MO VS HAILE VS KENENISA

GATESHEAD (GBR): This will be something special. Three great runners in one half-marathon race. Mo Farah, the Double Olympic champion, faces one of the most challenging contests of his career when facing Ethiopian superstars Kenenisa Bekele and Haile Gebrselassie at the Bupa Great North Run. The awesome trio of Olympic and World champions will put their reputations on the line when they clash in the same race for the first time ever at the World’s greatest half marathon on September 15. „No one could ask for a better ‘dream team’ to participate in their event and we are delighted they will feature in what has the makings of the greatest head to head in half marathon history,” said Brendan Foster, founder of the event. Organizers are informing in a release. Farah, by contrast to Haile, is a relative newcomer to the distance whilst Bekele will be making an eagerly awaited 13.1 miles debut.

DIACK ABOUT TURKEY

ISTANBUL (TUR): IAAF President Lamine Diack has said that Turkey must change their stance on doping if they want to successfully bid for the 2020 Olympic and Paralympic Games, reports insidethegames. Over 30 Turkish athletes have tested positive in the last year, including 1500m Olympic Champion Asli Cakir Alptekin. Diack said that the Turkish government must take action to “take care of this big issue”. The Turkish Olympic Committee said that they are “totally committed” to improving their anti-doping set up. Istanbul will go up against other candidates Madrid and Tokyo in the final vote in Buenos Aires on September 7th.

RUNNER AGAINST MTB BIKER

LINZ (AUT): The Gugl Games (promoted to EA Premium Category this year) is announcing for the August 26 top names as Kirani James for the 400 m, Sally Pearson for the 100 m hurdles and Felix Sanchez at the 400 m hurdles. Special event will be 400 m hurdles into the Guinness Book. Felix Sanchez versus Austrian mountain bike rider Tom Ohler.

OLIVER FOR DN GALAN

STOCKHOLM (SWE): The World Leader in the 110m hurdles, American David Oliver, has been named as one of the top competitors for the DN Galan on August 22nd. The Beijing bronze medallist joins a top quality list of athletes that have already confirmed their participation including Jenn Suhr, Blanka Vlasic, Anna Chicherova, Emma Green Tregaro and Swedish young star Irene Ekelund.

BIG SURPLUS

LONDON (GBR): The London Anniversary Games, which included the IAAF Diamond League and a Paralympic Challenge meet has raised 10.5 million euro for British Athletics, reports Inside the Games. There was a full stadium for each day’s action while two channels broadcasted respective events live. The success of the event creates great optimism for future events that will be held at the Olympic stadium, such as the 2017 IAAF World Athletics championships.

SPECIAL CHARITY RACE

LONDON (GBR): Olympic Champions Mo Farah and Usain Bolt could face off in a race over 600m for charity, reports World News Australia. The challenge was laid down by Mo Farah during an interview with Sky Sports and Usain Bolt later responded saying that he was “up for anything”. Farah said that he would like a public vote to decide what distance should be chosen for the charity race. First both athletes are concentrating on the World Championships in Moscow. What happens afterwards remains open.

KALMADI REPLACED

LONDON (GBR): Insidethegames informs that Suresh Kalmadi has been replaced on the International Association of Athletics Federations (IAAF) ruling Council after losing his position as head of the Asian Athletics Association (AAA). The controversial Indian, currently on bail after spending 10 months in jail for his alleged involvement in corruption linked to the 2010 Commonwealth Games in New Delhi, was beaten
in the election for President earlier this month by Qatar’s Dahlan Jumaan Al-Hamad. Al-Hamad is already a member of the IAAF Council, where he is one four vice-presidents. The IAAF have now appointed Du Zhaocai, senior vice-president of the AAA and general secretary of Chinese Athletics Association (CAA), to its Council as one of Asia’s representatives. Du is currently one of the senior Chinese officials overseeing preparations for the 2015 IAAF World Championships, which are due to be held in the Bird’s Nest Stadium, where the 2008 Olympics and Paralympics took place.

