Paris - Gaz De France - 23rd July 2004 Golden League - Time-to-Run Track section


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Maria Mutola - Golden League Jackpot Girl?


	Paris - Gaz De France - 04th July 2004

Paris France - The third of the Golden League series in Paris, saw the 5 remaining contenders win their various disciplines. There are no middle or distance runners in with a chance of winning the 1 million dollars Jackpot available.

With the forthcoming Olympics less than a month away, it was quite surprising to see the effort applied in the Men's 1500m, where the season's fastest time for 2004 was established.

Following are the race reports from the middle and distance events :

The Women's 1500m race report
A year ago at the same meeting, the unheralded Spanish runner Nuria Rodriguez snatched victory from her surprised opponents. On this occasion, the unheralded Judit Varga, of Hungary, snatched victory with a late drive over the last 100 meters to win in a solid 4:03.92.

Varga has in the past faded when she needed it most. She is a solid performer and this win will do her confidence the world of good, as she possesses tactical awareness and 'know how', that will place her in contention at the Olympics.

The race itself, the pace was provided by Tina Paulino, Mozambique compatriot of 800m specialist Maria Mutola, opening with 400m in 62.97 and 800m in 2:10.31. After 800m, last year's winner Hernadez was best placed behind the 2nd pace setter, who took the field through 1200m in 3:16.65.

Varga moved into a better position going round the bend towards 1200m, however was still in 2nd from last position and behind Mutola, entering the backstraight, a good 10 to 15 meters off the leaders.

click to enlarge

Mutola would inexplicably fade to stone last, giving all the impression that her quest for Olympic glory is threatened. The sole Golden Jackpot of 2003 was aiming on doubling in Athens.

With 200m to go Tullett seized the lead from the little Spaniard and accelerated into a commanding position. Varga began her move from 150m out and was closing stride by stride into the final 100m before eventually sliding away to an easy victory. [ results below ]

The Women's 3000m race report
Another race, another year and another brilliant Kenyan in the making emerges. Isabella Ochichi turned out a masterful performance in Paris to leave her opponents trailing by more than 10 seconds at the finish. A large gap at this level.

Ochichi is a member of the Kenyan Olympic team and will be competing in Athens in the Women's 5000m. Her progress at the Olympics, will be watched with interest as she dealt with her opponents in the easiest manner to establish the World Leading time of 8:31.32. Her compatriots Kenya’s Alice Timbilili, 2nd with a PB of 8:42.01, and the experienced Sally Barsosio were never in contention after Ochichi accelerated to the front, to sit behind the pacesetter, with just over 4 laps to go. Barsosio was 3rd in a time of 8:43.85 and was left to watch the emerging talent of Ochichi who carries a majectic style. Will this be the start of something great? [ results below ]

The Men's 1500m race report
Abraham Chebeii winner of the Paris 5000m 2004 With the emergence of Rashid Ramzi winning in Roma, Kenya's Bernard Lagat did the thing best suited to apply further pressure on Morrocco's Hicham El Guerrouj, he ran fast.

In recent years we have witnessed the dominance of El Guerrouj as he set off with the pacesetters, on this occasion Lagat was to prove a class apart when he jumped out of the stalls and went to take up the running behind the 'rabbits' provided. The first 400m was covered in a qucik 53.13 and by then the whole field was in single file. The following 400m was covered in 56.78 taking the frontrunners through 800m in 1:49.91 a scintillating first two laps.

The first pacesetter dropped out and Lagat moved closer to the pace provided, at this stage moving towards the bell [2.33] there were 4 athletes about a meter apart in single file. However, when the pacesetter moved out the way, the tempo was picked up significantly by the smooth flowing Kenyan. 1200m was reached in 2:47.93 [56.02/400m]. Paul Korir [Kenya] hung tenaciously onto the pace provided and was still within striking distance going into the last 200m. Then Lagat put his stamp of authority over his pursuers and moved effortlessly away from Korir, who would fade to 4th in a time of 3:31.57 [last lap 55.81]. With Lagat almost assured of the win, there was a fight for the next 3 positions with Timothey Kiptanui outlasting Kenyan compatriot Cornelius Chirchir for times respectively of 3:30.04 and 3:30.60. With Lagat's WL time of 3:29.21, the Kenyan 1500m strength was underlined with them taking the first 5 positions in the fastest race of the season over the distance.

