Tatyana Andrianova (RUS) (© AFP/Getty Images)
Tula, RussiaWorld champion Sergey Makarov produced a 90m Javelin Throw, and five runners went under 1:58 in the women’s 800m, just two of the highlights of a remarkable day in the ‘Arsenal stadium’ at the Russian Championships, yesterday (Mon 11 July).
Andrianova wins in 1:56.07
Women’s 800m was for sure the best attraction on the track so far at these national championships. Five runners clocked the five best results in the world this season, and even a few metres before the finishing line it was nearly impossible to predict who would be the winner! In the end it was the defending national champion from 2004, Tatyana Andrianova, who managed to make a final effort that left the others behind with a 1:56.07 winning time, the best result in the world of the season.
Just a bit behind were Larisa Chzhao (1:57.33), Svetlana Kruka (1:57.35), Svetlana Cherkasova (1:57.42), and Olga Kotlyarova (1.57.71). Even the eighth placed runner clocked 2:01.68!
Makarov is superb in the Javelin
Sergey Makarov won the national title in the men's Javelin with the second best throw in the world of this season – 90.33. As the reigning World champion he has already got his berth at the team but he has had only a few competitions this year and so decided to take part in the Russian championships anyway. He was leading after the first attempt with 87.10, and his 90m release came on his sixth and last effort. Aleksandr Ivanov remained 2nd with the surprisingly low result of 76.00m. Igor Sukhomlinov got the bronze – 75.03.
Pospelova in excellent form at 400m
Svetlana Pospelova took the lead in the women’s 400m at halfway and never let go, clocking 49.80 seconds which is the third quickest time in the world this season. The other two medallists were left far behind. Natalya Antyukh finished 2nd – 50.80, Olesya Zykina, the European champion seems to have finally got her good form back clocked 50.85. Olesya Krasnomovets, who was considered to be one of the Russian hopes at this distance was only 5th in the final. The Russian 4x400m relay team will be for sure one of the most serious gold contenders in Helsinki.
Pechonkina dominates the 400m Hurdles
World record holder Yuliya Pechonkina, as already reported yesterday, clocked 53.31 in the heats on 'day one' but she made it even better in the final yesterday with a 53.01 win, the fastest run in the world this year. The final was so fast that the other two medallists also set their personal bests: Yevgeniya Isakova – 54.39, and Oksana Galumyan who made a comeback after some time of absence – 55.16.
Zadorozhnaya debuts at Steeplechase
The well-known runner Yelena Zadorozhnaya made her debut at 3000m Steeplechase, and naturally her technical skill at clearing the obstacles is yet not that good and every time she landed in the water the public cheered. But it was Zadorozhnaya who set the pace and she did her utmost, and she ultimately lost to the experienced Ekaterina Volkova (9:36.12) only on the finishing line, with a very promising result of 9:36.92 for second place. Yelena Sidorchenkova finished 3rd - 9:43.50.
Pavlov is again flying high
Igor Pavlov, World and European Indoor champion at the men’s Pole Vault, seems to be back in form again. He cleared 5.80, his best of the summer season. The 22-year-old Dmitriy Kuptzov got silver – 5.65, and the experienced Pavel Gerasimov took the bronze – 5.60.
Vitaliy Shkurlatov seemed to be about to lose the championship. The lseasonal leader among Russian long jumpers was only 5th after five attempts but on the sixth effort he managed to land at 8.07m, leaving behind Vladimir Malyvin who had been leading the event until then.
Sadova is back from injury
Natalya Sadova, the Olympic champion in the women's Discus Throw was injured and so had missed the Znamenskiy Memorial meeting earlier this summer but in Tula she looked extremely self-confident. She won the nationals with 65.63m. Unfortunately, she has practically no rivals at home.
Oksana Esipchuk who took part in two Olympics was 2nd – 61.45m, and the World champion of 1993 Olga Chernyavskaya (then Burova) finished 3rd – 59.54, but she still has some chances to go to Helsinki as she has a 61m effort from earlier this year.
The men’s Hammer Throw was dominated by the experienced Ilya Konovalov with 78.76m. Sergei Kirmasov took the silver medal – 77.70 – and Vadim Khersontzev was the bronze medallist – 76.83.
The Olympic 800m champion Yuriy Borzakovskiy didn’t start at this distance, as he has an automatic entry to the team for the World Championships, thanks to the decision of the Russian Coaches’ Council that included him in the team without any selection. In his absence, Dmitriy Bogdanov, the European Indoor champion of this year clocked 1:47.12 for the win, and the unknown Maksim Adamovich was the runner up – 1:47.26. The 22-year-old lawyer Yuriy Koldin got the bronze medal – 1:48.23.
Dmitriy Forshev won men’s 400m with 46.28, he was followed home by Andrei Rudnitzkiy on 46.31 and Vladislav Frolov, with 46.36.
Results in men’s 400m Hurdles were also not that spectacular. Mikhail Lypskiy is the new champion – 50.13, he was followed across the line by Aleksandr Derevyagin (50.26) and Aleksandr Borzchenko (50.28).
Roman Usov became the 3000m Steeplechase champion with 8:26.96, with Andrei Olshanskiy (8:29.55) second in a personal best. Andrei Farnosov was the leader up to the last barrier but he failed to clear it, fell down and only just finished the distance, with 8:30.19 for third.
Rostislav Orlov and NickoIai Dolgopolov for the IAAF
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