Anna Pyatykh of Russia in the Triple Jump final (© Getty Images)
Tula, RussiaGulfiya Khanafeyeva has established a World Record** in the women’s Hammer Throw on the second day of the Russian Championships, yesterday(12 June).
Khanafeyeva, 24, who was third in last year’s European Cup and was the European Under-23 Championships bronze medallist in 2003, produced a throw of 77.26m yesterday in Tula to better her compatriot Tayana Lysenko’s existing World record (77.06m) by 20cm.
Khanafeyeva who celebrated her 24th birthday on 4 June, was already the world season leader thanks to her 76.94m performance on 31 May in Moscow.
In Sunday's (11 June) preliminary round Khanafeyeva had thrown 70.68m to finish behind the World Record holder Tatyana Lysenko who was the best qualifier with a 71.34m release.
In the final, it was Lysenko who took the lead after the first attempt with a throw of 75.28m. Khanafeyeva’s opener was 72.34m. On Khanafeyeva’s second throw she got closer to Lysenko’s mark with a release of 75.27m, and on her third attempt flew her hammer out to the furthest distance ever achieved with the women’s implement.
Her final three attempts were also beyond 74m – 74.58, 75.64 and 75.53.
But it's worth mentioning that Lysenko didn’t surrender. Her series at the Russian Championships was also amazing - 75.28, 73.95, 74.26, 76.02, 75.08, 76.36.
Yelena Konevtzeva was third – 73.88. She surpassed 70m three more times too – 72.11, 71.36 and 70.08. Ekaterina Khoroshikh finished 4th – 72.16.
Khanafeyeva is being coached by Aleksander Vasenko and Sergei Vasiliev. She is competing for two cities – Chelyabinsk and Moscow. The Russian capital is her residence now. Her main goal for the season is the European Championships.
Seven other titles won on Day Two
Seven more national titles were at stake at the Russian Championships on the second day (13 June).
The final of the men’s 400m Hurdles was dramatic. In the heats, Aleksandr Derevyagin had clocked 49.70, the best result of the outdoor season in Russia, while one of the best known Russian runners Ruslan Mashchenko made a comeback, clocking 50.18 in his preliminary race. In the final, Mashchenko led up to the 10th barrier. But then he hit it and fell down, handing the victory to Mikhail Lipskiy who won in 50.53. Aleksandr Derevyagin finished second – 50.85 and Konstantin Oryabinskiy was third – 51.20.
Yevgeniya Isakova’s title in Pechonkina’s absence
In the absence of Yuliya Pechonkina, the World champion, the women’s 400m Hurdles was won by Yevgeniya Isakova with surprising easiness in 55.09 seconds. Anastasiya Trifonova was the runner-up – 55.60. Irina Obidina was third – 55.97. It should be noted that the silver and bronze medallists are both coached by the same trainer – Sergei Nosov. Sergei was the first coach of Pechonkina and, by the way is her father.
There were no surprises in the men’s sprint. The 100m was dominated by the silver medallist of the Moscow Indoor Championships Andrey Yepishin – 10.27.
There was a major comeback in the women’s 100m. The experienced runner Yekaterina Grigoryeva (Lescheva) won in 11.33 (0.1m/s). Yuliya Guschina, finished second – 11.35. (She clocked 11.30 in the semis). The bronze went to Larisa Kruglova – 11.40.
Grigoryeva, in the leading group of Russian sprinters for years, had married Andrei Grigoryev – Russian national record holder in 60m – and had taken time out from the sport to have a baby. Yesterday marked her return, and she was even faster in the semi-final – 11.23.
Pyatykh in tough battle from Yelena Oleynikova
In the absence of Tatyana Lebedeva the women’s Triple Jump was won in a tough battle by Anna Pyatykh who leapt to 14.67m on her last attempt. She was trailing Yelena Oleynikova who remained second in the long run – 14.63. Oksana Rogova took the bronze – 14.49. In all seven women bettered 14 metres!
Fast steeplechase
The World 3000m Steeplechase record holder returned to the track after a year’s absence yesterday. But Gulnara Galkina-Samitova is not running at full strength, with Lubov Ivanova (9:26.54) taking the win in a tight finish from a fast closing Yelena Fedorchenkova (9:27.35). Tatyana Petrova was happy with her bronze medal – 9:30.06.
The silver medallist is new to the distance - “You’ll hear about me soon,” said Fedorchenkova. “I’m just a beginner at this distance. I’ll try to do my best in the steeplechase and you’ll see the results”. So let’s wait and see.
Four faster than 2 mins in women’s 800m semis
The semi-finals of women’s 800m were extremely encouraging. Four runners made it home in better than 2 minutes. The best time was the 1:58.62 clocked by by Yuliya Chizhenko, the 6th fastest time in the world this season.
In the women’s 400m semi-finals Svetlana Pospelova clocked 50.53.
Nickolai Dolgopolov and Rostislav Orlov for the IAAF
**World record subject to the usual ratification process
