Godfrey Khotso Mokoena wins the mens long jump in a seasons best during the Berlin Golden League meet (© Getty Images)
Madrid, SpainSouth Africa’s Godfrey Mokoena’s 8.50m African record in the Long Jump highlighted the ‘Meeting de Madrid 2009’ on Saturday (4).
Yet despite his record-breaking leap, the reigning Olympic silver medallist could not win the competition, as the victory went to Australia’s Fabrice Lapierre, who took advantage of the changing wind to produce a heavily wind assisted (+3.7) 8.57m leap.
Reigning Olympic and World champion Irving Saladino of Panama had to settle for third on this occasion with a windy 8.43m best effort.
The one-lap men’s events provided other highlights as Ireland’s David Gillick - 44.77 in the flat event - and Jamaica’s Isa Phillips (48.09 in the hurdles) ran close to the world leading performances to propel themselves into the Berlin Worlds medal picture.
The women’s section witnessed another strongly wind assisted Triple Jump success for Russia’s Tatyana Lebedeva (15.01, +4.5) and an unforgettable 1500m sprint finish between home athletes Natalia Rodríguez and Marta Domínguez with the former narrowly prevailing in 4:04.82.
The ‘Meeting de Madrid 2009’ is a Grand Prix status meeting as part of the IAAF World Athletics Tour 2009.
Lapierre wins (8.57w), but improved consistency reaps record dividends for Mokoena
The much awaited men’s Long Jump kicked off with Saladino’s early leadership thanks to his opening windy 8.38m for Mokoena’s valid effort of 8.24m but the South African took charge of the contest thanks to an excellent 8.46m (+1.2) second round while Saladino fouled.
Lapierre’s third round effort of 8.57m became a big shock as the 25-year-old Australian took charge of the contest ahead of the gold and silver Olympic medallists. The reigning Commonwealth bronze medallist, Lapierre landed at a career best of 8.35m in round four (+1.3) as did Mokoena in his fifth attempt measured in 8.50m (+1.3), a massive PB by 11 centimetres and a new African record for him. His record finally surpassed the 8.46m leap by Cheikh Toure of Senegal from 1997. As for Saladino, the Panamanian produced 8.43w in the fifth round to conclude with his only valid jump of 8.23m.
Worth mentioning is Mokoena’s magnificent series of jumps in which he recorded no less than four valid jumps better than his previous best of 8.39m; his full series was: 8.24m – 8.46m – 8.46m, 8.47m(w), 8.50m, 8.45m.
Massive Irish 400m record for Gillick, 44.77
Ireland’s David Gillick successfully defied the strong wind in the home straight to produce a sparkling performance timed at 44.77, a huge national record by no less than 0.35 seconds and a new European best this season; the 2005 and 2007 European indoor champion rises to =4 on this year’s world season list.
The ecstatic Irishman declared: “It’s fantastic; I had a good reference in Cedric (Van Branteghem) since he ran in lane 7 and me in 5; I tried to relax in the bend and then to move on home; I think that I already had a sub-45 clocking in my legs last year but I couldn’t do it.”
Asked whether Madrid brings him good luck a smiling Gillick replied: “Of course, I grabbed the European indoors gold medal back in 2005 and now I have set my best clocking by far so definitely I like competing in Madrid.” Gillick, who will turn 26 on 9 July now plans to compete in Rome and Luzern and then, “I’ll be back to my last cycle of full training thinking for the Worlds.”
Phillips’ momentum continues
Jamaica’s Isa Phillips clocked 48.09 in the men’s 400m Hurdles barely one week after taking the National title in Kingston in a PB of 48.05; the powerful 25-year-old posted in Madrid his second fastest ever performance and looks forward to competing at the Worlds after he could not advance to the final at the Beijing Olympics last year. The veteran Danny McFarlane finished runner-up in a season’s best of 48.53 to secure a 1-2 finish for Jamaica.
The 1.95m tall Phillips now ranks second on this year’s world list.
“I have been very close to my PB so I can’t complain. Today’s was my first race in Europe after the National Championships and despite my recent arrival in Europe I executed the race exactly according to my plan: I went out fast, thirteen strides until the sixth hurdle, fourteen to the eighth and fifteen to home. Of course, I was hampered by the strong wind in the home straight but not too much as I’m a 6ft-5inch guy.”
Asked on the sweet moment of Jamaican athletics, Phillips confirmed: “Having athletes such as Bolt or Powell is always a benefit and a positive reference. We all get on really well and try to help between ourselves as much as possible.”
Lebedeva on road to Berlin but still doubtful on the double
Russia’s reigning double (Long Jump & Triple Jump) Olympic silver medallist Tatyana Lebedeva produced a strongly (4.5m/s) windy 15.01m leap in round 3 to take a comfortable win over her follow Russian Anna Pyatykh, runner-up with 14.84m also in a tailwind of 14.84m while Kazakhstan Olga Rypakova came third in 14.69m (+5.0) just ahead of former World silver medallist Yamile Aldama of Sudan (14.68w).
