by Larry Eder
Bryan Clay, Roman Sebrle, 2008 Beijing, photo by PhotoRun.net
Shara Proctor, 2012 Oslo DL, photo by PhotoRun.net
Holly Bleasdale, 2012 World Indoor, photo by PhotoRun.net
Making the team is the key here. This is one of the most tough Olympic Trials that I have ever seen. Jeremy Wariner did not make the top three in the 400 meters, which showed the depth of the 400 meters (five guys under 45 seconds).
In the UK, AVIVA Trials, Holly Bleasdale cleared an outdoor UK record of 4.71 meters and Shara Proctor jumped 6.95 meters in the long jump, for a new long jump UK record.
Geoffrey Mutai cranked out a 27:29 for 10k on the roads, as the marathon champ shows his fitness once again.
Three days down in Eugene, seven to go!
Å ebrle about the WR
PRAHA (CZE): Roman Sebrle spoke after Ashton Eaton broke his world record in decathlon: “Yes, it is little bit of nostalgia losing the world record. But I m happy for Ashton, as I said already earlier after his great indoor marks he was the one who could break it. Records are there to be broken. But it lasted 11 years and that is still a great feeling. I was following it, after his great pole vault it looked nearly clear he would do it. But you never know, actually 13 points that is for example 1 cm in the high jump, not that big margin. But let´s see whether he will be able to improve it, he did four personal bests and that you cannot repeat everyday. Ashton is fast and has also great endurance, that is not very usual. We had in the past in decathlon fast sprinters/jumpers but they did not had the endurance for the 1500 m. I think he is big favorite for London gold and I feel sorry for my good friend Bryan Clay, I sent him a message after what happened on Saturday. For me now the ultimate goal is to achieve 8200 in Helsinki and so to qualify to London. I m feeling good and will try for that. To have my last olympics.”
Dilla and Kucherenko in bad weather
KOLN (GER, Jun 24): The city jumping in Koln was marred by 12 degrees cold and rain. It was so bad that Bjorn Otto cancelled his participation and Steve Hooker cleared 500 cm. Karsten Dilla won with 540 on count-back over Lazaro Borges and Kostas Filipidis who tied for second. Long jumpers competed against strong wind. Russian Olga Kucherenko won with 663 and South African Zarck Visser with 767 cm.
Proctor and Bleasdale UK records
BIRMINGHAM (GBR, Jun 24): UK Athletics informs that day three at the Aviva 2012 Trials saw another 21 athletes gain pole position in their quest for places at the London 2012 Olympic Games. The Alexander Stadium saw two new British national records and two athletes winning their tenth consecutive national titles. Shara Proctor’s jump of 695 (+0.1, also 685 in the series) was the longest leap since Bev Kinch’s 690 in 1983 and the Birchfield Harrier admitted afterwards life couldn’t get much better. Second Lorraine Ugen 674 (+0.5) PB and third junior Jazmin Sawyers improved to 664 (+0.8). Jessica Ennis was 6th (627, +1.3) in her only event of Sunday. A few hours later Holly Bleasdale followed Proctor’s example and set a new UK outdoor best of 4.71m in the pole vault. The giant leap should see the Blackburn athlete compete at the London Olympic Stadium in August alongside Kate Dennison, who finished second with Sally Peake (both 426). It was a day to remember for Goldie Sayers who not only secured a record tenth UK javelin title but looks set to make it at a third Olympic Games in a row with a throw of 58.45m to win the competition. Carl Myerscough’s win in the shot put (19.42) secured him the same domestic honour as Sayers. Day three of the Aviva 2012 Trials was another good day for the hurdles coach Malcolm Arnold. Andrew Pozzi, Lawrence Clarke and Eilidh Child practically guaranteed their berths on Team GB. Pozzi and Clarke’s first and second place finishes in the 110m hurdles (13.41 and 13.45, -0.1 when Clarke was fastest in heats 13.38 +0.5) with European champion Andy Turner third (13.52) ahead of William Sharman 13.55. Child’s silver in the women’s 400m hurdles made it a happy occasion for his Bath-based athletes in 55.53. Winner Perri Shakes-Drayton got 55.45. Robbie Grabarz’s performance in the high jump lit up the Alexander Stadium on an overcast afternoon and his jump of 228 was enough to win the event and his first national title. Second Samson Oni over Tom Parsons both 224. The men’s 200m was won by James Ellington (20.56, +1.5) while Margaret Adeoye secured the women’s title (23.11, +0.5). Martyn Rooney and Conrad Williams finished first and second in the men’s 400m respectively (45.93 and 45.97). Jo Pavey produced an excellent run to win the 5000 m (15:54.18) while there was good wins for Andrew Osagie in the 800 m (1:46.89), Laura Weightman 1500 m (4:18.83 over Lisa Dobriskey 4:21.91) and Eilish McColgan 3000m steeplechase (9:56.89). Lawrence Okoye once again underlined his Olympic credentials in the men’s discus with a winning throw of 63.46. Nick McCormick also qualified with second in the 5000 m (14:00.61, winner Ross Millington 13:59.01). With the help from UKA website.
