by Larry EderGreat news is, that after a five year absence, the LInz Gugl meet is back. Kirani James and Felix Sanchez impressed the fans. So did Cory Martin on the street shot put performances.
The post London track season is in full swing with Budapest and Linz on Monday, 20 August, Lausanne on Thursday, August 23 and AVIVA Birmingham on Sunday, August 26. And you will not believe next week!
Kirani James, London 400 meters, photo by PhotoRun.net
James 44.46, Sanchez 48.13, 1k WL
LINZ (AUT, Aug 20): International athletics returned to Linz Gugl Stadium after five years. The Gugl Games were staged as EA Classic meet and on a hot summer evening a good crowd saw top stars and olympic gold medalists winning. Kirani James at the 400 m in 44.46 over Jonathan Borlee 45.10 (with Oscar Pistorius 6th 46.91) and Felix Sanchez with fast 48.13 at 400 m hurdles clearly beating Jamaican Leford Green 48.89 and Olympic silver winner Michael Tinsley 49.49. Other fast times in nearly no wind for Nickel Ashmeade 10.03 in the 100 m beating other Jamaicans Michael Frater 10.13 and Jason Young 10.15. Russian European champion Sergey Shubenkov clocked already for third time this season Russian record time 13.09, second Ryan Brathwaite the 2009 World Champ in 13.23 (equaled his season best). The 1000 m saw Benson Seurei of Kenya getting world leading 2:16.39 and second Nate Brannen Canadian record 2:16.52 over Nick Willis 2:16.58. Top ten went sub 2:18 in great depth. World junior record holder Sergey Morgunov won the long jump with 796. Gerd Kanter in his third competition in three days (Saturday nationals, Sunday Warszawa) won with 65.22 over Frank Casanas 65.08 and Lawrence Okoye 64.25. On the women side also good quality results. The 2011 World champion Fabiana Murer cleared 465 in the pole vault. US Chelsea Hayes leaped to top 681 in the long jump ahead of Belarus Veronika Shutkova 664. Ginnie Crawford posted 12.68 hurdles win with Queen Harrison second 12.77 and olympic medalist Kellie Wells third 12.83. Kenyans dominated the steeple as Lydia Chepkurui got 9:23.52 and Hyvin Kiyeng 9:23.53 PB. British miler Hannah England won the 800 m in life-time best 1:59.66 over US runners Anna Pierce 2:00.49 and Molly Beckwith 2:00.73. Charonda Williams clocked solid 22.67 at the 200 m edging relay olympic winner Bianca Knight 22.74 and Jamaican Samantha Henry-Robinson 22.85. The Jamaican earlier won the 100 m in fast 11.15 ahead of Gloria Asumnu 11.19 and Laverne Jones-Ferrette 11.24. Due to food poisoning not running was at the end olympic 100 m bronze winner Justin Gatlin.
More to read on Linz Gugl Meeting, from IAAF: http://www.iaaf.org/news/newsid=67600.html
