Stephanie Brown-Trafton Sets New Discus American Record, by Alfons Juck, Note by Larry Eder

Stephanie Brown-Trafton, photo by PhotoRun.net

Stephanie Brown Trafton, the 2008 Beijing Olympic champion is rounding into shape once again, at the right time. Setting an AR in Maui should remind a few that Stephanie has been in the gold medal circle before and has the levers to put the discus into the stratosphere. Should be fun in Eugene and London.

EME NEWS (MAY 5, 2012)

US discus women record
MAUI (USA, May 4): Throwing in the friendly wind conditions on Maui,
Hawaii, the reigning Olympic champ Stephanie Trafton Brown improved US
record to 67.74 in third round. Second Krishna Poonia of India, the Commonwealth
Games winner, achieved her second best ever 63.67 ahead of US Gia
Lewis-Smallwood 62.88. Australian Scott Martin in his returning quest
won the menÂ´s discus with personal best and olympic qualifier 65.63.
Second Lance Brooks 64.93 PB over Russ Winger 63.98.

European Indoors 2015 to Prague
SOFIA (BUL): Prague will stage the 33rd European Indoor Championships
2015. The European Athletics Council at its 132nd meeting made the
decision after the Czech athletics federation presented its candidacy.
European Athletics President HansjÃ¶rg Wirz said, “We are very pleased
to confirm that Prague will be the hosts of the European Athletics
Indoor Championships in 2015.” Czech athletics federation President
Libor Varhanik said to the Council, “Thank you very much for putting
your trust in us, and we welcome you all to Prague in 2015.” Olympic
javelin champion and world record holder Barbora Å potÃ¡kovÃ¡ was among the
Prague delegation which made its final presentation to the Council.
Istanbul were the other candidate city that presented their bid during
the meeting. Prague hosted the 1967 European Indoor Games, the precursor
to the European Athletics Indoor Championships, and the 1978 European
Athletics Championships. Place of the event will be the modern and
multifunctional O2 arena where previously Prague Indoor meet 2009 was
staged with Meseret Defar, Yelena Isinbaeva, Danielle Carruthers, Kim
Collins, Paul Kipsiele Koech, Ahmed Ismail as main stars. In the O2
arena other top sports events were held, for example NHL ice-hockey games,
Tennis Davis Cup, Basketball Euro League finals etc. The next European
indoors will be held in 2013 in Goteborg (March 1-3).

Oceanian discus men record
TOWNSVILLE (AUS, May 4): World finalist Benn Harradine improved the
Oceanian discus record to 67.53 at the Townsville Student and Allcomers
Games in Queensland. Opening his campaign with a foul, Harradine’s world
leading throw came in round three, with his series also including two
other throws beyond the London qualifying mark of 65.00 m. Informs
Athletics Australia.

A. Merritt world leading 13.03
FAYETTEVILLE (USA, May 4): World indoor champion Aries Merritt showed
impressive shape in only his second outdoor meet of the year. At
Arkansas Twilight he posted windy 12.99 (+2.9) in the heats and then won
the final with world leading personal best 13.03 (+1.0). His former
mark was 13.09 from Stockholm DN Galan meet in 2007. His next meets will
be in Asia against top opponents like David Oliver, Jason Richardson
and Liu Xiang. Former world and olympic winner Jeremy Wariner tested his
shape in the 200 m and was fourth (20.76, +1.3). Winner Akheem
Gauntlett got 20.45. Ivanique Kemp of Bahamas equaled her own national
record at 100 m hurdles with 13.20 (+1.7). Russian talent Vera Rudakova
won the 400 m hurdles (57.75) and pole vault national record holder Tina
Sutej of Slovenia won her event with 445 clearance.

S. Kiplagat 1:44.8 PB
NAIROBI (KEN, May 4): World 1500 m silver medallist Silas Kiplagat on
Friday sent a strong warning to his rivals ahead of the Diamond League
meets and Olympics trials with a scintillating display at the Kenya
Prisons Athletics Championship at the Nyayo National Stadium. As The
Nation writes he clocked in the 800 m new event best 1:44.8. It is also
personal best for the miler. Second Reuben Bett got 1:46.0. In the 1500
m Salomon Barngetuny won in 3:40.7 ahead of long distance runner and
World 6th placer at 5000 m Thomas Longosiwa 3:41.0 PB. Lawrence Kemboi was the
best in the steeple 8:38.4 and Isaac Korir in the 10 000 m 28:25.2. Two
times Africa Junior 800m champion Lydia Wafula also shattered Prisons
record in the women 800 m in 2:01.9. Former Marathon world champion
Catherine Ndereba and long distance runner Caroline Kwambai found the 10
000 m final too tough to finish fourth and third as bare-foot guest
athlete Priscilla Lorchima claimed victory in 33:52.0. Timothy Kiptoo
was the best in menÂ´s 5000 m 13:40.0.

