15.14 World lead by Tatyana Lebedeva in Athens (© Tsiklitiria organisers)
Athens, GreeceMore than 30,000 spectators turned out in Athens Olympic Stadium for the Tsiklitiria 2007, a Grand Prix status meet as part of the IAAF World Athletics Tour 2007, to witness several top world class performances and close competitions in most of the events.
Although the Greek stars did not compensate the crowd for the turnout, the interest was heightened by a world leading 15.14 leap by Tatyana Lebedeva in the Triple Jump, the season’s fastest women’s 3000m Steeplechase race by Gulnara Samitova-Galkina, Derrick Atkins’ 9.95 Bahamian national 100m record, and a meeting record by the incomparable Virgilius Alekna in the Discus Throw.
Lebedeva debuts with 15.14 world lead
Russian Tatyana Lebedeva opened her season in the Triple Jump demonstrating fantastic form as she produced a world leading 15.14m leap, while she had also jumps of 15.08m and 14.96m.
Cuban Yargelis Savigne, the world leader in the event until tonight, reached 14.72m in the first round, which proved to be enough for second place, as Greece’s Chrysopigi Devetzi, who verified her participation in the meeting at the last moment as a minor injury kept her far from training in the last week, had a best attempt of 14.57m to finish third.
Still not in her best form, Sudan’s Yamile Aldama was only eighth with a 14.24m best, while Russia’s Anna Pyatykh attempted only once at 13.88m.
Samitova clocks world leading 9:11.68
As expected the pace in the women’s 3000m Steeplechase was fast and the World record holder, Russia’s Gulnara Samitova-Galkina, maintained record-breaking pace for the first two kilometres. She faded slightly over the waning laps but nonetheless clocked 9:11.68, the fourth fastest performance ever. The 28-year-old now owns the five fastest performance in the history of the event.
Kenya’s Eunice Jepkorir was an impressive second with a national record 9:14.52, while Poland’s Wioletta Janowska was third, improving his season’s best to 9.28.97.
The men’s event produced the year’s second fastest performance. Ezekiel Kemboi, who captured the Olympic title on this track nearly three years ago, left behind a group of his compatriots with about 300 metres to go en route to an 8.05.50 victory. Two more Kenyans, Richard Matelong and Brimin Kipruto, followed in 8:06.66 and 8:06.98.
Soboleva, Cherkasova and Borzakovskiy lead Russian parade in the middle distances
Yelena Soboleva, the only sub-four minute 1500m runner this year, took a commanding victory in 3.58.3(h) - automatic timing failed for this race. Following the pace set by her compatriot Natalya Lavshuk, Soboleva began the final lap in the lead, with only Bahrain’s Maryam Yusuf Jamal and Yuliya Chizhenko briefly giving chase. Jamal held on for second (3:59.0) with Chizhenko (4:00.7) third.
Svetlana Cherkasova impressed again in the women’s 800m, clocking 1.59.03 and winning the event more easily than the time of the runner-up, 1:59.14 by Kenya’s Janeth Kipsogei, indicates.
In the men’s 800m, Olympic champion Yuriy Borzakovskiy again utilized his well-known tactic of running well behind the pack, leaving others to lead. Entering the straight some 15 metres back, he accelerated down the straight to win in 1:44.38, ahead of Kuwaiti Mohammad Al-Azemi (1:44.55) and Canadian record holder Gary Reed whose 1:44.66 was his first sub-1:45 of the season.
Bahamian 100m record for Atkins
From the semi-final heats of the men’s 100m, Derrick Atkins made his intentions very clear. Running in the first heat he clocked a comfortable 10.11 to achieve an easy qualification, without any pressure by the others.
In the final, the Bahamian ran smoothly to clock a national record 9.95, although even the final did not provide any significant pressure. Briton Marlon Devonish was a distant second in 10.09 defeating the European champion, Portugal’s Francis Obikwelu, who was third in 10.11.
The women’s race produced a mild surprise. When Jamaican Veronica Campbell abandoned the race after a few strides, the race was suddenly wide open. American Angela Williams grasped the opportunity to win in a season’s best 11.12, leaving Bahamian Debbie Ferguson-McKenzie second (11.15) and her compatriot Me’Lisa Barber (11.19). NB: Campbell’s management later confirmed that it was a slip of the blocks that forced the world leader to end her race, and not an injury.
American Brianna Glenn won the first race in 11.19 from Tahesia Harrigan (11.20).
