Report20 Aug 2006


Silnov improves to 2.37 - Herculis Report

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Andrey Silnov of Russia celebrates winning the men's High Jump in Gothenburg (© Getty Images)

A pair of marvelous jumps competitions, with a world-leading 2.37 leap by Andrey Silnov in the High Jump, and surprise win by Fabiana Murer in the Pole Vault captured the spotlight at the ‘Herculis 2006’ - IAAF Super Grand Prix - as the World Athletics Tour returned to the sunny Riviera.

Silnov improves again - 2.37

Perfect through 2.28, Silnov, the 21-year-old European champion needed a third try at 2.31 to remain in the competition, and a pair at 2.33 before securing the victory over Swede Stefan Holm, who topped out after his first attempt clearance at 2.31. His world leader came with a clean but close third try as well, forgivable in this case competing just 24 hours after his victory at the Birmingham International Match yesterday.

“I’ve only slept four hours,” said a smiling Silnov, after adding a centimetre to his previous personal best and world leading 2.36 from Gothenburg. “I have to be very happy with this personal best.”

American Jesse Williams edged Swede Linus Thornblad for third on the countback, with both, along with World Indoor champion Yaroslav Rybakov, clearing 2.28.

Murer over Pyrek

Fabiana Murer apparently likes to do accomplish things in pairs. At the Grande Prêmio Brasil/Caixa de Atletismo in May, the 25-year-old Brazilian twice improved the South American record, first to 4.50 than again to 4.55. Under the bright Mediterranean skies here, she duplicated her feat, first with a third attempt success at 4.61, then again with a third attempt clearance at 4.66 to land herself near the event's international elite.

Poland's Monika Pyrek was perfect in four jumps through 4.61, but couldn’t manage 4.66, and finished second. Germany’s Silke Spiegelburg cleared a personal best 4.56 to finish third ahead of American Jennifer Stuczynski who topped out at 4.51.

One surprise in quartet of hotly contested hurdles races

The day’s four hurdles races began with an upset in the first, the women’s full lap barrier race, also the first event on the track.

World leader and pre-meet favourite Lashinda Demus built a lead by hurdle three, and extended it to perhaps two metres over Tiffany Ross-Williams as she approached hurdle nine. But a bad misstep as she approached the final barrier, causing her to nearly stumble, instantly forced her out of contention. In the meantime Ross-Williams, throughout the race the closest pursuer, snuck by on the inside en route to a 53.79 personal best. On the outside, Ukraine’s Tatyana Tereschuck-Antipova closed fast to take second in 54.12, with Demus recovering well enough to hold on for third (54.48). Further back, Anna Jesien of Poland was fourth (54.76).

There was no surprise in the men’s race, won handily by Greek Periklis Iakovakis in 48.27, who after his victories at the European Championships and in Zurich two nights ago, is gradually emerging as a true global threat.

Jamaican Danny McFarlane surged hard towards and over the final hurdle to edge South African Louis van Zyl, both credited with a 48.52.

In the men’s 110 meter Hurdles, Cuba’s 19-year-old Dayron Robles ran away from a relatively tight field by the seventh hurdle en route to a 13.14 victory.

Robles and Terrence Trammell were virtually even midway through the race, but the American faded badly over the second half. Aries Merritt was the polar opposite of his compatriot, closing strong over the last pair of hurdles to finish second in 13.24. David Oliver closed strongly as well to finish third in 13.29. No others dipped under 13.40.

World leader Michelle Perry, the winner in Zurich’s Weltklasse two nights ago, was the favourite coming into the race, and in the end did not disappoint. The American, a former heptathlete turned World champion, built a clear lead by the third hurdle, and added to it by the fifth. But Lolo Jones, in lane six, and Canada’s 2003 World champion Perdita Felicien on the inside in lane two, fought back by hurdle eight, before Perry pulled away over the final barrier to capture the clear win.

“It wasn’t as fast as I hoped for,” said Perry, “but it was technically efficient and if I’m able to put some speed with it, I’m sure I can reach my season goal of running under 12.40.”

Jones nipped Felicien by the narrowest of margins - 12.74 to 12.75 - to finish second.

Thrilling 1500s lead the middle and long distance events

Alex Kipchirchir was the sole competitor to follow the sub-1:50 800 metre pace in the 1500, and the double African champion was rewarded with a lopsided victory.

