Christine Arron anchors France's 4x100m realy in the European Cup (© Getty Images)
In the second of two preview stories ahead of this weekend’s SPAR European Cup in Bydgoszcz, Poland (19/20 June) Ed Gordon details the possible highlights in the women’s competitions.
Click here for the link to the men’s competition preview
WOMEN’S COMPETITION
The Russian women’s roster released earlier this week was missing many of that nation’s top athletes, but this should not foil that country’s ability to win its eighth European Cup title.
So confident are the Russian team leaders that in several instances, athletes without an outdoor mark for the year have been selected for this competition.
Slesarenko - favourite even prior to season’s outdoor debut
After her thrilling 2.04 leap in winning the women’s High Jump at the World Indoor Championships in Budapest in March, Yelena Slesarenko has not competed since. But she will still be the favourite to claim the cup title this weekend in her outdoor season debut, as only Spain’s Ruth Beitia (1.96) and Iryna Mykhalchenko of Ukraine (1.95) have thus far shown the form needed to battle the Russian.
Defending champion Daniela Rath of Germany also will be on hand, but it may take a repeat of her 2.00 jump last year to come away with a win.
Polnova – the forgotten stand-in
Seemingly forgotten even in her own country because of the exploits of current and former world-record holders Yelena Isinbayeva and Svetlana Feofanova, pole vaulter Tatyana Polnova will also be starting her outdoor season this weekend. Carrying an indoor best of 4.71 from the season just ended, the Russian will find her strongest competition coming from Poland’s Monika Pyrek (4.60), the co-European leader. Other leading contenders include Germany’s Carolin Hingst (4.54), Anzhela Balakhonova of Ukraine (4.51), and Vanessa Boslak of France (4.51).
The women’s 400m Hurdles will see Russia’s Yekaterina Bikert (54.39) challenged by Fani Halkia of Greece (54.88), who heartily endorsed the new track in the Athens Olympic Stadium with a national record last weekend. Also in the running for high placings will be Malgorzata Pskit of Poland (55.31) and German entry Anja Neupert (55.60).
Olga Kotlyarova bolted to a superb early-season 49.94 two weeks ago to lead European one-lap runners for the season, and it would seem that only Antonina Yefremova of Ukraine (50.92) poses a threat to the Russian’s superiority. European bronze medallist Lee McConnell of Great Britain (51.69) and Germany’s Claudia Marx (51.90) are other notables in this event.
Hotly contested sprint hurdles
As current European champion, season European leader and defending cup winner, Spain’s Glory Alozie (12.75) is a strong favourite in the women’s 100 Hurdles. But recent strong performances by Russia’s Irina Shevchenko (12.81) and Flora Redoumi of Greece (12.86) point to a hotly-contested race. Poland’s Aurelia Trywianska (12.91) could be an additional factor in the final result.
Arron and Hurtis contest sprints
European 200m leader Yuliya Tabakova also finds herself as one of Russia’s best current exponents of the 100 metres at 11.30, and she will compete in the shorter race. The world leader in the 60 metres last indoor season, she will be hard pressed by the continental leader in that event, defending cup champion Christine Arron of France (11.05), as well as current European champion Ekaterini Thanou of Greece (11.21) and Germany’s Sina Schielke (11.21). Alozie will double in the 100 and, with a PB of 10.90, could break into the lead group.
Taking Tabakova’s place in the 200 metres will be Natalya Antyukh (22.75) who comes with the best season time of the field. Current European champion Muriel Hurtis (22.83) will be her main rival, although newly-crowned Greek champion Olga Kaidantzi (22.88) and Britain’s Abi Oyepitan (22.96) could have a say. Much, of course, depends on the lottery for lane assignments.
Olga Raspopova of Russia (1:59.43) seems to have the upper hand in the women’s 800 metres, but the race for the other spots looks close, based on a comparison of PBs. Susan Scott of Great Britain (2:00.77) should be part of the final scramble, as should defending champion Claudia Gesell of Germany (2:02.16), Virginie Fouquet of France (2:01.70), Spain’s Esther Desviat (2:01.61), and Anna Zagórska of the host Polish team (2:01.58).
