Tatyana Tomashova of Russia wins the women's 1500m final (© Getty Images)
Linz, AustriaLast night, 15,500 spectators packed out Linz main Stadium for the Intersport Gugl-Meeting, the penultimate fixture of this summer’s series of IAAF Grand Prix competitions, a sell-out for the first time since 1988. In response there were some excellent performances, as the fields of competitors assembled were some of the best in recent years.
Thankfully, in a region of Europe which is currently being devastated by floods, it stopped raining just before the main programme started last night.
Meeting records
The only world leading season's mark came in the women’s 1000m, the last event, as double World 1500m champion Tatyana Tomashova from Russia achieved a very good 2:34.91 which was also a new meeting record.
The second meeting record of the evening was established in rarely run Two Miles race as a pack of Kenyans finished very close. The winner was Mike Kigen in 8:20.09, while the sixth placed local hero Gunther Weidlinger achieved a new national record of 8:21.88. The former one had stood to Dietmar Millonig 8:23.47 since 1984.
Fast sprints
Despite the weather being a little bit colder than usual for August both 100m sprints produced very good times.
Firstly, Chandra Sturrup won the women’s race in 11.01 and commented afterwards: "I want to get back to my shape as it was before Helsinki and this was a good step-forward. I wanted to run under 11 seconds but in the cold weather it was not possible.”
World championships fifth placed Jamaican Dwight Thomas won the men’s 100 metres in a new personal best of 10.00 and for some moments he was thinking he had achieved a 9.99 clocking. But then the judges rounded his time to exactly ten seconds. "I am a little bit disappointed, because sub-ten would have been nice. But the win is very important and I think I can attack the barrier in my next races, maybe already in Brussels.”
Phillips is hopeful for record in Monaco
World and Olympic Long Jump champion Dwight Phillips started his event in his usual great manner, with an excellent jump of 8.57m. But then he fouled the rest of his attempts. "I lost my motivation. There was no push from the others. But I am happy I got my revenge for the loss on Sunday in Sheffield. I think Miguel and myself have many good years to come with excellent jumps. I still hope for a new personal best, maybe in Monaco," explained Phillips.
Miguel Pate in response to Phillips could produce only 8.19m this time.
Foster beats Perry
The third individual World champion from Helsinki who was on show last night did not win. Michelle Perry did not get very good start in the women’s 100m Hurdles and even when trying with a fast finish she could not catch a smooth running Brigitte Foster-Hylton from Jamaica. Between them at the end there was just 0.05s (12.65 to 12.70).
"Actually more important than that I beat the World champion is the fact that I finally was able to win a race. That last time happened in Ostrava early June," said Foster.
Double Olympic medallist Terrence Trammell was also satisfied with his clear win and a very solid 13.24 in the men’s 110m Hurdles, considering the cold temperatures and the wet track.
5.80m for Lobinger
Traditionally a great show has been produced by the pole vaulters in Linz, and the same again occurred last night. The main actor in this play was German Tim Lobinger who was the only one to manage 5.80m on his second try, and then went on to deliver three good but ultimately unsuccessful attempts at 5.91m to the great cheers of the crowd. This was Lobinger’s fifth win in Linz.
Cantwell eyes World Athletics Final
US shot putter Christian Cantwell was the only one over 21 metres, a performance he produced with his first throw of 21.09m. He said afterwards: "I feel in great shape, I think when I return to Europe for the World Athletics Finals, I will be in the position to attack my best."
The Czech Republic produced two women’s throws winners. First the World Championships bronze medallist Vera Pospisilova-Cechlova, who was the only athlete who achieved more than 60 metres in the Discus (62.93). In Javelin this barrier was not achieved, but World Student Games winner Barbora Spotakova on her last throw overcame the leader Laverne Eve from the Bahamas by 3 centimetres.
Russian middle distance runner Yelena Zadorozhnaya was alone in the last two laps of the women’s 3000m attacking the meet record (8:45.12) but at the end failed by less than one second.
Also in danger was the meet record of Patrick Sang in the men’s 3000m Steeplechase (8:16.89 in 1998), but Wesley Kiprotich with 8:18.37 was the only one under 8:20, taking the usual Kenyan win, missing it by 1.48 seconds.
By an IAAF Correspondent
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