 2012. He decided so in order to stay
focused on the outdoor season with Olympic Games as the highlight.
Informs his management company Global Sports Communication.
Bolt confirms early races
KINGSTON (JAM): Superstar Usain Bolt informs on his website that he will
contest three training meets in early season in Jamaica. As expected at
Camperdown Classic on February 11 and Gibson Classic on February 25 and
on March 17 at UWI Invitational, all three meets in Kingston. Coach
Glen Mills will decide nearer the time in which events he will compete.
It is expected it will be a mixture of relays and flat races (400 m).
Fraser-Pryce for 200 m
KINGSTON (JAM): Another reigning Olympic champion Jamaican Shelly-Ann
Fraser-Pryce (at 100 m) has for years toyed with the 200m, but has never
run it at a major championship. However, she looks set to tackle the
sprint double at the 2012 London Olympics. She has a personal best 22.15
over 200m from 2008 and admitted to The Gleaner that she wants to run
the event. “Yes, I want to do the 200 metres,” Fraser-Pryce expressed.
“The likelihood is there, I can’t tell you if I am a 100 per cent sure,
but it is something that is in the talks between me and my coach. I am
definitely looking forward to doing the 200m and qualifying for it at
the national trials, then look forward to it at the London Games,” she
added. She will open her season on the January 28 at the Grace Jackson
meet, where she will be running the 400 m (her best rom last spring is
54.93).
Pearson to open with relay
BRISBANE (AUS): World athlete of the year 2011 Australian hurdler Sally
Pearson will make her first appearance in the Olympic year at the
Brisbane Track Classic on Saturday. Australian media are informing. She
will contest the 4x100m relay, hoping to help her teammates qualify for
the London Games. Pearson, who has been having treatment for a
quadriceps injury sustained late last year, may also consider running
the 100 metres after the relay. Former world champion Jana Pittman
should also compete at the 300 m and 4×400 m relay.
Kenya will wait
NAIROBI (KEN): Kenya will wait until the spring marathons to name its
final team for the London Olympics. Informs Xinhua. David Okeyo, the
Athletics Kenya (AK) secretary general, said it is crucial to judge
athletes keen to represent the country in London after April events
especially in London, Boston and Rotterdam marathons. Already world
record holder Patrick Makau, who is also the Berlin marathon champion,
Abel Kirui and Edna Kiplagat the world marathon champions have been
named in the Kenyan team. That means one male and two female places are
available only. Lot of top candidates are ready (Kipsang, M. Mosop, G.
Mutai, E. Mutai mainly among men and F. Kiplagat, Keitany, Kilel among
women).
Lavillenie hopes for indoor
PARIS (FRA): European pole vault champion Renaud Lavillenie must still
wait two weeks before he can start with special pole vault training. But
he still aims for the indoor season and has as first competition the
Pole Vault Stars meet in Donetsk on February 11 in mind. Lavillenie
ruptured his left hand early in December and underwent a surgery. After
last visit of his surgeon he reports on his website that the doctor is
satisfied with the progress and he can start to use his hand in normal
life.
Kenyan favorites for Tiberias Marathon
TIBERIAS (ISR): The 35th Tiberias Marathon on Thursday around the See of
Galilee will have five runners with under 2:09 PB’s. In total 1700
runners are expected. John Sammy Kibet has the fastest time 2:08:17 but
Leonard Mucheru with 2:08:53 is former two-time winner. Also to note
Edwin Koech Kutto (2:08:57) and Francis Kibiwott (2:09:00). Last with
sub 2:09 is Patrick Tambwe (2:08:55) from Congo who was last year
second. The fastest on paper among the women is Hirut Beyene Guangul
(2:40:14) from Ethiopia. Course records are 2:08:07 by Kenyan Jackson
Kipkoech Kotut in 2009 and 2:34:17 by Slovak Maria Starovska since 1992
(at that time represented Czecho-Slovakia).
Merga for Dubai
DUBAI (UAE): Former Boston champion (2009) Deriba Merga is set to join a very strong
field including Martin Lel of Kenya when competing at the Standard
Chartered Dubai Marathon on January 27. The Ethiopian who placed fourth in the 2008 Olympic Marathon before
his brilliant win over the tough Boston course the following spring,
cemented him amongst the world’s best performers with those
displays. “Speaking to Deriba in Ethiopia last month, it was obvious how keen
he is to compete in Dubai,” said event director Peter Connerton, who
continues to pull together a world-class field of elite runners for
the $1 million race. Writes David Martin. His best is 2:06:38 from London 2008.
