by Alfonz Juck
Baker´s World lead 9.87
CHORZOW (POL, Aug 22): The 9th Kamila Skolimowska Memorial (EA Classic) succesfuly changed the location from Warszawa to new national stadium in Chorzow in Silesia region of Poland and more than 41 000 spectators came to support the event. It was the biggest crowd in Poland for athletics since the sixties and they saw the fastest 100 m race of the year. US World indoor medalist Ronnie Baker clocked after great start his PB and WL 9.87 (-0.1). “I got the best starting reaction ever, it shows Im ready for the Diamond League final,” he said. Mike Rodgers was 2nd 10.10 ahead of 200 m World and European champion Ramil Guliyev 10.21 and season best for former World record holder Asafa Powell 10.24. It was one of the 7 meeting records. Another one was produced by Bahamian Steven Gardiner who after injury break returned with fast 44.43 in the 400m over Karol Zalewski 45.32 and triple star Christian Taylor in his last 400 of the year 45.34. Olympic and World winner Caster Semenya won the 400 m staged in memory of late Irena Szewinska in fast 50.06 meet record over European Champion Justyna Swiety-Ersetic 51.45. Home wins for Piotr Lisek in strong pole vault 585 (tried at Polish record 595) over Shawn Barber 580 as Renaud Lavillenie and Pawel Wojciechowski cleared 570. Also Michal Haratyk topped shot put 21.33 over World champion Tom Walsh 21.28 and Tomas Stanek 21.05. Ewa Swoboda who comes from Silesia region clocked her best of 2018 in the 100 m and in 11.23 (-0.1) beat a solid field. Joanna Fiodorow showed the best current shape with season best 74.39 (last meet of women IAAF Hammer Challenge) over Alexandra Tavernier 73.38. Pawel Fajdek with 79.44 beat European champion Wojciech Nowicki 77.41 in men hammer. Sofia Ennaoui tried in the 1500 m but finished second in 4:03.28 as US Colleen Quigley improved to 4.03.02 meet record and personal best. Another meet record in women shot put by Aliona Dubitskaya 19.06 over European champion Paulina Guba 18.14. In men´s 800 m Marcin Lewandowski won in 1:44.99 over Moroccan Mostafa Smaili 1:45.35 and European champion Adam Kszczot 1:45.48. Other two European champions won, Andrius Gudzius in discus 66.15 and Elvira Herman in the hurdles 12.87 (0.0) as Pamela Dutkiewicz crashed and could not finish. In javelin (first time staged) meet records for winners Andreas Hofmann 83.81 and Martina Ratej 61.50. Bahamian Trevor Barry won the high jump 227. Last meeting in Poland for Gerd Kanter 63.52 (third), Robert Harting 62.94 (fourth) and Kim Collins (6th 10.42).
