OSAKA (JPN) - Third meet of the new series IAAF World Challenge at Nagai Stadium in Osaka was held in solid weather, 24 degrees, 49 percent of humidity and east and north-east wind. Top stars fulfilled the expectations and won their events. Veronica Campbell-Brown the 100 m in third fastest time of the year 11.02, Christian Cantwell the shot put with 21.34 and Australian Dani Samuels with last round effort the discus achieving new meet record 63.75.

Solid other sprint wins by overseas runners, Jamaican Michael Frater the 100 m (10.24), US Mike Rodgers (200 m, 20.55) and Virginia Crawford (100 m Hurdles, 12.76). The only Japanese winner was Masato Yokota at 800 m. First men´s IAAF hammer challenge winner was experienced Dilshod Nazarov of Tajikistin as olympic winner Koji Murofushi returned to international stage with a third place. Interesting to note the improvement of Kenyan world cross country junior champion from Bydgoszcz Caleb Ndiku Mwangang who won the 1500 m. Second meet record was registered in pole vault where Melinda Owen of USA equalled the event best with 445 clearance after jump-off.

Event by event review

MEN

100 m: Olympic relay gold medalist and world record holder Michael Frater showed signs of improvement after only 10.41 in Kingston week ago. He win in wind-less situation the 100 m clocking good 10.24. The Jamaican clearly beat another sub 10 runner US Travis Padgett who debuted into the season with 10.34. Close behind him top home sprinters Naoki Tsukahara (10.36) and Masashi Eriguchi (10.38)

200 m: Mike Rodgers fulfilled his favorite role in the 200 m with 20.55 in wind-less conditions. US 100 m champion beat Canadian Jared Connaughton who as second achieved 20.61. Only afterwards top Japanese followed, Shinji Takahira (20.78) and Kenji Fujimitsu (20.80). US World participant in the 100 m Rae Edwards was only 6th (20.85) and Trinidad´s Emmanuel Callender was dq.

800 m: Japanese record holder Masato Yokota won the 800 clocking decent 1:47.23. Second only international participant in the race Australian James Gurr (1:48.65).

1500 m: This years world junior CC champion from Bydgoszcz Caleb Ndiku Mwangang won his first major senior race. The 1500 m in Osaka with life-time best 3:39.53. Australian James Kaan also improved to 3:40.80 as second and third best Japanese Yuichiro Ueno (3:40.83, also PB).

110 m Hurdles: Double world finalist (2003 and 2007) Shi Dongpeng replaced well injured Liu Xiang and won the 110 m hurdles. His 13.42 (-0.4) were faster by 0.03 than second placed US Jeff Porter (13.45), for whom this is one of the major placings in his career. Best from Japanese was not Masahito Naito (fifth, 13.79), but Tasuku Tanonaka as third (13.73).

400 m Hurdles: Mahau Suguimati a Japanese representing Brazil won the 400 m hurdles in solid 49.19. Other four athletes dipped under 50 seconds. Second Ukrainian Stanislav Melnykov who won last year European U23 silver medal improved his career best to 49.34. He was followed by two Japan runners, Takayuki Koike (49.42) and Yuta Imazeki (49.77), both coming close to their bests. Fifth Australian champion Brendan Cole achieved his first years sub 50 with 49.85. US 2007 world participant Derrick Williams was disqualified after false start.

Long Jump: Chinese Su Xiongfeng leaped to 811 (+0.1) and won the long jump. It is his outdoor best, he jumped this indoor season Asian record 827. He also had 810 and 802 in the series. World leader Chris Noffke of Australia was distant second (792) ahead of US world finalist Brian Johnson (784). German Christoph Stolz was 7th (742).

Shot Put: World Champion Christian Cantwell remains unbeaten this summer, after Drake and Kingston also win in Osaka with 21.34 m. All three meets so far clearly over 21 meters. Next in Doha to clash with main rivals. His only other valid attempts were 20.87 and 20.12. Chinese Jun Zang was second (19.81) over US Dan Taylor (18.99) and Portugal record holder Marco Fortes (18.44).

