Andrew Howe competing at the Italian Champs (© Giancarlo Colombo)
Padua, ItalyEuropean outdoor and indoor Long Jump champion Andrew Howe topped the bill at the Italian Championships held on a very hot weekend at the Stadio Euganeo in Padua (Fri 27 / Sat 28).
On Friday (27), Howe jumped a wind-assisted 8.40 (+2.4 m/s) on a runway which is known for producing very good results, showing signs of improvement after some ups and downs due to some major changes in his run-up. He produced a solid series of jumps (8.40 w. - foul - 8.10 w. - 8.21 - foul - 8.18). This year Howe has a seasonal legal best of 8.25 in Turin and won two major World Athletics Tour in Athens (8.17) and Rome (8.12).
“When I jumped 8.40 I felt relaxed,” said Howe. “Today I showed that I am near my best form. But I wanted to jump 8.60 especially because wind conditions were favourable. Winning in Athens and Rome gave me confidence. Although I did not produce big results there I won which is the main thing. I am looking for a final test before Osaka. I will be leaving to Japan on 12 August. I will stay at the University of Kobe until the beginning of the World Championships in Osaka.”
Howe ran the 200 metres for fun on the second day (28). He won the heat in 20.80 with a headwind of -1.1 m/s easing up in the final 50 metres. Later on the Saturday afternoon Howe scored the double by winning the final in 20.53 (-2.1 m/s) setting the fastest time in Italy in 2007.
“I ran the 200 metres for fun. I was not looking for a fast time. It was very hot and this made the race difficult. I am happy because I did not prepare for the 200 metres. In Osaka I cannot double 200 metres and long jump because the programme does not allow me that,” said Howe.
Di Martino, the winner as expected too
The women’s High Jump (27), was another highlight. Antonietta Di Martino cleared a winning 1.91 before three mistakes at 1.95 in her penultimate test before Osaka. This summer Di Martino has beaten the long-standing national record with 2.02 in Turin and improved to 2.03m in Milan.
“I began a period of hard training before Osaka,” said Di Martino. “For this reason I was not in my best form. Today it was a bit difficult because the other competitors began at 1.60 and I had to wait until 1.79 to enter the competition. My last competition will be in Stockholm on 7 August.”
“This season it has become difficult to get used to the expectations of many people and the many requests of interviews. I cannot say what can happen in Osaka. I have not the crystal ball. Vlasic is jumping very well but I don’t know she will keep this level until Osaka.”
A shot of excitement for the locals
Padua’s athletics fans were thrilled by their local heroine Chiara Rosa, the new Italian record holder (19.15), who did not disappoint winning the national title with 19.13, an effort she backed up with a second best performance of 19.09m. Rosa, who hails from Camposampiero near Padua, managed to beat her rival ad friend Assunta Legnante, the 2007 European Indoor champion who finished second with 18.78.
Schwazer’s win…Brugnetti drops out
Alex Schwazer, 2005 World championships bronze medallist in the 50km Race Walk, made a very good test for Osaka winning the 10km Italian title in 40:39.21 after an intense period of training in Livigno. For Schwazer it was the third Italian title this year after those won over the 20km and the 50km distances. Reigning 20km Olympic champion Ivano Brugnetti, who went into the lead in the first part of the race, felt a minor hamstring problem after training at altitude at Sestriere and dropped out but was not worried about the problem.
Schwazer commented - “I was not brilliant but I felt in good shape. I did not think about the win. My training camp in Livigno was one of the best in my career. I will complete my preparation in Saluzzo where Jefferson Perez is now training before Osaka. There is much to learn from him.”
Schwazer’s training partner Elisa Rigaudo tested her form with a gun-to-tape win in the women’s 5km Race Walk in 21:45.46, an Italian seasonal best.
“I wanted to test the same conditions I will face in one month in Osaka where it will be hot and humid. My conditions are good after three weeks of training at altitude in Livigno. I worked on quantity. Now I need to reach my best form for the World Championships”, said Rigaudo.
Brief highlights…
Elena Romagnolo, who broke the Italian women’s 3000m Steeplechase record with 9:41.38 in Milan in June, confirmed her recent good form winning the title in 9:51.93.
Former Olympic silver medallist Nicola Vizzoni notched up his sixteenth national title in the men’s Hammer Throw with 77.98 and will be the “captain” of the Italian team in Osaka, while World and European finalist Clarissa Claretti took the women’s event with 67.95m beating Silvia Salis (66.19) and italian record holder Ester Balassini (64.68).
Andrea Barberi set the fastest time in Italy this year with 45.79 winning his seventh consecutive italian title in the men’s 400 metres.
Fabrizio Donato returned from a period of injury to win the men’s Triple Jump with 16.97m, the Italian seasonal best, while Magdelin Martinez (14.57 in 2007) won the women’s final with 14.22m in her comeback competition from an injury.
Elisa Cusma, who ran 1:59.22 in Athens on 2 July, won easily the women’s 800 metres in 2:02.59.
A very strong headwind slowed most of sprint and high hurdles races. Koura Kaba Fantoni took the dash in a very close photo-finish race in 10.57 (-2.30 m/s) over Fabio Cerutti.
Filippo Campioli cleared a winning 2.26m beating Nicola Ciotti by two centimetres in the men’s High Jump.
Discus thrower Hannes Kirchler (PB of 65.01 in 2007), clinched the national title with 60.24m.
Pole vaulter Anna Giordano Bruno (two national records in 2007 - 4.35 and 4.40) won at 4.30 before failing three attempts at the italian record height of 4.45.
Diego Sampaolo for the IAAF
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