ZHUKOVSKIY (RUS) -

52nd Znamensky Memorial in hot weather (30 degrees and 40 percent of humidity) saw mainly Russian top athletes competing well at Meteor Stadium. At 9th IAAF World Challenge meet of the year two world leads were achieved (women 800 m, men HJ equalled) and one more European lead (women 200 m). Men improved in total four meet records (400, 800, steeple, high jump). Impressive the Russian junior record 703 by Darya Klishina in long jump. Andrey Silnov, Tatyana Lysenko, Mariya Savinova all confirmed excellent shape before Russian Trials.

 

 

  Tatyana Lebedeva returned in solid style, even bigger steeple return for world record holder Saif Saeed Shaheen who despite beeing beaten finished his first race at the distance since 2006 World Cup. Home athletes scored 8 wins in 17 main events of the programme. This meet replaced in a way in calendar cancelled Tsiklitiria of Athens as initially was supposed to be part of EA Premium circuit. Zhukovskiy is situated some 40 km from Moscow and is training base for many top athletes. Some 5000 watched the event.

Event by event review, pictures by http://rusathletics.com/

WOMEN

200 m: Anastasiya Kapachinskaya the 2003 world champion who is more a 400 m runner won in excellent European lead 22.67 (0.0) over Yekaterina Vukolova (23.05) and Ukrainian until-today European best 2010 Yelizaveta Bryzgina (23.06). "We had good conditions in warm weather, I m remaining a 400 m runner," said Kapachinskaya.

800 m: Mariya Savinova posted in her season debut world leading 1:58.11. That shows who is one of the main favorites for Barcelona. Italian Elisa Cusma good second 1:59.26 and third Tatyana Andrianova returned to great shape with 1:59.28. "Because of the hot weather the track was too soft, otherwise the time could be better," Savinova said.

1500 m: Ethiopian guest Meskerem Assefa won in 4:07.27 ahead of Oksana Zbrozhek 4:07.69 and Yelena Korobkova 4:07.82. French Latifa Essarokh was fourth in 4:09.45.

10 000 m: In hot weather nearly 30 degrees no chance for a faster time that the 32:17.34 by Ethiopian Aberu Kebede, second Zakia Mrisho of Tanzania 32:20.47 and third Yelena Sokolova got the Russian title and Barcelona qualifier 32:24.09. She is third member of the team because Lilya Shobukhova and Inga Abitova have been preselected. Tadese Feyisa of Ethiopia was fourth in 32:29.07 ahead of Aselefech Mergia 32:34.09.

100 m Hurdles: Nevin Yanit of Turkey won in 12.77 (-1.6) and missed her national record by 0.01 ahead of Jamaican world medalist Deloreen Ennis-London 12.81 and best Russian Aleksandra Antonova 13.21.

Long Jump: Darya Klishina improved her own Russian junior record to 703 (+1.3) in third round. It is second best of the year and second best junior ever behind Heike Daute´s world junior record 714 from 1983 in Bratislava. Second Lyudmila Kolchanova impressive 696 (+0.2), third Yelena Sokolova 690 (+2.8, legal 672, 0.0). Fourth Inna Radevica of Latvia 676 (0.0) and sixth in her debut of the season Tatyana Lebedeva 664 (0.0). "Im shocked, seven meters was always something special. But I still must qualify for Barcelona at our nationals. We do not have any specific goals, my coach always wants to go step by step," said Klishina.

Shot Put: Anna Avdeyeva confirmed her position with 19.14 win from fifth round, Cuban Misledys Gonzalez came close by 2 cm with 19.02 in last round. Third Olga Ivanova 18.51.

Hammer throw: European champion 2006 Tatyana Lysenko scored excellent win at real home track 76.03, second best in the world this year. Her best from first round was confirmed with 75.55 and 75.65 in later attempts. Former Cuban world champion Yipsi Moreno achieved excellent 75.19 as second, her best since maternity leave. Third French Stephanie Falzon (72.37) ahead of Darya Pchelnik of Belarus (72.17). Lysenko confirmed her second place in IAAF HT Challenge as she improved her score to 219.39 behind Wlodarczyk (222.73). Third is Pchelnik 218.18. Two more competitions remained (Berlin and Rieti). "At home also walls are helping, but Moreno gave me a good competition, pity that Wlodarczyk was missing," said Lysenko.

MEN

100 m: US Champion from last year Mike Rodgers won after fast 10.20 heat the finals in 10.18 against -1.6 wind. Second J-Mee Samuels 10.38 and third Ryan Moseley of Austria in 10.48.

400 m: New meet record by Cuban William Collazo 45.27 beating best Russian young Vladimir Krasnov 45.70 and Yusif Rabah of Sudan 45.99. Old meet record by olympic gold medalist Viktor Markin 45.34 was from 1980.

800 m: Moroccan record holder Amine Laalou beat home favorite Yuriy Borzakovskiy in 1:43.76 (meet record) against 1:44.65. Solid times at 3rd and 4th place for Russian second wave as Ivan Tukhtachev got 1:45.78 and Yuriy Koldin 1:45.92, for both PB´s. Impressive Tukhtachev who had before 1:47.00.

10 000 m: National title for Pavel Shapovalov in 28:28.72, personal best

3000 m SC: New meet record and excellent 8:10.59 by Ethiopian Gari Roba who just missed his national record 8:10.29 from this years Doha Diamond League meet. World record holder Saif Saeed Shaheen of Qatar in his first ended steeple since September 2006 (that means nearly after four years) solid 8:16.90. Third Moroccan Brahim Taleb 8:21.79, fourth Ivan Luchianov of Moldova 8:22.31, fifth best Russian Ildar Minshin 8:23.18 and sixth best Kenyan Patrick Terer 8:25.80. Old meet record of Moses Kiptanui was 8:18.46 since 1995.

High Jump: Olympic winner Andrey Silnov is back in shape. He cleared 233 in first attempt, equalled world lead. Aleksandr Shustov did the same in third attempt. Surprisingly Ukrainian Dmytro Demyanyuk was third with 228 and world champion Yaroslav Rybakov only fourth (224), Czech guest Jaroslav Baba fifth 220. "Good in second meet of the year to go over 233, I still had some problems with my run-up. It was a good feeling to know that Javier Sotomayor was in the stadium and watching," Silnov was quoted.

Long Jump: Pavel Shalin is the man to beat currently in Russia. Another win for him after Bergen 818 (0.0). Second Aleksandr Menkov leaped to 809 (+0.6).

Triple Jump: Alexis Copello won with 17.55 (+0.3) from round five. Slovak record holder Dmitrij Valukevic beat other Cubans with 17.14 (0.0), David Girat third 17.09 (+0.6) and Yoandri Betanzos fourth 16.66. Russian talent Lukyan Adams three fouls.

Javelin Throw: Sergey Makarov was the best despite his age (37) with 80.57. Poland´s Igor Janik was second 79.87 over world silver medalist Guillermo Martinez of Cuba 79.71.

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