News13 Sep 2008


Highlights of Day One - IAAF / VTB Bank World Athletics Final in Stuttgart

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Asafa Powell runs 9.87 to lead a Jamaican 1-2-3 in the 100m (© Getty Images)

A World record by Barbora Spotáková sensationally crowned day one of the IAAF / VTB Bank World Athletics Final in Stuttgart.

The Czech Javelin Thrower achieved a mark of 72.28m at her first attempt and stunning absolutely everyone including herself in the Mercedes-Benz Arena. The Olympic and World champion improved the three year-old mark from Osleidys Menéndez by 58 centimetres. The Cuban had won the World title in Helsinki in 2005 with 71.70m.

The record was even more amazing taking into account the cool weather conditions in Stuttgart with temperatures of just 14° Celsius. At the start of day one there was additionally slight rain, but that had stopped when the javelin competition started.

Despite the uncomfortable weather conditions 18,000 spectators came to the stadium to watch day one of the IAAF / VTB Bank World Athletics Final.

WOMEN’s events

“This is unbelievable, because I did not expect to throw a World record here,” said Barbora Spotáková, who killed the competition by her outstanding first round throw, that sailed high through the stadium and finally came down way beyond all the taped sectors on the infield.

 The 27 year-old looked in disbelief when the scoreboard showed 72.28 m. And it took quite some time before the Czech athlete realised what she had achieved. Spotáková then passed her throws in the next two rounds and finished the day with 58.39m in the four round competition.

With her World record and victory Spotáková, who had won the Olympic gold with a personal best and a European record of 71.42m, ultimately netted a $130,000 pay day. The impact of such a throw unsettled her rivals, who came over to congratulate her on the achievement.

“I would certainly have liked to throw a bit further today. But after Barbora’s world record it was really difficult to focus. It was only about second place from then on,” said Germany’s Christina Obergföll, who took second with 63.28m, while her fellow German Steffi Nerius was third with 62.78m.

“I think physically we are about at the same level. But Barbora threw technically really very well – that makes the difference,” said Obergföll. “I expected her to throw the World record one day, but it came as a big surprise that this happened today.”

While Spotáková celebrated her World record today, two other women successfully set out on the first stage of achieving a different feat in Stuttgart.

Sanya Richards (USA) took the 200m with 22.50 seconds on day one of the IAAF / VTB Bank World Athletics Final. While she will be going for a double win on Sunday, running her major event the 400m, Meseret Defar is looking for a long distance double in Stuttgart. The Ethiopian, who had lost to Vivian Cheruiyot eight days earlier in Brussels, this time won the 5000m against the Kenyan. Defar crossed the line in 14:53.82 minutes and will run the 3000m tomorrow as well. Cheruiyot this time was not strong enough to beat Defar on the homestraight. She finished second with 14:54.60.

Olympic champion Gulnara Galkina (Russia) was in full control in the 3000m Steeplechase, winning with a World Athletics Final record of 9:21.73 from her toughest rival Eunice Jepkorir (Kenya/9:24.03).

More strong winning marks came in the 100m Hurdles, taken by a slight margin by Josephine Onyia (Spain / 12.54) from Lolo Jones (USA) and Delloreen Ennis-London (Jamaica / both 12.56), as well as in the Hammer Throw. Here Yipsi Moreno (Cuba) was superior with 74.09m.

In the absence of Yelena Isinbayeva (Russia), who withdrew from the Pole Vault competition due to a cold, Silke Spiegelburg achieved the biggest win of her career at senior level. The 22-year-old German, who had broken Isinbayeva’s World junior record with 4.48m in 2005, won by tieing her personal best of 4.70m at her third attempt.

Spiegelburg was tied in this competition with Svetlana Feovanova (Russia), so that a jump-off had to decide about the winner. The first height cleared was 4.67m by Spiegelburg. Third placed Monika Pyrek (Poland) had also cleared 4.70m, but she had one more fault at lower heights so that she was not included in the jump-off.

“That is an unbelievable great end to the season for me. Next year I will try to jump 4.70 more consistently,” said Spiegelburg.

”I am sorry I had to pull out of the competition today. I have tried everything, but my body has simply said ‘No’,” said Yelena Isinbayeva, who also had stomach problems in Stuttgart.

MEN's Events

The closest and most thrilling event of the day was the 400m battle between the two Americans Jeremy Wariner and LaShawn Merritt. Wariner looked in control of the race when they entered the homestraight, leading Merritt slightly. But the Beijing Olympic champion slowly closed the gap and just edged out Wariner once again at a major event this year. Falling across the finish Merritt was timed in 44.50 seconds, Wariner crossed the line just one hundredth of a second later.

“I saw the line and leant forward. When I fell I could not put my hands in front any more so I fell hard – but I am all right,” said Merritt, while Wariner said: “He got me this time, but I will be back next year.” 

Despite the cool conditions there was another great sprint result in Stuttgart. Asafa Powell did not let down the spectators. The Jamaican once again showed his great late season form, taking the 100m by storm in 9.87 seconds. Breaking well clear in the last part of the race he was well ahead of his two fellow Jamaicans Nesta Carter (10.07) and Michael Frater (10.10).

“I was a bit afraid of picking up an injury today (because of the cool conditions), but I knew I would be able to run fast. So the result is no surprise to me,” said Powell. “Before I am going home to Jamaica I will have one more race in Poland (Wed 17) – but that one will be easy.”

While for Powell it was almost the end of the season it was the overall final time for Swedish High Jump legend Stefan Holm. Showing an ambitious last competition the Athens Olympic Champion took second with 2.33m. It was only his Olympic successor Andrey Silnov (Russia) who jumped higher in Stuttgart (2.35m). “He is a great athlete and fully deserved to win today,” said Holm.

Gerd Kanter (Estonia) was in great form at the end of the season. The World and Olympic champion opened his competition with 68.35m, which would have been well enough for winning and taking the $30,000 prize money. But the 29-year-old World champion continued and in the fourth and last round improved by three centimetres to 68.38m. It was not that far off his Beijing mark of 68.82m.

Piotr Malachowski (Poland) snatched second spot at his last attempt with 66.07m, pushing crowd favourite Robert Hating (Germany/65.76) into third. “I am now looking forward to next year with the World Championships around the corner,” said Berliner Robert Harting.

“It was a good competition for me today. But regarding my recent training I could have thrown even further,” said Kanter. “This was a very successful year for me. Winning the Olympic gold a dream came true. Germany is always a good place to throw and I am looking forward to the World Championships in Berlin next year.”

Jörg Wenig for the IAAF

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