Fani Halkia of Greece sets a new national record to win the heats of the 400m Hurdles (© Getty Images)
Fani Halkia, LaTasha Jenkins, Vanja Stambolova and Venelina Veneva established world class performances at yesterday’s “Papaflesia 2006” meeting.
Halkia’s successful international come back
In the women’s 400m Hurdles, the Olympic champion Fani Halkia starting her race as usual at a moderate pace used her well known acceleration in the second half to claim the victory in 54.66 seconds, the second best European and sixth fastest performance in the world so far this year.
Halkia finished well ahead of Helsinki’s World bronze medallist Sandra Glover (USA) who clocked 55.90, her victory arousing much the same ecstatic reaction from the crowd for the Greek heroine as she had received at the time of her Olympic triumph in 2004.
Halkia’s significant improvement in her comeback from injury over the last month - her only previous outing had been in the national clubs championships (57.03) - has raised her ambitions for the 2006 season.
“I was very stressed before the race, but now I’m really happy” said the Olympic champion. “I want the people to come again to in the National Championships and the European Cup, my next races for this month”.
LaTasha Jenkins clocks 11.09
America’s Latasha Jenkins verified all forecasts to win the women’s 100m sprint race, setting her season’s best of 11.09, making her the 8th faster sprinter in the world this year. Jenkins set this performance without strong opposition, as Cameroon’s Myriam Mani was second in 11.40, far behind the winner.
The Netherlands' Cayman Douglas dominated the men’s 100m race with 10.26, followed by American Rodney Martin who clocked 10.29, while Mauritius’ Stephan Buckland placed third with 10.37. Martin won the 200m with 20.54.
Unstoppable Stambolova goes on improving
Bulgaria’s new star Vanja Stambolova set a new personal best in the women’s 400m.
Stambolova, under the pressure of her compatriot Mariana Dimitrova managed an explosive second half of the race to win in 50.88 seconds with Dimitrova finishing in 51.77.
Russia’s Natalya Nazarova defeated by both Bulgarians, clocked 52.04, exhausted by Stambolova’s superb running in the final straight.
Trinidad’s Ato Motibo won the men’s 400m with 46.48, followed by Greece’s Dimitrios Regas who set a personal best of 46.65
Veneva’s convincing 2.00m leap
Another Bulgarian, Venelina Veneva, was the winner of the women’s High Jump with 2.00m. Just three days after her world leading 2.03m, Veneva leapt 2.00m again, to prove she has securely returned to form.
Italy’s Antonietta di Martino was second with 1.90m, the same mark with the Russi'a Svetlana Skolkina who placed third.
Other events…
Ukraine’s Olga Saladukha, supported by a strong wind (+3.4 m/s) won the women’s Triple Jump with 14.50, beating 2000 Olympic champion Tereza Marinova, second with 14.20.
In the men’s competition Ukraine’s Viktor Yasterbov was the only one who managed to pass 17 metres. He won with 17.06m, followed by the Greek record holder Konstantinos Zalagitis (16.46m).
Ockert Cilliers of South Africa dominated the men’s 400m Hurdles with 49.49.
Greece’s Marios Evagelou won the Pole Vault with 5.30m. The competition was left without World silver medallist Brad Walker (USA) who was originally scheduled to compete, while the new Greek star Konstantinos Filippidis had three unsuccessful attempts at 5.00m.
Kenya’s Bisluke Kipchirchir won the 1500m with 3:38.19, Romania’s Corina Dumbravean took the 800m with 2:00.94, and Bulgaria’s Rumiana Karapetrova the Javelin Throw with 59.39m.
Michalis Nikitaridis for the IAAF
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