Aleksandr Pogorelov and Olga Levenkova emerged as the 2006 World leaders in the Heptathlon and Pentathlon, respectively, after their wins at the Russian Indoor Championships on Sunday (5 February).
Pogorelov, the reigning European indoor silver medallist who was fifth in the Decathlon at last year's World championships, tallied 6229 points to score a narrow four point win over Aleksei Drozdov (6225). Both scores were personal bests; Pogorelov's previous best was 6161 from 2004, while Drozhdov's previous best was 6196 set last year.
Konstantin Smirnov from Tomsk was third with 6047 points.
Both Pogorelov and Drozdov, who began their careers in Briansk, both now live and train in Moscow under the guidance of former stars Lev Lobodin and Sergei Zhelanov.
Levenkova, the 2003 European Junior Heptathlon champion and only 22, dominated the women's event en route to a 4713 tally, well ahead of runner-up Julya Ignatkina's 4648.
18-year-old Sergei Mikhailovskiy from the Republic of Tatarstan (DOB 20-May-1987) tallied 5933, one of the highest scores ever achieved by a junior indoors. His series included a notable 7.95 leap in the Long Jump. Second in the junior competition was Arkadiy Vasiliev with 5861.
Results -
MEN -
1. Aleksandr Pogorelov, 6229
60m – 6.90; long jump – 7.48; shot put – 15.77; high jump – 2.10; 60m hurdles – 7.93; pole vault – 5.10 and 1000m – 2.55.59
2. Aleksei Drozdov, 6225
6.94; 7.35; 16.98; 2.07; 8.19; 4.90; 2.44.14
3. Konstantin Smirnov, 6047 [Under 23 Champion]
6.82; 7.40; 13.59; 1.98; 7.92; 4.80; 2.42.05
Junior Division -
1. Sergei Mikhailovskiy, 5933
6.82; 7.95; 13.85; 1.99; 8.05; 4.00; 2.43.23
2. Arkadiy Vasiliev, 5861
WOMEN -
1. Olga Levenkova, 4713
60m hurdles – 8.31; high jump – 1.82; shot put – 13.21; long jump – 6.44 and 800m – 2.12.94
2. Julya Ignatkina, 4648
8.57; 1.82; 14.56; 6.16; 2.13.54
3. Natalya Kotova, 4487
8.28; 1.82; 13.89; 6.25; 2.29.15
Junior Division -
1. Yana Panteleeva, 4429
8.64; 1.73; 13.07; 6.38; 2.18.04
Nickolai Dolgopolov and Rostislav Orlov for the IAAF
