by Larry Eder
Oscar Pistorius, Milano 2011, photo by PhotoRun.net
When I was fortunate enough to meet Oscar Pistorius at the Nike Prefontaine Classic last year, I was taken by how relaxed he was. Oscar was obviously comfortable with the press, not searching it out, but understanding that this was part of his sporting life. He has fascinated many in the general sports audience, and has fascinated many in the track public.
Running 45.20 shows how much of an athlete Oscar really is, and note here, that the young man has the potential to run much, much faster.
Pistorius told a story to the media with him at Pre, which was NBC staff and myself, about his childhood. He and his brother were typical boys, and his older brother had a go kart. They would take it down the steep hill by their home, with the rule that they stopped a couple of driveways down the hill, in order not to get too fast or go into cross traffic.
Well, one day, the older brother allowed Oscar on the go kart. They picked up speed. They did not go into the first two driveways so they were seriously picking up speed. Oscar noted, in retelling the story, that they were heading towards the cross traffic.
It was then, that Oscar’s brother asked for one of his legs with a sneaker on it. Strongly grasping Oscar’s artificial leg with sneaker, Oscar’s brother used the sneaker as a brake.
The smell of rubber was intense as the sneaker and artificial leg did its work, slowing down the go kart with the two young boys from heading into cross-traffic.
Oscar smiled telling us this story, he said that it was then that he knew his legs could be special.
We look forward to seeing Oscar Pistorious this summer…
Ostapchuk 20.29
BAR (MNE, Mar 17): European Champion Nadezhda Ostapchuk of Belarus
achieved the top result of the first day of the 12th edition of
European Cup Winter Throwing which was held in Bar, first top event
in Montenegro. She got 20.28 in round five and even better 20.29 in
the last throw of the women shot put. German Nadine Kleinert second
(19.12) ahead of her team-mate Josephine Terlecki (18.59) and
Russian European Indoor Champion from last year Anna Avdeyeva
(18.40). In second women event of the day Slovenian win for Martina
Ratej in the javelin with solid 63.59 in round two. British Goldie
Sayers with 62.75 was second and third and last with 60+ was Russian Marina
Maksimova 60.33. Dutch Eric Cadee won men´s discus with 64.09 from
fourth round over Turkish record holder Ercument Olgundeniz who was
leading from second throw 63.59. Bronze for another Dutch thrower
Rutger Smith 63.30. Fourth overall was the winner of the
B-competition German Martin Wierig (62.44). Hammer throw this time
did not come over 76 meters. Russian winner Kirill Ikonnikov
achieved 75.95 beating Belarus Siarhei Kolomoets 75.15 and Hungarian
Kristof Nemeth 74.23. Italian European 2010 medalist Nicola Vizzoni
was fourth 73.36. In the U23 competitions first two gold medals for
Scandinavian athletes. Sanni Utriainen the 2010 World junior
champion won the women javelin (57.39) and Norwegian senior record
holder Eivind Henriksen the hammer (73.62). In women U23 shot put
German win for Sophie Kleeberg (17.42, third Turkish 16 years old
Emel Dereli with national junior and youth record 16.87). And
finally in men´s U23 discus joy for the home country as Danijel
Furtula (silver winner from European juniors in Tallinn 2011) won
and achieved national senior record for Montenegro 60.24 m.
Pistorius 45.20
PRETORIA (RSA, Mar 17): Oscar Pistorius opened his 400 m season in
great way. In the heats of the Provincial Championships (North
Gauteng Province) he clocked his second fastest career mark and
olympic qualifier 45.20. He was only faster once last year in
Lignano meet with 45.07 in July in Italy. Pistorius did not run the
final which was won by Jacques de Swardt in 46.14 ahead of Willem de
Beer 46.16. Conditions were sunny with almost no wind. First
international races are planned for Pistorius in Ostrava on May 25
and Hengelo on May 27 at IAAF World Challenge meetings. Before that
he will run at BT Paralympic World Cup in Manchester.
OTHER RESULTS
POTCHESFTROOM (RSA, Mar 17): At the Championships of the North-West
Province Tsholofelo Thipe clocked 23.31 to win the women 200 m. She is
returning to competition after giving birth to a baby girl in 2010.
Thipe is national 100 m and 400 m champion from 2009.
KERZERS (SUI, Mar 17): Kenyans dominated the 34th Kerzerslauf at 15 km.
Geoffrey Ndungu clocked 43:47 ahead of Kadengoi Loitareng 43:51 and
Dickson Kurui 44:29. Best European was the Swiss Stephane Joly as 11th
(48:37). Caroline Chepwkony was the best female runner in 49:43 what is
new course record. Second another Kenyan Rose Chelimo 50:32 and third
Jane Muia also from Kenya 51:34. Best European was the fourth placer
Beata Rakonczai of Hungary in 51:35. In total 8780 runners participated,
new record.
CHONGQING (CHN, Mar 17): To add best Chinese male runner Dong
Guojian in 2:15:03.
BAILE FELIX (ROU, Mar 17): National CC Champions are Nicolae Soare
in the men´s 10 km and Ancuta Bobocel in women´s 8 km.
VAL DE REUIL (FRA, Mar 17): Ken Romain clocked 6.78 in the 60 m to win the French junior indoor title.
ILTON (GBR, Mar 17): Aviva English Schools Cross Country Championships
saw Jonathan Davies to win the senior boys race in 23:02 over Kieran
Clements 23:09. Emily Gorecka won the senior girls in 14:46 clearly
beating Jessica Judd 15:09.
BLOOMINGTON (USA, Mar 17): Former world class sprinter Bill Collins
etched his name next to a pair of world marks set at the US Masters
Indoor Track & Field Championships. He reached world mark in the M60
60m (7.58) and anchored the Houston Elite M60 4x200m (1:41.53). For
Collins the two world records were a true sign that he is completely
healed. His journey over the past year left Collins fighting for more
than just to continue his career as a masters athlete. His bests were
10.24 and 20.49 in the early eighties. Informs USATF website.