OTHER RESULTS
TRACK
FUZHOU (CHN, Jun 24): Interesting personal bests at Chinese National Grand Prix meet. Xie Wenjun clocked 13.42 (+0.5) at 110 m hurdles and Xu Xiaoling 663 (+0.7) in the long jump.
HYDERABAD (IND, Jun 24): The second day’s competitions in the Greenko National Inter-State Senior Athletics Championships witnessed several upsets as favourite athletes fails to defend the top spots in their respective events. Defending champions who lost their gold status include S.K. Mortaja in 400m, Sajeesh Joseph in 800m and Ramachandran in steeplechase among men. In a much awaited battle in women’s 800m between Tintu Luka of Kerala and Sinimole Paulose, who represented Karnataka this time, went up to the wire but the young Tintu ascertained her position as she successfully defends her title in 2:01.36. Sinimole timed 2:03.71 for the silver.
BIALYSTOK (POL, Jun 24): During last day of Polish junior championships Karol Zalewski improved to 20.99 (0.0) in the 200 m. New national junior record in discus for Wojciech Praczyk 64.22 with 1.75 kg implement. Patrycja Wyciszkiewicz achieved a double with 200 m win in personal best 23.73 (+0.5).
AVILES (ESP, Jun 24): At Spanish Junior Championships good walking by Alvaro Martin Uriol with 41:34.95 in the 10 000 m.
LUSO (POR, Jun 23-24): At Portugal Junior Championships good sprints by Carlos Nascimento 10.47 (+2.6) and 21.32 (+1.2).
MANNHEIM (GER, Jun 24): Israeli Dmitriy Kroyter cleared 221 in the high jump and German Lena Malkus 657 (+1.5) in the long jump during second day of Mannheim Juniors Gala meet. In the fast boys 200 m French Mickael-Meba Zeze with 20.83 (+0.9) ahead of German Patrick Domogala 20.91, for both PB´s.
ESKISEHIR (TUR, Jun 24): Turkey was the most succesfull country at the Balkan Junior Championships. Nimet Karakus of Turkey won the girls 200 m in 24.35 and Greek Theodoros Hrisantopoulos won the pole vault for Greece with 520 cm.
SCHUTTERWALD (GER, Jun 24): Andreas Hoffmann improved in javelin at regional championships to 80.81 m.
ROAD
KUALA LUMPUR (MAS, Jun 24): Kenyans won the Standard Chartered KL Marathon here. Kennedy Kiproo with 2:14:45 and Elizabeth Chemweno clocked 2:40:24. More than 28 000 runners competed in different races what is new participation record.
BOSTON (USA, Jun 24): A very fast edition of Boston 10k was won by Boston and New York marathon winner 2011 Geoffrey Mutai in world leading 27:29. Second position for Philip Langat in 27:53 and third for Ethiopian Ali Abdosh in 28:21. Fourth was Morocco’s Ahmed Baday (28:30) and fifth was Kenyan Allan Kiprono, 28:37. B.A.A. 5-K runner-up Sam Chelanga finished one second behind in sixth. Female record course for Kim Smith of New Zealand with an incredible 31:36. Second Aheza Kiros also dipped under the previous course record with 31:57. Third place for Kenyan Sharon Cherop, winner of Boston Marathon 2012, in 32:03. Smith says her run today bodes well for the Olympic Marathon on August 5 in London. With the help from RRW.
HAMBURG (GER, Jun 24): Kenyan Jacob Kendagor won the 18th Hamburg Half Marathon in 1:02:21 ahead of another Kenyan James Barmasai 1:02:34. New women course record by Caroline Chepkwony 1:13:27.
BRCKO (BIH, Jun 24): The 16th edition of the road race had Kenyan Boniface Kirui winning the 10 km in 29:32. Women winner Lisa Stublic from Croatia got 34:29.
DIEZ (GER, Jun 24): German walking champions Sabine Krantz with 21:01.73 in the 5000 m and Andre Hohne with 40:10.47 in the 10 000 m. Both are already qualified for London Games. Secon
d among men was U23 winner Hagen Pohle 40:17.71. Melanie Seeger did not compete.
