Kotova
jumps 7.03m in Athens
Dave Martin for the IAAF
30 May 2002 –
Athens - There was an outstanding 7.03m long jump victory for Russia’s World
Championships silver medallist Tatyana Kotova in last night's Filothei Women's
Gala meeting in Athens.
The Russian - born in Uzbekistan 25-years ago, but now living in Central Siberia - leapt a brilliant 7.03 metres (wind 0.0m/s), after raising her performances in each of the previous four rounds with efforts of 6.54m, 6.55m, 6.80m, before calling it a day after her massive winning leap.
Last year only Kotova bettered that distance outdoors when clearing 7.12m in Turin and 7.09 to take the Russian title, in June and July respectively. Dawn Burrell of the United States matched it when winning the 2001 World Indoor title ahead of Kotova in Lisbon.
Second last night was Greece’s European Indoor champion Niki Xanthou, who is a harbour guard just a few miles down the road at the port of Piraeus. Xanthou who is four times Greek champion jumped 6.67 seconds with a 0.40m/s following wind.
Third position went to Russia’s Lyudmila Galkina, the 1995 World indoor and 1997 outdoor gold medallist, who finished off her night with a 6.65m effort.
There were shock defeats for this year's European Indoor high jump champion Marina Kuptsova of Russia, and in the 200 metres for Austria’s Karin Mayr who performed brilliantly to take the 200 metres European indoor silver medal in front of her home fans in Vienna.
Kuptsova, who as a 15-year-old the Russian won a European junior silver medal before capturing the World junior title the following year, finished equal third here in Athens alongside Yuliya Lyakhova, with both clearing 1.90 metres.
Leading five Russians home - was Viktoriya Seryogina winner on count-back at 1.97m from Yelena Sivushenko whose jump was a personal best performance.
In the 100m, Mayr trailed in last in a very slow 11.89 seconds. Victory went to Russia's Olena Patusenko in 11.45 seconds, ahead of the host country's Georgia Kokloni and a second Russian Marina Kislova. They stopped the clock at 11.52 and 11.53 seconds.
In the triple jump, World indoor bronze medallist Yelena Oleynikova (who indoors has a best of 14.60m this year) with a last effort headed off the challenge of three Russian rivals with a 14.37m effort.
The 100 metres hurdles were taken in fine style by Svetla Dimitrova of Bulgaria who will be chasing a third successive European title later this summer in Munich. The 32-year-old Bulgarian won easily in 13.11 seconds. Behind her was Irena Korotya (13,26) and Dimitrova's team mate Yanna Kasova (13.28).
Selected results -
100 Metres (Wind 0.50m/s):
O Pastusenko (Russia)
11.45, 2, G Koloni (Greece) 11.52; 3, M Kislova (Russia) 11.53; 4, N Guener
(Turkey) 11.60; 5, A Kravetsenko (Ukraine) 11.62; 6, K Mayr (Austria) 11.89.
100 Metres Hurdles (Wind-.50m/s):
S Dimitrova (Bulgaria) 13.11; 2, M Koroteyeva (Russia) 13.26; 3, Y Kasova
(Bulgaria) 13.28; 4, T D'Oyley (Jamaica) 13.42; 5, E Nesoudi (Greece) 13.56.
High Jump
V Seryogina (Russia) 1.97m; 2, Y Sivushenko (Russia) 1.97; 3eq, Y Lyakhova
(Russia)/M Kuptsova (Russia) 1.90; 5, T Motkova (Rusia) 1.90; 6, K Kilinker
(Turkey) 1.90; 7, E Siropoulou (Greece)/T Sourenko (Ukraine) 1.80; 9, C Kaltseva
(Bulgaria) 1.80; 10eq, M Chtokouridou (Greece)/I Kliznoutsa (Moldova) 1.80;
12eq, N Mitropoulou (Greece)/N Pehlivanova (Bulgaria) 1.75; 14, M Lefkimiati
(Greece) 1.70.
Pole Vault
T Lakovidou (Greece) 4.00; 2, G Tsiligiri (Greece) 4.00; 3, A Kirianova (Russia)
4.00; 4, F Doltsini (Italy) 3.80; 5eq, A Fitidou (Cyprus)/E Prezerakou (Greece)
3.80; 7, A Skafida (Greece) 3.60.
Long Jump
T Kotova (Russia) 7.03 (0.0m/s); 2, N Xanthou (Greece) 6.67; 3, L Galkina (Russia) 6.65;
4, A Giordanova (Bulgaria) 6.54; 5, I Simagina (Russia) 6.50; 6, S Tiedtke
(Germany) 6.40; 7, A Askitopoulou (Greece) 5.69.
Triple Jump
Y Oleynikova (Russia) 14.37; 2, I Vasilyeva (Russia) 14.20; 3, A Ilyina (Russia)
13.84; 4, N Bazhenova (Russia) 13.80; 5, G Kafetzi (Greece) 13.77; 6, N
Safranova (Belarusia) 13.75; 7, H Lebedenko (Russia) 13.65; 8, H Koivula
(Finland) 13.62; 9, K Martinopoulou (Greece) 13.00; 10, I Dimitraki (Greece)
12.64.
