Tatyana Lysenko competing in Helsinki (© AFP/Getty Images)
Nearly 1000 athletes from 60 regions will converge on this ancient city for the Russian National Championships, 11-15 June. A total of 42 gold medals in individual and team competition will be at stake.
Tula’s time-honoured tradition continues
Why has Tula again and again won the honour to stage the national championships? Because the best outdoor athletic arena in the country is situated in the city well known in the Motherland as the city of samovars and ancient and modern weapons. The tracks and infields for the throwing events are well-adapted to the needs of the athletes and the infrastructure is excellent, was tested many times by the generations of Russian champions. Numerous achievements were reached and record set at the Arsenal stadium. It is here, in Tula, that the national teams for the most important international competitions have been selected.
But the microclimate of the city is such that it may rain at any moment. So the precipitation is the principle menace for the athletes. But the same weather conditions are typical of Malaga, the city that will soon host the European Cup and of Gothenburg, the host for August’s European Championships. And as usual, the Russian national team for these two most important athletic events of the season will be selected in Tula.
Handful of stars receive a weekend pass
While those squads will be named in Tula, a handful of stars who proved their absolute priority in the years of 2005-2006, at least in Russia, are exempt from this obligatory national team selection in Tula. These are the Olympic champions Yelena Isinbayeva, Yelena Slesarenko, Tatyana Lebedeva as well as World champions Tatyana Kotova, Julya Chizhenko, Julya Pechonkina, Yaroslav Rybakov along with a few others.
Fierce competition expected in jumps and throws
So the remaining spots in several key disciplines will provide extremely tough competition, particularly in the women’s Hammer Throw, high and long jumps, and in the 400, 800 and 1500 metres.
Four Russian women have surpassed 71m in the Hammer Throw, while two have thrown beyond 75m. And it is likely that these two – the World Record holder Tatyana Lysenko and her constant and persistent opponent Gulfya Khanafeeva – will try their utmost to perhaps even improve the World Record.
There can be no talk about a World Record in the women’s Long Jump. But still, three women have landed beyond seven metres already and a few others are fairly close to that still formidable mark. And the situation is further complicated by the fact that one berth has already been reserved for Kotova. Additionally, nobody knows yet if Lebedeva is going to take part in this event in Tula.
A similar situation exists in the both the men’s and women’s High Jump. The World indoor champions Yaroslav Rybakov and Slesarenko have already been named to the national team. But the rivalry for other places is tough. The group of high jumpers headed by the well-known Anna Chicherova will be eager to prove that they are in the same class as Slesarenko, also the reigning Olympic champion. The World Championships medallist Andrei Tereshin and the young Ivan Ukhov, whose progress has been notable, are expected to produce a fierce fight for the honour to represent the team at the European Championships.
Surprises expected in women’s 400, 800 and 1500
There are even more rivals in women’s 400m, 800m and 1500m. Svetlana Pospelova, Natalya Antukh, Natalya Nazarova, Olesya Zykova, Olga Kotlyarova have won a lot of major international tournaments over the one-lap race. But a mighty group of younger athletes have emerged who are ready for the struggle with the leaders: Natalya Ivanova, Olga Zaitzeva, Tatyana Firova, and Tatyana Veshkurova. So the competitions at 400m may turn out to be one of the most thrilling events of the championships. And Olga Kotlyarova is again intriguing her fans and supporters: what distance will she choose, the 400m or 800m? She’s competed well at both distances this season, but managing a double will be next to impossible against strong fields. is doing very well this season at both distances. Or will she still try?
There is a group of events where the leaders are evident. Namely these are women’s Discus Throw, Shot Put, Pole Vault, the 400m Hurdles and the 5000m. It remains to be seen who’ll make a challenge to the leaders and what sort of form the stars will bring to Tula.
The third group of events is composed of the women’s sprints and Steeplechase, and the men’s throws and Decathlon. There are no evident leaders, with several athletes in every discipline striving for the position of the leader.
Can the tide turn in the men’s track events?
And the last group of events is really the last in the row. One may say this about it: “Will the situation finally take a turn for the better?” And unfortunately, all the men’s running events belong to the group, with the achievement of Olympic 800m champion Yuriy Borzakovskiy the only exception. But being optimistic is in their heart of Russians as they welcome the new athletic season with the hope that the tide will indeed turn.
Recent bright spots included Dmitriy Bogdanov’s win at 800m at the European Indoor Championships and Andrei Epishin who was the runner-up at the World Indoor Championships in the 60m. Additionally, Igor Peremota and Mikhail Lipskiy performed well in the Hurdles.
Nickolai Dolgopolov and Rostislav Orlov for the IAAF
