Hicham El Guerrouj dominates Zurich's 1500m (© Getty Images)
Hicham El Guerrouj firmly quashed any doubts about his fitness at the Weltklasse - IAAF Golden League - meeting in the Stadion Letzigrund tonight.
The worthy other contestants for the headlines tonight which kept a characterisically noisy but appreciative audience entertained was a women's High Jump of the highest quality, another brilliant run by Süreyya Ayhan, and a marvellous European circuit return for Ana Guevara.
Mutola stays on track for US$ 1 Million Jackpot
The women’s 800m might not have been the race of the evening, and the times recorded were certainly nothing special, yet there is no denying that Maria Mutola has a third World outdoor gold and the US$ 1 Million Golden League Jackpot firmly in her sights, after she controlled tonight’s race with ease.
Run it slow, run it fast, attack her with 300m to go, attack her with 200m to go, whatever her opponents do there seems little that will unnerve the reigning World and Olympic 800m champion from Mozambique. Mutola - first 1:59.93, Stephanie Graf - second 2:00.52, and third Claudia Gesell - 2:01.03.
Back to his best - El Guerrouj
Rumours abounded in the last week after Hicham El Guerrouj withdrawal from the men’s 1500m in London (8 August) that the World record holder was suffering from a back injury. Well, if the Moroccan’s 3:29.13 world lead winning performance is any example of someone with a bad back, this writer would be pleased to exchange vertebrae with El Guerrouj any day!
Looking for an unprecedented fourth World 1500m title in Paris this month, and perhaps even a 5000m title too, El Guerrouj was running as free and easy as any athlete can when he sustains a sub 3:30 pace for the distance.
Never in trouble, always calm and collected, El Guerrouj won from Kenya’s Bernard Lagat, who ran a season’s best of 3:30.55 for second. The remarkable French find, Fouad Chouki, bettered Mehdi Baala’s new French national record of 3:30.97 to 3:30.83 to take third place. Chouki, whose previous best was 3:33.05 behind Baala’s record run in Paris on 4 July, is in the French team for the Worlds, along with the former national record holder who was running 800m tonight (4th 1:44.46).
Alex Kipchirchir in fourth ran a PB of 3:32.35.
Cloete - brilliant consistency
Hestrie Cloete of South Africa once more performed with a consistent aplomb which the rest of the world’s jumpers, while sailing high have yet to master this season. The World champion produced a similar score card to Berlin last Sunday (10 Aug) with just one minor stammer at 2.01m, which she cleared on her second attempt. Previous to that her heights had all been taken first time, as was the case with her eventual 2.03m winning arch over the bar.
Such a performance was too much for her three main opponents, Ukraine’s Viktoriya Palamar (2=), Blanca Vlasic of Croatia (2=), and USA’s Amy Acuff (3rd), who all set personal bests (PBs) at 2.01m. Vlasic’s clearance was also a national record.
This was the first competition in history in which four women had successfully cleared 2 metres, let alone 2.01, and accordingly very much justified it’s top billing in the infield tonight.
Ayhan - untouchable
Similar to Mutola in the 800 metres, no one looks like catching the 24 year-old Turkish 1500m sensation Sureyya Ayhan for a long time to come, on the basis of her carefully executed demolition of the field tonight. It’s hard to find words to describe Ayhan’s confidence as she strode behind the pace maker, through 400m in 1:00.35, 800m in 2:05.92, and then 1200m in 3:11.54. By that point Ayhan was already assured of victory having passed the ‘rabbit’ - Russia’s Yulia Kosenkova - after approximately two and half laps and passing the bell with 2:57 on the clock.
Ayhan crossed the finish in 3:55.60, a national record and of course a world season's lead which improved on her own mark of 3:59.58 in Berlin. Behind her there were a host of PBs too, for Russian Yekaterina Rozenburg (4:00.07) and Tatyana Tomashova (4:00.91) and Hayley Tullet of Britain (4:01.18) in 2nd, 3rd and 4th places. Ukraine's Nelya Neporadna in 7th with 4:04.64 also set a PB.
If what Europe witnessed in Munich and the rest of the world watched with awe in Madrid last summer is anything to go by, there is plenty of magic left in the legs of the European championships and World Cup winner from last summer. Her time tonight makes Ayhan the ninth fastest runner of all time in a list, which contains four Chinese runners from their big years of 1993 and 1997.
Szabo makes brave solo run
Ayhan is managed by Jos Hermens, and an even more famous charge of his, the Olympic 5000m and World 1500m champion Gabriela Szabo made a brave bid to improve her own European 3000m record of 8:21.42, which she had set in Monaco last year. In the end her attempt fell way short but that should take nothing away from her determination, which with three and a half laps to go, left her with a solo run for home.
Szabo hit the bell in 7:25, and crossed the finish in a world leading 8:33.95 but those stats say nothing really about the manner of her win in which she took apart her opponents.
