News14 Aug 2003


Cubans absence gives Italian throwers the spotlight in Viareggio

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Nicola Vizzoni (ITA) (© Getty Images)

Unfortunately, the Gran Galà della Versilia yesterday did not feature an eleven strong squad of Cuban athletes as had been expected, as they ran into visa difficulties while travelling back to Europe after the Panamerican Games in Santo Domingo. Therefore, the last Italian meeting before the World Championships in Paris, was highlighted by some encouraging performances by Italian throwers.

Local boy Nicola Vizzoni, the 2000 Olympic Hammer silver medallist who lives in Marina di Pietrasanta about ten km far from from Viareggio, has not trained properly for two months due to recurrent injuries. So his win with 77.69m indicates that he is returning to his old form although he is far from his PB of 80.50 set in 2001.

“I am happy because my condition is improving day after day. I tried to simulate the qualification round in my first two attempts. Then I tried to force my third attempt which was foul. After the fourth throw I felt a bit tired because I had a training session in the morning”.

In the absence of the reigning World champion Yipsi Moreno of Cuba, the women Hammer throw contest became an italian affair with national record holder Ester Balassini (70.43 at this year’s Padua meeting), back from an ankle injury, winning with 67.14 over Clarissa Claretti, runner-up with 65.73.

“Twenty days ago I had my ankle in plaster, so I expected to throw 65 metres. This is why the result is encouraging.” Balassini and Claretti, respectively sixth and eighth at last year’s European Championships in Munich, will represent Italy at the Paris World Championships.

The Italian Javelin thrower Claudia Coslovich, selected for Paris thanks to her third place at the European Cup in Florence with 62.70, won with 61.02m yesterday.
 
In the men’s Triple Jump, Fabrizio Donato, the European Cup winner in Florence with 17.16, had to content with a modest 16.51m.

The 94-year old Arturo Maffei, who was fourth equal (7.73m) in the legendary Olympic Long Jump final in Berlin 1936 which was won by Jesse Owens over the German Luz Long with 8.06m, was as usual the traditional guest of the Viareggio meeting, and sat in the stand yesterday watching the Long Jump won by the Jamaican James Beckford with a leap of 7.91m.
         
Diego Sampaolo for the IAAF

Selected results from the Gran Galà della Versilia in Viareggio:

Men:

100 metres: 1 Julien Dunkley (Giamaica) 10.29; 2 Pierre Browne (Canada) 10.35; 3 Matt Shirvington (Australia) 10.36
400 metres: 1 Clinton Hill (Australia) 45.74
110 hurdles: 1Robert Newton (Great Britain) 13.64; 2 Mateus Inocencio (Brazil) 13.71
Long jump: 1 James Beckford (Giamaica) 7.91
Triple jump: 1 Fabrizio Donato (Italy) 16.51
Martello: 1 Nicola Vizzoni (Italy) 77.69; 2 Krisztian Pars (Hungary) 76.73; 3 Juan Cerra (Argentina) 76.05
Women:
200 metres: 1 Aminata Diouf (Senegal) 23.82; 2 Graglia (Italy) 23.88
100 hurdles: 1 Nadine Hentscke (Germany) 13.25
Hammer throw: 1 Ester Balassini (Italy) 67.14; 2 Clarissa Claretti (Italy) 65.73
Javelin: 1 Claudia Coslovich (Italy) 61.02

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