MOSCOW NEWS

KINGSTON (JAM): Jamaica has named a 45 member team for the World Championships in Moscow, headed by Olympic sprint champions Usain Bolt and Shelly Ann Fraser-Pryce. Olympic bronze medallist Hansle Parchment (110mH), who has been struggling with an ankle injury, is also named on the team. Stephanie McPherson will go to Moscow as one of the favourites in the 400m after a great run in Monaco while Warren Weir is the most likely athlete to give Bolt a challenge in the 200m. The top name missing is 800m runner Kenia Sinclair and discus Olympian Jason Morga. He missed the trials because of a Citizenship Swearing-in ceremony in the United States, is the only Jamaican with a qualifying mark, with his 65.94 meeting the B qualifying mark. „To be honest, I am very disappointed but it was beyond my control, the JAAA made their selection. Everyone knows why I missed trials – the first time in 10 years, and this was a valid reason beyond my control,” said Morgan.

MOSCOW (RUS): The Russian team has been announced for the Moscow World Championships. The 119 strong squad features 6 reigning World Champions: Yuliya Zaripova (SC), Olga Kaniskina (20kW), Mariya Abakumova (JT), Anna Chicherova (HJ), Tatyana Lysenko (HT) and Mariya Savinova (800). Three reigning world champions did not make the team: Tatyana Chernova (Hep), Valeriy Borchin (20kW) and Sergey Bakulin (50kW). Chernova got injured while competing in the 100m hurdles at the Russian Championships, reports sports.ru. 2012’s Diamond League winners Aleksandr Menkov and Elena Sokolova will compete in respective long jump events. Yelena Isinbayeva will aim to try and add a home world championships gold medal to her list of honours while Natalya Antyukh, who only has a best of 55.20 this year, will try and recreate the form that took her to Olympic Gold last year in the 400m hurdles. The Olympic champion and world record holder in the 20km walk, Yelena Lashmanova, will attempt to win her first senior World Championships title. Olympic High Jump champion, Ivan Ukhov will be up against some very tough competition in the High Jump while Dimitry Tarabin is the favourite to take the Javelin title after his 88.84 throw at the Russian Championships. Darya Klishina (LJ) and Sergey Shubenkov (110mH) are both in good form and should feature in the finals of their respective events. The Russian 4x400m squad will be hard to beat, with Antonina Krivoshapka and Kseniya Ryzhova both under 50 seconds this year and the other two members, Tatyana Firova and Anastasiya Kapachinskaya, under 51 seconds.

FRANKFURT (GER): Germany is sending in total 67 athletes, 35 men and 32 women. Three initially selected athletes withdrew due to injuries (Martina Strutz pole vault, discus thrower Anna Ruh and sprinter Anna-Lena Freese). The team is young with average age of 25.1 years. The youngest member is European junior champion in long jump from Rieti Malaika Mihambo, the oldest 35 years old pole vaulter Bjorn Otto. Last relay places will be decided after the meeting on Friday in Weinheim. Top medal hopes are throwers David Storl, Robert Harting, Christina Schwanitz, Betty Heidler, Christina Obergfoll, Nadine Muller.

AMSTERDAM (NED): St. Kitts and Nevis sprinting star Kim Collins has revealed that tentative talks are taking place between him and the St Kitts and Nevis Amateur Athletic Association (SKNAAA) in an effort to allow the 37-year-old compete at next month’s World Championships in Moscow. At last year’s Olympic Games, which would have been his fifth in a row, the 2003 100 meters world champion was thrown out of the St Kitts and Nevis squad for leaving the Olympic Village and visiting his wife in a London hotel. „Well, with that you know, I don’t know who started it but I think some fans started a petition on Facebook and Twitter and I think it’s really great to see when the fans step up and moments like these you realise how important they are and how much we have to love and respect them,” said Collins.

AMSTERDAM (NED): The Dutch athletics federation has decided to send out the men’s 4x100m team to Moscow despite a very poor performance last weekend at the London Diamond League meeting. The race was run without captain Martina Churandy, who will be part of the team at the World Championships. Also on the team are Hensley Paulina, Brian Mariano, Jerrel Feller, Liemarvin Bonevacia and Joren Tromp. The women’s 4x100m team consists of Dafne Schippers, Kadene Vassell, Jamile Samuel, Madiea Ghafoor, Tessa van Schagen and Nicky van Leuveren.

BRUSSELS (BEL): Jonathan Borlée confirmed for Belgian media he will run the 400m at the IAAF World championships. Jonathan did not show his best form earlier this year and previously admitted he was thinking about running the 200m in Moscow. F
ollowing his solid performance at the London Diamond League meeting Jonathan now confirmed he will keep his focus on the 400m.

