by Larry Eder
Olympic gold medalist Yulia Zaripova ran 9:05.02 WL at DN Galan, photo by PhotoRun.net
The 1912 Olympic Stadium is celebrating its 100th anniversary. The DN Galan Meeting is celebrating its 46th. The 1912 Olympics were held in this hallowed stadium one hundred years ago. And the IAAF, the governing body of our sport, was formed 100 years ago, in this fine city.
Maryam Jamal won the DN Galan 1,500m in 4:01.19,
by PhotoRun.net
The 2012 DN Galan Meeting was held right after the end of the London Olympics, The exhaustion of the athletes was palpable. They are only human. The fields were quite good, and the performances were fine. Yuliya Zaripova’s world leading steeplechase, in 9:05.02, set a meet record and was a world leader. Sandra Perkovic’s 68.77m in the discus was a meet record (the record was broken by Perkovic, Pshchalnikova and Muller, all in the same event).
Sanya Richards-Ross won the 400m in 49.89,
photo by PhotoRun.net
The fast 1,500 meters, run by MaryAm Jamal, with a fast 59.23, gave the Olympic bronze medalist a fine run with 4:01.19. Sanya Richards-Ross win in the 400 meters, over Amantle Montsho, 49.89-50.03, with Christine Ohuruogu in third, in 50.77, was a great show.
And the final race, where Mohammed Aman of Ethiopia caught Olympic gold medalist Taoufik Makhloufi of Algeria, 1:43.56 to 1:43.71. Makloufi ran his 800m pb in the race, was exciting for the crowd.
But, the crowd was down from last year. Sponsorship was down due to a messy coup over meet management. A crowd of 11,000 greeted the fans, and while they were polite, they were not screaming as in years past.
What was missing? The man who put Asafa Powell together with Usain Bolt and Tyson Gay in 2010, in the most anticipated 100 meters outside of the Olympics, was not here. His name, Rajne Soderberg, a doctor from outside of Stockholm, (I believe, Malmo), and long term supporter of the sport. Rajne Soderberg was well respected in the industry, and it was through his relationships, his thoughtfulness, and his team, that the DN Galan Meeting grew and thrived.
“Rajne did not need the DN Galan job, but he did it well and he is one of the top three meet directors in the world. ” noted one keen observer of the sport.
Several managers, agents and former sponsors shared the same opinion of Rajne Soderberg.
The new meet team, not associated with the unseemly coup, did a fine job. They are just not Rajne Soderberg, and his contacts, his relationships influenced this meet for over two decades. He will be missed.
The DN Galan had some strong performances tonight.
Sandra Perkovic won the discus in a meet record of 68.77m, achieved on her last throw. Darya Pishchalnikova of Russia and Nadine Mulller also set Meet records in the competition, earlier throwing 66.85m, and 65.07 respectively.
Valerie Adams, the Olympic gold medalist in the shot put, threw 20.26m on her second throw to take the shot. ” The last seven days have been exhausting for me, ” as Adams alluded to the the drug positive of Nadzeya Ostapchuk, who had seemingly beat her in the Olympic games.
In a strange pole vault, Olympic champ, Jenn Suhr no heighted at 4.55m, leaving the battle between London fourth placer, Silke Spiegelburg, at 4.55m, and Yarisley Silva of Cuba, who had taken the silver in London, Silva won at 4.70m.
Anna Chicherova of Russia, the gold medalist from Russia, cleared 1.84m, 1.88m, 1.91m, 1.94m and 2.00m on her first. The 2.00m clearance won, as Svetlana Shkolina missed at 2.00m. Chicherova tried twice at 2.05m, and left her last attempt at 2.08m, but could not do it. ” I wanted to do more but not today…” noted Anna.
Christian Taylor, the gold medalist from London in the triple jump won here with a jump of 17.11m. Sheryf El Sheryf of Ukraine was second in 17.04m. ” I like to give a show any time I jump, and clearing 17 meters is always important.” noted Taylor.
Reese Hoffa, the London bronze medalist, upset Tomasz Majewski the 2008 and 2012 Olympic gold medalist in the shot, 21.24m to 21.01m. ” It’s always nice when you beat
Tomasz, he is the Olympic champion.” noted Reese.
Tero Pitkamaki of Finland won the javelin on his fifth throw with 86.98 meter throw. Vitezslav Veseley of Czech Republich, threw 83.74m for second.
2004 and 2008 Olympic gold medalist Andreas Thorkildsen of Norway was tenth, with one throw of 71.05m. ” I am off technically,” Andreas told us yesterday.
MaryAm Jamal won the 1,500m with a screaming last lap of 59.23 to run 4:01.19. Shannon Rowbury was fourth in 4:03.15, and Jenny Simpson, 2011 World Champ, ran a sb of 4:04.71 in fifth place.
Charonda Williams won the 200 meters in 22.82, with Bianca Knight in second in 22.86.
Yuliya Zaripova, the Olympic, Euro and World Champ ran a MR of 9:05.02 in the steeple, leading the whole way. Emma Coburn of the US was 8th in 9:31.55.
Dawn Harper, 2008 Olympic gold, 2012 Olympic silver and Kellie Wells, 2012 Olympic bronze, went 1, 2, running 12.65, 12.76 respectively.
Sanya Richards-Ross and Amantle Montsho dueled until the finish, 49.89 to 50.03. DeeDee Trotter was sixth, as the bronze medalist from London ran 51.75.
In the 400 m hurdles, Olympic silver medalist Michael Tinsley won in 48.50 over Felix Sanchez, the 2004 and 2012 Olympic gold medalist, who ran 48.93.
Ryan Bailey ran the 100 meters, and won, going away in 9.93. This is Bailey’s first big win. He looked great.
In the national 100m, Wallace Spearmon took second in 10.27.
Young Isiah Koech of Kenya won in a pb in the 3,000m in 7:30.43. Caleb Ndiku was second in 7:30.99. Evan Jager , AR in Steeplechase, and sixth in Olympic final, ran a pb of 7:35.16. David Torrence ran 7:47.80, a pb in 12th.
In the final event, Mo Aman caught Taoufik Mahkloufi, 1;43.56-1:43.71, a pb for the Olympic gold medalist. Duane Solomon of the US, fourth in the Olympics, ran 1:46.80, fading in the last stretch from a 1:43 time.
