Obikwelu captures sprint double - European Champs Day 4
Thursday 10 August 2006
Gothenburg, Sweden - With a dominating performance in the 200 metres, Francis Obikwelu completed his double dash win to highlight a wet and chilly day four of the European Athletics Championships.
Already the clear leader midway through the bend, the 27-year-old Portuguese powered through the homestretch en route to a 20.01 national record to complete the first sprint double victory at these championships since Italy’s Pietro Mennea two wins in 1978.
Olga Kotlyarova sprints to 800m gold in Gothenburg
(Getty Images)
“I just really enjoyed myself and ran relaxed,” said Obikwelu, who finished second four years ago. “I just took it easy because I ws very tired after the semi-final. I didn’t expect to have to run that fast in the semi, but Johan [Wissman] really pushed me.”
The Swede, who began the championships with a 20.43 career best, clocked a 20.38 national record in the semi-finals, a performance he duplicated in the final to take a surprise silver, sending the vociferous crowd into a frenzy.
Briton Marlon Devonish took the bronze in 20.54, just 3/100s ahead of Belgian Kristof Beyens.
Yohan Deniz celebrates his gold in the Gothenburg 50K Walk
(Getty Images)
Thrilling homestretch victory for Kotlyarova
The women’s 800 was among the most eagerly-anticipated events of the week, and Olga Kotlyarova’s thrilling come-from-behind homestretch performance didn’t disasppoint.
With a brilliantly executed kick over the last 80 metres, Kotlyarova finally overtook her compatriot Svetlana Klyuka in the final 15 metres to win in 1:57.38, 1/10 of a second clear to claim her first major title over two laps.
Third Russian Svetlana Cherkasova forged into the lead 150 metres into the race, but was overtaken by Klyuka and Briton Rebecca Lyne just as the leaders passed the bell in 57.37. With the pack still quite bunched, Ukraine’s Tatyana Petlyuk began to move up steadily on the outside and eventually into second and within striking distance with 150 metres remaining. Klyuka though carried a formidable lead into the homestretch, but could do nothing more than watch as Kotlyarova moved ahead just a few strides before the line.
Lyne, capping her break-out season, went past Petlyuk as well in the final 10 metres to take the bronze in 1:58.45, 1/10 of a second ahead of the Ukrainian, to succeed Kelly Holmes as bronze medallist. Slovenia’s Brigita Langerholc was sixth in 1:59.30, the fastest performance for the Slovenian since finishing fourth at the 2000 Olympics.
Spain’s Mayte Martinez, the 2002 silver medallist, was never in the race and finished a distant seventh (2:00.10), beating only Cherkasova who, after running out of steam on the final bend, jogged the final 50 metres to the line.
With another Sub-50, Stombolova takes 400 crown
After running 49.69 yesterday, the fastest ever performance in a semi-final at the European Championships, Vanya Stambolova said she was surprised that she ran that fast. “It felt so relaxed and easy,” she said. “I have saved something for the final.” In the final, the Bulgarian needed it and used it to take the title in 49.85, her fifth sub-50 clocking of the season.
“I had no real tactic,” said the 22-year-old, whose notable season has included a 49.64 national record on the flat and 54.55 over the full-lap hurdles. “Only to run fast.”
Ilona Usovich got out the fastest, but was soon run down by Russian Olga Zaytseva whose 49.49 PB from earlier this season ranked her the xx fastest in the world. Zaytseva carried a clear lead to the top of the homestraight, but Stambolova was gaining steadily until she finally pulled ahead with about 50 metres to go. But just to the inside of her, another sub-50 Russian, Tatyana Veshkurova began to make up ground just as the Bulgarian began to slow, but in the end ran out of room and finished second in 50.15. Zaytseva was third (50.28) to finish a Russian 1-3, with Stambolova’s teammate Mariyana Dimitrova reaching the line fourth with a personal best 50.64. Usovich, who faded out of contention over the final turn, nonetheless lowered her own national record for Belarus to 50.69, finishing fifth.
Iakovakis powers to 400m Hurdles title
Periklis Iakovakis lived up to his favourite’s role in the 400m Hurdles after a commanding 48.46 victory, to claim the first-ever win for Greece in the event, and the first medal since Christos Manticas’ bronze at the first edition of the championships in 1934.
With a clear lead by the second hurdle, the 27-year-old simply added to it as he powered down the backstretch. Naman Keita of France, the Olympic bronze medallist, made up some ground in the outside lane, but as he was running out of steam, it was Pole Marek Plawgo’s turn to make a challenge. Considerably narrowing the gap, the 25-year-old nearly made a race out of it with his furious late race charge, but still came up well short as he reached the line in 48.71. With the wind fully out of the Frenchman’s sails, Briton Rhys Williams blew by to edge him by a scant 1/100 of a second in 49.12 to take the bronze.
“I came here as the favourite, I was the best and I proved today I am the best,” said Iakovakis. After relay duty on Saturday, the Greek will race next in both Zurich and Monaco.
