Vili sets 20.69m Oceania Shot Put record in Rio

Rio de Janeiro, BrazilNew Zealander Valerie Vili, the 2007 World and 2008 Olympic champion at Shot Put, produced the best performance of the “2009 Grande Prêmio Rio/Caixa de Atletismo”, held at the “Cidade Maravilhosa” on Sunday 17 May, more precisely at the “Estádio João Havelange”, also known as “Engenhão”.

The 2009 Grande Prêmio Rio/Caixa de Atletismo 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 12-13 September in Thessaloniki, Greece.

Vili set a new Oceania record with a put of 20.69m, which is also the best mark in the world in 2009. Vili had the previous 2009 lead with 20.25 (Waitakere 20 February).

Belarus’ Natallia Mikhnevich, the Olympic silver medallist was also second in Rio with 19.48 in her first outdoor competition of 2008. Cuban Misleydis González was third with 18.93 (12cm of her SB), while Cubans Mailín Vargas (4th with 18.68) and Yaniuvis López (6th with 18.23), and Trinidad & Tobago’s Cleopatra Borel-Brown (4th with a SB of 18.52) were all over the 18m barrier.

Vili opened with 19.41, followed by 20.38, 20.69, foul, 19.69, and 19.89, in a very solid series. Her previous Area record was 20.54, set when winning the 2007 World title in Osaka. The 20.69 performance moves her up to the 39th position in the all-time lists, and also makes the 24-year-old New Zealander the 6th performer of the new millennium.

Maggi and Menéndez regain control

Brazilian Maurren Higa Maggi, who in Beijing 2008 became the first South American female to win an Olympic athletics title, took the Long Jump with a 6.85m leap (0.5 wind), to avenge her third place from the Doha GP.

Keila Costa made it 1-2 for the Brazilians when capturing the second place with a SB of 6.78/0.3. The performance qualified the 26-year-old to the 2008 World Championships in Berlin.

American Brittney Reese, the 2009 world leader who had beat Maggi in Qatar 6.99 to 6.90 - with American Funmi Jimoh second with 6.96 -, was third in Rio with 6.70 (-0.5).

“It took me awhile to find my rhythm, but I ended up achieving a good result”, said the 32-year-old Maggi. “If I keep jumping consistently over 6.80, I will remain focused and motivated, hoping to reach 7m again. That will put me in great position to fight for a medal in Berlin,” concluded the South American record holder.

Cuban Osleydis Menéndez, the 2004 Olympic champion and former World record holder of the Javelin, also avenged preceding defeats from compatriot Yanet Cruz, taking the victory in Rio with a season’s best of 62.74m. Cruz was a close second with 62.65, while Romanian Monica Stoian was third with a season’s best of 59.91.

Another Romanian, 37-year-old Nicoleta Grasu, reversed the tables in the Discus Throw against Cubans Yarisley Collado and Yarelis Barrios. Grasu, the 1999 World Championships bronze and 2001 silver medallist, won with 63.06m, while Collado produced 62.01, and Barrios, the 2008 Olympic Games silver medallist, was third with 60.66.

Giralt dominates Triple Jump

Cuban David Giralt, Triple Jump silver medallist at the 2008 World Indoor Championship, produced the best performance on the male side of the Rio programme by beating a high quality field which included the 2007 World and 2008 Olympic champion Portugal’s Nélson Évora.

Giralt reached 17.39m (wind nil) on his second attempt - after a foul in his first attempt -, and that was enough to get the victory. Horizontal jumping events only had four rounds in Rio.

Also Cuban Yoandri Betanzos, the 2009 World Leader, was second with 17.19/0.8, while Évora was third with 17.11/-0.9 in his seasonal debut. The Olympic Champion reached his mark in the first round, and followed with 3 fouls.

“It was a good test, and I’m satisfied with my performance”, said Évora. “Since it was my first competition, it served as a good way to analyze my training. I didn’t come here expecting to win, so in a scale from 1 to 10, I would give myself a 7 today,” added the 25-year-old Portuguese.

Cuban Alexis Copello (17.08) and Brazilian Jefferson Sabino (17.04) were also over the 17m barrier. Brazilian Jadel Gregório, the 2007 World Championships silver medallist, didn’t compete after returning to Brazil from England - where he is based - with a muscular injury.

In the Long Jump, the 2007 World and 2008 Olympic champion, Panamanian Irving Saladino whose presence was announced by the organizers didn’t compete either. The 25-year-old pulled-out after suffering a minor injury in training on Thursday(14). In his absence, Cuban Ibrahin Camejo, the 2008 Olympic Games silver medallist took the victory with 7.93m/-0.4.

In the men’s Hammer Thrower Primož Kozmus, the 2008 Olympic champion claimed victory. The 29 year-old from Slovenia reached a season’s best of 77.81m to beat Tajikistan’s Dilshod Nazarov and 2000 Olympic hampion Szymon Ziólkowski. Both Nazarov and Ziólkowski set season’s bests with 77.77 and 74.17 respectively. The Hammer Throw was contested at the “Estádio Célio de Barros” on Saturday 16 May.

Davide wins an exciting 800m race

Brazilian Kléberson Davide provided one of the most exciting moments for the 7000 people crowd of spectators when he took the victory in the 800m with 1:44.97. Davide, who for five weeks held the early season world lead 1:44.67, controlled the race since its early stages. Davide passed the 400m mark in first in 50.20, and managed to narrowly beat compatriot Fabiano Peçanha (1:45.08). Kenyan Reuben Bett who was third with a PB of 1:45.33.

Overall, Rio offered a very high quality event. American Mike Rodgers won the “A race” of 100m with a SB of 10.08 sec (wind 0.5), and took the “B race” of the 200 with 20.34. Also American Rubin Williams won the “A race” of 200 with 20.34 as well.

American Ryan Wilson was first in the 110m Hurdles in 13.46 sec (wind 0.3), and Brazilian Mahau Suguimati won the 400m Hurdles with a season’s best of 49.42 sec.

Another American, Rachel Smith, captured the victory in the women’s 100 and 200 with 11.49 and 23.05.

Guyana’s Aliann Pompey won the 400m in 51.45 sec, Trinidad and Tobago’s Josanne Lucas the 400m Hurdles in 55.84 sec, and Canadian Kelsie Hendry the Pole Vault with 4.40m. The three of them set season’s bests in Rio. In the Pole Vault, Brazilian Fabiana Murer, finalist at the 2007 World Championships and the 2008 Olympic Games, recorded three fouls at her opening height of 4.30.

After Fortaleza (10 May) and Rio, the next major meet on Brazilian soil will be the “Grande Prêmio Sesi/Caixa de Atletismo” in Uberlândia, State of Minas Gerais, on 20 May. All three events are part 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 12-13 September in Thessaloniki, Greece.

After that, the “Grande Prêmio Brasil Caixa de Atletismo” in Belém, a Grand Prix status meeting as part of the 2009 IAAF World Athletics Tour, takes place on 24 May.

Eduardo Biscayart for the IAAF

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