The women’s 200m was among the evening’s most exciting battles. After a stride-for-stride battle down the homestretch, the Bahamas' Ferguson-McKenzie edged Frenchwoman Muriel Hurtis by the narrowest of margins, 22.49 to 22.50. After finishing sixth in the second section of 100m in 11.21, double European Champion Kim Geveart took the first section of the 200 in a season’s best 22.62.
Robles bounces back with 13.11 win
Cuba’s Dayron Robles took the lead from the very early stages of the 110m Hurdles and never lost it, despite the strong pressure exerted by the Americans David Payne and David Oliver. Robles crossed the line in a season’s best 13.11, followed by Oliver who clocked 13.14 and Payne who finished in 13.19. 20-year-old Greek Konstantinos Douvalidis clocked 13.54, setting a new national record. In the first race, American Eric Mitchum also produced a season’s best of 13.27 to dominate the race.
Jackson, Rawlinson take thrilling 400m Hurdles contests
Among the evening’s highlights was the men’s 400m Hurdles, producing one of the most breathtaking outcomes.
Reigning European champion Periklis Iakovakis was at or near the lead for more than half race, setting a very rapid pace from the outset. Still leading as the field came off the final bend, in hot pursuit was world leader James Carter. But over the final two barriers, Bershawn Jackson and Kenneth Ferguson attacked. With the Greek left forceless after his aggressive start and Carter beginning to falter, Jackson and Ferguson waged a stride-for-stride battle towards the finish.
Jackson, the World champion, was finally declared the winner in 48.15, just .01 seconds ahead of Ferguson, while Carter (48.25) managed to hold on to third place in front of the quick closing South Africans L.J Van Zyl and Alwyn Myburgh. Iakovakis finished sixth in front of Olympic champion Felix Sanchez and Greek Minas Alozidis who managed a personal best 49.19.
The disappointment for the Greeks was even bigger in the women’s event, where the expected participation of Olympic Champion Fani Chalkia was cancelled at the last minute due to an injury sustained during her warm-up. Another significant absence, that of World champion Yulia Pechonkina, left the race as a battle between 2003 World champion Jana Rawlinson, European champion Yevgenia Isakova and U.S. champion Tiffany-Ross Williams.
Although she slowed considerably on the way to the final hurdle, Rawlinson proved unbeatable as she made an easy win in 54.25. Williams and Isakova accelerated over the final metres but ran out room to finish second and third in 54.38 and 54.58 respectively.
In the first race, Romania’s Angela Morosanu smashed her personal best with a largely solo 54.40 to take the third position in the overall classification.
With 70.32 heave, Alekna extends win streak
Virgilijus Alekna, the reigning Olympic, World and European Champion in the Discus Throw, won his 32nd consecutive competition with a meeting record 70.43, a near season’s best and his third competition beyond 70m this season. A distant second was Spaniard Mario Pestano, who reached a national record 68.26m, leaving the world leader, Estonian Gerd Kanter, third (67.22).
Although the expected fight in the women’s Javelin Throw between the World and European record holders never materialised as Osleidis Menendez didn’t make it to Athens, the competition did not lack good performances.
Christina Obergföll, who extended the European record to 70.20 at the European Cup, won with a 67.78m best; she had another solid 67.70m throw as back-up. Czech Barbora Spotakova was the only woman to approach the German, reaching 66.08m, while Cuba’s Sonia Bisset threw a season’s best 64.65m to take third place in front of the European Champion Steffi Nerius (62.95).
Elsewhere...
The reigning European Long Jump champion, Italy’s Andrew Howe, jumped 8.17m to dominate the event. The winning streak of Luis Tsatoumas ended tonight, as the current world leader jumped only once, reaching 8.10m before ending the competition because of an injury. Osaka-bound Trevell Quinley of the US reached 8.13m and placed second.
Australia’s Steve Hooker won the Pole Vault with a 5.85m clearance and then went on to attempt 6.01m without success. Russian Igor Pavlov cleared 5.80m and American Brad Walker 5.75m to take second and third.
Bahraini Ali Belal Mansoor Ali dominated the men’s 1500m with a personal best 3:31.49, the second faster time of the season, overtaking Kenya’s Daniel Chipchirchir Komen(3:32.44) down the homestretch.
In the High Jump, American Jesse Williams won the competition with a 2.32m leap, followed by Andrey Tereshin, Kyriakos Ioannou and Pawel Fomenko who each managed 2.30.
Michalis Nikitaridis for the IAAF
with assistance from Bob Ramsak
Click here for complete results
