SUHR 488, ETHIOPIANS DEFAR AND DIBABA WINS

BOSTON (USA, Feb 4): Jenn Suhr bounced back to brilliant form when raising her American pole vault record to a height of 488 at the New Balance Indoor Games. Suhr a week after failing to register a clearance at the U.S. Open meet in New York added two centimeters to the mark she achieved in Albuquerque last year, the performance also taking her to the top of the 2012 World rankings and second place on the all-time list behind Yelena Isinbayeva. Mo Farah the world 5000 meters outdoor champion picked himself up after a fall sent him crashing to the floor on the first lap in the mile which was won by Ireland's Ciaran O'Lionaird 3:56.01. Second Canada's Taylor Milne 3:56.40. and third Galen Rupp 3:57.10. „Somebody just caught my leg," said Farah who still achieved a personal best of 3:57.92 for fourth position. „Once I fell, I had to get back in as quickly as possible. It wasn't easy." Maggie Vessey won the 800m in a photofinish with runner up and fellow American Erica Moore clocking the same time of 2:02.37 while there were comfortable victories for the Ethiopian duo of Tirunesh Dibaba and Meseret Defar who took the two mile and 3000m titles with world leading times of 9:21.60 and 8:33.57 (1500 m world champ Jenny Simpson 7th 8:58.70). Defar who set her world record of 8:23.72 in Stuttgart five years ago, said: „The race was uneven but I have raced well. I was planning to go under 8:30 but it didn't happen. But I'm very pleased." Moroccan Btissam Lakhouad won the women's 1000m in 2:38.14 WL (beating home stars Morgan Uceny 2:38.44 and Anna Pierce 2:38.91) with Caleb Ndiku of Kenya outkicking Ethiopia's defending champion Dejen Gebremeskel to win his 30000m race by 0.67sec with a world leader of 7:38.29 (debut). Second Gebremeskel 7:38.97 and third Silas Kiplagat 7:41.02. World medalist at 1500 m Matt Centrowitz was 7th in 7:46.19, lifetime best. David Oliver after a sluggish start took the 60m hurdles with a time of 7.60, world outdoor 400m champion Kirani James opened the season with world leading 45.96 (second Josh Scott 46.54). DeeDee Trotter was the best at 300 m (37.07, second Bianca Knight 37.12) and Murielle Ahoure from the Ivory Coast in the 60m 7.13 beating Gloria Asumnu 7.20 and Lakya Brookins 7.21. Adam Nelson claimed the shot title with a first round effort of 21.27 (Cory Martin 20.44 as second) in front of a sell out crowd of 4,072 spectators at the Reggie Lewis Centre (17th edition of the meet). In total six world leads were registered. With help from David Martin.

 

WORLD LEAD FOR CAMARENA-WILLIAMS

FLAGSTAFF (USA, Feb 4): World leading shot put for US world medalist Jill Camarena-Williams 19.62 ahead of Sarah Walker 18.42. Belgian Arnaud Froidmont improved his best at NAU Open meet here at altitude to 46.82 at 400 m. Fast 60 m for Ryan Milus 6.60 ahead of Daniel Auberry 6.63 (PB).

 

WORLD BEST FOR FELIX SANCHEZ

MONDEVILLE (FRA, Feb 4): New indoor world best at 400 m hurdles for legendary Felix Sanchez 49.25 at the international indoor meet here. Bulgarian world finalist Ivet Lalova opened the season with 7.20 at 60 m (second Laura Turner 7.29). Belarus Alina Talai achieved 8.06 to win the 60 m hurdles beating improved Italian Marzia Caravelli 8.12. In other male events Cuban Yunier Perez (lives in Spain) achieved fast 6.61, Italian Simone Collio was also fast in heats 6.62 Ethiopian Abiyot Abinet this time achieved 7:57.27 to win the 3000 m. Good 60 m hurdles for US Fred Townsend 7.57 ahead of Thomas Delmestre 7.67 and Briton Lawrence Clarke 7.69. In the pole vault British win for Steven Lewis on count-back over Romain Mesnil with 562 cm.

