by Larry Eder
Mike Rodgers, photo by PhotoRun.net
Mike Rodgers is the quiet one. Be careful to underestimate this guy. Lot going on there. We see each other in lobbies of various meets. Last summer, both of us from Saint Louis, he and I had some fascinating discussions on guns, politics and Ferguson, Missouri,
Nice to see Mike Rodgers come so close to his PB. A workhorse, Mike races a lot, as he uses that to bring himself into fine championship racing shape.
Do not discount this young man in Beijing.
After all, he is from the Show Me state (Missouri).
Rodgers 9.88, Tuka 1:43.84 EL
MADRID (ESP, Jul 11): The sprint events provided the highlights at the Meeting Madrid (IAAF World Challenge). US Mike Rodgers sped to a 9.88 (+1.4) clocking to win the men’s 100m, his second fastest time for the distance; he set his PB in 2011. Andrew Fisher of Jamaica also went sub 10 with a PB of 9.94. Just over the mark were Ameer Webb of the USA (10.04 PB) and Kemar Hyman of Cayman Islands (10.07). The women’s race was also fast. Elaine Thompson sprinted to a 10.90 (1.0) clocking, her second fastest time ever, to win. The Jamaican was followed by Barbara Pierre (11.05), Carina Horn (11.10), Ana Claudia Lemos (11.15), Nataliya Pohrebnyak (11.16) and Tiffany Townsend (11.16). The finals followed fast heat times. On the men’s side: Mike Rodgers 9.97 (1.3), Ameer Webb (10.12 PB, 1.1) and Andrew Fisher (10.04, 1.5). For the women: English Gardner 11.02 (1.7), Nataliya Pohrebnyak (11.15 PB), Carina Horn (11.06 PB, 1.2), Elaine Thompson (11.07), Barbara Pierre 11.01 (1.7) and Tiffany Townsend (11.08 PB). Amel Tuka took a big chunk of his fresh Bosnian NR by running a European leading 1:43.84 to win the men’s 800m. Antonine Gakeme of Burundi also ran a lifetime best, 1:44.09 for second. Given the same time, for third, was Job Kinyor of Kenya. Qatari talent Abdalelah Haroun ran 44.63 to win the men’s 400m over US champion David Verburg (44.72), Yousef Masrahi of Saudi Arabia (44.79) and Rusheen McDonald of Jamaica (45.04). In the men’s 400m B race, Jarrin Solomon of Trinidad and Tobago won with 45.20. In second, 21 year old Botswanan Onkabetse Nkobolo made a good improvement to 45.36. Melissa Bishop of Canada took the honours in the women’s 800m with a time of 2:00.13. Behind here was Chanelle Price (2:00.26), Lynsey Sharp (2:00.55) Olha Lyakhova (2:00.56) and Malika Akkaoui (2:00.69). Joe Kovacs had a clear victory over US rival Christian Cantwell in the shot, 21.22 to 20.52. Gabriela Petrova of Bulgaria got the better of Hanna Minenko of Israel in the triple, 14.54 (2.1) to 14.38 (1.1), with a very consistent series. She also had a legal 14.53 (0.7). In third, 30 year old Susana Costa of Portugal set a PB of 14.32 (1.9). Jeffery Gibson of the Bahamas won the 400mH in 48.89, his second best ever, to beat Jeshua Anderson (49.14), Miles Ukuoma of Nigeria (49.29) and Cornel Fredericks of South Africa in his season debut (49.50) and World champion Jehue Gordon of Trinidad and Tobago (49.53). In the B race, Great Britain’s Niall Flannery ran 49.23. Ruth Beitia cleared 196 first attempt to win the high jump and then failed thrice at 201. Tied second on 194 were Svetlana Radzivil of Uzbekistan and Levern Spencer of St Lucia (1.94). The women’s 3000mSC was won by Ethiopia’s Tigist Mekonen 9:38.47, with Kenyan Eunice Kertich close behind (9:39.08). Abdiwak Tura of Ethiopia ran 7:52.04 to edge Spain’s Adel Mechaal (7:52.16 PB) in the 3000m. In third was Kyle Merber of the USA, running a PB of 7:52.95. Apostolos Parellis of Cyprus won the men’s discus with 60.79. World leader Jason Morgan was 4th with 59.32. Tobias Scherbarth of Germany cleared 570 to win the pole vault from the PB of 29 year old Russian Artem Burya (565). Viktoria Sudarushkina of Russia threw 58.91 to top the women’s javelin field. In relays Portugal 38.94 and Poland 43.76.
