Marian Oprea of Romania during the Triple Jump qualification (© Getty Images)
29 July) concluded on Sunday in the Dinamo stadium in Bucharest, Romania.
The meeting was where the composition of the national team for the 11th IAAF World Championships in Athletics, Osaka, Japan (25 Aug to 2 Sep) was decided.
Oprea hopes for Osaka success
Marian Oprea, the 2005 World bronze medallist in the Triple Jump, seems to be recovering well after injury and is starting to get into top shape prior to Osaka. Oprea, 25, the Olympic Games silver medallist, achieved his season’s best in his series of 17.19, and another of his efforts was registered at 17.04m.
“I hope to jump the furthest in Osaka,” commented Oprea. “But I don’t want instantly to promise yet another medal.”
Suciu - the fastest
After running a 10.24 second personal best to take the 100m, three-time national champion Florin Suciu will be on the plane to Japan. The result was the second best all-time by a Romanian athlete. Only three hundredths of a second separated Suciu from breaking the national record by Daniel Cojocaru.
Ionela Tirlea: the more, the better
Known for her habit of winning in the maximum number of events, with little time for rest, Ionela Tirlea-Manolache, 31, the 2004 Olympic 400m Hurdles silver medallist didn’t change her policy last weekend.
The student of Liliana Nastase started her victory list winning the women’s 100m (11.56) and was second with her club in the 4x100 relay (49.36). She then took gold in the 400m Hurdles (56.10), being well ahead of the other athletes, and then, only an hour later she was the victor again in the 200m race (22.93). Angela Morosanu was the 2nd with 23.52.
But that was not the end. Tirlea-Manolache then took part in the 4x400m relay, taking the victory with the other members of the Dinamo team. “I’m not tired even yet. I still can run,” said the former World Indoor 200m gold medallist, who among her many other career plaudits has twice been European 400m Hurdles champion.
Mircea Bogdan won the men’s 3000m Steeplechase with the result of 8:29.10 is among the few Romanian athletes who is already qualified for the Olympic Games as he obtained a 8:23.12 time three months ago at a competition held in USA. In Romania he was able to work saving his force, still becoming the first. “I did what the Romanian Federation expected of me – confirmed my result, that is” said the Bogdan who will of course also be in the Romanian team for Osaka.
Among the other noticeable results (all women):
800m: Corina Dumbravean 2:00.21, Liliana Popescu 2:00.41
3000m: Steeplechase Cristina Casandra 9:32.47
20km Race Walk: Claudia Stef 1:31.44
High Jump: Miruna Ana Maria Mataoanu 1.92
Triple Jump: Adelina Gravila 14.20 (with two more attempts over 14m – 14.01 and 14.02).
Serghei Donets for the IAAF