Javelin Throw: New Zealand champion Stuart Farquhar with his fourth best of career 82.41 achieved first major circuit win. Russian European leader of the year Ilya Korotkov registered 81.16 as second and third Latvian Karlis Alainis 79.32. Fourth place for Ukrainian Roman Avramenko (79.01). Home star and bronze winner from Berlin Yukifumu Murakami could not come into top 3 and finished fifth (77.66).

Hammer Throw: Tajikistan´s national federation president Dilshod Nazarov won the first ever men IAAF Hammer Throw Challenge competition. At Nagai stadium he achieved 78.84 what is fourth best career mark for Berlin 11th placer. Second Belarus Yuriy Shayunov (77.95) and third in his first international meet since September 2008 was Olympic gold medalist 2004 and Japanese star Koji Murofushi (77.86). "Some of the throws were quite good. 77 m throw is good at this point in the season," said Murofushi. Next places for European throwers, fourth Nicola Vizzoni (75.80), fifth Artem Rubanko (75.64) and sixth world medalist Aleksey Zagorniy (75.15).

4x400 m: Japan won the race clearly with 3:04.49 when Australia had only two top runners (Offereins, Milburn) and finished second 3:09.28 ahead of Denmark 3:09.60.

WOMEN

100 m: Another top star of the meet was a winner as expected. Olympic and world gold medalist Veronica Campbell-Brown clocked fast 11.02 (-0.1) to win the 100 m. It is third fastest of the year. "It is always good to win. Happy to be back to Osaka. I did not quite execute everything well. This is my first 100 m of the season. My goal for this year is to set personal best in the 100 m, " she said after winning in the stadium where she got the world 100 m title in 2007. Japanese record holder Chisato Fukushima was very solid second placer (11.27) ahead of Australian champ Melissa Breen (11.47) and Uzbekistan´s Guzel Khubbieva (11.58).

400 m: Ireland´s 400 m record holder Joanne Cuddihy won the race in good 52.15. Jamaican Clora Williams (world indoor relay medalists, if she would be one of the doping suspects she would not be allowed to run) was second clocking 52.93 ahead of Chinese Chen Jingwen (53.69).

5000 m: Kenyan Ann Mwangi won the race in personal best 15.15.19. She had 15:05.34 last year but that was in mixed race with men. In tight finish she beat Australian champ Eloise Wellings (15:16.87) and Japanese record holder Kayoko Fukushi (15:17.86).

100 m Hurdles: Virginia Crawford clocked very solid 12.76 (-0.2) to win the 100 m hurdles, her second first place after Kingston. Russian World indoor finalist Tatyana Dektyareva posted 12.88 just 0.04 shy of personal best but European lead 2010. 2003 World Champ Perdita Felicien of Canada was third (13.03) beating talented Japanese hurdler Asuka Terada (13.13).

400 m Hurdles: Australian Lauren Boden again improved her personal best and won in Osaka with 55.25 what is fourth fastest time of the year. Quality times also for US 2007 Worlds participant Nicole Leach 55.52 and third Japanese Miyabi Tago who registered life-time best 55.99. Only fourth national record holder Satomi Kubokura (56.29, her national mark is 55.46 from 2008).

Pole Vault: US Melinda Owen won dramatic pole vault which was decided in jump-off. She cleared 445 and equalled so the meet record of Australian Emma George from 1998. Another US vaulter who now represents Israel Jillian Schwartz was second with 440. Both cleared initially 440 and then three times missed 450, at next 445 Owen cleared and won. Third Australian Alana Boyd also cleared 440 but had more misses than the top two.

Discus Throw: Another world champion Dani Samuels of Australia also fulfilled her favorite role with excellent new meet record 63.75 in discus. She came from behind in last round. Former meet record 63.68 by Chinese Xiao Yanling in 1997. She had until last round only 60.84. Becky Breisch was on top after five throws and ended second with 62.40. Third Lithuanian Zinaida Sendriute still beat with 58.22 oly champ Stephanie Trafton Brown (56.65).

Osaka Results 2010

with help of Ken Nakamura

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