Centrowitz for Millrose
NEW YORK (USA): Millrose Games meet director Ray Flynn announced that
1500m sensation Matthew Centrowitz will run in the NYRR Wanamaker Mile
in the 105th Millrose Games on February 11. “I’m excited to be running
and it will be my first mile/1500m of the year,” said Centrowitz,and
added “to debut in the Millrose Games with my father and sister, who
will be competing there as well, I can’t think of a better meet to do it
in.” In the race also Jeff See from other confirmed milers.
Wyludda aims for Paralympics
HALLE (GER): 1996 discus olympic winner Ilke Wyludda is a big fighter.
After loosing part of her leg last year she started again to train. She
aims to qualify for London Paralympic Games in summer. Her coach will be
as during her track career Gerhard Bottcher. She trains now five days
per week and combines it with her job as a doctor. The 42-years old
double European Champion plans to compete early March at disabled indoor
competitions in Germany.
Nesta replaces Thompson
NEW YORK (USA): Interesting replacement in the 50 m field at US Open in
Madison Square Garden on January 28. Richard Thompson of Trinidad will
be replaced by Jamaican Nesta Carter. Already earlier were announced
Asafa Powell, Daniel Bailey and US sprinters Justin Gatlin with Trell
Kimmons. Carter is the winner of last Millrose Games in MSG in 2011 with
fast 6.52 at 60 m and known as top starter. With his 9.78 100 m best he
can be one of the top contenders in the race.
OTHER NEWS
BERLIN (GER) : German 800m indoor and outdoor champion Jana Hartman
will not compete during the indoor season. Hartmann sustained a foot
injury while training in Flagstaff and decided she will stay away from
running indoors even though the injury has now healed reports
leichtathletik.de.
KINGSTON (JAM): After expressed their disappointment with the food in
Daegu for last Summer’s World Championships, Grace foods and Service
announced that it will be the nutrition sponsors for Jamaican athletes
during their preparation for London 2012. Grace has pledged a minimum of
5 million dollar to the Jamaica Athletics Administrative Association
(JAAA) through donation of ten cents from the sales of its most popular
products writes trackalerts.
LONDON (GBR): Twenty years after helping his injured son across the
finish line in Barcelona, Jim Redmond has been selected to carry the
Olympic flame during the torch relay for the London Games. Redmond
created one of the most memorable moments in Olympic history in 1992
with his spontaneous act to help his crying, injured son during a
semifinal of the 400 meters. With Derek Redmond hobbling badly with a
torn hamstring, his father ran onto the track and virtually carried him
the rest of the way reports AP.
TORONTO (CAN): After a year off to adjust to her marriage and arrival of
her first child, quarter-miler Christine Amertil of Bahamas is getting
ready for her return to track and field. The 30-year-old, whose daughter
Jessica Ling was born on August 21, is residing in Ontario, Canada with
her husband, Spencer. “The plan is to train and maybe get into a few
indoor meets, but I’m not sure as yet,” said Amertil in an interview
with The Tribune from her home. “I’m just getting adjusted to having a
baby, but the focus is on getting ready for the Olympics this year.
That’s the main focus right now.” She was quoted.
NEW YORK (USA): ESPN Films has announced the first sports documentary
filmmaking grant to be awarded through the Sundance Institute
Documentary Film Program. The first grant recipient, chosen from a pool
of nominees, is Town of Runners from award-winning U.K.-based director
Jerry Rothwell. Town of runners is a feature documentary about young
people from the Ethiopian rural town of Bekoji, home to the current
Olympic and World champions Tirunesh Dibaba and Kenenisa Bekele.
NEW YORK (USA): The 35th-annual Empire State Building Run-Up Powered by the MMRF
will take place on Wednesday, February 8. In a departure from years
past, the race will be held in the evening. After racing up 1,576
steps, 650 participants will be rewarded with the city lights and a
colorfully lit Observation Deck. Informs NYRR. In 2011, Thomas Dold of Germany took home his record-setting sixth
consecutive Run-Up victory when he reached the top in 10:10. He will
be back again to defend his title in 2012. In the women’s division, Alice McNamara of Australia took home her
first Run-Up victory in her first attempt in a time of 13:03.
McNamara will not be back to defend her title, but past champions
Suzy Walsham of Singapore and US Cindy Moll Harris
will return.