A group of three led by Australia’s Benita Johnson, also containing Ireland’s Sonia O’Sullivan and Viola Kibiwot of Kenya, were eight seconds adrift of the Romanian ace as they followed her into the bell lap. While they closed a little on the run-in to the line, Szabo was always a class apart. O’Sullivan can be very pleased with her second place return to form (8:37.55), while Kibiwot took a PB in fourth (8:40.14), though she was beaten for third by Germany’s Irina Mikitenko (8:39.29).
For Cherono, read 'Saif Saaeed Shaheen'
The newest name in the world of international steeplechasing Saif Saaeed Shaheen of Qatar began his career over the barriers with a 'neck and neck' battle with Kenya’s Ezekiel Kemboi, which established a new world lead of 8:02.48. Of course, while the time had improved, the world leader had in fact not changed at all as the Qatari was in reality the newly nationally switched former Kenyan Stephen Cherono, who already led the world with a 8:04.75 clocking in Stockholm (5 Aug).
Under his new national colours, well in fact he was wearing his usual yellow vest, Saaeed Shaheen’s time established a new Area record, his first gift to the Gulf state which is paying him a stipend of US$ 1000 per month for the rest of his life.
In second so nearly defending Kenya’s honour in this their traditional parade event came Kemboi in a PB of 8:02.49. These two protagonists will meet again in Paris to do battle for national and personal honours in the Worlds.
Kipketer makes season's best but loses to South Africans
Making a suicidal 49.86 clocking at 400 metres, the pace maker in the men's 800m David Kiptoo had run the legs out of the race as it entered the final lap. The final results of a 1:44.12 win for South Africa’s Mbulaeni Mulaudzi, with compatriot Hezekiel Sepeng in second, in 1:44.26, are testimony to this fact.
Leading off the bend into the final 100m was World record holder Wilson Kipketer of Denmark, like Cherono another famous Kenyan to have changed his nationality, now some seven years ago. Kipketer looked as if he would take the win with even 50 metres to go but he was caught by a fiercely fought South African duel to the line, and finished third in a season’s best of 1:44.36.
Guevara sets new world lead
Where the men’s 800m failed to produce times of note, the earlier women’s 400m was cooking this evening with newly crowned Pan Am champion Ana Guevara of Mexico, making her first European outing of the year in impressive fashionm, with a 49.11 season’s world lead. That time improved her own 49.34 which she had established in Eugene back in May.
This race was all about the Mexican stamping her authority on the world of one lap sprinting, and re-affirming to any doubters in Europe that not even a consistently sub 50 second athlete like World and Olympic silver medallist Lorraine Fenton (JAM) should be seen as a threat to her World title ambitions in Paris.
World champion Amy Mbacke Thiam of Senegal continues to improve, running a season’s best of 50.14 in second place, while Bahamas’ Tonique Williams was impressive as she audaciously challenged the Mexican in the finishing straight – third 50.24 PB.
Sanchez has hard fight
Felix Sanchez, recently crowned at the Pan Ams like Guevara, had to fight hard for his win in the men’s 400m Hurdles. Ahead on the stagger with 200m to go, his lead coming into the final 100m was more slender than we have come to expect in the last two years. Even so, the reigning World champion crossed the line first in 47.82, drawing Greece’s Periklis Iakovakis – second at this summer’s European U23 championships – to a national record in second (48.25). Joey Woody of the USA was third in 48.46.
Gaines equals Sturrup's world season's lead
In the women’s dash, USA’s Chryste Gaines who failed to qualify for the USA squad for Paris, produced a world lead equalling 10.89 to beat Chandra Sturrup, who had run that time earlier this season. Sturrup was second in 10.97, with Christine Arron, the European record holder, third, in a season’s best of 11.05.
Devers dominant
The women’s sprint hurdles pitched world leader Brigitte Foster of Jamaica against three time World champion Gail Devers, and if this was a dress rehearsal for Paris then the Jamaican would have taken little heart, as the American dominated from gun to tape. Devers was first in 12.50, followed by Foster (12.58) and USA’s Miesha McKelvy third in 12.69.
Sub 10 seconds in 100m
A sub 10 second 100 metres is special in any meet but for Mickey Grimes to run 9.99 PB in the “B“ race just emphasised why Zurich has such a well deserved reputation for quality. Following the American through the line were compatriots Darvis Patton (10.00, also a PB) and Shawn Crawford (10.07, a season’s best).
Therefore there was a lot of expectation about the possible outcome of the “A”, and these hopes were completely fulfilled as Justin Gatlin, the World Indoor 60m champion - who like Gaines the winner of the women’s race had not qualified for the USA team for Paris - got a brilliant start and was never headed, finishing in 9.97 seconds, a new huge new PB (previous 10.08).
