Gilbert Kipchoge's solid run in Belem (© Bruno Miani/CBAt)
Belém, BrazilKenyan Gilbert Kipchoge produced the best performance of the “24º Grande Prêmio Brasil/Caixa de Atletismo”, by winning the 800m in 1:44.52. The traditional Brazilian meet was held in Belém, State of Pará, at the “Estádio Mangueirão” on 25 May in front of a crowd of more than 30,000 fans. Weather conditions were again hot (34º C at the end of the meet, with humidity around 45%).
The Belém Grand Prix, part of the IAAF World Athletics Tour, was also the concluding meet of the a series of five Brazilian meetings which covered Uberlândia (11 May), Fortaleza (14 May), Rio de Janeiro (18 May) and São Paulo (22 May).
25-five year-old Kipchoge, with no experience in major global events yet, ran the second best time in the world of the early season, and a meet record. The time also improves his 1:45.34 PB, obtained in 2007.
Kipchoge lead at 400m in 50.64, and had superior strength in the second lap to beat compatriot Ismael Kombich, who had won the São Paulo meet in 1:44.90. Kombich fell to fourth, finishing with 1:46.36. Also Kenyan John Litei took second place with a SB of 1:46.11, while third place finisher, Venezuelan Eduard Villanueva, clocked the same time as Kombich, 1:46.36, an SB for the South American.
“I’m surprised with my time, but I’m very happy to beat the meet record,” said Kipchoge. “I know it’s going to take at least a 1:43 time to medal at the Olympics, and that’s my goal and my dream.”
IAAF Vice President Sebastian Coe, former 800m World record holder, and still second in the world’s all-time lists, was among those who witnessed Kipchoge’s victory. Coe represented the IAAF on 24 May at the Gala that celebrated the 90th anniversary of the South American Athletics Confederation.
Maggi returns to Belém with 6.83m victory
In the Long Jump, Brazilian Maurren Maggi, silver medallist at the 2008 World Indoor Championships in Valencia, took the victory with a 6.83m (+0.2) leap. “I’m in the best moment of my life, not just of my career,” said an exultant Maggi, who returned to Belém after being absent from the capital of Pará since 2003.
Maggi was still pleased with her form, in spite of recording her lowest results of the week, after jumping 6.91m in Rio and 6.87m in São Paulo. “Belém is a special place for me, and I’m glad to be back,” added the 31-year-old South American record holder.
A pair of Jamaican jumpers, Jovanee Jarrett (6.54m/-0.1) and Nolle Graham (6.37m/0.3) completed the podium, while Brazilian Keila Costa, a finalist at the past two World Championships (Osaka 2007 and Valencia 2008), was scratched.
Melaine Walker, close to WL time – Good day for Jamaicans
25-year-old Jamaican Melaine Walker posted an impressive victory in the 400m Hurdles, taking the race in 54.18, the second best time of the year. Walker has a PB of 54.14 from 2007.
The Jamaican, a semifinalist in Osaka 2007, beat American Sheena Johnson-Tosta, who in her first 400m Hurdles race of the season, clocked 55.09. Trinidad and Tobago’s Josanne Lucas was third with 55.46, just 0.17 seconds off of her own NR.
In the female sprints, 25-year-old Jamaican Sheri-Ann Brooks took the 100-200 double with 11.18 (+0.6) and 22.70 (+0.3), the latter, a PB.
Brooks, a 4x100 silver medallist in Osaka 2007 who has a SB of 11.14 set at the Doha GP, beat Virgin Islands’ Laverne Jones (NR of 11.24) and compatriot Shelly-Ann Frazier (11.28) in the 100, and American Debbie Dunn (PB of 22.76) and Jones (SB of 22.77), in the 200.
Another Jamaican, Nesta Carter won the 100m, with a 10.19 (+0.6) time, ahead of American Chris Hargrett (10.24) and Brazilian José Carlos Moreira (10.30).
