Yevgeniya Polyakova (RUS) (© Getty Images)
Moscow, RussiaMore than 900 athletes from 58 regions are taking part in this weekend’s Russian Indoor Championships, and with eight titles at stake on the opening day, several notable performances were produced.
Polyakova dashes to world lead at 60m
Svetlana Nabokina, the season’s fastest sprinter prior to the championships, was considered to be the favorite in the women's 60m. But after the final she found herself surpassed not only on the world list but also on the podium. For it was Yevgeniya Polyakova, the European indoor silver medallist last year, who emerged as the country’s No. 1. After a 7.20 in the heats, she improved to 7.18 in the semis and to an extremely unexpectedly 7.09 to take the title in the final. Nabokina was a distant second in 7.18 and Anna Geflikh third in 7.27. Natalya Murinovitch, also credited with 7.27, took fourth in the photo finish.
The men's 60m final was dominated by the top Russian sprinter Andrei Yepishin, whose 6.64 was his fastest this year. Igor Gostev clocked 6.70 to finish runner-up and Aleksandr Volkov third (6.71).
“I'll try to do my best in Valencia,” said Yepishin, who took outdoor silver at 100m in 2006. He knows that it will take something significantly faster to sprint his way to the World indoor podium in one month’s time.
“Now I'll have some time for intensive training and will try to increase my speed.”
Zadorozhnaya returns with 5000m title
Yelena Zadorozhnaya made a tremendous comeback after her maternity leave. The young mother won the 5000m with her former winning style in 15:32.82. The 2007 national champion Galina Yegorova was the runner-up in 15:39.15 while Natalya Medvedeva took the bronze (15:39.15).
A pair of national under-23 records were set. First Natalya Starkova clocked 16:08.82 but in the next heat Tatyana Shutova bettered it to 16:05.53.
The men’s contest produced a hard fought battle with Sergei Ivanov winning in 13:46.63 ahead of Aleksandr Sekletov (13:47.24) and Sergei Yemelianov (13:47.54). Stepan Kiselev, who finished fifth, also set a national record in the U-23 division, clocking 13:50.50, bettering a record that had been set by the well-known runner Rashid Sharafutdinov 43 years ago!
Olympic champion Yuriy Borzakovskiy missed the championships, but in his absence the results were of surprisingly high quality. Dimitriy Bogdanov took the title the second best clocking of the season, 1:46.24. Yuriy Koldin finished second in 1:46.36, with Vyacheslav Sokolov third (1:48.91).
Pavel Sofyin and Ivan Ushkov are always battling for the gold medal in the men's Shot Put. This time Sofyin was a bit better this time around, winning with a 20.11 throw. Ushkov was second (19.81) and Soslan Tzirikhov was third (19.32).
23-year-old Evgeniy Borisov won the men's 60m Hurdles in 7.59. The 2007 champion left behind his permanent opponent, Igor Peremota, who was the runner-up (7.61). Sergei Manakov was third (7.84).
The rivalry in the women's 60m Hurdles was very tough. Tatyana Dektyareva set her personal season's best of 8.02 but missed the podium. In an very tight race, it was Aleksandra Antonova who was the fastest, winning in 7.98, Julya Kondakova was the runner - up - 8.00 and Olga Korsunova was 3rd - 8.01.
Quality qualifying rounds
- The 800m duel between the Yelena Soboleva who clocked 1:59.56 in the heats, and the revelation of the season, Natalya Ignatova (1:59.67), is expected to be breath-taking.
- It was a raining fine results in the women's 400m. In the heats five athletes dipped under 52 seconds: Olga Zaitzeva (51.42), NatalyaNazarova (51.43), Olesya Zykova (51.56), Juliya Guzshina (51.58) and Olesya Forsheva (formerly Krasnomovetz) in 51.99.
- Maxim's Dyldyn's 46.22 in the men's 400m was appreciated by the public, the second fastest in the world this year.
Nickolai Dolgopolov and Rostislav Orlov for the IAAF
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