“It was my first Triple Jump of the season so I’m satisfied with the result,” ssiad Lebedeva, whose next stop is Lausanne on Tuesday. “However, I felt some discomfort last Wednesday during my Long Jump contest in Moscow (6.93m) so I was forced to jump very carefully today. In addition, the annoying wind didn’t let me be in full control of my run-up and jump, but I’m happy anyway.
Looking forward, Lebedeva said it’s still too early to tell if she’ll attempt another double in Berlin.
“I already have a wild-card to compete in the Long Jump at the Berlin Worlds but I still have to make the Russian team in the Triple although I have been told that should I manage a 15.00+ leap in meets leading up to the Worlds, then I’ll be selected. Anyway I’ll only try the double there if I’m healthy and injury free. If I compete in just one event, I would prefer the Triple Jump”.
Close 1500m battle between Rodríguez and Domínguez
The women’s 1500m provided the home crowd something to cheer about as the event offered a thrilling clash between two of the most consistent Spanish hopes for Berlin: European indoor silver medallist Natalia Rodríguez and Marta Domínguez, herself twice a World 5000m silver medallist. Today’s seemed to be a rematch of the 3000m run in Huelva held last 10 June when they took 1-2 for the current world leading performances for the distance.
The in-form Spanish pair controlled the race and once the pacesetters dropped out, Rodríguez took charge with only Domínguez for company. At the 1200 metre point (3:16.57) Rodríguez still led but Domínguez seemed to run comfortably at her shoulder and so the closing 100m became a fierce neck to neck between them. Domínguez tried to pass her rival in the inside but Rodríguez didn’t let her by to finally romp home successfully in 4:04.82, just 0.02 ahead of Domínguez, who set a 1500 PB at the age of 33. Next stop for her now will be the Barcelona EA permit on 25 July where she will contest the 3000m steeplechase.
Elsewhere...
Morocco’s reigning Olympic bronze medallist Hasna Benhassi stamped her authority in a quality 800m. Paced through the opening 400m in a fast 57.27 split the 31-year-old Moroccan pulled away from her rivals with 110m to go to produce a SB of 1:59.03 as did Britain’s Jemma Simpson with a 1:59.31 clocking. There was a close fight for the minor podium place between Marilyn Okoro and USA’s national 1500m runner-up Christin Wurth-Thomas, the Briton prevailing in a SB of 2:00.04 for Wurth-Thomas’ career best of 2:00.16.
World leader Martina Hresnova of the Slovak Republic became an easy victor in the women’s Hammer with a fine 75.11m last try release; Hresnova’s only other valid throw of 73.85m would have been good enough to win from Canada’s Sultana Frizell (70.68m) while her fellow Canadian Jennifer Joyce came third in 70.35m. Also in the infield Spain’s reigning European indoor silver medallist Ruth Beitia won the High Jump contest on countback from USA’s Amy Acuff, both jumpers clearing 1.93m.
USA’s Gloria Asumnu beat her compatriot Tianna Madison (11.40 vs 11.56) into a 1.6 headwind in the 100m while Bahama’s Christine Amertill took the 400m in 51.77 for Britain’s Lee Mc Connell’s 52.29.
In the men’s events, Lithuania twice Olympic Discus champion Virgilijus Alekna snatched a convincing victory thanks to a 67.20m third-round release, very close to his SB, while Poland’s Olympic silver medallist Piotr Malachovski took second in 64.57m ahead of Hungary’s Zoltan Kovago, who unleashed 62.70m.
Back on the track the ‘B’ 800m race witnessed the fastest time overall set by Kenya’s Jackson Kivina in 1:44.86 for Spain’s Arturo Casado’s 1:45.52 in second for a career best ahead of Uganda’s Abraham Chepkirwok (SB of 1:46.14); the ‘A’ event went for South Africa’s reigning World indoor silver medallist Mbulaeni Mulaudzi in 1:45.81 while Spanish champion Manuel Olmedo beat Sudan’s Olympic silver medallist Ahmed Ismail, 1:45.91 (SB) and 1:46.08 their respective times.
The men's 100m went to Jamaica’s Steve Mullings (10.11) into a headwind of 1.9 clearly ahead of Portugal’s European champion Francis Obiwelu (10.35) while 2007 European 60m hurdles champion Gregory Sedoc of The Netherlands posted a remarkable win in the 110m hurdles in 13:40 (-0.2) from Jamaican champion Maurice Wignall’s 13.52. Finally, South Africa’s Johan Cronje defeated the 1500m pre-race favourite Rui Silva of Portugal with a 3:37.33 winning time for Silva’s 3:38.62.
Emeterio Valiente for the IAAF
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