byLarry Eder
Bondarenko 237 WL
KAWASAKI (JPN, May 10): Four World leading marks highlighted the Seiko Golden Grand Prix (IAAF World Challenge) at the Todoroki Stadium here. World champion Bohdan Bondarenko cleared 220 (first), 231 (first) and 237 (second, WL) and then tried at new meet record height of 241. Second was Chinese World leader until Kawasaki Zhang Guowei with 228. Another World lead in women 1500 m by Ukrainian Anna Mishchenko 4:02.47, also meet record. Second Ethiopian junior Gudaf Tsegay 4:03.09 and third US Aissa Praught 4:05.52 PB. Third World lead was expected in men steeple by Kenyans. Winner Bernard Nganga 8:23.77 ahead of Clement Kemboi 8:25.32 and Lawrence Kemboi 8:25.64. The second top star of the meet with Bondarenko also won her event, Sally Pearson the hurdles in 12.66 (+0.9) over Americans Queen Harrison 12.75 and Tenaya Jones 12.83. Tianna Bartoletta scored a nice double. In long jump 669 (+1.7) over Russian Darya Klishina 668 (+1.3) and another close one in the 100 m with 11.256 (+1.2) over Marie Josee Ta Lou of Ivory Coast 11.259 and Simone Facey from Jamaica 11.264. Facey later won the 200 m in 22.65 (+1.0) ahead of Tiffany Townsend 22.85 and Ta Lou 22.88. Close situation also in men 100 m as Wilfred Koffi of Ivory Coast and home Kei Takase clocked 10.084 and 10.085 PB with Chinese Su Bingtian third 10.10. Japanese win for Kenji Fujimitsu in 200 m 20.33 (-0.5) PB ahead of World leader Carvin Nkanata from Kenya 20.50. Foreign running wins for Colombian Rafith Rodriguez 800 m 1:45.84, Estonian Rasmus Magi 400 m hurdles 49.48, Nigerian Regina George 51.30 in the 400 m and Australian Lauren Wells 56.19 in 400 m hurdles. All throws brought top results. In women javelin Elizabeth Gleadle new Canadian record 64.83 over US Brittany Borman huge PB 64.75, Madara Palameika of Latvia 64.07 and Japanese record for Yuki Ebihara 63.80. In men javelin Czech Jakub Vadlejch personal best and second best in the world this year 85.13 over Rolands Strobinders of Lithuania 82.05. Women hammer was part of IAAF HT Challenge and the winner was Slovak European medalist Martina Hrasnova with last round effort 74.27 (meet record) over Chinese World leader Wang Zheng 73.68 and Canadian Sultana Frizell 73.66. Another meet record in women shot put won by Hungarian Anita Marton 18.94 ahead of US Brittany Smith 18.61 and Cleopatra Borel from Trinidad 18.41. China clocked 43.22 in 4×100 m and Japan 3:34.87 in 4×400 m by women. Seito Yamamoto won pole vault 550 and Cuban Alexis Copello triple 17.24 (+3.3, also best legal jump of the day 16.95 +1.3 WL).
(Editor’s note: Bohdan Bondarenko is looking fantastic. Nice to see the season getting going. Tianna Bartoletta is also starting off quite well! Looking forward to a great season! )
