by Larry Eder
1300 plus athletes and 150 countries to compete in Istanbul, Turkey.
41 Russians for Istanbul
MOSCOW (RUS): The presidium of Russian Athletics Federation confirmed
the preliminary team selection for World Indoor Championships. The team
contains 41 athletes (26 women and 15 men). Byes from national
championships were recieved by Yelena Isinbaeva, Anna Chicherova (she
still must confirm her participation, but it is expected she will do so)
and Aleksandr Menkov. Invited by IAAF are Tatyana Chernova and
Yekaterina Bolshova for pentathlon. There are also hopes that Artyom
Lukyanenko could be invited by IAAF for heptathlon. Winner in the 400 m
Pavel Trenikhin and long jumper Olga Kucherenko who was not competing at
nationals did not plan for Istanbul. High jump winner Ivan Ukhov
confirmed his availability for Istanbul. Others were selected based on
their performances at national championships. The team – men – 400 m:
Kruglyakov, Aleksandrenko, added for relay Petukhov, Frolov, Golubev,
1500 m: Nikolayev, 60mH: Borisov, Shabanov, HJ: Ukhov, Silnov, PV:
Starodubtsev, LJ: Menkov, TJ: Adams, SP: Sidorov, Yushkov. Women – 60 m:
Filatova, 400 m: Fedoriva, Gushchina or Davydova, added for relay Ustalova,
Karnaushchenko, S. Pospelova, 800 m: Kofanova, Rusanova, 1500
m: Arzhakova, 3000 m: Vasilyeva, Khaleyeva, 60mH: Galitskaya, Topilina,
HJ: Chicherova, Gordeyeva, PV: Isinbaeva, Savchenko, LJ: Sokolova,
Klishina, TJ: Krylova, Valyukevich, SP: Kolodko, Tarasova, Pent:
Chernova, Bolshova.
Golovkina 5000 m 15:39.61
MOSCOW (RUS, Feb 24): Olga Golovkina clocked during last day of Russian
Indoor Championships world leading non-oversized time of 15:39.61 at the
5000 m. It is also best time of an European runner this year. European
U23 Champion Yelena Arzhakova who did not qualify for 800 m final won
the 1500 m in 4:09.43 beating Yevgeniy Zolotova 4:12.33 and former
champion Yelena Soboleva 4:12.84. Another runner from past Yuliya
Chizhenko won her heat in 4:16.68. First title for Anna Krylova in the
triple jump 14.31. Second wife of Slovak triple jump record holder
Viktoriya Valyukevich (formerly Gurova) 14.29 ahead of Yekaterina Koneva
14.24 and Yana Borodina 14.22. 15 meters jumper Nadezhda Alekhina was
6th (14.04) and European indoor champion 2009 Anastasiya Potapova 7th
(14.00). In remaining male events Yegor Nikolayev got his second gold
after 3000 m with 3:40.90 in the 1500 m. Andrey Safronov was the 5000 m
winner (13.56.91). Dmitriy Starodubtsev confirmed his number one
position in the country in the pole vault with 572 clearance. Sergey
Nikolayev achieved for first time indoors exactly 8 meters in the long
jump and that was enough for win over Andrey Khaylov 794. But not enough
for Istanbul selection. The best Aleksandr Menkov recieved a bye. In
the final relays this time no world records, but solid times. In the
women 4×800 Moscow with champion Yelena Kofanova as anchor clocked
fourth fastest ever 8:15.57. In men´s 4×800 m Moscow beat with 7:23.62
the Sverdlovsk team 7:23.76. In the 4×200 m wins for men of Moscow
1:25.41 and women of St. Peterburg 1:34.95.
Oprea and Gavrila with good marks
BUCURESTI (ROU, Feb 24): Good triple jumping during first day of
Romanian Indoor Championships. Multiple European medalist Marian Oprea
showed improved shape with season best of 16.97. Greek guest Dimitrios
Tsiamis was second 16.60. In women triple Adelina Gavrila 14.24 ahead of
Cristina Bujin 14.12. 22-years old high jumper Marius Dumitrache
improved from 218 to winning 227 cm.
Krivitskiy over 79 meters
STAIKI (BLR, Feb 24): Pavel Krivitskiy achieved good 79.37 in hammer
during Belarus National Cup in winter throwing. Second Yuriy Shayunov
79.00. In women hammer Olga Tsander registered 70.40 over Alina Kostrova
70.31 and reigning olympic winner Oksana Menkova 69.87. The meet served
also as qualification for European Cup Winter Throwing in March in Bar,
Montenegro.
Two athletes from St. Kitts
BASSETERRE (STK): Female 400 m runner Tiandra Ponteen and male 60 m
runner Brijesh Lawrence are the only two athletes selected to represent
St. Kitts & Nevis at the World Indoor Championships in Istanbul. Kim
Collins the former world champion and Daegu bronze medalist declared
himself as not available for the event. Lawrence was a member of 4×100 m bronze team from World Championships 2011.