 

 

 

ROAD RACES

 

 

GRANOLLERS (ESP, Feb 5): Marathon world record holder Patrick Makau was second at the 26th Granollers Half Marathon in 1:02:39. In fresh, windy and sunny conditions (6 degrees at the start and the same at finish) Carles Castillejo was better by three seconds in 1:02:36. Makau was running without specific training for this race in his build-up for 2012 marathon season. In 2011 Makau clocked in February 1:03:51. Sixth place for European Champion Viktor Rothlin of Switzerland 1:03:33. With help from Possosports.

 

HONGKONG (HKG, Feb 5): Losing a marathon by one second last year taught Dejere Abera of Ethiopia a lesson that he put to good use when he won the Standard Chartered Hong Kong Marathon - an IAAF Bronze Label event - by less than a second. Indeed so tight and exciting was the men's finish that Eliud Cheptei in second place shared Dejere's winning time of 2:11:27 (new course record), while two more Kenyans, Cosmas Kyeva and Julius Maisei were just one second each further back (2:11:28). Ethiopian women winner Misiker Demissie took pride of place when her runaway victory in the women's race, in 2:30:12, took all of three and a half minutes from last year's course record. Second Shitaye Gemechu of Ethiopia 2:31:44 ahead of Kenyan Winfred Nyansikera 2:31:47 and North Korean Kim Kum-Ok 2:32:48. Given the tough course here, and the inevitable humidity, around 90% at one stage, albeit with reasonable temperatures of 16-19C (61-66F), the times were never going to be of the order of last week's Dubai record breaking spree. But, like Dubai this was another Ethiopian double header to relish, and remind the Kenyans that they're not going to get all their own way in Olympic year. Informs Pat Butcher (www.globerunner.org). Winners got 50 000 USD and more bonus for course records.

 

JOHANNESBURG (RSA, Feb 5): SA media are informing that Coolboy Ngamole made a strong bid for the country's Olympic Games squad on Sunday, setting his second qualifying time to win the SA Marathon Championships in George in 2:13:18. He also won the national marathon title in 2010. Second Michael Mazibuko 2:13:18 and third Zolani Ntogana 2:16:50. Charne Bosman defended her women's title, though she missed the Olympic A-standard by nearly five minutes, winning in 2:41:56. Mpho Mabuza was second in 2:43:29 and Gladys Lukhwareni finished third in 2:48:25. Interesting to see reinstated Gert Thys third in veteran category 2:23:33.

 

OITA (JPN, Feb 5): Kenyan Harun Njoroge won the 61st Beppu-Oita Mainichi Marathon in lifetime best 2:09:38. Second Serod Batochir improved his own Mongolian record to 2:11:05, third Ethiopian Yakob Jarso debuted with 2:11:13. Best Japanese fourth placer Kohei Matsumura 2:11:17 also in debut. The race was not part of olympic qualifying process.

 

MARUGAME (JPN, Feb 5): Fast times at Marugame Half marathon in Japan. Kenyan Matthew Kisorio clocked 1:00:02 over his team-mates Daniel Gitau 1:01:01, Jacob Wanjiku 1:01:02 and Benjamin Gandu 1:01:06 (for all lifetime bests). Best Japanese fifth Yusuke Takabayashi another PB 1:01:31 ahead of Arata Fujiwara 1:01:34. As 27th top Japanese marathon runner Yuki Kawauchi clocked personal best 1:02:18. Last year Amsterdam marathon winner Tiki Gelena won the women race in her first sub 1:10, very solid 1:08:48 (32:47 10 km split). In very deep results by Japanese runners the top ones were second Kaoru Nagao 1:10:32 and third Sayo Nomura 1:10:34 (for both also PB´s).

 

 

 

INDOOR RESULTS

 

 

SHEFFIELD (GBR, Feb 4): Reigning World indoor pentathlon champion Jessica Ennis won the 60 m hurdles for her city of Sheffield in 8.05, her fastest seasons opener. But could manage a modest 619 in the long jump which was won by another heptathlete, Katarina Thompson who leapt 639 for a national junior record. Andrew Pozzi won the men´s hurdles in 7.70 and Marilyn Okoro the 800m in 2:04.29 in her first race of year. Interesting to note former European indoor silver medallist Tony Whiteman (40) ran 3:47.20 for 1500 m.

 

BIRMINGHAM (GBR, Feb 4): At Birmingham Games (1st day) fast 60 m for Richard Kilty 6.61 in the semis. Richard Buck clocked 46.95 in the 400 m heats. Shana Cox got 53.08 in women 400 m heats.

