Sunday 16th event finals
Men : reports and results
800m Men
In an event, where most people expect that if the WR Holder Wilson
Kipketer lines up, he shall surely win. Well, those days are gone
and the 'naturalised' Dane now has to work just as hard, as the
other mortals, to win Championship medals.
In David Krummenacker [USA], we have a definite man for the future.
He shows dazzling sprint speed over the final 50m, and one gets
the impression, that if he is thereabouts, he is in with a chance.
He has also been working on his 1500m strength, a factor that not
many 800m athletes pays much attendance to these days. If Krummenacker
brings his times down steadily he will definitely become a force
in all major Championship races, where the events are often one
with a  powerful
burst after a 'steady' pace.
This race was no different, when comparing to tactical presence,
with an opening 400m producing a time around the 52sec plus. Not
the normal low 50's that are delivered on the European circuit when
fast times are the order of the day.
Kipketer is not known for his 'boardroom' prowess [boardroom;
referring to the boards of the indoor track] however these days
he is a willing competitor in the quest for medals.
When he took up the pace with 400m of the race remaining, it was
not with a burst of speed, but more with a smooth acceleration.
And when it came to the final 100m the waiting American cruised
past effortlessly ... even with the peering eye of the Dane alongside,
who was unable to 'minister' further power when needed most.
Kipketer was not 'overtly' disappointed, as any person who has
suffered from the debilitating effects of malaria will tell you,
you are never the same if you are unfortunate enough to have been
struck down by the illness. The 'great' Dane, these days is a competitor
who enjoys the moments when success is delivered... Today was not
such a day, however one feelsKipketer has a few more coming.
Krummenacker deservedly clinched the title and can look forward
to a successful outdoor season.
Results:
1 David Krummenacker (USA) 1min 45.69secs
2 Wilson Kipketer (Den) 1:45.87
3 Wilfred Bungei (Ken) 1:46.54
4 Antonio Manuel Reina (Spa) 1:46.58
5 Bram Som (Ned) 1:47.00
6 Arnoud Okken (Ned) 1:48.71
3000m Men
Haile Gebrselassie again proved himself to be one of the most exciting
commodities when it comes to track racing, by winning the World
3000m Indoor title.
His usual brilliance was there for all to see, and whether persons
were considering his demise, this performance again highlighted
his Championship 'metal'
In this 3000m, his main concern came at the start, and this from
his fellow Ethiopian, Abiyote Abate. Gebrselassie had to jump to
avoid contact with the heels of his compatriot. With this incident
out the way, he could return his attentions to what he does best,
winning.
In a race filled with different tactical approaches, the Moroccans
were the first to show their hand, taking the field through 400m
in 60.90. Gebreselasse moved into 2nd place shortly thereafter to
establish his presence, with Alberto Garcia [ Spain ] (The Ethiopian's
expected competition) tucked in the pack.
The 2nd Moroccan in the field joined his team-mate shortly thereafter,
and it was evident North African tactics were in progress. This
was 3 minutes 30 seconds into the race and HG was content to run
in the 'wake' of the 2nd Moroccan, with Garcia tracking Gebrselassie.
Luke Kipkosgei [Kenya] was to move to the outside of Gebrselassie's
shoulder ... and in so doing, trapping the Ethiopian in a 'box'.
(Kenyan tactics in progress?)
6min into the race, and Garcia attacks ... throwing down the gauntlet
to the rest of the field. This was in direct response to the 2nd
Ethiopian, Abate, coming to the 'head of affairs'.
This surge, pulls Garcia away from the pack, however his every move
is tracked by Gebrselassie.
2400m is covered in 6:16.57 ... it was now evident that we had a
race on our hands between the two 'predicted protagonists'.
With 6:57 displayed on the race clocks, Gebrselassie attacks passing
through 2800m in 7:13.80 and to eventually cross the line in 7:40.97
with Garcia 2nd with a time 7:42.08, however decisively beaten.
