Larisa Kruglova (RUS) - celebrates Athens Olympic relay silver medal (© Getty Images)
Nearly 600 athletes from 75 regions are taking part in the Russian Indoor Championships which began yesterday in Volgograd.
Some time ago the name of a well-known sprinter Ekaterina Leshchova disappeared from the world lists. Leshchova was the 2000 European Indoor bronze medallist for 200m but after the 2001 season she took a break from the sport, and married Andrey Grigoriev, who was also known for his deeds in sprint, and she became a mother. Last year, Yekaterina Grigoryeva, 30, made a comeback, and yesterday her return to the highest echelons of the sport were cemented.
In women’s 60 metres, Grigoryeva ran 7.23 to leave behind Marya Bolikova – 7.25. Two of the members of Russia's Olympic silver 4x100m relay squad at the 2004 Olympics Larisa Kruglova and Olga Fyodorova were considered to be the favourites having clocked excellent results this season but were no match for Grigoryeva. Kruglova was third in 7.26, and Fyodorova was fourth in 7.28, in what overall was a quality dash final.
In men’s 60 metres, the winner was determined only with the help of a photo-finish. Andrey Yepishin retained the title with Aleksandr Smirnov clocking the same time as the winner – 6.71.
The struggle in men’s Shot Put, the very first event of the Championships was surprisingly tough. Three shot putters round after round swapped the lead but luck was ultimately on the side of Oleg Korotkov. The 24 year-old athlete whose name was known only to a handful of specialists started his sport career in Volgograd. But later changed his place of residence and now is living in Moscow. His winning result was 19.80m. Ivan Ushkov who won the outdoor national championships finished second, with 10cm less, and the 2004 Olympian Pavel Sofin took the bronze with 19.46m.
Another Olympia participant fared better in the women’s Shot Put. Olga Ryabinkina won without any strong challenge from her rivals with 18.92m. The silver medallist Oksana Chibisova with her 18.12 was only 1 cm ahead of the bronze medal winner Olga Ivanova.
Lyliya Shobukhova won the women’s 3000m clocking 8:50.50. But the other two medallists were the strangers at this long distance. For Yuliya Chizhenko (8.53.80) and Yelena Kanales (8.56.83) usually prefer 1500m to 3000m.
In men’s 3000m only an heroic effort at the finishing line brought the gold medal to Pavel Naumov who clocked 7:55.04. The 2004 Russian champion Pavel Shapovalov finished second in 7:56.60.
In general across all the events the younger generation got the opportunity to shine and to occupy medal podium spaces left vacant by a considerable group of Russia’s established athletic elite who for a variety of reasons in this post-Olympic winter are missing the indoor season.
Nickolai Dolgopolov and Rostislav Orlov for the IAAF
Results of Finals
Men
60 m
1. Andrey Yepishin – 6.71
2. Aleksandr Smirnov – 6.71
3. Aleksandr Ryabov – 6.75
3000 m
1. Pavel Naumov – 7.55.04
2. Pavel Shapovalov – 7.56.60
3. Sergei Ivanov – 8.00.14
Shot put
1. Oleg Korotkov – 19.80
2. Ivan Ushkov – 19.70
3. Pavel Sofyin – 19.46
Women
60 m
1. Yekaterina Grigoryeva – 7.23
2. Marya Bolikova – 7.25
3. Larisa Kruglova – 7.26
3000 m
1. Lylya Shobukhova – 8.50.50
2. Yuliya Chizhenko – 8.53.80
3. Yelena Kanales – 8.56.83
Shot Put
1. Olga Ryabinkina – 18.92
2. Svetlana Chibisova – 18.12
3. Olga Ivanova – 18.11