Gatlin though was not the outright winner, as he had to share the honour with his compatriot John Capel who, pushed in a close struggle with St Kitts and Nevis’ Kim Collins, closed on Gatlin as the line was reached. A well executed but identical dip from both Americans shared the win, with Capel also credited with 9.97 PB. Collins was only a little adrift in 9.99, in a season’s best (SB).
The men’s High Hurdles which was robbed of World champion Allen Johnson, who was resting as a precaution after sustaining a foot injury this week produced a one-two finish for the two men who beat him in Berlin last Sunday. Duane Ross who was second on that occasion, took the victory today with a lunge at the line in 13.22 from Latvian Stanislavs Olijars, the Berlin victor, who recorded the same time for second. USA’s Chris Phillips was third – 13.39.
Possibly still stunned from the shock of Yuliya Pechonkina’s new World record last weekend at the Russian championships (52.34), the women’s 400m Hurdles was off its previously high season’s level. Tonight’s close run into the finish was won by Sandra Glover of the USA in 54.50, with double European champion Ionela Tirlea tying up after a fast first 300 metres (second 54.60). Commonwealth champion Jana Pittman also struggling in the final 30 metres was third (54.63).
Fazekas remains ascendent
Near to but not over the 70 metres mark, which only he has so far breeched this summer (70.78 season’s best and world lead, 10 May) European Discus champion Robert Fazekas of Hungary won today’s contest with a second round 69.14m.
Fazekas’ throw had come in immediate response to the opening round 68.95m lead of Olympic champion Virgilijus Alekna of Lithuania. While none of his remaining marks came near 69 metres let alone 70, there is no doubting that the Hungarian held the physical as well as mental ascendancy over the Discus field, which also included five time World champion Lars Riedel, Germany’s ‘Mr. Discus’.
Zelezny on top once more
After throwing a winning 87.95m in the men’s Javelin, it would seem inconceivable that the triple World and Olympic champion Jan Zelezny (CZE) will now not go to the World Championships. Tonight he beat both Germany’s Boris Henry (86.98m) and season’s world leader Sergey Makarov of Russia (86.40m), who will be among his principal opponents should he decide to compete in Paris.
The women’s Triple Jump brought the second successive defeat for Cuba’s Yamile Aldama, the current season’s lead (15.29m). Unlike in Berlin when she finished fourth, today it was a second place performance in 14.66 behind African record holder Francoise Etone Mbango, who leapt 14.87 with her third attempt.
The men’s event was even more lack lustre with the win going to Romania’s Marian Oprea with a 17.24m performance.
Okkert Brits of South Africa produced a season’s best of 5.80m in the men’s Pole Vault, enough to defeat American champion Jeff Hartwig on 5.70m, in a competition which never really came alive for the crowd despite the presence of the Olympic, World and European champions in the competition. Hartwig was joined on 5.70m by another four jumpers, with the positions 2 to 6 decided on count back.
5000m home straight battle
The evening’s entertainment came to an end with a scintillating four way battle down the final 100 metres of the men’s 5000m. Four Kenyans were the participants, though surprisingly their names did not include that of Abraham Chebii (6th 13:04.39), who has been the scourge of the Ethiopians.
Until 30 metres to go, it was Sammy Kipketer who looked like he had the win, but within a few metres the pairing of Nicholas Kemboi and John Kibowen passed by, and the latter just got the edge. The first four were Kibowen (13:01.01), Kemboi (13:01.14 PB), Kipketer (13:01.44), and Leonard Maina Mucheru in fourth (13:01.76 PB).
In seventh was former Kenyan Chepkirui, who like Cherono has switched to Qatar. He established a new Area and national record for his new country under the name of Abdullah Ahmed Hassan (13:04.65). Just behind in eighth was Eritrea’s Zersenay Tadesse who set a national record of 13:09.27.
Pre-Programme delights
The evening had got underway to a world class start over an hour before the main international programme commenced with a sensational new personal best of 44.86 for newly crowned European U23 champion Leslie Djhone in the men’s U23 400m race. Djhone, was added to the French team for Paris after his win at the Europeans, where he established his previous PB – 45.04.
More of the pre-programme also delighted, with a tight “B” men’s 400m Hurdles being won by Czech Jiri Muzik in a superb 48.87, from South Africa’s Ockert Cilliers (48.88) and Russia’s Boris Gorban, third (48.93).
The “B” men’s 800m also brought more class with Olympic bronze medallist Djabir Said Guerni (1:44.60) leading another two men under 1:45 – Florent Lacasse of France (1:44.74), and Kenyan Michael Rotich (1:44.76).
The women’s “B” 100m Hurdles brought a race, which would have graced the headlines of many Grand Prix meetings, as Canada’s Perdita Felicien won in a 12.67 PB from the Jamaicans Lacena Golding Clarke (12.72) and Vonette Dixon (12.72), both also PBs for second and third respectively. France’s Patricia Girard was fourth in a season’s best of 12.92.
IAAF
