by Larry EderJason Richardson is one of my favorite athletes. I have to admit, I really enjoy Jason and his fellow hurdlers because, like virtually all the athletes in our sport, they are easy to interview, and have some great observations. Richardson told me one time that hurdlers race against each other nearly once a week, because, their pay can be modest and to make a living one has to race a lot.
Makhloufi in Zagreb
ZAGREB (CRO): Olympic winner Taofik Makhloufi from Algeria will run his first 1500 m since London at Zagreb IAAF World Challenge Meeting on Tuesday in Croatia. He competed only once so far after his surprise win at the Games in Stockholm at DN Galan as 2nd in the 800 m (1:43.71 PB). Group of strong Kenyans will be his main rivals (Augustine Choge, Caleb Ndiku, Gideon Gathimba and James Magut). Meet record 3:30.94 of Nixon Chepseba from last year should be under threat, the same for Makhloufi PB 3:30.80 from Herculis meet in July.
Richardson in Italy
PADOVA (ITA): The 26th Citta di Padova meet (EA Classic) on Sunday will have home stars Fabrizio Donato and Daniele Greco in men triple jump. Jamaican olympic winner Nesta Carter runs the 100 m, former olympic winner and Zurich 1st placer Angelo Taylor will compete in the 400 m flat. London silver medalist Jason Richardson is the star of men´s 110 m hurdles. In women events relay olympic winner Jeneba Tarmoh in the 200 m and Belarus Nastasya Mironchik-Ivanova in the long jump against US opposition.
Fast times in Lille
LILLE (FRA, Sep 1): New men course record highlighted the Lille Half Marathon. Ezekiel Chebii clocked impressive 59:05 PB to win. Second Bernard Koech 59:10 PB and third Eliud Kipchoge debuted also under the former record in 59:25. For the 2003 5000 m world champion it is the second fastest ever debut at the distance. Better only Moses Mosop with 59:20 debut in Milano 2010. Under one hour also Gideon Kipketer 59:53 PB and Gilbert Masai 59:57 PB. Best European was the French runner James Theuri as 18th (1:03:14). Unfortunately top Ethiopians headed by Amane Tsegay could not come after visa and travel difficulties. In the women race top five under 1:09. Flomena Chepchirchir won with 1:08:06 PB ahead of fifth from Boston this year Diane Chepkemoi 1:08:08 and fast debuting track world medalist Priscah Jepleting 1:08:35. Fourth 2011 Prague marathon winner Lydia Cheromei 1:08:54 and fifth Sarah Chepchirchir 1:08:59. Best European was French Magali Bernard as 13th in 1:14:45 PB.
Home men and guest women leading
GOTEBORG (SWE, Sep 1): After first day of traditional match Sweden-Finland home men are leading with 116:86 and Finnish women 122:83 (walking not included). In men events Nil de Oliveira won the 100 m in 10.36 (+0.7) over Jonathan Astrand 10.44. In relay Sweden prevailed with 39.64. Solid long jump won by Michel Torneus with windy 816 (+2.6, legal 784) ahead of former world medalist Tommi Evila 791 (+3.9, legal 784). In women events Moa Hjelmer got 53.22 in the 400 m, Angelica Bengtsson cleared 446 in the pole vault. Young Sofi Flinck (17) was the best in javelin 56.87 and in relay duel Finland achieved 44.64 over Sweden 44.92.
Barrios wins
BERLIN (GER, Sep 1): As part of ISTAF and also DKB duels women discus was staged one day before the main event. Cuban olympic 4th placer Yareli Barrios won with 66.59 ahead of silver winner from London Darya Pishchalnikova 65.47 and home star Nadine Muller 64.34. In other events held in historical stadium in Elstal Raphael Holzdeppe cleared 550 in pole vault with last year world champion Pawel Wojciechowski second (540). Cuban Yarisley Silva cleared 455 in the pole vault and Teresa Dobija of Poland leaped to 642 (+0.7) long jump win.
Ennis Stand
LONDON (GBR): English third tier side Sheffield United are renaming one of the stands at their Bramall Lane home after Olympic heptathlon champion Jessica Ennis. Sheffield United owner Kevin McCabe believes The Jessica Ennis Stand will be a fitting tribute to the 26-year-old, who put on a truly outstanding performance at the London Games. “She is probably Sheffield’s biggest ever star,” said McCabe. The stand will be officially unveiled at the club’s home match with Bournemouth on Sunday. Informs insidethegames.
RESULTS
KYIV (UKR, Sep 1): At special pole vault meet Maksim Mazuryk cleared 560 over Oleksandr Korchmid 550.
STARA BOLESLAV (CZE, Aug 29): Ladislav Prasil finally broke the 20 m in the shot put here with 20.04 life-time best.
EISENBERG (GER, Aug 31): 2010 Eurowinner in long jump Christian Reif leaped to 797 (+0.1).
WIEN (AUT, Sep 1): Austrian half-marathon champion is Valentin Pfeil in 1:06:51.
RADOM (POL, Sep 1): During first day of Polish U23 Championships Marcin Krukowski got 78.46 in javelin and Anna Jagaciak 641 in the long jump.
ALEKSANDROW LODZKI (POL, Sep 1): Fine discus throwing here with Konrad Szuster improving to 63.40 ahead of Robert Urbanek 62.98.
PRAHA (CZE, Sep 1): Czech record holder Pavel Maslak won two titles at national U23 Championships first day. He clocked 10.57 (-0.2) in the 100 m and was part of winning relay of Dukla Praha 40.30 (third leg). Tomas Vonavka won the discus with 61.53 and Petr Penaz achieved 13.83 (+1.1) at 110 m hurdles.
NITRA (SVK, Sep 1): Men and women of Spartak Dubnica won the club titles in Slovakia. Lukas Beer cleared here 222 in the high jump and Martina Hrasnova achieved 68.63 in hammer as top results.
KAVARNA (BUL, Sep 1): In preparation for World Half Marathon Championships Kavarna staged the 1st Balkan HM Championships. Vitalie Gheorghita of Moldova was the male winner in 1:10:48 and Sladjana Perunovic of Montenegro the women in 1:22:41.
