Ivan Tikhon lets the hammer fly in Dubinca (© Peter Jelinek)
Dubinca, SlovakiaNearly 4000 spectators on sunny Sunday afternoon in city of Dubnica (16) witnessed arguably the best one day meet in recent years in Slovakia. Dubnica has a population of 26,000.
Organisers were hoping for stadium records in 10 events at 5th Athletics Bridge European Athletics Permit meet but were not counting on the 110m Hurdles as David Oliver ran here last year an excellent 13.20secs. But Cuban Dayron Robles who is running in superb shape and since Osaka is unbeaten (wins in Zurich, Linz and Brussels) showed something special in the last running event of an already cool evening with temperatures below 15 degrees.
Despite that Robles achieved an excellent 13.07 in windless conditions, clocking not only a new stadium record but also a Slovak All-comers mark erasing the 13.13 by Mark Crear (USA) at Bratislava Meet back in 1998.
“It felt good, easy and relaxed I hope for even faster time in Stuttgart next weekend,“ said Robles. David Oliver finished second in also good 13.37 and Osaka semifinalist Andy Turner of Britain, was third having 13.43.
New stadium records were also registered in other sprints. African champion in the women’s 100m, Vida Anim clocked a very good 11.25 beating by 0.04 the European Cup winner Yevgeniya Polyakova of Russia (11.29). There was another third place for a British sprinter this time by Osaka relay finalist Laura Turner who clocked 11.34.
A British win came in men‘s 100m as Tyrone Edgar who in the heats equalled the stadium record 10.32 (-1.3m/s wind), in the final with the wind calming clocked 10.19 his second best time ever. Mike Rodgers (USA) with 10.24 and Osaka semifinalist Brendan Christian of Antigua 10.29 were next fastest with World Championships finalist Matic Osovnikar of Slovenia, fourth (10.32).
The women‘s 100m Hurdles also gave to the crowd a stadium record as Dawn Harper (USA) achieved 12.83. Local athlete and Slovak record holder Miriam Bobkova clocked 13.09 for second, missing her national record only by 0.05.
The crowd also got to cheer as 800m star Lucia Klocova was able to win her race in 2:01.41. After collision of runners some 200m before the finish she used the situation and opened-up a clear lead.
A solo run by Olympic 3000m Steeplechase champion Ezekiel Kemboi of Kenya produced a stadium record of 8.33.06. Also USA's Ricky Harris fulfilled his favourites role at 400m Hurdles and achieved another stadium record 50.71. The only running event which did not registered new stadium record was men’s 800m, where European U23 Champion Marcin Lewandowski of Poland had the best finish clocking 1:47.76 and missing the stadium record only by 0.07 s (Johan Cronje, RSA, 1:47.69 in last year).
Olympic champion Roman Sebrle dominated an exhibition Triathlon achieving 2392 points (14.89 at 110m Hurdles, 14.40 in Shot Put and 6.84m in Long Jump). “I am still very tired, this was good training. I still have the Talence decathlon next weekend,“ he said.
Cuban Yargelis Savigne in the women’s Triple Jump dramatically improved the previous stadium record (14.14m) to 14.65m and also had a 14.62 in the series. Yamile Aldama of Sudan showed impressive late season shape jumping to 14.46, beating Osaka 4th placer Anna Pyatykh of Russia (14.37). Slovak record holder Dana Veldakova missed the podium despite a solid 14.28 for fourth.
The Long Jump at the end of the meet in already cold conditions did not live to the expectations. In the last round Heptathlon star Carolina Kluft improved to 6.54 but was still out-jumped by Russian Natalya Lebusova who was followed later in that round with 6.56m.
“I was tired and it was really cold at the end,“ said Klüft who is looking forward to next weekend and competing in Stuttgart in this event.
The men’s Pole Vault was won surprisingly by USA's Jeremy Scott who improved his outdoor best to 5.65m and tried seriously at 5.76. In the High Jump battle, Andrey Tereshin of Russia jumped 2.28 at his first attempt for the win, while Stefan Holm also did so on his second effort. Both winning marks were new stadium records.
Shot put World champion Reese Hoffa in his first competition since winning in Osaka achieved a solid 21.08m and had also 20.94 and 20.73 in the series.
“With every throw I was feeling better and that is good for my next two competitions in Warsaw and Stuttgart,“ said Hoffa. Slovenian Osaka finalist Miran Vodovnik was the only other person above 20m with 20.06m.
The highest quality event in depth of competitors was the men’s Hammer Throw. All three Osaka medallists were on show. Three-time World champion Ivan Tikhon showed who is the king of the ring. On his third attempt he achieved 80.40 and improved on his fifth throw to 81.29, the second best throw ever in Dubnica (82.53 – 2005). Home hero and Osaka bronze medallist Libor Charfreitag was in second with 77.90 until the last round but ended up 5th as three others improved with their last throws - Olympic winner Koji Murofushi achieved 78.73, Hungarian Krisztian Pars 78.42 and another Slovak Miloslav Konopka 78.15.
In total nearly 150 athletes from 27 countries of 4 continents competed, among them 5 World champions from Osaka, 5 Olympic winners from Athens and 6 current world season leaders.
By an IAAF Correspondent
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