The men’s race of the 400m Hurdles was also a Jamaican affair, with the Caribbean athletes taking 1-2-3. Victory went to Adrian Findlay with 49.11, same time as runner-up Markino Buckley, while Isa Phillips was third with 49.50.
Brown takes a pair of wins
American Joel Brown came to Belém to run the 110m Hurdles, and he completed that task winning his main event in a hand timed 13.2w (+2.1). Yet, forty minutes later, he took part in the 200m, and the wind again, deprived him of a PB, after winning race two in 20.36w (+2.7).
In the hurdles, Brown beat compatriot Aubrey Herring (13.3) and Jamaican Richard Phillips (13.4).
At the 200m, the winner of race 1 – American Greg Nixon – posted a slower time than Brown’s, but it was accomplished with a legal wind of +0.6. Nixon’s time was 20.43, ahead of Jamaican Ricardo Williams (SB of 20.46) and Canadian Bryan Barnett (SB of 20.48).
González, Hrašnová remain the strongest at Shot and Hammer
Cuban Misleidis González and Slovakian Martina Danisová-Hrašnová completed a series of three victories on Brazilian soil by taking the Shot Put in 18.78m and the Hammer in 72.27m respectively.
Both throwers won in Rio and São Paulo, and for Danisová-Hrašnová, the performance obtained in Belém was her best of the series and second best of the season, after the 73.11m she posted on 26 April in Veszprém.
South American record holder, Argentina’s Jennifer Dahlgren, was second in Belém with 63.64m, while Brazilian Josiane Soares was third with 63.40m.
The Cuban thrower, fourth at the 2008 World Indoor Championships in Valencia, left her compatriot Mailín Vargas in second (18.48m) and American Kristin Heaston (SB of 18.36m) in third. 2004 Olympic Champion Yumileidi Cumbá (CUB) was fourth with 18.25m, while Trinidad and Tobago’s Cleopatra Borel-Brown was fifth with 18.10m.
Lewis beats fine Triple Jump field
The Triple Jump promised to be one if the highlights of the day, but it turned out to be a somewhat modest victory for Grenadian Randy Lewis with a fine 17.15m jump (+0.6).
Lewis, who came from setting an NR of 17.49m in São Paulo, had less opposition than expected. The Grenadian recorded the winning jump in his second attempt, and had three fouls. Only four attempts were allowed in horizontal jumps.
Bahamian Leevan Sands was second with 17.12m (wind nil), and American Aarik Wilson third (16.98m/-0.2). Brazilian favorite Jadel Gregório only managed 16.82m (+0.5), while American Kenta Bell and Cuban Yoandri Betanzos both jumped 16.66m.
Another event which had high expectations was the women’s Pole Vault. Brazilian Fabiana Murer, bronze medalist in Valencia 2008, suffered from stomach problems, and recorded three fouls at her opening height of 4.35m. That left the victory in the hands of American April Steiner, who vaulted 4.45m.
Steiner, second on the early season lists, joked afterwards, “Fabiana let me win.” Brazilian Joana Costa was second with 4.35m, a SB, while Sweden Hanna Mia Person was third with 4.15m.
The men’s Long Jump and Javelin were also taken with modest performances. American Tony Allmond won the Long with 7.99m (-0.1), where his compatriot and Decathlon specialist Bryan Clay was fourth with 7.58m (wind nil). In the Javelin, the victory went to American Mike Hazle with 76.90m.
Fine Steeplechase races
Considering the hot conditions, both the Steeplechase races were solid contests.
Kenyan Patrick Langat and Jamaican Korene Hinds scored PBs to win the 3000m Steeplechase races. Langat did it in 8:26.95, a PB, beating compatriot Julius Nyamu (8:27.06) and Peruvian Mario Bazán (NR of 8:32.96).
Hinds’ time was a SB and meet record of 9:36.12. Ethiopian Zemzem Ahmed was second in 9:38.65, while American Delilah DiCrescenzo was third with a PB of 9:41.68.
Eduardo Biscayart for the IAAF
