Nadzeya Ostapchuk (BLR) at the 2004 Olympic Games (© Getty Images)
At the Belarussian Indoor championships (22-23 Feb) sponsored by the newspaper «Sportivnaya Panorama» which took place in the "Olympian" sport centre in Mogilev, was marked by two national records and the best result of the world indoor season in the women's Shot Put.
National records were established by Elena Ginko in Race Walking, where she did 43:54.63 for 10,000m, and by Iryna Bakhanouskaya who ran the 2000m Steeplechase in 6:28.22. The leader of the world indoor season Nadzeya Ostaphuk in the fourth round pushed the Shot out to 20.35m, so improving a half a metre on her current season best.
Ginko’s record in the Race Walk which took place on the first day of the champs beat her previous best set in 2006 (44:07.43). The 31-year-old walker is trained by Boris Drozdov.
Irina Bahanovskaya, 23, followed Ginko’s example, and with young Sviatlana Kudzelich providing a good pace she was able to sprint off that foundation to the new national record. Her instructor is Vasily Dubojsky from Brest who is full of optimism for her regarding this summer and the Olympic Games in Beijing. One more of Dubojsky’s pupils Siarhei Berdnik, established a new personal best for the men's indoor 3000m Steeplechase, leading from the beginning and to the end to clock 8:45.39. His previous best was the 8:48.27 he ran at these champs in 2007.
In the Shot Put, Ostapchuk’s implement flew twice over 20m, in the second round (20.23m) and the winning fourth (20.35m).
“I haven’t put big aims before myself,” confirmed Ostapchuk, “it was necessary to get tournament practice. I’ve only just reduced my impressive training volumes, therefore I felt some weariness. I’m not satisfied very much with push technique: not enough speed, there was no ease, that’s why my puts basically relied on strength. I’m not going to take part in any more competitions I will have a rest and prepare for the World Indoor championships.”
Andrei Mikhnevich did not take part in the men’s competition, which left Osaka finalist Yury Bialou and the winner of the 7th European Cup Winter Throwing Dzmitry Hancharuk to fight it out. Coming into the last round Bialou led with 19.53m (second round) to Hancharuk’s 19.22m (fifth round). The leader’s last put went out to 19.72m, while his rival's better his best to 19.45m.
Olympic 100m champion Yuliya Nesterenko and her trainer and husband Dmitry looked extraordinary happy with themselves. In the semi-final of the women's 60m she came second to Aksana Drahun, 7.18 to 7.20 but in the final the two women both ran 7.20 with the Olympic champion being given the win on the photo-finish.
“I am very happy, that after the treatment I could rise again a competitive tone,” said Nesterenko. “Unlike former years nowadays I have a better start now…I will continue my preparation for the summer season.”
A runner from Brest, Maksim Lynsha took the men’s 60m Hurdles beating Andrei Shalonka… 7.64 secs to Shalonka’s silver – 8.01. In the women’s race Yauhenia Valadzko from Minsk, won in 8.11 sec.
Ilona Usovich won the 400m in 51.80 secs. Her sister Sviatlana Usovich got silver – 52.52, Anna Kozak was third, 5317. All three plus Iryna Khliustava will compete in the Relay in Valencia. Hanna Tashpulatava from Brest (54.26) is the reserve.
Winter Throws
The Winter Throwing Championship of Belarus was held in Brest, 14 – 16 February, and was marked by high results. Dzmitry Shako from Novopolotsk threw the Hammer to on 78.12m, second place was Andrei Varantsou from Mogilev (76.49m), while 20-year-old Yury Shayunou was third (74.78). Valeriy Sviatokha from Grodno, was fourth (74.24).
The winter women’s champion was Darya Pchelnik from Grodno, she threw 70.33m. Volha Tsander was second (68.91).
Mikhail Dubitski for the IAAF
