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News01 May 2006


Olympic champion Halkia returns to action

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The National Clubs Championships traditionally open the outdoor season in Greece. This year, although the games were held under unfavorable weather conditions, there were some very good performances, while the return of the 400m Hurdles Olympic Champion Fani Halkia after 20 months of inactivity, became the main highlight of the championships.

Halkia won easily in 57.03, but most important is that she has fully recovered from the injury problems that sidelined her for more than a year-and-a-half.

“It’s too early for me to reach the peak of my form. I don’t pay much attention to this mark, this race was just a test and a chance to help my club. I am healthy and I feel very strong and ready to return,” Halkia said after her race.

The best performance of the championships was that of Olympic Triple Jump silver medallist Hrysopigi Devetzi, who opened the season dynamically with a jump of 14.64, the farthest leap in the world on the young season.. Devetzi jumped just twice in the Triple Jump, while she also took top honours in the Long Jump where she was the winner of her group with a 6.36 leap.

“I am very satisfied with this jump," said Devetzi. "I was waiting for a jump at around 14.40 for the beginning, but this one was much better. Her coach also expressed his satisfaction with his athlete’s technical improvement.

Periklis Iakovakis clocked 49.43 in his first 400m Hurdles race of this season, while 25-year-old Irene Kokinariou improved the national 3000m Steeplechase record, running 10.07.21.

Other notable early season performances included Luis Tsatoumas's win in the Long Jump (7.97m), the Olympic Javelin Throw finalist Savva Lika season debut of 57.58, young javelin thrower Panayota Touloumtzi, who set a U23 national record with a throw 0f 54.57, and also the young pole vaulter Stavros Kouroupakis who set a personal best at 5.40m.

Michalis Nikitaridis for the IAAF

Click here for more results from the Greek Clubs Championships

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