Moscow, Russia – This year’s Russia versus USA match ended in a draw with the men’s honours going to the guests and the women’s win to the hosts. The match took place in the North Arena of the Luzhniki Sports Complex in Moscow.

Man of the match - Phillips

World and Olympic champion Dwight Phillips promised to his compatriot and the World record holder Mike Powell that this summer he’d break his old record in Long Jump set in 1991 in Tokyo – 8.95m. Here in Moscow the wind prevented the athletes from doing their best. Philips won but his result left much to be desired – 7.84m. Vitaliy Shkurlatov (RUS) was 2nd – 7.59 and Miguel Pate finished 3rd – 7.50. 

But as we'll read later that was not the end of what was to be an exhausting day for Phillips.

Kotova - good result in windy conditions

The result of the winner in women’s Long Jump by Tatyana Kotova may be regarded as extremely good taking into consideration the same wind conditions. Kotova landed at 6.71m. Richmond (USA) finished 2nd – 6.62 and Oksana Udmurtova (RUS) was only one cm behind – 6.61.

Isinbayeva 'only' 4.60m

Yelena Isinbayeva was striving for the record in women’s Pole Vault. But this time the 18 time World record breaker cleared only 4.60. She tried to clear 5.02 but failed to break the record that time. The wind was changing its direction and strength all the time. Tatyana Polnova was the runner-up with 4.50 and Dana Ellis (USA) was 3rd - 4.35.
 
There were 10 events in the running programme of the match. In the women’s 100m Hurdles, the World champion Michelle Parry (USA) occupied the 6th and the last place. It was Irina Shevchenko (RUS) who finished first clocking 12.82. Marya Koroteeva (RUS) was 2nd – 12.89 and Lola Jones (USA) was 3rd  – 12.90. Her compatriot Kirkland clocked the same time but remained 4th.

Ron Bramlett from the USA won the men’s 110m Hurdles – 13.44. The champion of Russia Igor Peremota was 2nd - 13.67 and Mika Harris (USA) finished 3rd – 13.99. The same time was clocked by Yevgeniy Borisiv (RUS) who turned out to be the 4th.

New married life for Pechonkina

The women’s 400m Hurdles was won by the World champion and World record holder by yuliya Pechonkina – 54.21. By the way, Yuliya got married and now her family name is Nosova-Pechonkina. Branda Taylor from the USA was 2nd – 57.52 and Oksana Gulumyan was 3rd – 57.95. 
 
The Olympic champion Yuriy Borzakovskiy from Russia gained an easy and predictable victory at 800m clocking 1:46.61. His friend Dmitriy Bogdanov was the runner-up – 1:46.98 and Robinson from the USA finished 3rd – 1:47.13. 

The women’s 100m was dominated by the Russian trio. Irina Khabarova – 11.31 (+1m/s wind). Olga Khalandyreva finished 2nd – 11.45 and Ekaterina Kondratieva was 3rd – 11.55.

Two more events for Phillips

On the contrary the men’s 100m was swamped by the guests - Cobby Miller won (+1,9 m/wind) – 10.17. Dwight Phillips clocked 10.30 and Markus Bronson finished 3rd – 10.31.

One may say that Phillips turned out to be the hero of the Russian Challenge for it was due to his efforts in the 4x100m Relay that it was won by the USA squad – 39.27. It is interesting that there were only two “pure” sprinters in the USA team - Miller and Bronson - for besides Phillips there was one more outsider – Ron Bramlett, who as Phillips also celebrated his second victory at the tournament. The result of the Russian squad was 39.53.

The women’s 4x100 relay was won by the Russian team. It was a kind of a revenge for their utter failure in Helsinki where the team did not finish. Their time was 43.86. The USA clocked 44.13.

The women’s 200m was dominated mostly by 400m specialists. Natalya Ivanova, an Athens 4x400m relay medallist, took the win in 23.03. Yuliya Guschina was the runner-up – 23.18. Mushami Robinson was 3rd – 23.42. The double Olympic winner at 4x400m relay Monique Hennegan (USA) was 4th – 23.47.

Natalya Yevdokimova won the women’s 800m – 2:00.44. Olga Kotlyarova was 2nd – 2:00.85 and Svetlana Cherkasova was 3rd – 2:02.62.

The USA men’s team defeated its Russian opponents – 54 points against 42. And the Russian women’s team was much stronger then the guest team – 101 to 56pts.

Nickolai Dolgopolov and Rostislav Orlov for the IAAF