The Emperor still reigns, his demise is still not evident. Garcia
delivered a good performance, but the winning time is not staggering.
When Gebreselasse began sprinting with 200m to go, Garcia was able
to match this burst and at first one would have believed that the
Spaniard stood a chance, then the staggering power of the Ethiopian
was there over the last 20m when Garcia was a spent force.
Garcia delivers Europe a hope for the future, just as Dieter Baumann
[Germany] had in the years gone by, when he was the only European
to challenge the African dominance. The Spaniard's times do not
yet compare to the German's, so there is still work to be done for
Garcia, however he is undoubtedly an athlete of Championship performance
material.
Results :
1 Haile Gebrselassie (Eth) 7min 40.97sec
2 Alberto Garcia (Spa) 7:42.08
3 Luke Kipkosgei (Ken) 7:42.56
4 Abiyote Abate (Eth) 7:43.21
5 Gert-Jan Liefers (Ned) 7:44.34 (NR)
6 Leonard Mucheru (Ken) 7:44.83 (SB)
7 John Mayock (Gbr) 7:45.32 (SB)
8 Abderrahim Goumri (Mar) 7:47.43
9 Gunther Weidlinger (Aut) 7:53.59
10 Mohamed Khaldi (Alg) 7:56.05
11 Jaouad Gharib (Mar) 8:01.01
Disq: Jesus Espana (Spa)
Women : Reports and Results
800m Women
Maria de Lourdes Mutola of Mozambique, placed herself firmly into
the history books by winning her 5th Indoor Champioship title, and
in the process joining a small elite bunch who have also achieved
this feat.
Britain's Jo Fenn was content to 'attempt' to run the rest of the
field off their feet, and in so doing she made the event a true
to form run race, with the first 5 all below 2 minutes.
From the gun the Brit, placed herself at the head of the field,
and there she stayed continually keeping the tempo at a high level.
Being an unbiased spectator, one could only wish she was able to
hang on to win a medal of sort. However, this was not to be when
seeing the quality of the kickers who filled the first 4 positions.
A new force to become part of this quartet, is the highly promising
Mayte Martinez [Spain] who outsprinted Jolanda Ceplak [Slovenia]
to take 3rd and in the process established a new National Record
with 1:59.53.
Stephanie Graf [Austria] with 1:59.39, was an emotional 2nd and
deservedly so, having overcome the setback of the previous months'
scare, when diagnosed with a tumour, which was found to be 'benign'.
This however, did not distract away from the superb performance
delivered by the powerhouse in the form of Mutola, who produced
a textbook race to overwhelm her competitors, winning in a comfortable
1:58.39.
Results:
1 Maria de Lourdes Mutola (Moz) 1min 58.94secs
2 Stephanie Graf (Aut) 1:59.39
3 Mayte Martinez (Spa) 1:59.53 (NR)
4 Jolanda Ceplak (Slo) 1:59.54
5 Joanne Fenn (Gbr) 1:59.95
6 Yekaterina Puzanova (Rus) 2:00.86
1500m Women
The current World Indoor Record Holder, Regina Jacobs of America,
ran a tactically perfect race to win, unthreatened, in 4:01.67,
which is also a Championship Record. She was followed home by Kelly
Holmes [Britain] who was more than pleased with her silver.
Results:
1 Regina Jacobs (USA) 4min 01.67sec (CR)
2 Kelly Holmes (Gbr) 4:02.66 (NR)
3 Yekaterina Rozenberg (Rus) 4:02.80
4 Natalya Gorelova (Rus) 4:06.18
5 Iryna Lishchynska (Ukr) 4:07.19
6 Elena Iagar (Rom) 4:07.44
7 Alesya Turova (Blr) 4:08.20
8 Hasna Benhassi (Mar) 4:09.03
9 Kutre Dulecha (Eth) 4:11.15
Time-to-Run Track section |
