Lyukman Adams of Russia competes in the Men's Triple Jump qualification during day two - WIC Istanbul (© Getty Images)
Representatives from 46 regions took part in the Russian National team championships in Sochi over the weekend (26-27), competing in 34 events.
Though it was only the first important outdoor tournament for most Russian athletes two world-leading results were produced at the "Slava Mentreveli Stadium", named after the famous football player who was a native of Sochi.
Irina Davydova celebrated her birthday on Sunday as well as the fastest time in the world season in the 400m Hurdles with a 53.87 performance, a massive improvement on her previous best of 55.48.
Lyukman, or rather Luc, Adams soared 17.53m in the Triple Jump (wind +1.8) a significant improvement for the 23-year-old whose previous best outdoors was 17.17m. His leap was also an improvement on the 17.36m leap he produced to take World Indoor bronze in Istanbul last March.
There were also several European-leading results.
2011 World Championships silver medallist Olga Kucherenko leaped 7.03m to win the Long Jump. Unexpectedly the women’s 800m was dominated by Irina Maracheva who clocked 1:57.82. Julya Guzshina, an Olympic gold medallist in the 4 x100m Relay, moved up in distance and clocked a promising 50.26 in the 400m.
The winners of men’s and women’s 3000m Steeplechase races are not too well known in the world of athletics. But the results of Natalya Aristarkhova (9:31.93) and Dmitriy Balashov (8:30.03) are the fastest in by Europeans thus far this early season.
Anna Chicherova, the reigning World champion in the High Jump, cleared 1.97m and was then advised by coach Yevgeniy Zagorulko to stop.
Fine early season throwing in nearby Adler
The throwing competitions were held at another stadium in the Adler district of Sochi. In the women’s Shot Put Evgeniya Kolodko proved that she was in good early season form with a solid 20.22m effort. She was followed by Olesya Sviridova (19.72m) and Irina Tarasova (19.35m). The veteran Ivan Ushkov was victorious in Men’s Shot Put with a 21.00m best. Anton Luboslavskiy was second (20.16m) and Soslan Tzirikhov remained third (20.11m).
A "family victory" was achieved in the Discus Throw with Darya Pischalnikova (67.00m) winning the women’s title and her brother Bogdan (65.96m) the men’s.
In the women’s Hammer Anna Bulgakova competed mostly with Gulfiya Khanafeeva. Bulgakova’s effort at 73.01m brought her the laurels with Khanafeeva forced to settle for second at 72.85m. Kirill Ikonnokov won men’s Hammer with a 78.12m best.
Elsewhere
In the women’s Triple Jump the victory went to Yana Borodina who reached 14.41. Dmitriy Petrov leaped 7.90m to take the men’s Long Jump.
Svetlana Kireeva was the fastest at 5000m also clocking the best time in Europe, 15:08.36. Yegor Nickolaev won the men’s 5000m (13:35.33) as well as 1500m in 3:39.39. Yekaterina Gorbunova, who is not a celebrity yet, won the women’s 1500m in 4:09.16.
Vladimir Krasnov proved his strength in the men’s 400m with a 45.92 victory. Julya Kondakova won the women’s 100m Hurdles in 13.01 while Sergei Shubenkov got the men’s laurels in the 110m Hurdles clocking 13.41.
The women pole vaulters competed under a stream of rain. Julya Golubchikova, the most experienced in the field, won with 4.30m. On the men’s side Sergei Kucherianu and the Olympic silver medal winner Yevgeniy Lukianenko both cleared 5.65m. Since they produced identical scorecards, the duo had to keep competing to determine a winner. Lukianenko cleared 5.65m a second time to get the victory.
European High Jump champion Aleksandr Shustov cleared 2.27m to win his event.
The men’s sprint is not considered to be the most successful event among Russian runners. 10.46 turned out to be enough for Yevgeniy Koylyarov to gain the victory. Julya Katzura won Women’s 100m in 11.35. At the end of the second day Natalya Rusanova clocked 23.05 to win the 200m. Aleksandr Huppe won the men’s half lap in 20.99.
