Youth Olympic Games Ambassador Yelena Isinbayeva in her 2010 debut in Moscow (© Nikolay Matveev)
Moscow, RussiaYelena Isinbayeva’s 2010 debut capped the 19th edition of the Russian Winter meeting on Sunday (7).
The fourth of the nine meeting IAAF Indoor Permit series attracted athletes from 19 countries, but the large crowd that gathered at Moscow’s Indoor Central Army Club Arena came to see Russia’s Pole Vault Queen go for World record No. 28. Even the frost that is attacking Moscow for the second consecutive month didn’t stop the Isinbayeva’s fans.
There wasn’t a new World record, but Isinbayeva did make three attempts to raise her indoor standard of 5.00m set last year in Donetsk, Ukraine. After winning the competition with a first attempt clearance of 4.85m – also a world leader - Isinbayeva tried twice at 5.01m, and ended the competition with a missed attempt at 5.02.m. Her first effort at 5.01m did look extremely encouraging.
Next up for Isinbayeva? “I’ll concentrate on two competitions, first the Pole Vault Stars in Donetsk (6 March) and the World Indoor Championships in Doha. Then I'll start to get prepared for the European Championships in Barcelona and the Continental Cup.”
European indoor champion Yuliya Golubchikova cleared 4.70m to take second and former World record holder Svetlana Feofanova, who is on the comeback from injury, was third at 4.60m.
Borza dispenses with strong field in fast 600m
While Isinbayeva turned out to be an excellent promoter for the meeting, another was local favourite Yuriy Borakovskiy who won at the Russian Winter for the sixth time, this time over 600m. There was no stopping the 2004 Olympic 800m champion who took the lead with just under 200 metres to go en route to a 1:16.02 national record. But Borzakovskiy wanted even more.
“If we had a rabbit, a new world record would have been set,” he said. “We should have started the first lap in 24 seconds.”
Sudan’s Ismail Ahmed Ismail, the Olympic 800m silver medallist, closed well to take second in 1:16.12, with Kenyan Wilfred Bungei, the Olympic 800m champion, third in 1:17.36. Vitaly Kozlov of Lithuania was a few ticks faster than the Kenyan with his 1:17.20 win in the B race, also a national record.
Ukhov over Silnov
Another comeback was Andrei Silnov’s appearance in the men’s High Jump after a missed season due to injury. After months of absence the Olympic champion cleared 2.25m. But it was 2010 world leader Ivan Ukhov who took the victory with his first attempt clearance at 2.32m. He went on and tried a would-be Russian record of 2.41m but fell short. It’s interesting to note that Ukhov needed three tries at 2.20m. Alexander Shustov was second, also topping out at 2.32m, the highest leap of his career.
Klishina, still a junior, sails world-leading 6.87m
European junior champion Darya Klishina impressed in the Long Jump. Last year she was the assiduous pupil of a master class held by World record holder Mike Powell. And it was worth it. The 19-year-old apparently followed all the exercises prescribed by “Doctor Powell” as she won with a world-leading 6.87m leap, a new national junior record. Olga Kucherenko (6.71m) was second and Anna Nazarova (6.67m) third.
The men's Long Jump was won by Andrei Makarchev, the only man to leap beyond eight metres with his 8.04m best. Spaniard Luis Meliz was close second at 7.99m and young Russian Aleksandr Menkov, also the European junior champion, was third with a 7.95m leap, a personal best.
European indoor 800m champion Mariya Savinova won her specialty in 1:59.23, the season’s first sub-two minute clocking. Rounding out the young season’s quickest race, Briton Jenny Meadows was second in 2:00.71, ahead of Evgeniya Zinurova (2:00.98) and Evgeniya Zolotova (2:01.47).
?”It's the first time in this season that I'm running this particular distance,” said Savinova, who has clocked personal bests at 400m and 1500m this winter. “That gives me quite a push. I’ll do my favourite 800m very well this season.”
World and Olympic silver medallist Janeth Jepkosgei from Kenya was well back in last, clocking 2:12.24.
The men's 60m was as expected dominated by American Mark Jelks who clocked 6.64 ahead of reigning World indoor champion Olusoji A.Fasuba from Nigeria who clocked 6.67. His compatriot Peter Emelize was third (6.69), just a tick ahead of Russian Roman Smirnov (6.70).
The women's 60m was dominated by Russian Yuliya Katsura who clocked a personal best 7.20. European indoor champion Evgeniya Polyakova was second in 7.24.
Despite running in a ‘slower’ heat Darya Safronova won the 400m in 51.90. ‘A’ heat winner Tatyana Firova 52.09 to finish second overall, with American Debbie Dunn (52.53) third.
As expected Greg Nixon from the USA won men’s 400m in 46.72. Dmitriy Buryak of Russia was the runner-up in 46.83 and Rabah Yousif from Sudan was third (46.97).
The progress of hurdler Tatyana Dektyareva is evident given her clear victory over World champion Lolo Jones in the 60m Hurdles. The 25-year-old clocked a personal best of 7.94, well ahead of Jones’ 8.02. Russian champion Alexandra Antonova was third with 8.10.
The men's 60m Hurdles was quite a success for Evgeniy Borisov who clocked a 7.65 career best in his dominating victory. Maksim Lynsha of Belarus was distant second in 7.77.
The men’s 3000m was won by South African Juan van Deventer in 7:49.91, his second national record in four days. In Dusseldorf earlier this week, the 26-year-old clocked 3:37.25 in the 1500m.