Kosenkova -head of the field?
Russia’s Yuliya Kosenkova has not yet run 1500 metres during this year’s outdoor season, but based on other results, plus her PB, she appears to be the top candidate in that event, along with Ukrainian Natalya Tobias (4:04.97). Kathleen Friedrich of Germany (4:06.33) has shown good form in recent races, along with Spain’s Iris Fuentes-Pila (4:06.16), and Anna Jakubczak of Poland (PB 4:01.43) could also challenge for a top position.
Gulnara Samitova, the Steeplechase world-record holder and last year’s champion in that event, will run this time without hurdles in the women’s 3000 metres, with Poland’s Lidina Chojecka (8:58.37), Nuria Fernandez of Spain (8:59.35), and possibly Margaret Maury of France (9:01.47) as her top rivals.
Despite a sub-par performance last week in Ostrava and lacking word of any injury problems, Lyubov Ivanova of Russia would still seem to be the front-runner in the Women’s Steeplechase (PB 9:24.78 last season). Elodie Olivares of France (9:46.56) and Poland’s Justyna Bak (9:50.27) lead the rest of the field.
Radcliffe back on track
The 5000 metres will mark this season’s track debut of Britain’s Paula Radcliffe. Among those hoping to stay close to one of athletics’ all-time greats will be Liliya Shobukhova of Russia—the season leader in the 3000—plus Wioletta Janowska of Poland and Germany’s Sabrina Mockenhaupt (15:03.47).
Irina Simagina of Russia, another outstanding athlete obscured during the indoor season by the results of a compatriot (Tatyana Lebedeva), is the definite favourite in the women’s Long Jump at 6.99 this season. Fighting for the other top places will be Germany’s Bianca Kappler (6.71), Ioanna Kafetzi of Greece (6.65) and Britain’s Kelly Sotherton (6.61). Spain’s Conchi Montaner (6.49) has a past resumé to warrant inclusion in this group, as well.
Ukrainian Olena Govorova’s recent 14.51 leads the list in the Women’s Triple Jump, with world indoor bronze winner Hrysopigi Devetzi of Greece (14.48) and defending champion Anna Pyatykh of Russia (14.45) right behind.
Four from season’s top eight hemmer home quality
The Hammer Throw tops the list of throwing events, with four of the eight competitors over 70 metres this season. European leader Iryna Sekachova of Ukraine (72.81) will have a tough duel with defending champion and European bronze winner Manuela Montebrun (72.06). Others fighting for the top places will be Germany’s Betty Heidler (70.89) and current European champion Olga Kuzenkova (70.27), while European silver medallist from host Poland, Kamila Skolimowska (67.74), will try to use this home appearance as an opportunity to make a strong upward move in the lists.
The Shot Put shapes up as a two-woman tiff involving Germany’s Nadine Kleinert (19.23) and Olga Ryabinkina of Russia (19.12), with Laurence Manfredi of France (18.47) ready to step in if either of those two falter.
Voggoli – without challenge?
Paris Discus bronze medallist and defending European Cup champion Ekaterini Voggoli holds the world lead in that event (67.72) and appears to be headed for another victory. Attempting to thwart her bid will be former World champion Franka Dietzsch of Germany (64.93) and Joanna Wisniewska of Poland (62.79), with Ukraine’s Natalya Fokina (62.19) possibly part of the final mix.
European season javelin leader, Steffi Nerius of Germany (64.07), will have to withstand a stiff challenge from Russia’s Valeriya Zabruskova (63.84) if she is to repeat her win of last year. Only one other entry, Aggeliki Tsiolakoudi of Greece (62.63) has thrown over sixty metres this season.
Three relay ‘golden girls’ on show
Significant among the two relays is the French squad for the Women’s 4x100 Relay. Three of the four members from the Paris championship team which upset the US squad will be in Bydgoszcz.