“I really wanted a fast time,” said Kipchirchir, who finished second two nights earlier in Zurich, after his 3:32.08 performance here. “But I guess I’m getting a bit tired after my efforts in Zurich and Mauritius.”

Carrying a 20 metre lead as he passed the bell, he extended it by a couple of strides down the backstretch. Surprised to find no one in pursuit when he briefly glanced over his shoulder entering the final bend, he began to slow some 20 metres later, but not dramatically so to easily hold on for the convincing win.

Ukraine’s Ivan Hesko led the field’s late charge entering the final straight, but was edged just before the line by Moroccan Mohamed Moustaoui, 3:32.80 to 3:32.84, with the Moroccan equalling his career best. Shadrack Korir was a distant fourth in 3:33.26.

Next up for the 21-year-old is a week off before Berlin’s ISTAF Golden League fixture, and his intended 800/1500 double at the IAAF World Cup in Athens.

Like Kipchirchir, Australian Sarah Jamieson was on a mission in the women’s race, the lone runner choosing to follow the furious pace. Carrying a big lead past the bell, she eventually ran out of steam over the next 300 metres as she was reeled in by the chase pack, first by Yuliya Chizhenko in the middle of the turn, and then down the homestretch by two-time World champion Tatyana Tomashova. Chizhenko took the win in 4:00.32, Tomashova second (4:01.21), with Jamieson holding off Yelena Soboleva to prevent a Russian sweep, 4:01.63 to 4:01.95.

Less than two days after his fast 800 metre victory over a tough field in Zurich, Mbulaeni Mulaudzi added to his late season momentum with a well-earned 1:44.14 victory here. Powering down the homestretch, the South African easily fended off the challenge of Kenyan William Yiampoy (1:44.31) and the fast-closing Youssef Saad Kamel (1:44.59).

In the day’s longest event for the men, Abraham Chebii kicked to a solid victory in the 3000, with his 7:33.42 personal best leading four of the next five finishers to career bests as well. Hicham Bellani of Morocco was second in 7:33.71, well ahead of Kenyan Yusuf Kibet Biwott (7:34.40).

European champion Alesya Turava ran away with from a solid field in the 3000 metre Steeplechase, producing a meet record 9:21.16 in the process. Russian Lyubov Ivanova was a distant runner-up in 9:23.61, with African Champion Jeruto Kiptum third with a personal best 9:26.07. World leader Wioletta Janowska, the Gothenburg bronze medallist, faded over the closing lap to finish fourth (9:27.34).

Hard fought 400 victory for Merritt

Lashawn Merritt produced the meeting’s sprint highlight, with his hard fought victory in the 400 in 44.78. Runner-up Michael Blackwood challenged briefly over the final 40 metres, but Merritt simply faded less. Blackwood held on for second in 44.89, with Alleyne Francique on the outside, closing admirably to finish third (45.09).

“I wanted to run a smooth race, I wanted to stick to my race plan and I wanted to stay relaxed,” said Merritt, who chased world leader Jeremy Wariner to the line in Zurich two nights ago. “And that is what I did.”

In a pair of narrow 100 metre contests, Me’Lisa Barber and Shawn Crawford swept the event for the U.S.

Barber built a slight lead some 25 metres into the race, but just beyond the midway point, found herself with company as Latasha Jenkins surged strongly in lane seven. The latter ran out of territory, leaving Barber with a narrow 11.17 win, to Jenkins’ 11.18. Double European champion Kim Geveart, admittedly tired from her busy week in Gothenburg, was never in the race. Well back from the start, she eventually reached the line in 11.34, finishing fifth.

In the men’s race, Crawford pulled away in the final 20 metres to win in 10.14, well ahead of Frenchman Ronald Pognon’s 10.18.

Elsewhere on the infield

European champion Stefi Nerius continued her late season dominance in the Javelin Throw, taking care of business early with a second round 65.33 throw. Even the German’s second farthest, her fifth round 63.85 effort, outdistanced runner-up Mercedes Chilla’s 63.20, a personal best for the Spaniard who finished third in Gothenburg. Cuban Sonia Bisset was third (62.59), with Czech Barbora Spotakova (61.55) fourth.

The men’s Triple Jump, the only field event on the men’s programme, was won by Romanian Marian Oprea with a 17.33 leap, with Cuba’s Yoandri Betanzos edging Jadel Gregorio of Brazil for second, 17.18 to 17.12.

Bob Ramsak for the IAAF

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