by Larry Eder
Edwin Soi, 2011 FBK Hengelo, photo by PhotoRun.net
6 WL, 8 EL, 2 MR and one world junior record
LIEVIN (FRA, Feb 14): Meeting Pas de Calais of Lievin (started in 1988
and was not held in 2007 and 2008 due to renovation of the stadium)
confirmed its position among the top one day indoor fixtures in the
world (IAAF Indoor Permit). In total 6 world leading marks (50 m, 60 m,
800 m, 1500 m by men and 300 m and 800 m by women), 8 European bests of
2012 (50 m men and women, 50mH men and women, 200 men, 1500 m women,
triple men and 300 m women) and two meet records (women 300 m, men 800
m) have been set during an special evening. Jamaican Patricia Hall
nearly clocked all-time 300 m world best with her 35.69 second best ever
mark (also WL and MR). Only Irina Privalova 35.45 back in 1993 was ever
better. European indoor champion 2009 Antonina Krivoshapka of Russia as
second got EL 36.42. Second meet record of the day was another all-time
top mark. Poland´s European U23 Champion Adam Kszczot continued in his
unbeaten streak and won the 800 m in 1:44.57, third best performer ever.
Only Wilson Kipketer and Yuriy Borzakovskiy have been ever faster
indoors. Second Kenyan junior Timothy Kitum 1:45.96 ahead of
Borzakovskiy 1:46.08. In the fast 3000 m Edwin Soi registered winning
7:32.56 ahead of young Isaiah Koech who improved his own world junior
indoor record of 7:37.50 last year in Gent to 7:32.89. Alamirew Yenew as
third got 7:33.30 ahead of Dusseldorf 5k winner Thomas Longosiwa
7:34.81. Moroccan world finalist Abdelaati Iguider won the 1500 m in
another top mark of the season 3:34.10 beating Turkish Ilham Tanui
3:35.26, Silas Kiplagat 3:35.26, Ismael Kombich 3:35.49, Daniel
Kipchirchir Komen 3:36.96 and Nixon Chepseba 3:37.01. European 800 m
champion Marcin Lewandowski as 7th improved Polish national record to
3:37.76 and 8th for returning French star Mehdi Baala 3:39.42. European
champion Christophe Lemaitre was beaten in the 60 m after 6.57 (but EL
in the 50 m 5.71) by Jamaican Lerone Clarke who improved his own world
lead to 6.50 (and 50 m WL 5.63). Karlsruhe sensation Jimmy Vicaut false
started in heats. Lemaitre then won the 200 m and equaled European lead
of 20.92. Another French star Renaud Lavillenie cleared in the pole
vault 552 in first and then missed 572. That was the winning mark for
German Raphael Holzdeppe over Roman Mesnil on count-back. Olympic winner
Pamela Jelimo in her first ever indoor 800 m clocked sub 2 minutes
1:59.10 (Kenyan indoor record) but was beaten by Moroccan Malika Akkaoui
who achieved 1:59.01 WL and national record. Fast 1500 m by Meryem
Selsouli of Morocco, also national record 4:03.67 ahead of Siham Hilali
4:04.53 and Ethiopian junior Tizita Bogale 4:06.01 (WJR is 4:03.28).
Fourth Ukrainian Anzhelika Shevchenko posted EL 4:06.78. US Virgin
Islands Laverne Jones-Ferrette won the 60 m in 7.14 (6.14 at 50 m) over
Ukrainians Mariya Ryemyen 7.17 (50 m 6.18 EL) and Olesya Povkh 7.20. US
Kristi Castlin was the best in the 60 m hurdles after 7.92 beating
Canadian duo Nikita Holder 8.00 and Phylicia George 8.03. Best European
Alina Talay of Belarus as 5th in 8.04 (and 50mH EL 6.92). In the men´s
hurdles Russian Konstantin Shabanov in 7.55 (and EL 50mH 6.47) beat US
duo Joel Brown 7.56 and Jeff Porter 7.65 (7.57 in heat). World record
holder Yelena Isinbaeva started with 471 in second and season best 481
in first and then tried at 491. Second Cuban Yarisley Silva improved to
471, new CAC indoor record. Europeans dominated in the triple jump.
Fabrizio Donato with 17.24 equalled the European leading mark 2012 of
his younger country-mate and second home Benjamin Compaore achieved
Istanbul standard 17.14.
Barry 230
BRNO (CZE, Feb 14): 17th edition of special High jump meet “Brnenska
latka” changed the venue from classic sports hall to a shopping center.
Bahamian Daegu bronze winner Trevor Barry ended his Eastern European
tour (3 meets in Czech, 1 in Slovakia and Russia) with indoor PB of 230
in first attempt. It was with great deal of luck, because the bar fell
immediately after the white flag of the judge appeared. He then tried at
234, his would-be overall PB. Barry was the only one clearing 225 what
was crucial height of the evening. Second Bulgarian Viktor Ninov, third
in a tie Mickael Hanany of France, Poland´s Piotr Sleboda and home
favorite Jaroslav Baba all cleared 222 cm. And also 222 for 6th Fabrice
St. Jean of France and 7th young Russian Nikita Anishchenkov. Romanian
European U23 Champion from last year Esthere Petre cleared in third
attempt the winning 193 (and tried at 196) in the women competition.
Second Bulgarian veteran Venelina Veneva and third Estonian record
holder Anna Iljustsenko both with 190 cm.
Top distances on Saturday
BIRMINGHAM (GBR): The Saturday´s Aviva Grand Prix is having top fields
in men´s distances. In the 800 m Ethiopian sensation Mohamed Aman is the
favorite in duel with European champion Marcin Lewandowski of Poland
(clocked 1500 m NR in Lievin). Also in the race UK revelation of the
season Joe Thomas and fresh Austrian record holder Andreas Rapatz.
Karlsruhe winner Bethwel Birgen will clash in the 1500 m with 3000 m WL
holder Augustin Choge. Not to forget Dusseldorf winner Nixon
Chepseba, Morrocan Amine Laalou and mainly US star Bernard Lagat. Hero
of the two miles is World champion Mo Farah against former world gold
medalist Eliud Kipchoge, Ethiopian Tariku Bekele, Ugandan record holder
Moses Kipsiro and improved German Arne Gabius. Specially world leads
3:34.10 and 8:09.72 at 1500 m and two miles will be under threat.
European all-time best 8:13.2 of Emiel Puttemans of Belgium back in 1973
could be also a target for Farah.
