Russian long jumper Olga Kucherenko in Gothenburg (© Hasse Sjögren)
Carolina Klüft was the headliner at Friday (12) evening’s Stadionfest Meeting in Königs Wusterhausen southeast of Berlin, as the former Olympic Heptathlon champion continues her Long Jump-only season.
On a clear but chilly day, the Swedish star was definitely below her usual form, finishing fifth at 6.07m. The 1.3 headwind on her best jump of the day told much of the story, as the entire field had to battle the elements throughout the competition.
The only jumper to find a solution was Russia’s Olga Kucherenko, who sailed a meet-record 6.71m on her first attempt, despite being buffeted by a 1.1 headwind. The current European indoor bronze medallist also added a 6.65m and 6.60m on a day when the next best jumper, Jana Veldáková of Slovakia, could muster only 6.27m.
Also finishing ahead of Klüft were Poland’s Malgorzata Trybanska with 6.20m and Siirka-Liisa Kivina of Estonia at 6.19m.
“No, it was not a good meet for me,” said Klüft afterwards, “but it told me some things I need to know.”
She continued, “After the competition in Göteborg [three days ago with a season-best 6.53m], I needed to know if I could jump in two competitions so close together. Tonight, I found out that I cannot in my present condition. I haven’t yet recovered from the last competition. I couldn’t attack the board like I wanted, and I felt the [old] injury in the left leg a bit tonight.”
Klüft spent the fall and winter periods recovering from a stress fracture, and only returned to full jumping training in May. “I missed a lot of training. I’m quite far away right now from what I need. I’m hoping to train some more and get into better shape for the World Championships. I have a lot of work to do, and I’m glad it’s not August now.”
The track events were highlighted by the world-leading 2:18.95 in the men’s 1000m by Dimitrijs Jurkevic of Latvia, the only non-German in the 13-runner field. The 22-year-old raced far in front of the field and won by more than six seconds ahead of the 2:25.05 of Moritz Höft of Germany.
In the meeting’s final event, the Men’s 3000m Steeplechase, Collins Kosgei has a similar winning margin with 8:31.14 ahead of his Kenyan countryman Patrick Langat (8:37.00).
Janina Goldfuss of Germany registered a PB 2:03.20 to win the Women’s 800m over Poland’s Agnieska Leszcynska (2:04.10) and Irina Krakoviak of Lithuania (2:04.38).
Angela Whyte of Canada had no challenger in her 13.00 victory in the women’s 100m Hurdles, with Joanna Kocielnik of Poland (13.39) and American Tiffany Johnson (13.43) next across the line. The men’s hurdles was won by Ty Akins in 13.43w, as he led an American sweep of the top three spots.
The vertical jumps were controlled by Polish athletes. Sylwester Bednarek saw his 2.20m stand up as the winner ahead of the 2.17 posted by Belgium’s Strijn Stroobants in the men’s High Jump. And in the Pole Vault, Adam Kolasa was the only competitor to clear 5.40m, as Andrej Poljanec of Slovenia took second on a countback among three jumpers with 5.30m bests.
The men’s and women’s Hammer Throw events were conducted concurrently at the start of the program, with Germany’s Markus Esser (76.71m) and Anita Wlodarczyk of Poland (72.39m) emerging as the two winners.
The men’s 200m found two runners dipping below 21 seconds in two separate sections. Germany’s Sebastian Ernst zipped the half lap in 20.86w before Michael Mathieu of Bahamas trumped him with a wind-legal 20.84. Germany-based Vida Anim of Ghana won the women’s event with 23.75.
Ed Gordon for the IAAF
Click here for complete results
On a clear but chilly day, the Swedish star was definitely below her usual form, finishing fifth at 6.07m. The 1.3 headwind on her best jump of the day told much of the story, as the entire field had to battle the elements throughout the competition.
The only jumper to find a solution was Russia’s Olga Kucherenko, who sailed a meet-record 6.71m on her first attempt, despite being buffeted by a 1.1 headwind. The current European indoor bronze medallist also added a 6.65m and 6.60m on a day when the next best jumper, Jana Veldáková of Slovakia, could muster only 6.27m.
Also finishing ahead of Klüft were Poland’s Malgorzata Trybanska with 6.20m and Siirka-Liisa Kivina of Estonia at 6.19m.
“No, it was not a good meet for me,” said Klüft afterwards, “but it told me some things I need to know.”
She continued, “After the competition in Göteborg [three days ago with a season-best 6.53m], I needed to know if I could jump in two competitions so close together. Tonight, I found out that I cannot in my present condition. I haven’t yet recovered from the last competition. I couldn’t attack the board like I wanted, and I felt the [old] injury in the left leg a bit tonight.”
Klüft spent the fall and winter periods recovering from a stress fracture, and only returned to full jumping training in May. “I missed a lot of training. I’m quite far away right now from what I need. I’m hoping to train some more and get into better shape for the World Championships. I have a lot of work to do, and I’m glad it’s not August now.”
The track events were highlighted by the world-leading 2:18.95 in the men’s 1000m by Dimitrijs Jurkevic of Latvia, the only non-German in the 13-runner field. The 22-year-old raced far in front of the field and won by more than six seconds ahead of the 2:25.05 of Moritz Höft of Germany.
In the meeting’s final event, the Men’s 3000m Steeplechase, Collins Kosgei has a similar winning margin with 8:31.14 ahead of his Kenyan countryman Patrick Langat (8:37.00).
Janina Goldfuss of Germany registered a PB 2:03.20 to win the Women’s 800m over Poland’s Agnieska Leszcynska (2:04.10) and Irina Krakoviak of Lithuania (2:04.38).
Angela Whyte of Canada had no challenger in her 13.00 victory in the women’s 100m Hurdles, with Joanna Kocielnik of Poland (13.39) and American Tiffany Johnson (13.43) next across the line. The men’s hurdles was won by Ty Akins in 13.43w, as he led an American sweep of the top three spots.
The vertical jumps were controlled by Polish athletes. Sylwester Bednarek saw his 2.20m stand up as the winner ahead of the 2.17 posted by Belgium’s Strijn Stroobants in the men’s High Jump. And in the Pole Vault, Adam Kolasa was the only competitor to clear 5.40m, as Andrej Poljanec of Slovenia took second on a countback among three jumpers with 5.30m bests.
The men’s and women’s Hammer Throw events were conducted concurrently at the start of the program, with Germany’s Markus Esser (76.71m) and Anita Wlodarczyk of Poland (72.39m) emerging as the two winners.
The men’s 200m found two runners dipping below 21 seconds in two separate sections. Germany’s Sebastian Ernst zipped the half lap in 20.86w before Michael Mathieu of Bahamas trumped him with a wind-legal 20.84. Germany-based Vida Anim of Ghana won the women’s event with 23.75.
Ed Gordon for the IAAF
Click here for complete results
