Gulnara Galkina strides towards the finish line to win steeplechase gold (© Getty Images)
Contested in windy conditions, the 7th edition of the international athletic tournament ”Russian Challenge” was held at “Yantar” stadium on Friday (12) in the green suburbs of Moscow under the slogan ”To Berlin!”.
It’s a tradition: the tournament is organized mostly in the format of duels. And the famous competitors especially invited attempted to prove that they are at their best when facing their opponents directly.
Galkina-Samitova dominates 1500m, Lagat a distant third
Olympic 1500m winner Nancy Lagat from Kenya and the Olympic champion and World record holder in 3000m Steeplechase Gulnara Galkina-Samitova went head-to-head in the 1500m. It was not the first time in the outdoor season that Galkina-Samitova was testing her speed and skills at a shorter distance.
Lagat was serious. She explained that the winds didn’t bother her too much as she was accustomed to similar conditions at home. Lagat said that she was quite satisfied both with the nice stadium and the friendly public. She regarded Galkina–Samitova as a great champion but admitted that her foe was not exactly a specialist in the 1500m.
The race turned out to be the battle of nerves. The Russian was leading, with Lagat giving full chase until the final lap which was a holiday of acceleration for Galkina-Samitova, who cruised to a clear victory in 4:02.34. Anna Luchkina from Russia who overtook Lagat was second in 4:11.06, with Lagat, to the total disappointment of the public, a distant third in 4:12.18.
Another guest was Olympic 400m Hurdles champion Melaine Walker of Jamaica, who took on Russians Irina Obedina, Darya Korableva and Yelena Churakova. Walker won easily and frankly, without too much effort in 55.84. Korableva was the runner up (56.02) with Obedina (56.49) third and Churakova fourth (57.84).
Renaud Lavillenie from France, the European indoor champion in the Pole Vault, was trying his best against Russian celebrity Igor Pavlov who won the European indoor title in 2005, and one more Russian, Igor Prokopenko. The strong head winds however seriously impacted the competition. So strong were the winds that the cross bar was blown off its pegs several times. Lavillenie was the first casualty, clearing just 5.37. The win went to Pavlov, who cleared 5.57m with Prokopenko second (5.47m).
Andrei Tereshin, who seems well prepared for the season, took on Italy’s Alessandro Talotti and Ivan Iliichev in the High Jump. The wind finally stopped when the competition commenced, with Tereshin winning with a 2.30m leap. Iliichev was second at 2.24m with the Italian third (2.21m).
Svetlana Shkolina won the women’s event with a 1.95m leap, well ahead of Czech Iva Strakova who cleared 1.86.
Alminova and Ivanov take Kremlin Mile wins
Earlier in the day, the traditional Kremlin Mile was held for the 18th year, held in conjunction with the New Russia Independence Day (12th of June).
Held before huge crowds, more than 500 Russian and foreign competitors took part in the race in the centre of Moscow in the vicinity of Red Square near the State Duma and the Bolshoi Theatre.
The weather was excellent and the results turned out to be the best in the history of the race which was launched in 1992.
The women’s race was dominated by Anna Alminova who clocked 4:19. Oksana Beliakova was five seconds behind to finish second with Vera Tarasova third in 4:26.
Five-time winner Vyacheslav Shabunin was the main favorite in the men’s race. Shabunin, an 18-times national champion with 16 national records, lead from the gun but it was Sergei Ivanov, who usually contests longer distances, who prevailed after a courageous final effort in 3:53. Shabunin was the runner up in 3:54 with Konstantin Vasiliev third, another second back.
Nickolai Dolgopolov and Rostislav Orlov for the IAAF
It’s a tradition: the tournament is organized mostly in the format of duels. And the famous competitors especially invited attempted to prove that they are at their best when facing their opponents directly.
Galkina-Samitova dominates 1500m, Lagat a distant third
Olympic 1500m winner Nancy Lagat from Kenya and the Olympic champion and World record holder in 3000m Steeplechase Gulnara Galkina-Samitova went head-to-head in the 1500m. It was not the first time in the outdoor season that Galkina-Samitova was testing her speed and skills at a shorter distance.
Lagat was serious. She explained that the winds didn’t bother her too much as she was accustomed to similar conditions at home. Lagat said that she was quite satisfied both with the nice stadium and the friendly public. She regarded Galkina–Samitova as a great champion but admitted that her foe was not exactly a specialist in the 1500m.
The race turned out to be the battle of nerves. The Russian was leading, with Lagat giving full chase until the final lap which was a holiday of acceleration for Galkina-Samitova, who cruised to a clear victory in 4:02.34. Anna Luchkina from Russia who overtook Lagat was second in 4:11.06, with Lagat, to the total disappointment of the public, a distant third in 4:12.18.
Another guest was Olympic 400m Hurdles champion Melaine Walker of Jamaica, who took on Russians Irina Obedina, Darya Korableva and Yelena Churakova. Walker won easily and frankly, without too much effort in 55.84. Korableva was the runner up (56.02) with Obedina (56.49) third and Churakova fourth (57.84).
Renaud Lavillenie from France, the European indoor champion in the Pole Vault, was trying his best against Russian celebrity Igor Pavlov who won the European indoor title in 2005, and one more Russian, Igor Prokopenko. The strong head winds however seriously impacted the competition. So strong were the winds that the cross bar was blown off its pegs several times. Lavillenie was the first casualty, clearing just 5.37. The win went to Pavlov, who cleared 5.57m with Prokopenko second (5.47m).
Andrei Tereshin, who seems well prepared for the season, took on Italy’s Alessandro Talotti and Ivan Iliichev in the High Jump. The wind finally stopped when the competition commenced, with Tereshin winning with a 2.30m leap. Iliichev was second at 2.24m with the Italian third (2.21m).
Svetlana Shkolina won the women’s event with a 1.95m leap, well ahead of Czech Iva Strakova who cleared 1.86.
Alminova and Ivanov take Kremlin Mile wins
Earlier in the day, the traditional Kremlin Mile was held for the 18th year, held in conjunction with the New Russia Independence Day (12th of June).
Held before huge crowds, more than 500 Russian and foreign competitors took part in the race in the centre of Moscow in the vicinity of Red Square near the State Duma and the Bolshoi Theatre.
The weather was excellent and the results turned out to be the best in the history of the race which was launched in 1992.
The women’s race was dominated by Anna Alminova who clocked 4:19. Oksana Beliakova was five seconds behind to finish second with Vera Tarasova third in 4:26.
Five-time winner Vyacheslav Shabunin was the main favorite in the men’s race. Shabunin, an 18-times national champion with 16 national records, lead from the gun but it was Sergei Ivanov, who usually contests longer distances, who prevailed after a courageous final effort in 3:53. Shabunin was the runner up in 3:54 with Konstantin Vasiliev third, another second back.
Nickolai Dolgopolov and Rostislav Orlov for the IAAF
