Slesarenko is back – Russian Champs, Day Three

Olympic champion in the women’s High Jump Yelena Slesarenko, the IAAF World Ranked number two for the event is back, and seems to be in form. The 23-year-old won on Day Three of the Russian Championships in the Arsenal Stadium in Tula with an excellent result of 2.00m.

Slesarenko competes against Kuptsova

After the Olympics Slesarenko decided to miss the indoor season, and instead took time to get some rest after the exhausting season. But when she returned back to the sector the 23-year-old got injured. So the National Championships was practically her first serious start of the summer season. She cleared 2.00m and was close to clearing 2.02.

And one more thing that made Russian high jumping fans happy was that Marina Kuptsova, the World silver medallist from 2003, made her own good recovery after a serious injury and cleared 1.92m. She shared 2nd place with Olga Kychanova who cleared the same height.

The Olympic Games finalist Mariya Koroteyeva won the women’s 100m Hurdles in 12.81. This year she has already clocked 12.74 in the spring but then got injured. At the time when her coach Anatoliy Bogdanov was asked about her injury his positive answer was always, “don’t worry, we’ll try to make it.” Coach and athlete have kept their word!

Nataliya Rusakova (Kresova) finished 2nd – 12.93, and the 3rd place was shared by Irina Shevchenko, who was knocked down in the Olympic final,and Tatyana Pavliy - 12.97.

The leader of the season among Russian sprinters, Yuliya Guzchina, who is 22 years-old - won the women’s 200m in 22.62 - which is the best time for Russian runners this summer. Irina Khabarova finished 2nd in 22.69, and Katerina Kondratyeva clocked 22.87 for third.

In the women’s 5000m there was a real battle between Lyliya Shobukhova and Alla Zhilyaeva, that was won by the former in 15:16.73. Zhilyaeva clocked 15:17.92. Alena Samokhvalova was 3rd – 15:32.72.

Only Pavel Shapovalov tried to do his best in the men’s 5000m. He clocked 13:34.53. ‘Was it possible to do better then that?’ – we asked the champion. ‘Sure,’ - answered the winner. – ‘But it’s a pity I wasn’t supported by my opponents.” And they did indeed remain very far behind: Sergey Ivanov was 2nd – 13:44.52 and Pavel Naumov 3rd – 13:44.76.

Makarov family gets honours in the women’s Javelin too

Marya Yakovenko won the women’s Javelin Throw – 60.83 leaving behind Lada Chernova – 58.78. A distinguished representative of the famous family of Makarov was also present at the podium. It was Yelena Makarova, the sister of the World champion Sergey Makarov, who won the bronze with 55.41m.

Big hopes in women’s Hammer

In the qualifying competitions for the women's Hammer Throw, the new national record holder Tatyana Lysenko made only one attempt – 70.08m. The Olympic champion Olga Kuzenkova reached 72.33 on her 2nd attempt.

The results in men’s 200m were rather modest. Oleg Sergeev, the winner of the 2004 National Championships retained his gold medal in 21.04. Eldar Gafarov was 2nd – 21.20 and Valeriy Kerdyashov was 3rd – 21.26.

Nickolai Dolgopolov and Rostislav Orlov for the IAAF