Youssef Saad Kamel of Bahrain wins the 800m at the World Athletics Final (© Getty Images)
The 41st Palio della Quercia meeting in Rovereto, the oldest Italian one-day meet and also an EAA permit event, saw some brisk 800m running from Youssef Saad Kamel from Bahrain (1:43.96) and Kenyan Janet Jepkosgei (1:57.82). In the infield, the limelight was on newly crowned World champions Kajsa Bergqvist (1.96) and Osleydis Menendez (66.28m), and of course Italy’s Giuseppe Gibilisco (5.81m).
Bergqvist eyes Monaco finale
Swedish star Kajsa Bergqvist who improved her world seasonal best to 2.03 in Sheffield took the honours in the women’s High Jump after a jump-off at 1.96m with European Indoor champion Anna Chicherova from Russia. Both athletes had cleared all heights until 1.96 on their first attempt but failed three times at 1.99.
“I am relieved after this tough competition although I did not feel 100% power in my legs today," said Bergqvist after her 1.96m success. "I have trained every day to fulfil my dream to become (outdoor) World champion one day. After the career threatening injury I feared that I could not jump again. My final competition of the year will be the World Athletics Final in Monaco."
Meeting records fall to Menendez and Gibilisco
Cuban Javelin star Osleydis Menendez, one of the biggest stars of the Helsinki World Championships with her World record of 71.70m won again in Rovereto with a meeting record of 66.28. The Cuban World and Olympic champion already held the previous meet record with 62.93 set back in 1997.
Italy’s Giuseppe Gibilisco is reaching his best in this final part of the season. After clearing 5.70 in rainy Zürich and finishing third with 5.76 in Rieti, he won last night with 5.81 which setting his seasonal best and improving the Rovereto meeting record he set in 2003 by one centimetre.
The Vitaliy Petrov coached-athlete cleared 5.81 on his second attempt, taking the honours on countback over Olexandr Korchmid who had also cleared 5.81 on his second attempt but who lost because he had jumped 5.61 on his second try as opposed to the Italian who made that height first time. The 2003 World champion from Italy had three unsuccessful attempts at a would-be italian record of 5.91. USA’s World silver medallist Brad Walker, who cleared 5.96 in Rieti on Sunday, could not finish any higher than third with 5.61.
“I felt very well today at 5.81,” said Gibilisco. “The wind disturbed my three attempts at 5.91. After the disappointment in Helsinki I have been jumping very well in the recent weeks. I am confident that I can produce good results in the final part of the season. I will compete on Sunday in Berlin and probably in Monaco if I reach the top eight in the World Ranking.”
Fastest 800m races – Kenyan record
The 800 metres races for both men and women produced world-class.
Janet Jepkosgei from Kenya ran a new Kenyan record of 1:57.82 in the women 800 metres, missing the long standing meeting record held by Romania’s Fita Lovin since 1981 by just three hundredths of a second. Second was Morocco’s Amina Ait Hammou with 2:00.82. “I expected to improve at least but a 1:57 time is a surprise for me. I want to improve again in Berlin”, commented Jepkosgei.
In the men's 800m, Youssef Saad Kamel from Bahrain (the former Kenyan Gregory Konchellah) ran the second fastest time of the year with 1:43.96 - a meet record - which follows on from Kamel’s training partner Wilfried Bungei who clocked 1:43.70 in Rieti on Sunday.
On Kamel’s shoulder Russia’s Dimitry Bogdanov took second spot with 1:45.47. Italy’s Andrea Longo showed progress with third place in 1:46.05, after a season hampered by injuries which forced him to miss the World Championships in Helsinki.
“I felt comfortable this evening," said Kamel who is coached by Italian Gianni Ghidini and is based in Bussolengo for most of the summer season. "I was not tired. My shape is coming now after an harmstring injury which slowed my preparation in June. I could train well in July but the injury came up again before Helsinki. I have two more races in Berlin and Monaco."
Glover takes second Italian win
Sandra Glover with a time of 54.29 won her second Italian 400 metres Hurdles race of the week following on from her win in Rieti last Sunday. Italy Benedetta Ceccarelli, who ran an Italian record (54.79) in Rieti behind the American, continued her good season with the second best performance of her career of 55.01. Third was local favourite Monika Niederstätter with 56.16.
In the men’s 400m Hurdles, World and Olympic finalist Bayano Kamani from Panama held off Olympic bronze medallist Naman Keita from France with 48.85 to 48.97. World semi-finalist Gianni Carabelli from Italy finished third with 49.32.
US Tyree Washington prevailed in the flat 400 metres in 45.27 after a 'neck and neck' battle to the finishing line with 2004 World Indoor champion Alleyne Francique from Grenada, runner-up in 45.29.