Kovago 68.21 WL

BUDAPEST (HUN, May 4): There was a meeting in the HonvÃ©d Stadium with
field events. Last year world leader ZoltÃ¡n Kovago won the discus throw
with world leading 68.21 m. Only the best throw was measured, it was his
5th attempt. Hungary has now two throwing world leaders Kovago and
Pars. Second 2005 world medalist in decathlon Attila Zsivoczky achieved
his second best of the career 49.36 m.

Theron improves again

PRETORIA (RSA, May 5): During second day of South African Open
Championships Wenda Theron again improved her 400 m hurdles best. After
55.37 in the heat on Friday she achieved 55.36 in the final on Saturday.
Thuso Mpuang also got life-time best when winning the 200 m in 20.44
(-0.4). Tsholofelo Thipe was the best in women 200 m in 23.18 (+0.4) and
faster 23.04 (+1.4) in the semifinals. Solid one lap results for
Offentse Mogawane 45.54 and Kurt Couto of Mozambique with hurdles 49.24.
18-years old Botswana talent Nijel Amos won the 800 m in new national
junior record 1:46.21.

OTHER RESULTS

FAIRFAX (USA, May 4): David Verburg clocked in heats of CAA Championships solid 45.62 in the 400 m.

BLOOMINGTON (USA, May 4): Molly Beckwith won the 800 m at Bill Hayes Invitational in 2:01.70.

LONDON (GBR, May 4): Justine Kinney ensured Ireland will always have a
special place in London 2012 history when she became the first athlete
to win a race in the Olympic Stadium. The 24-year-old, a psychology
student at Loughborough University, claimed the first heat of the
women’s 400 metres hurdles at the British Universities and Colleges
Sport (BUCS) Championships, which is doubling as the athletics test
event for the Games. The wet and cold conditions did not dampen the
enthusiasm of the 4000 spectators allowed in to watch and they ensured
Kinney will remember her moment forever, even though her winning time of
59.79 was more than two-and-a-half seconds slower than her personal
best. The fastest in the 100 m heats were Danny Talbot in 10.37 with
Harry Aikines-Aryetey 10.43. Charlotte Purdue won the women
5000 m in meet record 15:55.12. With the help from insidethegames.

PRAHA (CZE, May 4): Czech European 2010 400 m hurdles finalist Josef
Prorok improved at local open meet his own Czech all-time best at 300 m
hurdles with 35.99. He also won his heat in the 500 m with 1:02.28
(faster in other race Daniel Nemecek 1:02.21). World best by Briton
Chris Rawlinson at 300 m hurdles is 34.48.

BELEM (BRA, May 4): Fabiano Pecanha won the traditional South American
road mile championships race here in 3:59. Second Ivan Lopez of Chile
3:59 and third young Argentinian Frederico Bruno 4:00.

BARQUISIMETO (VEN, May 4): At Memorial Maximo Viloria Cuban guest Yoandri Betanzos won the triple with 16.55 m.

Author

Larry Eder

Larry Eder has had a 52-year involvement in the sport of athletics. Larry has experienced the sport as an athlete, coach, magazine publisher, and now, journalist and blogger. His first article, on Don Bowden, America's first sub-4 minute miler, was published in RW in 1983. Larry has published several magazines on athletics, from American Athletics to the U.S. version of Spikes magazine. He currently manages the content and marketing development of the RunningNetwork, The Shoe Addicts, and RunBlogRun. Of RunBlogRun, his daily pilgrimage with the sport, Larry says: "I have to admit, I love traveling to far away meets, writing about the sport I love, and the athletes I respect, for my readers at runblogrun.com, the most of anything I have ever done, except, maybe running itself." Also does some updates for BBC Sports at key events, which he truly enjoys.

Theme song: Greg Allman, " I'm no Angel."

View all posts