Olu Fasuba (NGR) wins the Italian Clubs' 100m title in 10.15 (© Lorenzo Sampaolo)
African 100m record holder Olu Fasuba of Nigeria and Assunta Legnante produced the best performances at the Italian Club Championships in Busto Arsizio in northern Italy last weekend (Sat 23 / Sun 24).
'More ups than downs' in 2006 for Fasuba
Fasuba, whose 9.85 clocking in Doha on 12 May - currently the fifth best time of the year - set the African record, took an easy win last of the Italian Clubs’ title over 100 metres in 10.15, made the more special because it was into a headwind of 0.5 m/s.
Fasuba, who competes for the italian club Assindustria Padova, said afterwards, “I am very happy with the race in Busto Arsizio. I had a harmstring injury two days before the World Cup. This is why I could not compete in Athens. This season I had ups and downs. Fortunately I had more ups than downs”, said Fasuba.
Legnante, fifth at the European Championships in Gothenburg with 18.83, crowned her successful season with a 19.04 national record. Assuntina, as she is called by her friends, improved her own outdoor record (18.92 set in 2004) twice first to 18.98 and then to 19.04 in a very consistent series which included three more releases over 18 metres: 18.36-18.44-18.86.
For the shot putter from Naples, who competes for the Milan Club Camelot, it’s the second national record because she already holds the indoor record with 19.20 set in 2002, the year when she won the European indoor silver in Vienna.
“This is the icing on the cake of a great season. I began my season late because I underwent a foot surgery last autumn but now I am in good form. I want to improve my technique for next year to be competitive at international level. I think that 19.50 is within my reach”, said a delighted Legnante.
World class Hammer and Javelin throwing
More good news for Italian athletics also came from hammer thrower Clarissa Claretti, who threw 71.59 (her second best performance of the year after her SB 71.98 set in March). Claretti, who finished seventh at the European Championships final in Gothenburg and fifth in the IAAF World Athletics Final in Stuttgart, beat her rival and friend Ester Balassini (italian record holder with 73.59), who finished second with 68.47.
“This season was very good for me. Competing in the World Athletics Final in Stuttgart was a great experience”, said Claretti.
Another Italian thrower who competed well in Stuttgart was World and European finalist Zahra Bani, who at the weekend sent her javelin to a good 62.44m which has confirmed her consistency over the 60 metres.
Heshko wins dead slow 1500; Jiptum beats Inzikuru
World Indoor champion and European silver medallist Ivan Heshko from the Ukraine won a very slow 1500 metres race in 3:50.05 thanks to a devastating kick in the final 400 metres.
Other foreign stars competing for Italian clubs who added international interest to the two-day match were Janet Jepkosgei from Kenya, the fastest woman at 800m this season, who scored a 800-1500 metres double, and World 3000 Steeplechase bronze medallist Jeruto Kiptum from Kenya who won 3000 steeple and 5000 metres. Over the latter distance she defeated Prisca Ngetich Jepleting, World cross country silver medallist, and World 3000 metres steeplechase champion Dorcus Inzikuru (Uganda) in a time of 15:32.23.
Italian 400m record holder Andrea Barberi (45.19), who anchored the 4x400 European relay team at the IAAF World Cup in Athens, capped his successful season with a easy win in 46.29 in the 400 metres.
The jumping events featured a new Italian record in the women’s Pole Vault by Anna Giordano Bruno (4.32), and a PB by Fabrizio Schembri (16.86m) who beat favourite Fabrizio Donato (16.59) in the men’s Triple Jump. Donato bounced back in the second day by leaping to 8.00 metres in the Long Jump.
Overall, Fiamme Gialle won the men’s Club Championships, while the women’s title went to the Sai Fondiaria Roma.
Diego Sampaolo for the IAAF