Jason Gardener (GBR), the World and European Indoor 60m champion won the 100m in 10.16, four hundredths of a second off the meeting record held by World record holder Asafa Powell, who ran 10.12 in Rovereto in 2002. “I am pleased that I ran well against strong athletes after very busy weeks. I am disappointed that I did not make the final in Helsinki although I ran well in 10.08 in the semifinals”, said Gardener.
Cuba’s Alexander Martinez, who is seeking Swiss citizenship, leapt to a winning 17.20m in the men's Triple Jump defeating Slovakia’s Dimitry Valyukevich (16.81), while Italy’s Magdelin Martinez, who is fighting against injury problems this year, clinched victory in the women's Triple Jump with 14.25, defeating Natalya Safronova by just one centimetre.
Russia’s Yulya Gushchina, sixth placer in Helsinki, took an easy win in the women's 200 metres in 23.10 over her compatriot Olesja Zykina (23.37) and Fabienne Faerez from Benin (semi-finalist in Helsinki), third in 23.49.
Kenya’s Joseph Kosgei crossed the finish-line in 13:19.95 in the men’s 5000 metres, and Russia Alexandr Ivanov took the Javelin with an 81.84m throw.
Diego Sampaolo for the IAAF
Main results of the Palio della Quercia in Rovereto:
Men:
100 metres: A race: 1 Jason Gardener (Gran Bretagna) 10.16; 2 Christopher Williams (Giamaica) 10.37; 3 Uchenna Emedolu (Nigeria) 10.44; 4 Simone Collio (Italia) 10.51
400 metres: 1 Tyree Washington (Usa) 45.27; 2 Alleyne Francique (Grenada) 45.29; 3 Andrea Barberi (Italia) 46.32; 4 Leonard Byrd (Usa) 46.36
800 metres: A race: 1 Youssef Saad Kamel (Bahrain) 1:43.96; 2 Dimitry Bogdanov (Russia) 1:45.47; 3 Andrea Longo (Italia) 1:46.05; B race: 1 Osmar Dos Santos (Brasile) 1:46.04; 2 Christian Obrist (Italia) 1:46.21; 3 Philemon Kimutai (Kenya) 1:47.10
5000 metres: 1 Joseph Kosgei (Kenya) 13:19.95; 2 Micah Kogo (Kenya) 13:20.12; 3 Wilson Businei (Uganda) 13:21.89
400 metres hurdles: 1 Bayano Kamani (Panama) 48.85; 2 Naman Keita (France) 48.97; 3 Gianni Carabelli (Italy) 49.32
Triple Jump: 1 Alexander Martinez (Cuba) 17.20; 2 Dimitry Valiukevich (Slovakia) 16.81; 3 Alexandr Sergeyev (Russia) 16.77
Pole Vault: 1 Giuseppe Gibilisco (Italy) 5.81; 2 Olexandr Korchmid (Ukraine) 5.81; 3 Brad Walker (Usa) 5.61; 4 Vladyslav Revenko (Ukraine) 5.61; 5 Nick Hysong (Usa) 5.61
Javelin Throw: 1 Alexandr Ivanov (Russia) 81.84; 2 Vladislav Skurlatov (Russia) 77.86; 3 Toman Intas (Lithuania) 77.20
Women:
200 metres: 1 Yulyia Gushchina (Russia) 23.10; 2 Olesya Zykina (Russia) 23.37; 3 Fabienne Faerez (Benin) 23.46
800 metres: A race: 1 Janeth Jepkosgei (Kenya) 1:57.82; 2 Amina Ait Hammou (Marocco) 2:00.82; 3 Kameisha Bennett (Usa) 2:01.05; 4 Diane Cummings (Canada) 2:01.46
400 metres hurdles: 1 Sandra Glover (Usa) 54.29; 2 Benedetta Ceccarelli (Italy) 55.01; 3 Monika Niederstätter (Italy) 56.16; 4 Oksana Gulumyan (Russia) 57.11
High Jump: 1 Kajsa Bergqvist (Sweden) 1.96; 2 Anna Chicherova (Russia) 1.96; 3 Vita Palamar (Ukraine) 1.93; 4 Tatyana Kivimyagi (Russia) 1.93
Triple jump: 1 Magdelin Martinez (Italia) 14.25: 2 Natalya Safronova (Bielorussia) 14.24; 3 Snezana Vulkmirovic (Slovenia) 14.10; 4 Yelena Oleynikova (Russia) 13.96; 5 Silvia Biondini (Italia) 13.48
Javelin Throw: 1 Osleydis Menendez (Cuba) 66.28; 2 Sonia Bisset (Cuba) 59.97; 3 Nicolett Szabo (Hungary) 58.12; 4 Zahra Bani (Italy) 57.58
