BEKELE AND MERGA CONFIRMED

ADDIS ABABA (ETH): Legendary Kenenisa Bekele was confirmed by Ethiopian Federation as qualified for 10 000 m at World Championships. Also confirmed is second from Prefontaine Classic race Imane Merga. Third place goes to reigning world champion Ibrahim Jeylan. Fourth place remains open and will be confirmed based on times achieved during the current season. For the moment on that spot is Abera Kuma, but his selection was not confirmed yet. There is still a possibility for another runner if able to achieved faster than 27:13.10.

M. POWELL IN MOSCOW

MOSCOW (RUS): The IAAF ambassador for Moscow 2013 and long jump world record holder Mike Powell hosted a kids’ master-class at the “Luzhniki” Big Sports Arena. There were around 80 kids aged from 12 to 18 who represented Moscow, Moscow region and even other Russian cities. After the master-class Powell, who is currently coaching young athletes back in the United States admitted that he didn’t plan to run and jump himself. “But I stepped on the track and it felt so fast and so amazing that I ended up actually jumping in the sand. I didn’t jump far, but I had so much fun”, Powell admitted. His next visit to Moscow is already scheduled – he will come to Moscow for the World Championships to see some impressive jumps at the Big Sports Arena.

MIKHNEVICH FOR LIFE

MINSK (BLR): Disciplinary commission of Belarusian national anti-doping agency life banned shot putter Andrey Mikhnevich informed Interfax. “That decision was made on May 20 and it was second violation of anti-doping rules by Mikhnevich. That is why he have got life ban” head coach of national team Aleksandr Troshchilo commented to Pressball. “His sample from world championships 2005 in Helsinki was positive for banned substances during last year retest.” If life ban will be accepted by the IAAF all Mikhnevich’s results will be canceled from August 2005 including four bronzes: from world championships (2007, 2011), Beijing Olympics and European team championships 2011; one European gold 2010, three silver medals from European championships 2006 and world indoor championships 2006, 2010 as well as 7th place at Berlin world championships, 5th place at European indoors 2007 and 4th place at world indoors 2008.

FAST STEEPLE RACES FOR OSTRAVA

OSTRAVA (CZE): World junior and youth champion Conseslus Kipruto of Kenya confirmed for the steeple at the 52nd Ostrava Golden Spike meeting on June 27 (IAAF World Challenge). The young world leader and unbeaten so far this season will aim for a fast time. He might attack the meet record of Paul Kipsiele Koech 8:02.55 in 2011. If weather will cooperate his aim could be even higher to come close to Shaheen´s world junior record 7:58.66 in 2001. „So far my season has been a dream; winning the big races, beating all the steeple-greats and that combined with fast times. Although still a junior I feel I should just aim high and race against the best in the World at senior-level. For the last ten years steeple has been dominated by three of the best runners the event has ever seen. Racing them now inspires and gives me the challenge to get the best out of myself. But also the other athletes of the new generation make sure I can never get comfortable. The goals for this season are the World junior record of Shaheen and the World Championships in Moscow. I am grateful Ostrava is recognising my achievements and that they are willing to stage a fast race. I am told Ostrava has a fast track and a great crowd. I am looking forward to meet you all,” he was quoted as saying. In women steeple which returns to Ostrava after six years Kenyan triple Diamond Race winner and national record holder Milcah Chemos should attack a fast time, for sure she should be able to improve the meet record 9:20.28 from 2003.

OTHER NEWS

DONETSK (UKR): LOC of World Youth championships 2013 will held in Donetsk public athletics festival. Entertainments named “Run from divan” will start at 17.00 on June 15 near Sergey Bubka monument and will include presentation of champs’ official mascot gopher Ostap. All participants of festival will get invitations they can exchange later for championships’ tickets.

LONDON (GBR): Stellar Athletics led by former top sprinter John Regis announced top signees from NCAA Championships. The group will represent world leader and NCAA champion at 100 m hurdles Brianna Rollins and 100 m winner Charles Silmon.