Surprise win for Pishchalnikova in Discus Throw
The evening concluded with yet another surprise, this time by a little-known Russian. 21-year-old Darya Pishchalnikova, the 2001 European Youth champion, and 2001 World Youth silver medallist, made a big leap into the senior ranks after her 65.55 throw in the fourth round propelled her past favourite Franka Dietzsch to the top of the podium. The runner-up at this year’s European Cup, Pishchalnikova barely advanced from the qualifying round after finishing 11th.
“I wasn’t sure if I would win,” she said, “but you have to believe in yourself.”
Dietzsch, this year’s world leader who has thrown beyond 65 metres in each of her last seven outings, couldn’t reach that mark today, and had to settle for silver (64.35), while Romania’s Nicoleta Grasu (63.58) took the bronze.
Diniz overcomes downpour in 50 Km walk
While a downpour, thunder and lightning postponed the latter portion of the morning session, the walkers contesting the 50 Km Race Walk weren’t given the same luxury. Defying the horrendous conditions, Yohan Diniz produced an exceptional performance as he splashing to a 3:41:39 win, a personal best by more than four minutes and a French national record.
“The thunderstorms may have destablised the others, but for me it was a welcome refreshment,” said the 28-year-old who victory was vindication of sorts after being disqualified at last year’s World Championships. A former student of oenology, Diniz added, “Today I will enjoy a good wine.”
Spaniard Jesus Angel Garcia was more than a minute back in 3:42:48 to finish second, while Yuriy Andronov of Russia took the bronze, reaching the finish in 3:43:26.
Sebrle in the driver’s seat
Despite pouring rain, subsequent delays and cooling temperatures, defending champion Roman Sebrle pieced together a string of solid performances to take a comfortable overnight lead in the decathlon. Highlighted by a 7.72m long jump and a 2.09 clearance in the High Jump, the 31-year-old Czech whose held the World record since 2001 tallied 4420 points, 161 ahead of Russian champion Aleksey Sysoyev. His expectations for tomorrow? “I’m just hoping for no rain,” he said.
Russians are also sitting in third and fourth place, Aleksandr Pogorelov with 4249 and Aleksey Drozdov with 4248 while five others have surpassed 4100 points.
Meanwhile, in qualifying action…
With two of the 21 entrants not starting and one not finishing, the semi-finals in the men’s 5000 eliminated just three runners, rendering the races as little more than a training session for Sunday’s final. Turkey’s Halil Akkas, an 8:22 steeplechaser, won the first heat in 13:48.79 after running down Dutchman Gert-Jan Liefers and Ireland’s Alistair Cragg. The second heat, won by Frenchman Khalid Zoubaa in 13:46.32, was marginally quicker, with all eight finishers moving on.
Germany’s Rene Herms was the most notable of those who failed to advance to the semi-finals of the 800 metres. Briton Michael Rimmer (1:47.10) and Florent Lacasse of France (1:47.22) were the fastest.
Yuliya Gushchina, a finalist in yesterday’s 100 final, was the fastest in the opening round of the 200 (22.69), in an otherwise uneventful round. 100 metre champion Kim Gevaert, who hopes to join Obikwelu, moved on easily as well.
With a modest 13.30 enough to move on to Friday afternoon’s semi-finals, no surprises emerged in the first round of the women’s 100m hurdles. Swede Susanna Kallur, after a pair of Golden League wins last month the favourite here, led all qualifiers with a comfortable 12.70 performance. Germany’s Kirsten Bolm (12.83) and Kallur’s twin sister Jenny (12.92) were the next fastest, with three others dipping under 13 seconds, including defending champion Glory Alozie of France.
Alesia Turava (9:37.01) led all qualifiers in the women’s steeplechase, with three others – Wioletta Janowska, Veerle Dejaeghere, and Yelena Sidorchenkova – dipping under 9:40. Ida Nilsson With her 9:40.31 in the second heat, Ida Nilsson treated the appreciative morning session crowd to a Swedish national record. National records were a consolation for non-qualifiers Elena Romagnolo (9:52.38) of Italy and Greek Irini Kokkinariou (9:53.07) of Greece.
Not surprisingly, Christian Olsson lead all qualifiers in the Triple Jump, as the Swedish Olympic champion sail 17.51 on his first try, keeping the formalities brief. Seven others bettered 17 metres, with 16.74 the cut-off.
When the heavy early afternoon rains caused a long delay in the end of Pole Vault qualifying, organizers decided to allow the morning’s top 20 jumpers into Sunday’s final.
Gerd Kanter led qualifying in the Discus Throw with a third round 66.71 throw, followed by defending silver medallist Virgilijus Alekna (64.53) and Pole Piotr Malachowski.All 12 qualifiers threw beyond 60 metres.
Day five includes finals in the women’s High Jump, 100m Hurdles and 200 metres, and the men’s steeplechase, Hammer Throw and Decathlon.
Bob Ramsak for the IAAF