Nickolai Dolgopolov and Rostislav Orlov for the IAAF
The fourth of the nine meeting IAAF Indoor Permit series attracted athletes from 19 countries, but the large crowd that gathered at Moscow’s Indoor Central Army Club Arena came to see Russia’s Pole Vault Queen go for World record No. 28. Even the frost that is attacking Moscow for the second consecutive month didn’t stop the Isinbayeva’s fans.
There wasn’t a new World record, but Isinbayeva did make three attempts to raise her indoor standard of 5.00m set last year in Donetsk, Ukraine. After winning the competition with a first attempt clearance of 4.85m – also a world leader - Isinbayeva tried twice at 5.01m, and ended the competition with a missed attempt at 5.02.m. Her first effort at 5.01m did look extremely encouraging.
Next up for Isinbayeva? “I’ll concentrate on two competitions, first the Pole Vault Stars in Donetsk (6 March) and the World Indoor Championships in Doha. Then I'll start to get prepared for the European Championships in Barcelona and the Continental Cup.”
European indoor champion Yuliya Golubchikova cleared 4.70m to take second and former World record holder Svetlana Feofanova, who is on the comeback from injury, was third at 4.60m.
Borza dispenses with strong field in fast 600m
While Isinbayeva turned out to be an excellent promoter for the meeting, another was local favourite Yuriy Borakovskiy who won at the Russian Winter for the sixth time, this time over 600m. There was no stopping the 2004 Olympic 800m champion who took the lead with just under 200 metres to go en route to a 1:16.02 national record. But Borzakovskiy wanted even more.
“If we had a rabbit, a new world record would have been set,” he said. “We should have started the first lap in 24 seconds.”
Sudan’s Ismail Ahmed Ismail, the Olympic 800m silver medallist, closed well to take second in 1:16.12, with Kenyan Wilfred Bungei, the Olympic 800m champion, third in 1:17.36. Vitaly Kozlov of Lithuania was a few ticks faster than the Kenyan with his 1:17.20 win in the B race, also a national record.
Ukhov over Silnov
Another comeback was Andrei Silnov’s appearance in the men’s High Jump after a missed season due to injury. After months of absence the Olympic champion cleared 2.25m. But it was 2010 world leader Ivan Ukhov who took the victory with his first attempt clearance at 2.32m. He went on and tried a would-be Russian record of 2.41m but fell short. It’s interesting to note that Ukhov needed three tries at 2.20m. Alexander Shustov was second, also topping out at 2.32m, the highest leap of his career.
Klishina, still a junior, sails world-leading 6.87m
European junior champion Darya Klishina impressed in the Long Jump. Last year she was the assiduous pupil of a master class held by World record holder Mike Powell. And it was worth it. The 19-year-old apparently followed all the exercises prescribed by “Doctor Powell” as she won with a world-leading 6.87m leap, a new national junior record. Olga Kucherenko (6.71m) was second and Anna Nazarova (6.67m) third.
The men's Long Jump was won by Andrei Makarchev, the only man to leap beyond eight metres with his 8.04m best. Spaniard Luis Meliz was close second at 7.99m and young Russian Aleksandr Menkov, also the European junior champion, was third with a 7.95m leap, a personal best.
European indoor 800m champion Mariya Savinova won her specialty in 1:59.23, the season’s first sub-two minute clocking. Rounding out the young season’s quickest race, Briton Jenny Meadows was second in 2:00.71, ahead of Evgeniya Zinurova (2:00.98) and Evgeniya Zolotova (2:01.47).
?”It's the first time in this season that I'm running this particular distance,” said Savinova, who has clocked personal bests at 400m and 1500m this winter. “That gives me quite a push. I’ll do my favourite 800m very well this season.”
World and Olympic silver medallist Janeth Jepkosgei from Kenya was well back in last, clocking 2:12.24.
The men's 60m was as expected dominated by American Mark Jelks who clocked 6.64 ahead of reigning World indoor champion Olusoji A.Fasuba from Nigeria who clocked 6.67. His compatriot Peter Emelize was third (6.69), just a tick ahead of Russian Roman Smirnov (6.70).
The women's 60m was dominated by Russian Yuliya Katsura who clocked a personal best 7.20. European indoor champion Evgeniya Polyakova was second in 7.24.
Despite running in a ‘slower’ heat Darya Safronova won the 400m in 51.90. ‘A’ heat winner Tatyana Firova 52.09 to finish second overall, with American Debbie Dunn (52.53) third.
As expected Greg Nixon from the USA won men’s 400m in 46.72. Dmitriy Buryak of Russia was the runner-up in 46.83 and Rabah Yousif from Sudan was third (46.97).
The progress of hurdler Tatyana Dektyareva is evident given her clear victory over World champion Lolo Jones in the 60m Hurdles. The 25-year-old clocked a personal best of 7.94, well ahead of Jones’ 8.02. Russian champion Alexandra Antonova was third with 8.10.
The men's 60m Hurdles was quite a success for Evgeniy Borisov who clocked a 7.65 career best in his dominating victory. Maksim Lynsha of Belarus was distant second in 7.77.
The men’s 3000m was won by South African Juan van Deventer in 7:49.91, his second national record in four days. In Dusseldorf earlier this week, the 26-year-old clocked 3:37.25 in the 1500m.
Nickolai Dolgopolov and Rostislav Orlov for the IAAF
