News07 Sep 2008


Robles clocks 12.95sec meet record in Slovakia

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Dayron Robles running to 12.95sec in Dubinca, Slovakia (© c)

Dubinca, SlovakiaThe last running event provided the expected highlight of 6th Athletics Bridge - EA Permit - in Dubnica today (7), a meeting in which 14 Olympic medallists were competing. There was a record capacity crowd of 5500 who watched the meeting on a nice summer day (30+ temperatures). In total meet records were set in 9 of the 15 events.

Dayron Robles, the Olympic winner and World record holder running in lane 6 in the men’s 110m Hurdles clocked a Slovak all-comers record and meet record of 12.95 sec (-1.7m/s wind).

Robles changed to lane 6 just before the start because in the outside lane the head-wind was expected not to be so strong. "It was great, an excellent atmosphere in such a small city (Dubnica has 26,000) but pity about the wind, I was thinking about the World record," said Robles, who next time competes in Zagreb on Tuesday (9).

Second was USA’s Ryan Wilson, far back with 13.68.

Holm makes his goodbyes

The emotional highlight was the appearance of Stefan Holm. The 2004 Olympic champion from Sweden won the High Jump competition with an excellent meet record of 2.32m (his 131st competition over 2.30) and was then driven around in a vintage car on his honorary lap as this was his penultimate international competition. The very last will be in Stuttgart and IAAF / VTB Bank World Athletics Final next weekend.

"I'm now very sentimental, I want to thank to the crowds for staying so long with me," said Holm because his event ended the last of the meeting. About his future, "I just want to live a normal life."

Holm beat Olympic silver medallist Germaine Mason (GBR) who cleared 2.30.

Wins for Harper and Kozmus 

Olympic women’s 100m Hurdles champion Dawn Harper clocked a meet record of 12.71 (-1.4), while Slovenian Olympic Hammer Throw winner Primoz Kozmus achieved a victory over a strong field with a 78.90m throw.

But Beijing Shot Put champion Tomasz Majewski of Poland in his first meet after winning in Beijing lost to USA’s Christian Cantwell who achieved a great series with 21.13m and 21.39 efforts. Majewski put all his six releases over 20.50, the best one being 20.86.

Nesta Carter, who was a relay gold medallist in Beijing, did not have much luck with the wind. In the mne's 100m he sprinted clear with 10.27 but into a -3.4 wall of wind.

Olympic silver holder Mariya Abakumova clearly dominated the women’s Javelin Throw with 62.12m and 62.03 both meet records.

Olympic finalist Markino Buckley clocked the stadium’s first ever sub-50 400m Hurdles run in 49.74. There were also new meet records from Saudi Arabia’s Mohamed Al-Salhi (with 1:46.75) at 800m, and Kenyan junior Daniel Salel (with 7:46.72) at 3000m.

Home star Lucia Klocova achieved a Slovak best and meet record at the arely run 600m distance with 1:26.96, and there was another home win and meet record for Dmitrij Valukevic 17.36m (-1,5) as he beat Olympic medallist Leevan Sands (17.01) in the men’s Triple Jump.

There was a great 400m duel between three Olympic finalists. The happy winner was Kaliese Spencer of Jamaica with a 51.24sec run over Russian Olympic relay silver medallist Tatyana Firova (51.38) and Rosemarie Whyte in fourth (52.26). Christine Amertil split up the Beijing final theme taking third in 52.25.

The women’s 100m winner was Stephanie Durst of USA, clocking 11.60 sec unfortunately against a strong wind (-2.8).

In the Pole Vault, Czech Olympic finalist Jan Kudlicka cleared 5.50m and tried unsuccessfully at a meet record of 5.66m.

Alfons Juck for the IAAF

Click here for RESULTS

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