European Cup – Florence – Women’s PREVIEW

Florence, ItalyUnlike the men’s competition, the most compelling events on the women’s programme of the Spar European Cup will be in the infield, led by a slew of Olympic and World Championships medallists.

Jumps

In the Pole Vault, the main attraction is Olympic bronze medallist Anna Rogowska, who comes to Florence riding a strong wave of momentum. Quickly picking up where she left off indoors in her chase after World record holder and Olympic champion Yelena Isinbayeva. The 24-year-old Pole raised the national record to 4.76 and 4.77 in her first two competitions of the outdoor season year, and looks poised to become the fourth vaulter to top the 4.80 mark. German Carolin Hingst (4.65 indoors) and French national record holder Vanessa Boslak (4.56) are also in the competitive field.

Irina Simagina, the Olympic silver medallist, is by far the class of the Long Jump. Undefeated in three starts outdoors, the 23-year-old is the world leader after her 7.04 effort in Sochi in late May and the only seven-metre jumper thus far this season. But by far the sentimental favorite will be Fiona May, who has indicated that this weekend may quite likely be her last competition in her adopted home. Despite lingering tendonitis, the 2001 World champion has reached 6.53 this year. Eunice Barber, the reigning World champion, has a season’s best of 6.51, but ever the fierce competitor, she will pose a significant challenge to Simagina.

The Triple Jump includes a formidable cast as well, led by Olympic silver medallist Hrisopiyi Devetzi. The Greek, who thrilled the capacity crowds at Olympic Stadium last year, has yet to reach the form that propelled her to the Olympic podium last year - a 14.59 season’s best this season - and is expected to be pushed by Russian Anna Pyatykh, who has reached a near-PB 14.75 this season. Magdelin Martinez, a member of the still-exclusive 15-metre club, is the host’s hope.

As in the men’s field, key major players are missing in the High Jump. Tatyana Kivimyagi of Russia is the best on paper this season, with a 1.94 clearance to her credit, with Romanian Oana Pantelimon next with a 1.90 season’s best. Ukrainian Vita Palamar, a member of the two-metre club, will make her first outdoor start of the season.

Throws

The world leader in the Javelin Throw, Steff Nerius, the Olympic silver medallist, comes to Florence undefeated in seven competitions this year. The winner of European Winter Throwing Challenge, the 32-year-old German recently followed up her 65.84 world leader with a 65.08 effort on Tuesday to win in Athens over world record holder and Olympic champion Osleidis Menendez of Cuba. Zahra Bani of Italy, who improved her PB to 62.54 to win in Torino, is the best of the rest.

With consistent 19.39, 19.37 and 19.20 efforts this spring, German Nadine Kleinert arrives as the favorite to repeat her 2001 victory in the Shot Put. Russian Olga Ryabinkina, the winner of the European Winter Throwing Challenge in March, leads the field in the shot put with a 19.20 season’s best.

Co-world leader Franka Dietzsch (66.29) leads a competitive field in the Discus Throw. Nicoleta Grasu of Romania, Pole Marzena Wysocka and Olena Antonova of Ukraine have each better 64.50 this season.

A class Hammer Throw field will be assembled as well. Less than two metres separate the top five here, led by Romanian Mihaela Melinte, the fifth farthest thrower in the world this season with a 71.95 best. Manuela Montebrun (71.53) is the French hope, while German Susanne Keil, Kamila Skolimowska of Poland and Ester Balassini of Italy have each surpassed 70 metres this year.

While not quite as deep, competition on the track will provide several key match-ups as well.

Middle & Long Distance

Maria Cioncan or Romania, a double Athens finalist and bronze medallist in the 1500, is scheduled to make her 2005 debut a busy one, contesting both races. Testing the Romanian will be Elisabeth Grousselle of France who comes to Florence fresh off of her 2:00.72 win in Lille, and Svetlana Klyuka, with a 2005 best of 2:00.79, who will represent Russia’s deep pool of two-lap talent.

In the 1500, Cioncan will face Russian Yuliya Chizhenko, who lowered her PB to 4:03.35 this season, and a pair of 2005 sub 4:06 performers, Bouchra Ghezielle of France and Anna Jakubczak of Poland, a two-time Olympic finalist in the event. Last year in Athens, she finished seventh in 4:00.15.

The 3000m field is led by Russian Yelena Zadorozhnaya, making her first appearance of the year in a race beyond 1500 metres. Always fiercely competitive, Zadorozhnaya is a two-time Euro Cup winner at 5000, and finished fourth in the event at both the 2003 World Championships and last year’s Olympic Games. Justyna Lesman of Poland and Romanian Mihaela Botezan, who ran to a national record in the 10,000 in Athens last summer, look to pose the strongest challenge to the Russian.

German Sabrina Mockenhaupt arrives in Florence after a strong spring to lead the field in the 5000m. In a 22-day span in April, the 24-year-old clocked three personal bests: 31:21.28 in the 10,000 to win the European Cup in that event, along with 15:47 and 32:40 road bests in the 5-k and 10-k. Her too Botezan could be a factor, along with Margaret Maury of France and Wioletta Janowska of Poland, a 1500 metre specialist who displayed solid distance form with her 9:25.09 runner-up finish in the Athens steeplechase on Tuesday.

The 3000m Steeplechase is led by another Pole, former World record holder Justyna Bak. Cristina Casandra or Romania, Russian Lyubov Ivanova, and Elodie Olivares of France each had 9:33.12 or better PBs to their credit.

Hurdles

Judging early season form, the sprint hurdles is shaping up to be among the most hotly contested races. Just 2/100s of a second separate the season’s best of Linda Khodadin (12.73) of France, Russian Mariya Koroteyeva (12.74) and German Kirsten Bolm (12.75). Aurelia Trywianska of Poland nearly pulled out an upset on the slick track in Ostrava last weekend before stumbling slightly over the final hurdle, and could be a factor here as well.

Over the 400m Hurdles, Russian Yekaterina Bikert, sixth in Athens last summer, finished second in last year’s European Cup, and is the favorite in her second outing of the year. Anna Jesien of Poland, however, has had a solid early season, with a 54.22 PB and a runner-up 52.27 finish to World champion Jana Pittman on Tuesday in Athens.

Sprints

20-year-old Greek María Karastamáti, the recently minted national champion in the event, is looking to build upon her European Indoor Championships bronze medal performance. Her 11.27 PB from the national championships on June 10 leads the field.

Double European sprint bronze medallist Manuela Levorato of Italy will make her first appearance of the year, as will European record holder Christine Arron who pulled of the Lille meeting last weekend. Arron will also compete in the half lap, where she’ll face the field’s fastest of the year, Russian Yelena Bolsun. For Ukraine, Zhanna Block has yet to confirm her participation.

Romanian Ionela Tîrlea-Manolache, the Olympic silver medallist in the full lap hurdles, has opted for the 200 and flat 400 in Florence. The weekend will be only the second competitive outing of the year for Tîrlea-Manolache, who didn’t finish the 400 hurdles in Milan two weeks ago. Natalya Antyukh of Russia and Ukraine’s Antonina Yefremova (50.70 PB, 2002), and Olympic semi-finalist, are the other podium threats.

Russia, who claimed a lopsided victory over Ukraine 142 – 97 last year, returns with a strong team, and is a heavy favorite to repeat.
Bob Ramsak for the IAAF

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EUROPEAN CUP coverage on www.iaaf.org

We will have daily coverage of the SPAR European Cup competition in Florence this weekend, as well as reports from the 1st League European Cup meetings in Gävle (SWE) and Leiria (POR).

Chris Turner
IAAF Editorial Manager