Marathon runner Zhou Chunxiu proved that she still has good speed in the last lap in today’s 10,000m final which was one of the highlights of the last day in the women's National Championships in Changsha, today.
The race was a duel between Zhou and Sun Yingjie, 2003 World Championships bronze medallist over this same distance, as the other runners were quickly dropped off the pace. The race was being run in a temperature of 30C and a fast race was never an option. Zhou outkicked Sun in the last lap finishing in 32:40.77 ahead of Sun's 32:43.20.
Sun, the World Half Marathon champion, has not been at her best during this season, but she has managed to put herself in good form for the major championships before. In 2003 and 2004 the situation was similar, but she was able to finish third in Paris 2003 and took the sixth place in the Olympics last summer in 10,000m. 18-year-old Zhu Yanmei finished third more than a minute behind Sun in 33:48.80.
Shock defeat to Huang Xiaoxiao by a junior
Huang Xiaoxiao, who reached the semi-finals in Athens Olympics last season, was shocked by 18-year-old Wang Xing in the 400m Hurdles final. Wang dipped to the line ahead of Huang to finish in a personal best of 55.39, easily the best mark by a junior this season and 8th junior all-time. Huang took the second place with 55.53 with Zhang Rongrong finishing third in 56.83. Wang Xing had a promising early season in 2004 as well, she set a personal best of 55.79 in April, but faded a bit later and did not take part in the World Junior Championships in Grosseto.
Qin Wangping completes double with 200m win
100m winner Qin Wangping completed an easy double with 23.38 season's best over the 200m distance. Chen Lisha jogged through the finish line in 23.63 to grab second place - she had earlier recorded a 22.94 personal best this season. Qin Wangping looks like a good candidate to repeat this double in the National Games. She will also have the advantage of competing in her native Jiangsu province in Nanjing.
Double for Liu Qing as well
19-year-old Liu Qing also won a double over 800/1500m in Changsha. The 800m she took relaxed after battling hard for the 1500m title a day earlier against Olympic champion Xing Huina. This time the other runners had no answer at all to Liu's final sprint, she took the 800m title in 2:04.91.
Jing Xuezhu get's another High Jump title
Last year's High Jump winner Jing Xuezhu jumped a 1.88m season's best to take her second straight national title. 16-year-old Zheng Xingyuan took second place with 1.84m in another field event competition which certainly did not attract all competitiors to give their best shot. This was partly because of the rain during the high competition, but also reflected the attitude which was seen in earlier competitions this week where only getting to the final was enough for many top names.
Huang Qiuyan eases to Triple Jump win
After excelling in yesterday's qualification, Huang Qiuyan only did what was needed for the win in the Triple Jump final. The 25-year-old number one Chinese jumper won with 14.15m before another favourite, Xie Limei who was second with 14.05m in the competition ruined a bit by rain as well.
Sun Taifeng best in Discus Throw
22-year-old Sun Taifeng won the Discus Throw final with 59.63m result. Sun, who earlier threw a 61.08m personal best this season, was closely challenged by 19-year-old Wang Yu, who recorded a personal best of 59.52m for second place. Ma Shuli was third with 59.06m and reigning national champion Huang Qun fourth with a season's best of 58.82m.
Mirko Jalava for the IAAF
Results
200m (+0.7): Qin Wangping 23.38; 2 Chen Lisha 23.63; 3 Ni Xiaoli 23.72.
800m: Liu Qing (86) 2:04.91; 2 Yang Wei 2:05.48; 3 Huang Jing (87) 2:05.60.
10,000m: Zhou Chunxiu 32:40.77; 2 Sun Yingjie 32:43.20; 3 Zhu Yanmei 33:48.80.
High jump: Jing Xuezhu 1.88; 2 Zheng Xingyuan 1.84.
Triple jump: Huang Qiuyan 14.15/0.0; 2 Xie Limei 14.05/0.0; 3 Wu Lingmei 13.95/0.0; 4 Zhang Hao 13.87/0.0; 5 Wu Xueli 13.85/0.0; 6 Qiu Huijing 13.60/0.0; 7 Wang Ying 13.57/0.0; 8 Lin Baohua 13.54/0.0; 9 Liu Yanan 13.40/+0.2.
Discus: Sun Taifeng 59.63; 2 Wang Yu 59.52; 3 Ma Shuli 59.06; 4 Huang Qun 58.82; 5 Ma Xuejun 57.44; 6 Li Qiumei 56.09; 7 Xu Shaoyang 55.69; 8 Cao Qi 55.48; 9 Tao Hongbo 54.81; 10 Wang Bin (87) 53.92; 11 Cao Liping 53.88; 12 Tan Jian (88) 53.64.
4x400m: Shandong 3:32.69; 2 Guangdong 3:35.80.