 

UNIVERSITY PARK (USA, Feb 4): At Sykes and Sabock Challenge Cup good 21.28 in the shot put by Ryan Whiting.

 

ALBUQUERQUE (USA, Feb 4): Solid 400 m at New Mexico Classic when Jarrin Solomon achieved 46.55 ahead of Marcus Boyd 46.93. World triple bronze winner Will Claye registered 16.69 m.

 

CHAMPAIGN (USA, Feb 4): Fast 60 m hurdles for Christina Manning 7.99 at Orange and Blue Open beating UK record holder Tiffany Porter 8.00 and Jamaican Natasha Ruddock 8.23.

 

SOUTH BEND (USA, Feb 4): Fast 3000 m at Meyo Invitational (oversized track) for Kenyan Paul Chelimo 7:49.87 ahead of Andrew Bayer 7:50.27. In the 400 m race Patrick Feeney improved to 46.73 and US team member Mary Wineberg got 53.57.

 

NEW YORK (USA, Feb 4): New Balance Collegiate second day registered 20.93 for Tavaris Tate at 200 m, Zambian Prince Mumba clocked 1:48.56 in the 800 m and 800 m runner Brian Gagnon hugely improved at 1500 m to 3:41.73 (previous best 3:49.99). James Harris cleared 227 in the high jump. On the women side Kimberlyn Duncan sped to 23.22 at the 200 m, Marlena Wesh to 52.21 at 400 m (new national record for Haiti) and Regina George to 1:09.81 in the 500 m. Lauren Centrowitz won the 1500 m in 4:14.06.

 

ANTEQUERA (ESP, Feb 4): Fast 800 m by Spanish Kevin Lopez 1:47.82.

 

ZARAGOZA (ESP, Feb 4): At Spanish Gran Premio meet here Francisco Javier Abad clocked 3:39.90 at 1500 m ahead of Manuel Olmedo 3:40.31. Eusebio Caceres won the long jump with 797 (ahead of Luis Felipe Meliz 793) and was second at 60 m in 6.77 (winner Angel David Rodriguez 6.64). Istanbul standard also for Isabel Macias 4:13.72 at 1500 m.

 

LUXEMBURG (LUX, Feb 4): The 10th edition of Dussmann Indoor Meeting had German Helge Schwarzer improving to 7.58 at 60 m hurdles (second Hungarian Balazs Baji 7.67). In the women 60 m Dutch Dafne Schippers showed her multi-talent with improving to 7.25 in heats and finals. Second French Carima Louami 7.30 and third Jamile Samuel 7.36 (but PB 7.29 in heats). Former Briton Tim Abeye now running for Ghana won the 60 m in 6.69 and Kenyan Benson Seurei was the best in the 1500 m in 3:41.05. Olga Zemlyak of Ukraine clocked 52.74 in the 400 m. In the jumps Bulgarian Mirela Demireva cleared 190 and German Kristina Gadschiew 441.

 

MAGGLINGEN (SUI, Feb 4): Italian Emanuele Abate is having top shape. At national meet in Switzerland he clocked in heats of 60 m hurdles new national record 7.57 (former record was from 1998). He won the finals afterwards with 7.66. Anna-Katharina Schmid cleared 442 in the pole vault.

 

FRANKFURT (GER, Feb 4): More from winter throwing meet in Germany in discus. Nadine Muller 66.07 and Martin Wierig 64.72.

 

EAUBONNE (FRA, Feb 4): 2009 European U23 Champion Yannick Fonsat became the first European of the year to dip under 21 in the 200 m with 20.95.

 

PRAHA (CZE, Feb 4): During first day of Prague City Championships Lucie Skrobakova improved her season best to 8.09 at 60 m hurdles and Jirina Ptacnikova cleared 455 cm in the pole vault. In the Stromovka Hall Roman Sebrle tested his shape with 8.21 at 60 m Hurdles, 480 in the pole vault and 7.29 at 60 m.

 

ATHENS (GRE, Feb 4): Two national indoor records at opening meet of the season. Konstadinos Douvalidis clocked 7.64 at 60 m hurdles and Eleni Filandra got 2:02.08 in the 800 m.