Double win for Abi Oyepitan in Kalamata EAA Permit Meeting
Saturday 29 May 2004
29 May 2004 - The annual edition of the EAA Permit Meeting “Papaflessia” was held today in Kalamata, Greece, after a long and successful effort made by the meeting directors to overcome the financial problems the meeting faces this year. Despite the fact that the results weren’t of the high level of the past years, some performances should be particularly mentioned.
France’s Muriel Hurtis, the 2003 World champion with the 4X100m national team, was expected to be the star of the women’s sprint races, but she failed to fulfill the expectations. Hurtis withdrew from the 100m in order to focus on the 200m race, but she was defeated by Abi Oyepitan. The British athlete clocked 22.96, while Hurtis was second with 22.99. Oyepitan was also the winner of the 100m in 11.37.
A few minutes after the race, Hurtis admitted she was not pleased with her time, but confirmed she will be ready to claim a medal in the Athens Olympic Games, after her hard training this period.
Another star of the meeting, Canada’s Nicolas Makrozonaris won the 100m with 10.26, his best mark so far this season, and was very optimistic for the summer Olympics.
“If I’m able to run four races in two days around 10.10, I will be on the podium” he said.
Russia’s Igor Pavlov, World Pole Vault Indoor champion, had no difficulties in winning his event. Igor cleared 5.65m, while a 23-year Greek vaulter, Marios Evaggelou, improved his personal best by 15 centimetres to clear 5.55m and set the B standard for the Olympic Games. A pleasant surprise for the Greek audience tonight.
Cyprus’ Antri Sialou was the winner in the women’s 400m Hurdles with a national record of 55.09, the best mark in Europe for this season. The Greek champion, Fani Chalkia who was in the 400m final of the World Indoor Championships, withdrew from the race at the last moment. Sialou’s compatriot Marilia Gregoriou was 3rd in the 200m with 22.36, setting another national record for Cyprus.
Tatyana Novoselcheva is the new rising name of the women’s high jump. She set a personal best of 1.93m to dominate the competition, leaving Romania’s Monica Iagar at 1.91m. It’s worth mentioning that three days ago Novoselcheva had set her previous personal best, clearing 1.89m in Filothei Women Gala.
In the other events of the meeting Canada’s Shane Niemi was the fastest in the 400m with 46.52, followed by Slovenia’s Matija Sestak who clocked 46.57, while Kenya’s Kenneth Kimwetich dominated a slow 800m race in 1.48.33.
Konstantina Efentaki dominated the women’s 1500m with 4.09.13, leaving behind the favourite of the race Romania’s Mihaella Olaru who clocked 4.09.36. Italy’s Nicola Trentin won the long jump with 7.90m and Romania’s Stefan Vasilace cleared 2.24m to dominate the high jump. Finally Russia’s Oksana Yarigina won the javelin throw with 57.54m
Michalis Nikitaridis for the IAAF