by Larry Eder
G
A. Merritt out of Boston
BOSTON (USA): World record holder Aries Merritt withdrew from the New Balance Indoor Grand Prix in Boston (February 2) after experiencing a cramp in training. “At the beginning of yesterday’s workout, I experienced a cramp as I went over a hurdle during one of my drills. I hate to disappoint Boston area track and field fans, but my physios think it is best if I withdraw to ensure I stay healthy for the rest of this World Championship year. I hope everyone understands,” he was quoted as saying.
Filippidis clears 583 NR
LINZ (AUT, Jan 31): Slovenian top talent Zan Rudolf again improved national 800 m record to 1:46.96 when winning the Gugl Indoor meet in Austria. Interestingly it was one of three marks which equalled current world indoor leads. Here second Austrian Andreas Vojta confirmed top shape with 1:47.14 overall PB. Third US Erik Sowinski got 1:47.21, indoor PB. US Omo Osaghae with 7.60 at 60 m hurdles had the same time as Kevin Craddock on Tuesday in Vienna (here second in 7.75) and German female shot putter Christina Schwanitz achieved the same mark as over the weekend in Sassnitz 19.58. But probably the best result of the evening were new Greek pole vault records by Kostas Filippidis 577 and 583 in third attempt (tried three times at 591). Also to note solid US sprints by Mike Rodgers (6.60 and 21.29 wins), Lekeisha Wilson (7.31, but faster 7.26 in heats), Natasha Hastings (23.55, also 7.36 at 60 m) and Yvette Lewis (8.05 ahead of Belgian Eline Berings 8.11 and Lori Smith 8.15 and 8.09 in heats). Ivana Spanovic leaped to Serbian indoor long jump record 663 ahead of US Funmi Jimoh 636. Ralf Bartels was the best in men shot put 19.98 and second in women shot Briton Sophie McKinna achieved national junior record 16.38.
Ohuruogu changing tactics
LONDON (GBR): “I know how I want to run. I’ve not seen it from me yet,” olympic medalist Christine Ohuruogu said in considering the possibility of experimenting more with new tactics in the future, instead of her customary final straight charge which has served her well. “I know I can run from the front as opposed to a chasing position. That’s something I know I can do. I really feel now is the time for me to work on that, as opposed to trying to play safe,” she added for Athletics Weekly. This summer’s World Championships in Moscow are an obvious target where she will most likely have to overcome Sanya Richards-Ross, who claimed the gold ahead of Ohuruogu in London.
Lagat at Armory, Rupp at NIA
NEW YORK (USA): Runnersworld.com informs that scenario like last year may unfold on Saturday, February 16. Bernard Lagat wants that two-mile record back, and he’ll be in a very strong field racing the distance at the Millrose Games. Theoretically, he could again have ownership of the five U.S. indoor track records he covets. Except that earlier that evening, across the Atlantic, Galen Rupp will be running a 5000 m at the Aviva Grand Prix in Birmingham and obviously, lurking somewhere in his mind, is the desire to get back the 5000-meter record Lagat claimed last February. With his 3:50.92 mile last Saturday, Rupp is obviously in fantastic shape.
OTHER NEWS
MELBOURNE (AUS): The Board of Directors of Athletics Australia has determined that sprinter John Steffensen be declared ineligible to compete in international and domestic competition for a period of six months for making statements and engaging in conduct likely to bring the sport of athletics into disrepute contrary to IAAF Rules, Athletics Australia By-laws and the Athletics Australia Team Member Code of Conduct. Informs Athletics Australia.
DOHA (QAT): Qatar’s teenage hammer throw star Ashref Amged Elseify has become the latest high profile athlete to give his backing to the upcoming National Sport Day in his home country. The 17-year-old Egyptian-born athlete underlined huge potential last year as he won gold in the hammer throw at the World Junior Championships in Barcelona with a world junior record of 85.57 metres. The National Sport Day will be held across Qatar on February 12 after it was created by the Deputy Emir and Heir Apparent HH Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani. “Many people in Qatar still do not really know most of the sports and their rules,” said Elseify.
ZAPORIZHZHYA (UKR): Reigning European and world indoor medalist in Heptathlon Oleksiy Kasyanov will not complete this winter a full heptathlon. The 27-year-old Ukrainian informed about his plans to official FLAU’s web site after finishing 2nd at national team championships in long jump with 760. “We decided to make a little break after London Olympics for physical and mental recovering. But in any case I’ll perform in separate events at national champs and do triathlon (60m, long jump and shot put) at international meeting in Gent (against Belgian star Hans Van Alphen). Definitely I’ll revert to decathlon in summer perhaps starting my competitions season from Götzis.”
ZURICH (SUI): European marathon champion Viktor Röthlin will return to Japan. On March 3 he will run the Lake Biwa Marathon in Otsu City. After his training camp in Kenya he is now back in Switzerland.
DUSSELDORF (GER): Top star for PSD Bank Meeting (EA Indoor Permit) on February 8 in Dusseldorf for the 60 m is Commonwealth Games winner Lerone Clarke from Jamaica with 6.47 personal best.
BRUSSELS (BEL) : Borlée brothers Kevin and Jonathan start their indoor season this weekend at the Perfiction indoor in Gent (February 2) where they will both meet at the 60m and later on Kevin will run the 200m and Jonathan the 300m. Both brothers also told Belgian media they no longer want to compete against each other except at championships.
HENGELO (NED): The city of Hengelo has allotted the sum of 100.000 E to the organization of the Fanny Blankers Koen Games in order for the event to be staged this year. The city confirmed it is a one time support for the event.
BRUSSELS (BEL): Belgian triple jumper Svetlana Bolshakova will not compete at the Perfiction indoor meeting on February 2nd due to a slight injury she sustained at training. The 28-year old anticipated to be back for the Record Bank Flanders indoor meeting on February 10th where she hopes to qualify for the European indoor championships reports sporza.be.
SCHWERIN (GER): Pole vault world medalist Martina Strutz ended her indoor season because of an achilles injury. “It is not very serious, but I want to be ready for summer, so this is a precautionary measure,” she said. Strutz competed so far twice in the indoor season 440 and 432.
RESULTS
MOSCOW (RUS, Jan 31): Sergey Mudrov won the High Jump Moscow Cup special meet with 227 clearance. Last year junior and 4th placer in Barcelona Ilya Ivanyuk also cleared 227 (PB) as second as did the third Dmitriy Semyonov (PB). Only fourth Olympic winner Ivan Ukhov with 224 ahead of Ivan Ilyichev and European Champion Aleksandr Shustov (both also 224).
NITRA (SVK, Jan 31): Lukas Beer won the special high jump with 221 his indoor personal best. Slovakia has now four jumpers at level 220+, besides Beer also Matus Bubenik, Michal Kabelka and Peter Horak.
KRASNODAR (RUS, Jan 27): Aleksey Brednev clocked 6.66 in the 60 m at the regional event. Also good women sprints by Yulia Katsura 7.34 and 23.32.