Nickolai Dolgopolov and Rostislav Orlov for the IAAF
Though it was only the first important outdoor tournament for most Russian athletes two world-leading results were produced at the "Slava Mentreveli Stadium", named after the famous football player who was a native of Sochi.
Irina Davydova celebrated her birthday on Sunday as well as the fastest time in the world season in the 400m Hurdles with a 53.87 performance, a massive improvement on her previous best of 55.48.
Lyukman, or rather Luc, Adams soared 17.53m in the Triple Jump (wind +1.8) a significant improvement for the 23-year-old whose previous best outdoors was 17.17m. His leap was also an improvement on the 17.36m leap he produced to take World Indoor bronze in Istanbul last March.
There were also several European-leading results.
2011 World Championships silver medallist Olga Kucherenko leaped 7.03m to win the Long Jump. Unexpectedly the women’s 800m was dominated by Irina Maracheva who clocked 1:57.82. Julya Guzshina, an Olympic gold medallist in the 4 x100m Relay, moved up in distance and clocked a promising 50.26 in the 400m.
The winners of men’s and women’s 3000m Steeplechase races are not too well known in the world of athletics. But the results of Natalya Aristarkhova (9:31.93) and Dmitriy Balashov (8:30.03) are the fastest in by Europeans thus far this early season.
Anna Chicherova, the reigning World champion in the High Jump, cleared 1.97m and was then advised by coach Yevgeniy Zagorulko to stop.
Fine early season throwing in nearby Adler
The throwing competitions were held at another stadium in the Adler district of Sochi. In the women’s Shot Put Evgeniya Kolodko proved that she was in good early season form with a solid 20.22m effort. She was followed by Olesya Sviridova (19.72m) and Irina Tarasova (19.35m). The veteran Ivan Ushkov was victorious in Men’s Shot Put with a 21.00m best. Anton Luboslavskiy was second (20.16m) and Soslan Tzirikhov remained third (20.11m).
A "family victory" was achieved in the Discus Throw with Darya Pischalnikova (67.00m) winning the women’s title and her brother Bogdan (65.96m) the men’s.
In the women’s Hammer Anna Bulgakova competed mostly with Gulfiya Khanafeeva. Bulgakova’s effort at 73.01m brought her the laurels with Khanafeeva forced to settle for second at 72.85m. Kirill Ikonnokov won men’s Hammer with a 78.12m best.
Elsewhere
In the women’s Triple Jump the victory went to Yana Borodina who reached 14.41. Dmitriy Petrov leaped 7.90m to take the men’s Long Jump.
Svetlana Kireeva was the fastest at 5000m also clocking the best time in Europe, 15:08.36. Yegor Nickolaev won the men’s 5000m (13:35.33) as well as 1500m in 3:39.39. Yekaterina Gorbunova, who is not a celebrity yet, won the women’s 1500m in 4:09.16.
Vladimir Krasnov proved his strength in the men’s 400m with a 45.92 victory. Julya Kondakova won the women’s 100m Hurdles in 13.01 while Sergei Shubenkov got the men’s laurels in the 110m Hurdles clocking 13.41.
The women pole vaulters competed under a stream of rain. Julya Golubchikova, the most experienced in the field, won with 4.30m. On the men’s side Sergei Kucherianu and the Olympic silver medal winner Yevgeniy Lukianenko both cleared 5.65m. Since they produced identical scorecards, the duo had to keep competing to determine a winner. Lukianenko cleared 5.65m a second time to get the victory.
European High Jump champion Aleksandr Shustov cleared 2.27m to win his event.
The men’s sprint is not considered to be the most successful event among Russian runners. 10.46 turned out to be enough for Yevgeniy Koylyarov to gain the victory. Julya Katzura won Women’s 100m in 11.35. At the end of the second day Natalya Rusanova clocked 23.05 to win the 200m. Aleksandr Huppe won the men’s half lap in 20.99.
Nickolai Dolgopolov and Rostislav Orlov for the IAAF
