Friday, 12 June 2009
Lewis triples past Cuban trio, Stewart and Ohuruogu dominate the sprints in Montreuil
Randy Lewis reaches a new Grenadian national record in the triple jump (Bruno Miani/CBAt)
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Montreuil, France – While sprinters Kerron Stewart (11.14) and Christine Ohuruogu took expected victories, it was the men’s Triple Jump which provided the most heated competition as the French professional circuit “Alma Athlé Tour 2009” kicked off in Montreuil on Thursday (11) afternoon.
The Triple Jump start list was indeed exceptional in Montreuil as the nine entrants were all 17-metre performers. The favourites were the three Cubans who animated the event in the Americas over the past couple of months - Yoandris Betanzos (17.65m), Alexis Copello (17.65m) and Arnie David Girat (17.62m).
Having just arrived in Europe, they didn’t showed their best form and Randy Lewis from Grenada took the best of them. In spite of an erratic debut of competition (16.58m, foul, foul, 16.64m), Lewis took the lead with his fifth attempt (17.17m) and underscored it with his last leap, a 17.15m effort. Copello placed second with 17.09m, Giralt third with 17.07m while Betanzos was not at ease and only managed to jump 15.86m.
Frenchman Teddy Tamgho, a 17.58m performer this winter, was fourth with 17.01m.
Lewis was of course delighted to win such against such a field.
“It’s a good feeling to compete and win against those guys”, said the Grenadian who is based in Leverkusen, Germany, and coached by Gerd Osenberg. “I’m very happy because I had a few meetings before this one and the results were not to my expectations. I couldn’t compete indoors because of a back injury and I didn’t train in January and February. My first and second competitions outdoors were very bad (including a sixth place in Belem behind the Cubans) and now it’s finally coming together.”
Stewart and Ohuruogu cruise
Jamaican Kerron Stewart showed the same domination on the track. Her start was not the best (0.187) and she really made the difference after 25m and increased her margin over the field through the finish line. Her time, 11.14 (wind +0.4), was far from her 2009 world leading mark of 10.92 but more than enough to win from Muriel Hurtis-Houairi (11.59).
“I just came here to have a race,” the Olympic silver medallist said. “Everything went well expect my start which could have been a lot better. I’m still working on stuff and will try to do better in Berlin on Sunday.”
Christine Ohuruogu of Great Britain, the Olympic and World 400m champion, was in a class apart in her specialty. After a cautious start, the Briton really made the difference during the second part of the race. Her time, 51.14, was enough to win by a huge margin over Frenchwoman Solen Désert-Mariller who clocked 52.61.
Dwain Chambers attracted significant attention on the men’s 100m. The field was packed with Trinidadian Marc Burns, Great Britain’s Harry Aikines-Aryeetey and Frenchmen Ronald Pognon and Martial Mbandjock, all 10.10 or better last year.
Pognon was the fastest out from the gun (reaction time 0.137) but Chambers (0.152) stormed away and opened a 1m lead at 30m. His final time, 10.17 (wind -0.1) didn’t reflect the great impression the 2009 European leader (10.06) has displayed. Aikines-Aryeetey placed second and Mbandjock third in the same time of 10.33.
The men’s 110m Hurdle was a close race won by Bahamian Shamar Sands in 13.45 from Jeff Porter’s 13.54. “I stumbled out of the blocks but was able to come back from behind,” analysed the winner. “I’m being consistent with my results and overall that’s a pretty good result.”
Elsewhere, Frenchman Yoann Diniz went solo in the 5000m Race Walk (18:54.86), as Tunisian Atem Ghoula was second in 19:27.56. Five women threw over 60m in the Discus Throw, won by Pole Zaneta Gland with a 61.83m effort.
Click here for full results
Pierre Jean Vazel for the IAAF
The Triple Jump start list was indeed exceptional in Montreuil as the nine entrants were all 17-metre performers. The favourites were the three Cubans who animated the event in the Americas over the past couple of months - Yoandris Betanzos (17.65m), Alexis Copello (17.65m) and Arnie David Girat (17.62m).
Having just arrived in Europe, they didn’t showed their best form and Randy Lewis from Grenada took the best of them. In spite of an erratic debut of competition (16.58m, foul, foul, 16.64m), Lewis took the lead with his fifth attempt (17.17m) and underscored it with his last leap, a 17.15m effort. Copello placed second with 17.09m, Giralt third with 17.07m while Betanzos was not at ease and only managed to jump 15.86m.
Frenchman Teddy Tamgho, a 17.58m performer this winter, was fourth with 17.01m.
Lewis was of course delighted to win such against such a field.
“It’s a good feeling to compete and win against those guys”, said the Grenadian who is based in Leverkusen, Germany, and coached by Gerd Osenberg. “I’m very happy because I had a few meetings before this one and the results were not to my expectations. I couldn’t compete indoors because of a back injury and I didn’t train in January and February. My first and second competitions outdoors were very bad (including a sixth place in Belem behind the Cubans) and now it’s finally coming together.”
Stewart and Ohuruogu cruise
Jamaican Kerron Stewart showed the same domination on the track. Her start was not the best (0.187) and she really made the difference after 25m and increased her margin over the field through the finish line. Her time, 11.14 (wind +0.4), was far from her 2009 world leading mark of 10.92 but more than enough to win from Muriel Hurtis-Houairi (11.59).
“I just came here to have a race,” the Olympic silver medallist said. “Everything went well expect my start which could have been a lot better. I’m still working on stuff and will try to do better in Berlin on Sunday.”
Christine Ohuruogu of Great Britain, the Olympic and World 400m champion, was in a class apart in her specialty. After a cautious start, the Briton really made the difference during the second part of the race. Her time, 51.14, was enough to win by a huge margin over Frenchwoman Solen Désert-Mariller who clocked 52.61.
Dwain Chambers attracted significant attention on the men’s 100m. The field was packed with Trinidadian Marc Burns, Great Britain’s Harry Aikines-Aryeetey and Frenchmen Ronald Pognon and Martial Mbandjock, all 10.10 or better last year.
Pognon was the fastest out from the gun (reaction time 0.137) but Chambers (0.152) stormed away and opened a 1m lead at 30m. His final time, 10.17 (wind -0.1) didn’t reflect the great impression the 2009 European leader (10.06) has displayed. Aikines-Aryeetey placed second and Mbandjock third in the same time of 10.33.
The men’s 110m Hurdle was a close race won by Bahamian Shamar Sands in 13.45 from Jeff Porter’s 13.54. “I stumbled out of the blocks but was able to come back from behind,” analysed the winner. “I’m being consistent with my results and overall that’s a pretty good result.”
Elsewhere, Frenchman Yoann Diniz went solo in the 5000m Race Walk (18:54.86), as Tunisian Atem Ghoula was second in 19:27.56. Five women threw over 60m in the Discus Throw, won by Pole Zaneta Gland with a 61.83m effort.
Click here for full results
Pierre Jean Vazel for the IAAF