HAVANA (CUB): Cuba selected 25 athletes (16 men and 9 women). Included is also hurdler Orlando Ortega. Top medal hopes male triple jumpers (Pichardo, Reve) and on the women side Yarisley Silva in the pole vault and Yareli Barrios in discus. Dark horse could be 400 m hurdler Omar Cisneros. The selection, men – 400m: Lescay, 800 m: A. Gonzalez, 110mH: Ortega, Morales, 400mH: Cisneros, 4×400 m: Lescay, Cisneros, Acea, O. Rodriguez, Pellicier, Ruiz, PV: Borges, TJ: Pichardo, Reve, DT: Fernandez, HT: Janet, JT: Martinez, dec: Suarez. Women – 800 m: Almanza, PV: Silva, TJ: Gay, SP: Lopez, DT: Barrios, Perez, Caballero, HT: Moreno, hep: Rodriguez.

ROMA (ITA): Italian selection has top names in men triple jump with Daniele Greco and Fabrizio Donato. Young high jump star Alessia Trost should also be mentioned. Selection, men – 100: Tumi; 200: Demonte, Manenti; 400: Galvan; 800: Benedetti; 10,000: Meucci; 3000SC: Floriani, Nasti, Chatbi; 110H: Abate; HJ: Chesani, Tamberi; PV: Gibilisco, Stecchi; TJ: Donato, Greco, Schembri; DT: Faloci; HT: Vizzoni; 20kW: Giupponi, Rubino, Tontodonati; 50kW: De Luca, Caporaso, Nkouloukidi; 4×100 & 4×400 teams. Women – W 200: Hooper; 400: Grenot, Bazzoni; 800: Milani; 1500: Magnani; Mar: Quaglia, Straneo; 100H: Borsi, Caravelli; 400H: Rockwell; HJ: Trost; PV: Bruni; LJ: Derkach; TJ: La Mantia; SP: Rosa; 20kW: Giorgi, Palmisano, Rigaudo; 4×100 & 4×400 teams.

DUBLIN (IRL): 11 athletes have been named in the Irish athletics squad for the World Championships including on form 800m runners Rose-Anne Galligan and Mark English. Also included in the squad are London Olympics 4th placer Robert Heffernan (50kW), European u23 4th placer Paul Robinson (800m), 45.53 400m runner Brian Gregan and Pole Vault national record holder Tori Pena.

INDIANAPOLIS (USA): The USA team for the World Championships includes 9 reigning world champions and 20 individual Olympic medallists. The reigning champions are: Christian Taylor (TJ), Jenny Simpson (1500m), Brittney Reese (LJ), Jason Richardson (110mH), Carmelita Jeter (100m), Trey Hardee (Dec), Lashinda Demus (400mH), Dwight Phillips (LJ) and Jesse Williams (HJ). Individual World record holders Ashton Eaton (Dec), Aries Merrit (110mH) and Jen Suhr (PV) are all named on the large squad. The new national record holder Brianna Rollins will make her debut for Team USA as a strong favourite in the 100mH. The team also features talented youngsters, the 17 year old Mary Cain (1500m) and 19 year olds Arman Hall (400m) and Ajee Wilson (800m). Mike Rodgers and Wallace Spearmon will run the 100 m and 200 m instead of Tyson Gay. Allyson Felix was not specially named in the relay pools but anybody from selected could be added into the relay.

GABORONE (BOT): London Olympic Silver medallist Nijel Amos has been forced to withdraw from the World Championships in Moscow with a quad injury, reports Flotrack. The 19 year old ran1:41.73 in last year’s 800m Olympic final, behind the World Record of David Rudisha, making him the equal 3rd fastest ever, alongside Seb Coe. His best time this year is the 1:44.71 he ran in Lausanne.

