Hrisopiyí Devetzí in the women's triple jump final (© Getty Images)
Although the wind created problems for many athletes participating in the EAA Premium Meeting “Thessaloniki 2008”, some of the top athletes of the world provided brilliant performances.
A world season leading 15.22m Triple Jump by Chrysopigi Devetzi, a great although wind assisted 10.85 set by Veronica Campbell-Brown in the women’s 100m race, a windy 8.36m leap by Luis Tsatoumas, plus a 2.32m clearance by Stefan Holm were the outstanding marks of last night’s meeting (9).
The Olympic Meeting Thessaloniki is one of a select group of Area meetings at which points can be acquired by athletes to qualify for the IAAF / VTB Bank World Athletics Final, to be held on 13-14 September in Stuttgart, Germany.
Devetzi 15.22m, Savigne 15.15m
As expected, the women’s Triple Jump was of the highest level. The World champion Yargelis Savigne, the Olympic silver medallist Chrysopigi Devetzi, and the World Indoor Championships bronze medallist Marija Sestak put up convincing performances to indicate they will be among the medal contenders in Beijing.
Almost in every round the position of the athletes changed, but Devetzi managed to beat the Cuban World champion regaining the top spot in the world season’s list with a third round jump of 15.22m (+1.5m/s). Having also a 15.21m effort she seems to be in a perfect shape one month before the Olympics.
Savigne twice exceeded 15m herself having a best attempt of 15.12m (+1.5 m/s), and one more jump at 15.02m.
Slovenia’s Marija Sestak was third with 14.90m, assisted by the wind during that attempt (+2.9 m/s)
Holm leaps 2.32m
Before the meeting a High Jump competition over 2.30m was considered certain, taking into account the names of participating athletes. Finally, three jumpers had leaps over that height of bar, with the reigning Olympic champion Stefan Holm of Sweden the best with 2.32m.
Russia’s Yaroslav Rybakov was second with 2.30m, and another Swede Linus Thornblad returned to high heights also with a 2.30m clearance for third place on count-back. Cypriot Kyriakos Ioannou was fourth with 2.27m.
Campbell-Brown and Zakari are dash victors
Jamaica’s 2007 World 100m champion Veronica Campbell-Brown shone once more in Thessaloniki, winning the 100m for a second consecutive year. She clocked 10.85 (+2.6m/s) and was not seriously challenged by World Indoor 60m champion Angela Williams of USA who clocked 11.17, while Laverne Jones of the British Virgin Islands placed third with 11.26. Jones later went on to win the 200m (22.47 – 3.6m/s).
“It’s a pretty good time, I’m very happy. I feel welcome and always I have a good time when I am here” said Campbell-Brown who will only contest the 200m in Beijing, the distance at which she is defending OIympic champion, having lost out on a place in the 100m when finishing fourth in the national trials.
Former African 100m champion Aziz Zakari of Ghana and USA Trials bronze medallist Darvis Patton had a close competition in the men’s 100m race. Zakari won in 10.08 (+3.0 m/s), leaving Patton in second with 10.09, while Antigua’s Christian Brendan third with 10.10.
Zimbabwe’s Brian Dzingai won the 200m in 20.06 (+3.0m/s).
Halkia still way off top form
The fastest European 110m hurdler of this year Czech’s Petr Svoboda (13.29 – 4 July) won a fast race in 13.32 (+2.4m/s) beating Serhiy Demydyuk from Ukraine (13.38). One of the favourites, Jamaican Maurice Wignall hit the third hurdle colliding with Greek champion Konstantinos Douvalidis, taking both out of the race.
Another Czech athlete produced a rather unexpected win in the women’s 400m Hurdles. Suzana Hejnova clocked 56.22 to win the race just on the finishing line from the American Latosha Wallace who also clocked the same time. The favourite of the event Christina Spence was 4th with 56.97, while Greece's Fani Halkia, the reigning Olympic Champion finished in fifth place with 57.57 and is still having serious technical problems during most of the race.
Tsatoumas wins with 8.36m
Luis Tsatoumas won one more meeting this season, this time with 8.36m, although this performance was assisted by the wind (+2.8m/s). Tsatoumas also long jumped 8.10m. Australian Fabrice Lapierre was second with 8.06m (+1.5m/s), while another Greek Georgios Tsakonas exceeded 8m to take third position with 8.04m (+2.9m/s)
“I have two more meetings in July, the first one the Athens Grand Prix next week and probably one more in Paris. Just then I’m leaving for Beijing to finish my preparations. I feel in good shape,” said Tsatoumas.
Elsewhere…
In the other events, Ukraine’s Natalyia Semenova was the winner of the women's Discus Throw with 63.06m, followed by Anna Soderberg of Sweden (62.19).
South African Justine Robbeson dominated the women’s Javelin Throw with 62.95m, while Ukraine’s Zoya Nesterenko set the best 800m performance with a 2:02.48 run.
Michalis Nikitaridis for the IAAF
