Ariane Friedrich jumping at the 2009 World University Games (© Hans van Kuijen)
Belgrade, SerbiaOn the sixth and final day of the World University Games today (12), there was further success for hosts Serbia, while one of the potential stars of this summer’s 12th IAAF World Championships in Athletics, Berlin, Germany (15 – 23 Aug) flew high again.
The gold medal in women’s High Jump went to current world season leader Ariane Friedrich from Germany, she started at 1.94m at which height she needed two attempts. But she was the only athlete successful at this barrier, and as such with the competition easily won she took her next attempt at 2.00, which she cleared on the first attempt. It was her 23rd competition in which she has succeeded at this height.
In the men’s Discus Throw there was a double success for Iran. Mahmoud Samimi (4th after 5 attempts) produced 64.67m with his last attempt and took the lead. But it was not for long as with the last throw of the competition the one-year older Mohammad Samimi, the 2006 World Junior silver medallist, produced a throw of 65.33m.
The last field event, the men’s Long Jump was taken by Deok Hyeon Kim from Korea with a wind assisted jump of 8.41m (wind +3.5m/s). His best legal jump was 8.20m, which was a new national record. Olympic finalist Ndiss Kaba Badji from Senegal took the silver with 8.19m.
Iran also took gold in the men’s 800m, by Sajad Moradi, in 1:48.02, and the home crowd of Serbia welcomed its third medal in the Games as Goran Nava took the silver in 1:48.06. It was a very close race with 4 athletes within 0.06 seconds.
In the women’s 1500m Marina Muncan did even better for the home country. She was the strongest in the final sprint and took the gold in 4:15.53.
Men’s 5000m was won by Turkish athlete Halil Akkasin in 14.06.96. It was his fourth Universiade title. He had previously won the 3000m Steeplechase in 2005 and 2007 and 5000m in 2007.
Italy won gold in the women’s 4x100m relay in 43.83sec, with Poland second in 43.96. The men’s relay went to Russia in 39.21, with Poland again in silver, 39.33.
The women’s 4x400m relay was won by Canada in 3:33.09, ahead of Russia in 3:34.45, while Australia took the gold in the men’s race in 3:03.67 with a third silver in the relays for Poland.
A number of leading athletic nations - like U.S.A., Great Britain, Jamaica and Kenya did not participate, nevertheless in many events there was a world class participation, like Olympic champion Nelson Evora in Triple Jump and Ariane Friedrich in the High Jump.
Many names of young athletes we will hear from in the near future. Most surprising was the junior from Azerbaijan, Ramil Guliyev in the 200m. With 20.04sec he just missed the World junior record of Usain Bolt by only 0.11 seconds.
The team of Russia took the most medals in this 25th edition of the Universiade (7 gold, 5 silver, 4 bronze), for Australia and Japan.
In 2011 the 26th edition will be held in the Chinese city of Shenzhen.
Hans van Kuijen for the IAAF