The Olympics now beckons and a majestic showdown between Lagat and El Guerrouj. [ results below ]

The Men's 800m race report
William Yiampoy the newly crowned African champion took a confident win in a slow run, men’s 800m. The 30 year-old who has run 1:43.95 this season, took the tape in 1:45.03 after a strong sprint in the last 80 metres [ results below ]

The Men's 3000m SteepleChase race report
Ezekiel Kemboi brought the evening to a close with a 8:11.03 win in the men's 3000m Steeplechase. The World silver medallist from Kenya took a close win over compatriots Julius Nyamu (4) and David Chemweno (nil), who clocked 8:11.29 and 8:11.44 (PB)respectively. [ results below ]

Middle and Distance Results from Paris :

Results Men

1500m
1 Lagat Bernard KEN 3:29.21
2 Kiptanui Timothey KEN 3:30.04
3 Chirchir Cornelius KEN 3:30.60
4 Korir Paul KEN 3:31.57
5 Kipchirchir Alex KEN 3:32.14
6 Heshko Ivan UKR 3:33.01
7 Saïdi-Sief Ali ALG 3:34.06
8 Ngeny Noah KEN 3:34.06
9 Kaouch Adil MAR 3:35.06
10 Silva Rui POR 3:36.83
11 Higuero Juan Carlos ESP 3:37.08
12 Koers Marko NED 3:38.20
13 Chékhémani Abdelkader FRA 3:38.62
14 Maazouzi Driss FRA 3:41.41
15 Lelei David KEN 3:47.95
Hatungimana Arthémon BDI DNF
Kipkurui Benjamin KEN DNF

800m
1 Yiampoy William KEN 1:45.03
2 Lacasse Florent FRA 1:45.70
3 Rotich Michael KEN 1:45.71
4 Laalou Amine MAR 1:45.75
5 Aïssat Nicolas FRA 1:45.92
6 Koech Justus KEN 1:46.01
7 Lomba Jimmy FRA 1:47.10
8 Dube Glody BOT 1:47.53
Mulaudzi Mbulaeni RSA DNF
Rotich Henry KEN DNF

3000m SteepleChase
3000m Steeplechase:
1 Ezekiel Kemboi (Ken) 8:11.03
2 Julius Nyamu (Ken) 8:11.29
3 David Chemweno (Ken) 8:11.44
4 Kipkirui Misoi (Ken) 8:13.38
5 Wesley Kiprotich (Ken) 8:14.49
6 Ali Ezzine (Mar) 8:14.74
7 Antonio David Jimnez (Spa) 8:14.81
8 Bouabdallah Tahri (Fra) 8:16.73
9 Vincent Le Dauphin (Fra) 8:17.57
10 Wilson Boit Kipketer (Ken) 8:19.21
11 Eliseo Martn (Spa) 8:19.60
12 Robert Kipchumba (Ken) 8:34.43
13 Irba Lakhal (Fra) 8:37.97
14 Michael Kipyego (Ken) 8:45.81
Did Not Finish: John Langat (Ken)
Gal Pencreach (Fra)
Philip Manyim (Ken)

Women Results

1500m
1 Varga Judit HUN 4:03.92
2 Tullett Hayley GBR 4:04.24
3 Fernández Nuria ESP 4:04.34
4 Benhassi Hasna MAR 4:04.42
5 Ghezielle Bouchra MAR 4:04.44
6 Rodríguez Natalia ESP 4:04.58
7 Martins Maria FRA 4:04.61
8 Fuentes-Pila Iris María ESP 4:04.66
9 Essarokh Latifa FRA 4:04.69
10 Fuentes-Pila Zulema ESP 4:04.72
11 Neporadna Nelya UKR 4:04.86
12 Sacramento Carla POR 4:05.04
13 Pilskog Trine NOR 4:05.75
14 Dejaeghere Veerle BEL 4:07.12
15 Mutola Maria de Lurdes MOZ 4:07.57
Kosenkova Yuliya RUS DNF
Paulino Tina MOZ DNF
Dehiba Hind MAR DNS

3000m
1 Isabella Ochichi (Ken) 8:31.32
2 Alice Timbilili (Ken) 8:42.01
3 Sally Barsosio (Ken) 8:43.62
4 Derbe Alemu (Eth) 8:50.74
5 Christelle Daunay (Fra) 9:03.49
6 Tomomi Yuda (Jpn) 9:05.27
Chumakova Olesya RUS DNF
Sergeyeva Yelena RUS DNF

Other results from meeting - here

This report from our Time-to-Run contributor

Time-to-Run Golden League