Anna Chicherova in Paris World Championships (© Getty Images)
Moscow, RussiaThe names of Vladimir Diachkov and Nickolai Ozolin belong to the history of Russian - as well as international – athletics as they both won the USSR Championships a countless number of times and improved their national records. Ozolin was the first Russian who set a European record in the Pole Vault.
Following their successful careers they both turned to coaching and succeeded in this profession as well. Among their disciples are such world stars as Valeriy Brumel, Rjbert Shavlakadze, Leonid Scherbakov, Taisiya Chenchik, Oleg Fedoseev and many others…
But even when coaching world track and field champions, Diachkov and Ozolin knew how important a well-balanced preparation is for the younger generation. And that is why the Memorial is bearing their distinguished names.
16 countries are taking part in the International Memorial
Representatives of 16 countries came to Moscow to take part in the Diachkov and Ozolin Memorial. Most participants are young athletes who live and train at the training camp created under the guidance of the IAAF Regional Training Centre (RTC) in the Russian capital.
Only jumping events in the program
Vladimir Diachkov and Nickolai Ozolin were specialists in jumping events and that is why only jumping events were included in the program. Representatives of five countries shared the medals in the eight events.
Aleksandr Verutin (Belarus) won men’s High Jump with a clearance of 2.20 while the runner up was Yaroslav Gaevoi with 2.10. Stanislav Syachinov and Andrei Podurov (Uzbekistan) shared the third place at 2.05.
World season leader Anna Chicherova decided to take part in this jumping event and faced World junior champion Irina Kovalenko from Ukraine who had won a week ago the Grigorian Memorial. Both cleared 1.90 but Chicherova won on count-back. The bronze medal was granted to the 16-year-old Ekaterina Evseeva from Kazakhstan at 1.82.
Legendary pole vaulter Sergey Bubka was the guest of honour of the Memorial and it was the distinguished IOC member who presented the athletes with their medals and prizes.
In the women’s Pole Vault Antonina Miller (Russia) cleared 4.00m. Anastasiya Krupskaya, the daughter of the well known pole vaulter and former European champion Aleksandr Krupskiy, took second place with 3.60. Another representative from Russia Anna Bokovikova cleared 3.40 that turned out to be enough for third.
In the men’s Pole Vault Andrei Chemov cleared 5.40. Nickolai Prein was second with 5.00 and Aleksand Lobachev was third clearing 4.80.
The women’s Long Jump was dominated by Eseniya Volzhankina from Latvia who jumped 6.52. Silver went to Inna Ievleva (Russia) and bronze to 18-year-old Juliya Tarasova (Uzbekistan).
N’Diss Kaba Badji from Senegal was the outstanding winner in the men’s Long Jump with 7.87. Arsen Sarkisian (Armenia - 7.55) and Vladimir Yashin (Russia – 7.51) were far behind.
The women’s Triple Jump was won by 18-year-old Aleksandra Zelenina from Moldova with a best performance of 13.12. Ekaterina Kaukova, the daughter of the well known triple jumpers from Russia Andrei and Natalya Kaukov, was second with 12.84 and Diana Plumaki from Uzbekistan took third with 12.57.
In the men’s Triple Jump all places on the podium were taken by Russian athletes. Evgeniy Plotnir was the winner with 16.53; Vitaliy Moskalenko (16.34) and Evgeniy Ivanov (15.79) were left behind.
This weekend Moscow will host the Russian under-23 Championships. The guests from 16 countries will receive the hearty welcome at this competition where approximately 1600 participants are expected.
Nickolai Dolgopolov and Rostislav Orlov for the IAAF