SYDNEY (AUS): Athletics Australia Selectors have confirmed an Australian Flame team of 46 for the 2013 IAAF World Championships to be held in Moscow next month. The team excitingly includes not only London 2012 medallists Sally Pearson and Jared Tallent but also 20 debutants competing in the green and gold at an open age major international championship for the first time. The team is the second biggest ever to be sent behind only the 54 that competed in Seville in 1999. As a consequence of injury, not selected is Genevieve LaCaze in the 3000m steeplechase and official withdrawal of Benita Willis, Jeff Hunt, Mitchell Watt, Scott Westcott, Ryan Gregson and Alana Boyd were registered due to either other commitments or injury. In an amendment to the men’s 50km race walk due to injury Luke Adams has been forced to miss the event and that opened a door for fellow A-Qualified athlete Ian Rayson, who will make his Australian Flame debut.

BUDAPEST (HUN): Hungary is sending 6 men and 5 women. Top hope is Olympic hammer winner Krisztian Pars. Other names, men – 800 m: Kazi, 110mH: Baji, HT: Hudi, 20 kmw: Hellebrandt, 50kmw: Racz. Women – HJ: Szabo, SP: Marton, HT: Orban, hept: Zsivoczky-Farkas, 20kmw: Madarasz.

TALLINN (EST): Estonia selected 9 athletes, 5 men and 4 women. Discus 2008 Olympic winner Gerd Kanter is the top name. Also selected, men – 400 m hurdles: Magi, dec: Uibo, Pahapill, JT: Matas. On the women side – HJ: Iljustsenko, hep: G. Sadeiko, Klaup, JT: Laasma.

BRATISLAVA (SVK): Slovakia is sending 11 athletes, for first time since 1999 is missing hammer thrower Libor Charfreitag due to health problems and low shape. Triple jumper Dana Veldakova and walker Matej Toth will go for their 5th championships. Selection, men – 100 m: Zavacky, 800 m: Repcik, HT: Lomnicky, 20 kmw: Kucmin, 50 kmw: Toth, Majdan. Women – LJ: J. Veldakova, TJ: D. Veldakova, HT: Hra
snova, 20 kmw: Czakova, Galikova.

BEOGRAD (SRB): Equal number of 4 men and 4 women will compete in Moscow from Serbia. Final hopes by hurdler Bekric, Kolasinac in shot put, young Terzic in the 1500 m. Selection, men – 400mH: Bekric, SP: Kolasinaci, dec: Dudas, 50kmw: Filipovic. Women – 1500 m: Terzic, LJ: Spanovic, DT: Tomasevic, JT: Jelaca.

VIENNA (AUT): Two athletes will compete for Austria. 1500 m runner Andreas Vojta and discus thrower Gerhard Mayer. Other four athletes with qualifying standards will not compete due to various reasons. Hurdler Beate Schrott because of an injury, young heptathlete Ivona Dadic no shape at level of World Championships and marathon runners Andrea Mayr with Gunther Weidlinger announced other priorities.

CASTRIES (STL): Three female athletes will represent St. Lucia. Veteran high jumper Levern Spencer, in the same event talented Jeannelle Scheper with Caribbean Junior Record of 192 cm. Third member is heptathlete record holder Makeba Alcide. Informs Trackalerts.

NOTE

LAUSANNE (SUI): Interesting not from AIPS President Gianni Merlo to recent top results at Paralympic World Championships. „The prosthesis of disagreement – The exceptional result of the Brazilian Oliveira, champion at the London Paralympics has ran a blistering 200 m in 20″66 in Lyon will trigger another storm. The athlete uses new prostheses and his running technique is taking him to incredible results for a double amputee. He’s young and, in a couple of years, he may be able to find himself in the wake of Bolt. It’s a human case to study and analyse in depth before making a final judgement, but it must undoubtedly be faced to avoid poisonous, counter-productive controversy,” says Merlo.

RESULTS

RISHON LEZION (ISR, Jul 29): Donald Sanford clocked here 46.10 in the 400 m, Niki Palli cleared 220 in the high jump.

BIANCO (ITA, Jul 28): At the 12th Corribianco road race Emmanuel Kipsang defeated fellow Kenyan and 2010 IAAF World Half Marathon champion Wilson Kiprop at a 10 km by a mere second two days after the duo raced in Castelbuono where Kiprop was the winner. As RRW informs Kipsang clocked 28:06 and Kiprop 28:07. Third William Kibor 28:33. Mercy Kibarus won the women 6.6 km in 21:28ahead of Zeddi Limo 22:33.

KIEL (GER, Jul 28): Good test of shape by steeple runner Steffen Uliczka who clocked 5:29.89 in the 2000 m steeple here.