LIEGE (BEL): The meet of Liege planned for July 10 in Belgium (Meeting International d’Athlétisme de la Province de Ličge) will have Kevin Borlee competing in the 300 m against Trinidad Olympic medalist Lalonde Gordon.

PARIS (FRA): French sprinter Veronique Mang ended preliminary her season. It is due to an knee injury at the meet of Montreuil.

TURKU (FIN): Top event at Paavo Nurmi Games on Sunday in Turku will be men javelin. World leader Tero Pitkamäki will face Cuban 2009 World medalist Guillermo Martinez, Kenyan Julius Yego, Estonian Risto Matas, Latvian Zigismunds Sirmais and home elite Ari Mannio and Teemu Wirkkala. Unfortunately injured is olympic bronze medalist Antti Ruuskanen.

NAIROBI (KEN): Sportsnewsarena.com writes that the Nairobi county government has plans to introduce a major marathon to be run in the city in future. Nairobi County deputy governor Jonathan Mweke said that Nairobi City lags behind despite the fact that Kenya has some of the best marathoners in the World.

PARIS (FRA): Former top sprinter Bruno Marie-Rose was re-elected as President of LNA (National Track League) in France. The organisation supports athletes as professionals (19 included into the programme) and meetings of the LNA Circuit.

MOSCOW (RUS): Long jump Athens Olympic champion and 5-times triple jump world champion Tatyana Lebedeva isn’t sure she’ll be in time to recover and prepare for national championships this summer to be selected to the Moscow Worlds. 36-year-old Russian informed she is still injured and too behind in her preparation plans.

DRESDEN (GER): 2009 World bronze medalist in high jump Raul Spank underwent successfully a knee surgery. He will not be able to jump this year, but hopes for future years.

NAIROBI (KEN): Sportsnewsarena.com informs about the Kenyan team for World Youth Championships in Donetsk. 2000m girls SC: Roseline Chepngetich, Daisy Jepkemei, 800 boys:Alfred Kipketer, Patrick Rono, 1500 m boys: Robert Kiptoo, Titus Kipruto, 3000 m girls: Lilian Kasait, Mercy Chepwogen, 1500 m girls: Irene Chepkemoi, Lucia Eunice, 800 m girls: Agnes Mulei, Jarinta Maiwa 3000 m boys: Vedic Kipkoech, Alexander Mutiso, 200 m boys: Geoffrey Kiprotich, Stanley Keter, 400 m boys: Ian Mutuku, Alex Sampao, 2000m SC boys: Kiptanui Bett, Justus Kipkorir.

MOSCOW (RUS): After finishing second at the IAAF World challenge meeting in Moscow Athens Olympic champion Yuriy Borzakovskiy told to All Sport news agency he’s absolutely satisfied with his result 1:45.24. “I didn’t win but it wasn’t the main task for today. I work according to the Worlds preparation plan and now pay more attention to practices than to competitions. I can assess my current shape as 80% readiness. At Moscow Challenge I wanted to check the new track in Luzhniki. I liked it as track is fast and very good for competitions. But my main rehearsal here will be at national championships when I’m going to run three times: heat, final and probably relay with my regional team” said Borzakovskiy. His coach Vyacheslav Yevstratov confirmed that Yuriy’s result in Moscow is OK for now “especially if we’ll take into account his tiredness from previous race. Borzakovskiy tried to use his usual tactics speeding-up only on the last curve. And he coped with this task successfully” added Yevstratov.

RESULTS

ZENICA (BIH, Jun 12): Best results at the 4th International Meeting here was from home shot put star Hamza Alic 20.73. Second Kemal Mesic 20.01 and third Croatian Marin Premeru 19.82. Slovenian Barbara Spiler achieved 69.29 in hammer.

SALAMANCA (ESP, Jun 12): Additons are 100 m winner was Ricardo Monteiro of Portugal in 10.30 (+1.0) PB, in heats Anouiam Lopes clocked new national record for Guinea Bissau 10.36 (0.0). Rasul Dabo of Portugal won the high hurdles in 13.62 (0.0) and Cuban Wilfredo Martinez leaped to 806 (+0.3).