Yuriy Borzakovskiy leads Olympic 800m gold and silver medallists Wilfred Bungei and Ismail Ahmed Ismail in Moscow (© Nikolay Matveev)
Victories by Yuriy Borzakovskiy and Anastasiya Kapachinskaya were the key highlights at the Moscow Open in the Russian capital on Tuesday (29).
Athletes from 29 countries competed at the meeting at Luzhniki Stadium in windy and warm (30 C) conditions.
With Borzakovskiy running, the men’s 800m was the most attractive event. Using his old tactics, Borzakovskiy didn’t make his move until well into the second lap en route to a 1:45.17 victory, well head of Czech Jakub Holusa, whose runner-up effort was rewarded with a 1:45.56 career best. Kenya Ismael Kombich was third in 1:45.85.
In the women’s race, Russian Yelena Kofanova broke through the two-minute barrier for the first time this season, winning in 1:59.67. 400m specialist Tatyana Levina set up a fast pace with a quick first lap, leaving the 21-year-old Kofanova (1:58.60 PB, 2009) to battle it out with Sviatlana Usovich of Belarus. Usovich was just a bit behind in 1:59.73, with Russians Oksana Zbrozhek (2:00.01) and Tatyana Andrianova (2:00.74) third and fourth.
The women’s 400m was as tough as the men’s two laps. Anastasiya Kapachinskaya showed solid early summer form with her 50.16 victory, a seasons best. Antonina Krivoshapka was the runner –up in 50.56 with Tatyana Firova (50.79) rounding out the top-three.
There were good results in the women’s 200m as well. Alexandra Fedoriva was the clear winner in 22.60, the fastest by a Russian this year. Yuliya Guschina was a distant second in 22.80 with Yekaterina Vukolova (22.89) third.
The men’s 3000m Steeplechase was among the more breathtaking events, with Ildar Minshin taking the win in a blanket finish. The Russian clocked 8:24.55, just ahead of Moroccan Brahim Taleb (8:24.59) and Ion Luchianov from Moldavia who clocked 8:24.88.
Another close race came in the men’s 110m Hurdles where Artur Noga of Poland and Hungary’s Daniel Kiss were virtually inseparable at the finish, both credited with a wind-assisted 13.20 (+3.1), although the nod was give to the Pole.
On the infield...
It was the wind and not the heat that foiled the women’s high jumpers plans for decent heights. Irina Gordeeva prevailed at 1.92m on countback over Svetlana Shkolina got silver clearing the same height but lost on count-back.
In the men’s event, Aleksey Dmitrik cleared 2.28m to take the win. Unexpectedly Ivan Ukhov was second managing just 2.25m to edge Sergey Mudrov on count back. Ukhov missed at 2.28 and tried instead at 2.30 but failed.
Delshod Nazarov from Tajikistan won the men’s Hammer Throw with a 78.57m best. Runner-up honours went to a famous name in the event, Sergey Litvinov Jr., son of the former Olympic champion, who threw 77.10m.
Tatyana Lysenko was the women’s winner, with a 73.89m throw.
Nastassia Mironchyk of Belarus won the Long Jump with a 6.84m leap, to beat
Yuliya Tarasova (6.73m) of Uzbekistan and Latvian Ineta Radevica (6.71m).
Elsewhere, Natalya Mikhnevitch from Belarus won the women’s Shot Put with a 19.74m effort, easily out-distancing Russian Olga Ivanova (19.18m). Dmitriy Valukevic of Slovakia won the men’s Triple Jump with a leap of exactly 17.00m, just ahead of Aleksey Fyodorov (16.92m). Dmitriy Starodubtsev cleared 5.60m to take the Pole Vault.
Nickolai Dolgopolov and Rostislav Orlov for IAAF
Athletes from 29 countries competed at the meeting at Luzhniki Stadium in windy and warm (30 C) conditions.
With Borzakovskiy running, the men’s 800m was the most attractive event. Using his old tactics, Borzakovskiy didn’t make his move until well into the second lap en route to a 1:45.17 victory, well head of Czech Jakub Holusa, whose runner-up effort was rewarded with a 1:45.56 career best. Kenya Ismael Kombich was third in 1:45.85.
In the women’s race, Russian Yelena Kofanova broke through the two-minute barrier for the first time this season, winning in 1:59.67. 400m specialist Tatyana Levina set up a fast pace with a quick first lap, leaving the 21-year-old Kofanova (1:58.60 PB, 2009) to battle it out with Sviatlana Usovich of Belarus. Usovich was just a bit behind in 1:59.73, with Russians Oksana Zbrozhek (2:00.01) and Tatyana Andrianova (2:00.74) third and fourth.
The women’s 400m was as tough as the men’s two laps. Anastasiya Kapachinskaya showed solid early summer form with her 50.16 victory, a seasons best. Antonina Krivoshapka was the runner –up in 50.56 with Tatyana Firova (50.79) rounding out the top-three.
There were good results in the women’s 200m as well. Alexandra Fedoriva was the clear winner in 22.60, the fastest by a Russian this year. Yuliya Guschina was a distant second in 22.80 with Yekaterina Vukolova (22.89) third.
The men’s 3000m Steeplechase was among the more breathtaking events, with Ildar Minshin taking the win in a blanket finish. The Russian clocked 8:24.55, just ahead of Moroccan Brahim Taleb (8:24.59) and Ion Luchianov from Moldavia who clocked 8:24.88.
Another close race came in the men’s 110m Hurdles where Artur Noga of Poland and Hungary’s Daniel Kiss were virtually inseparable at the finish, both credited with a wind-assisted 13.20 (+3.1), although the nod was give to the Pole.
On the infield...
It was the wind and not the heat that foiled the women’s high jumpers plans for decent heights. Irina Gordeeva prevailed at 1.92m on countback over Svetlana Shkolina got silver clearing the same height but lost on count-back.
In the men’s event, Aleksey Dmitrik cleared 2.28m to take the win. Unexpectedly Ivan Ukhov was second managing just 2.25m to edge Sergey Mudrov on count back. Ukhov missed at 2.28 and tried instead at 2.30 but failed.
Delshod Nazarov from Tajikistan won the men’s Hammer Throw with a 78.57m best. Runner-up honours went to a famous name in the event, Sergey Litvinov Jr., son of the former Olympic champion, who threw 77.10m.
Tatyana Lysenko was the women’s winner, with a 73.89m throw.
Nastassia Mironchyk of Belarus won the Long Jump with a 6.84m leap, to beat
Yuliya Tarasova (6.73m) of Uzbekistan and Latvian Ineta Radevica (6.71m).
Elsewhere, Natalya Mikhnevitch from Belarus won the women’s Shot Put with a 19.74m effort, easily out-distancing Russian Olga Ivanova (19.18m). Dmitriy Valukevic of Slovakia won the men’s Triple Jump with a leap of exactly 17.00m, just ahead of Aleksey Fyodorov (16.92m). Dmitriy Starodubtsev cleared 5.60m to take the Pole Vault.
Nickolai Dolgopolov and Rostislav Orlov for IAAF
