byLarry Eder
Am very sad to hear about Dwight Phillips, one of my favorite athletes, not being able to compete in the Trials. Also heard about that with Deena Kastor, one of our real trail blazers in American women distance running.
Ndiku 3:33.85, Sum 1:59.75
KASARANI (KEN, Jun 15): Athletics Kenya (AK) chairman Isaiah Kiplagat caused a stir when he said that a selection panel would decide who goes to Olympics in the 10 000 m, contradicting the earlier announcement of first three across the line at the national championships for women race. After the nationals, AK named a squad of 47 athletes for Africa Senior Athletics Championships due June 26 to July 1 in Benin. Priscah Jepleting (32:38.29), who finished fifth followed by Betsy Saina (32:46.81) and Margaret Akai (32:47.67), will represent the country at the continental event. Florence Kiplagat, who was fourth, is on stand-by in the women’s marathon team for London Games. There were no surprises in other events as the World Indoor 3000 m champion, Hellen Obiri, won the 1500 m title in 4:07.4 after seeing off Africa Cross Country silver medallist Margaret Wangare (4:09.0) and Mary Kuria (4:11.0). The 2011 All Africa Games and 2010 World Junior 1500 m champion, Caleb Mwangangi Ndiku, won his speciality in fast 3:33.85 (second James Magut 3:34.6 PB and third Abednego Chesebe 3:35.02 PB) while Joyce Zakari retained her national 400m title in 52.1, brushing aside World Indoor and Olympic 800m champion Pamela Jelimo (52.9, correction to previous report). Vincent Mumo is the new 400m champion with a time of 46.10 while Ibrahim Muya, who clocked 10.29 in the semi-finals to miss the national record by 0.03 seconds, retained the men’s 100m title in 10.38. Commonwealth Games silver medallist Mercy Njoroge won the 3000 m steeple in 9:40.0 (second Ivin Kiyeng 9:41.3 and third Fanenca Chemutai 9:42.8) as Abel Mutai collected men’s honours in 8:27.7 (second Wilson Maraba 8:28.0 and third Abraham Chirchir 8:28.2). From Thursday events to confirm the 5000 m win for Geoffrey Kipsang in 13:31.3 ahead of Jonathan Maiyo 13:32.0 and Timothy Kiptoo 13:33.1. Gladys Cherono was the best in women 5000 m (15:39.5) beating Veronica Nyaurai 15:40.8 and Janet Kisa 15:41.7. In the 800 m the title for Anthony Chemut in 1:46.1 beating Cornelius Kiplagat 1:46.4 and Richard Kiplagat 1:46.7. Eunice Sum showed top shape with 1:59.75 women 800 m win over Jane Jelagat 2:00.09. Boniface Mucheru got 49.81 when winning the 400 m hurdles. David Kimutai confirmed his 20 km walk position with 1:23:36 win. The same for javelin national record holder Julius Yego with 77.06 win. From Elias Makori.
D. Phillips out of London
PHOENIX (USA): Four time long jump world champion Dwight Phillips will not be able to enlarge his medal collection at London Olympic Games (has one gold from Athens 2004). He said on his twitter: “Due to a reoccurring Achilles problem I will not make trials. I want to thank my sponsors Nike and Kellogg’s and fans for all your support.” He also added that he had a surgery and is looking forward to compete in 2013 what will be he his last year of a great career.
“I am looking forward to competing at the World Championship in 2013 which will be my final year,” the 34-years old Phillips said on his twitter account. He competed at two Olympic Games, six World Championships and one World Indoor Championships, has personal best 874 cm from 2009 in the long jump. His average of top ten marks is 857.7 (by Tilastopaja).
Bourrada African decathlon record
RATINGEN (GER, Jun 15): Algerian Larbi Bourrada defended his title from last year at 16th Erdgas Meeting here (IAAF CE Challenge) with new African decathlon record of 8332 points (last year here previous record 8302). He was leading from the beginning until the javelin when he lost the position to German Jan-Felix Knobel (67.68 and 71.38) but regained it back with fast 4:24.08 in the 1500 m. Knobel clocked 4:41.24 and scored 8228 points for second place. Cubans followed Yordani Garcia 8005 and Yunior Diaz 7735. German Julia Machtig won the heptathlon with personal best 6345 points ahead of Maren Schwerdtner 6000 and Swiss Ellen Sprunger 5989. Overnight leader Rebecca Wardell after only 591 in the long jump did not contest the javelin because of a slight injury. Knobel qualified for the Olympic Games, the same for Machtig.
NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIPS IN EUROPE
POLAND (Bielsko-Biala): Solid throwing marks by favorites during first day of 88th Polish Championships. Tomasz Majewski achieved 21.07 in the shot put (second Damian Kusiak 19.81) and Anita Wlodarczyk 74.71 in the women hammer. Lukasz Michalski cleared 560 to win the pole vault ahead of Swedish guest Alhaji Jeng 550 with world champion Pawel Wojciechowski beeing a non-starter. Sprint titles went to Dariusz Kuc 10.20 (+0.3, second Kamil Krynski 10.33) and Daria Korczynska 11.39 (+0.2). Last year silver medalist at European junior championships Tomasz Jaszczuk won the long jump with 805 (+0.1). Pavlina Guba improved to 17.47 to be the best in women shot put. Lukasz Parszczynski confirmed his number one position in the steeple with 8:26.55 win over Lukasz Oslizlo 8:27.64 PB. Wioletta Frankiewicz won the 5000 m title in 15:50.70. Good times from heats, Marek Plawgo 49.66 in the 400 m hurdles, Piotr Wiaderek 45.96 in the 400 m and Tina Matusinska 55.92 in the 400 m hurdles.
