Anna Chicherova of Russia in action in the women's high jump qualification (© Getty Images)
The Open Championships on 2627 July were marked by an unprecedented participation of leading Russian athletes. They used the occasion to strengthen their positions before the final selection at the Russian championships which will be staged 7-10 August in Tula.
Yulia Pechonkina made her second start after a severe illness. 10 days ago she ran 400 m/h in d 55.34 and now she achieved 54.27. But she was not satisfied with this result. She wants to speed up her recovery.
“I have been working too much, it was very stressful and I have a huge problem with my vascular system, something happened with my head,” says Yulia. “ I have a very good doctor at my native Siberian city Krasnoyarsk, so I returned there to get treatment and I could not run 45 days.
“The recovery was rather slow and heavy. I began my training very carefully with just walking. The first competition was very hard and it is still hard to run for me. Now I am going to participate at the Russian championships ant take my place in the team.”
Once again Anna Chicherova tested her form. And at her second attempt she easily jumped 2.00. Then her coach asked her to stop competition.
“I feel that I can achieve today 2.03,” said Chicherova. “But I did not like my jumps, there are still many mistakes in my movements. I was aiming at 2.00 because it is a very important mark. You can win with it at very important competitions.”
Yuriy Borzakovskiy surprised everybody by participating in the 3000m. After 2000m he stopped running with his ordinary training result: 5.26. His coach Viacheslav Yevstratov said that Yuriy had just decided that it was very boring to make his usual 3 kilometre training run alone in the forest at home in Zhukovskiy and so he had driven his fast BMW to make this run at the Moscow championships.
“He is going to run in Stockholm and London then he will return to Russia to participate at the national Championships. Yuriy showed was very smooth and relaxed running,” said his coach.
Svetlana Klyuka ran the 800m in 1:58.47. Svetlana Cherkasova showed 1:59.28. But there are half a dozen women who are ready to fight for the place in the team at the National championships.
Irina Privalova ran only 2:09.40 and it is clear that she has no chance to enter the team. Her coach says that Irina will be ready to run 800 m at the next indoor season. Meanwhile the leading middle distance specialists consider that it was a big mistake to make her run 800m. It would be better for her to continue running the 400m and 400m Hurdles.
In the one lap race, the leader Natalya Nazarova ran 50.92 and she is aiming to achieve her top form at the National championships.
In the Pole Vault Yelena Beliakova jumped 4.50 and this gives her a chance to fight for a place in the team. She makes her training in the same group as Svetlana Feofanova, who is planning to attack Isinbayeva’s world record in the coming days - in Stockholm and London.
