Alminova sets fastest 800m of the year as first four titles are awarded - Russian Champs - Day 1

The city of Cheboksary, capital of Chuvashiya plays host to the Russian national championships which also serve as trials for the IAAF World Championships in Berlin.

As the race walking events have already been staged, the competition awards 40 new Russian Championships titles and already 4 have been determined after the first day.

In the women’s 3000m Steeplechase, Julia Zarudneva took the title in the year’s second fastest time of 9:13.18. She defeated Elena Sidorchenkova in second (9:22.15) and Ljubow Kharlamova in third (9:33.20) as the Olympic champion and World record holder Gulnara Galkin-Samitova and defending World champion Ekaterina Volkova did not take part.

In the men’s race, defending Russian champion Ildar Minishin took another convincing win in 8:28.61 ahead of Andrey Farnosov (8:30.48) and Peter Ivanenko (8:35.66).

The men’s and women’s 10,000m were the other two finals contested on day one with the men’s race being run under heavy rainy conditions. Lilija Shobuhova won in 30:30.93 with Maria Konovalova second with 30:32.53 and Ksenia Agafonova third in 31:10.62. The men’s winner was Yevgeniy Rybakov who defeated his twon brother Anatoly 28:19.13 to 28:19.39. Bronze went to Stepan Kiselyov with 28:38.96.

World 800m leader in heats

In addition to the four finals, other good results were registered in preliminary events including the return of 400m Hurdles World record holder Yulia Pechonkina, who after a DNF in her opening race on 5 July, produced a good 54.93sec. Alexander Derevjagin was the fastest in the men’s race with 49.68.

Antonina Krivoshapka clocked the second fastest time of the world this year at 400m with 49.29 while Anna Alminova set a new World leader at 1:57.86 at 800m. Four others dipped under 2 minutes.

In the men’s race, the best mark of 1:46.31 came from former Olympic champion Yury Borzakovsky.

Rostislav Orlov and Nikolai Dolgopolov for the IAAF

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