BULGARIA (Sliven): Georgi Georgiev improved to 10.32 (+1.9) in the 100 m to win the Bulgarian title over Qatari guest Samuel Francis (10.34). Local athlete from Sliven Momchil Karailiev was the best as expected in the triple jump with windy 16.93 (+2.4). Silvia Danekova clocked second best ever in Bulgaria in women steeple 9:51.14. Romanian guest Alina Rotaru won the long jump (655, +2.4). Fast 110 m hurdles (wind-reading not yet available) by Fawaz Al-Shammari in 13.48 (NR for Kuweit), David Ilariani of Georgia second 13.58 also NR and third Martin Arnaudov of Bulgaria improving to 13.68.
FRANCE (Angers): Christophe Lemaitre won his first title at this year French Championships with his team of Aix-les-Bains at the 4×100 m with 39.73 (he was second runner). Distances were tactical races with wins for Yohan Durand (13:51.81, 5000 m), Christine Bardelle (15:48.38, 5000 m) and Claire Navez (9:51.62, steeple). Favorite wins in other women events, Melina Robert-Michon 60.57 in discus and Eloyse Leseuer in long jump (645, -0.9).
GREECE (Athens): Kostadinos Douvalidis came close to his national 110 m hurdles record (13.41) with getting the national title in Olympic Stadium in 13.47 (+1.1). World indoor champion Dimitrios Hondrokoukis cleared 225 to win the high jump and then tried at 231. Improved javelin thrower Spiridon Lebesis confirmed his level with 82.25 win. In women events sensation from sprinter Maria Belibasaki improving from 11.9 level to 11.34 (+0.9) Helsinki qualifier at the 100 m. Paraskevi Papahristou got 660 (+2.0) long jump win. In pole vault Nikoleta Kiriakopoulou won only on count-back with 450 over improved Stella Iro-Ledako 450 PB.
OTHER NEWS
HAVANA (CUB): Hurdles world record holder Dayron Robles is reported to be healthy from the small injury from two weeks ago. He plans to come to Europe and compete at the end of the month. Because of the injury he was not running at the New York Diamond League meet last weekend.
BRUSSELS (BEL): Female long distance runner from Ethiopia Almensch Belete completed her quest for Belgian nationality as the naturalization was oficially published by the authorities. She can now call herself call a Belgian. She clocked standards for Helsinki and London in the 5000 m and will be able to represent her new country at both top events.
SAPPORO (JPN): Japanese runners Arata Fujiwara and Ryo Yamamoto will use the 55th Sapporo International Half Marathon on July 1 as test before London Olympic marathon. Also running fast Kenyans living in Japan Josphat Ndambiri and Martin Mathathi. Top name on women side is Yukiko Akaba with Mai Ito and Eri Okubo.
WATTENSCHEID (GER): Second best German hammer thrower Kathrin Klaas will not be able to compete at National Championships over the weekend. She is still not fit from the incident at Prefontaine Classic in Eugene wh
ere she during an attempt fell on her head.
SESTO SAN GIOVANNI (ITA): The 55th edition of Coppa Città di Sesto San Giovanni will be not only national championships but also part of IAAF Race Walking Challenge 2012 on Sunday. In the 20 km men´s race (afternoon) international competition will come from Mexican Eder Sanchez, Russian Pyotr Trofimov, Norwegian Trond Nymark and Tunisian Hatem Ghoula. In women 20 km (in the morning) Chinese Zhen Wang will face Spanish Beatriz Pascual.
RESULTS
BAUSKA (LAT, Jun 15): At Janis Lusis javelin meet Ainars Kovals achieved good quality 83.89 m. Sinta Ozolina was the best woman with 60.70.
BUCURESTI (ROU, Jun 15): Romanian National GP meet first day had Turkish guest Duvar Hakan achieved 8:25.28 in the steeple. In women race Ancuta Bobocel got 9:40.29 ahead of Turkish Ozata Turkan 9:43.95. Marius Dumitrache cleared outdoor PB in the high jump 227 cm. Bianca Perie was the best in women hammer (70.05) and Ioana Doaga in the 1500 m (4:09.20).
MISANO ADRIATICO (ITA, Jun 15): First day of Italian Junior and U23 Championships had good high jump marks. In junior category Alessia Trost cleared 190 and in U23 Gianmarco Tamberi 226 cm.
KRASNODAR (RUS, Jun 8): Late additions from Caucasus regional Championships. Former European indoor champion Antonina Krivoshapka clocked European leading and second fastest in the world 2012 49.43 in the 400 m. Olympic medalist Yevgeniy Lukyanenko cleared 573 in the pole vault and Valeriya Zavyalova improved in triple jump to 14.37 (+0.1).
CORRECTIONS
ARTASHAT (ARM, Jun 8): Arsen Sargsyan achieved in long jump new personal best, not Armenian record 820 (+1.8).
BISHKEK (KGZ, Jun 9-10): At International Kolpakova Meet in Kirgizstan fast 200 m by Viktoriya Zyabkina of Kazakhstan 22.92 (+1.4) is national senior record, she is born 1992.
