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Weltklasse Zürich Wrapup

Posted September 7th, 2007 at 4:30 PM by Jimmie R. Markham

Section: News & Results, Track & Field

1500m, Men
Since there was a no rabbits rule in effect, it was a slow, tactical race from the start. Belal Mansoor Ali (BRN) led at 400m, then Suleiman Simotwo (KEN) tried to pick up the pace over the next two laps. He passed 800m in 1:59.19 then 1200m in 2:56.19. Over the final 300m, Mehdi Baala (FRA) poured on his kick, trying to redeem himself for his disqualification in Osaka. He quickly opened a 5m gap and coasted to the finish in 3:38.62. Tarek Boukensa (ALG) overtook several runners in the final few meters to finish 2nd in 3:38.84. Alan Webb (USA) was never a factor in the race and left open the question as to whether or not he can run a smart tactical race at the world-class level. Here are the final results:

1. Mehdi Baala (FRA) 3:38.62
2. Tarek Boukensa (ALG) 3:38.84
3. Daniel Kipchirchir Komen (KEN) 03:38.96
4. Antar Zerguelaine (ALG) 3:39.18
5. Asbel Kiprop (KEN) 3:39.31
6. Christian Obrist (ITA) 3:39.50
7. Alan Webb (USA) 3:39.69
8. Alex Kipchirchir (KEN) 3:39.84
9. Belal Mansoor Ali (BRN) 3:40.21
10. Suleiman Simotwo (KEN) 3:40.52
11. Andy Baddeley (GBR) 3:40.75
12. Arturo Casado (ESP) 3:44.38

100m, Women
Christine Arron (FRA), running from lane 7, made up for her disappointing 6th place finish in Osaka by winning in 11.17. Lauryn Williams (USA), silver medalist in Osaka, finished a distant 7th.
Here are the final results:

1. Christine Arron� (FRA) 11.17
2. Torri Edwards� (USA) 11.22
3. Carmelita� Jeter� (USA) 11.24
4. Kim Gevaert� (BEL) 11.26
5. Tezzhan Naimova� (BUL) 11.3
6. Me’Lisa Barber� (USA) 11.32
7. Lauryn� Williams� (USA) 11.34
8. Laura� Turner� (GBR) 11.59
9. Yevgeniya Polyakova� (RUS) 11.64

200m, Men
Xavier “X-Man” Carter, didn’t compete in Osaka, having popped out a knee cap at the U.S. Nationals. In Zurich, he powered out of the curve to win in a time of 19.92, a time that would have won him a bronze medal at the world championships. He beat Usain Bolt, Osaka silver medalist, by 3 meters. Here are the final results:

1. Xavier Carter (USA) 19.92
2. Usain� Bolt� (JAM) 20.19
3. Johan Wissman� (SWE) 20.47
4. Joshua J. Johnson� (USA) 20.49
5. Rodney Martin� (USA) 20.53
6. Marvin Anderson� (JAM) 20.55
7. Christopher� Williams� (JAM) 20.75
8. Marcin Jedrusinski� (POL) 20.98

400m, Women
Sanya Richards, even though she did not earn a 400m spot on Team USA for Osaka, is undefeated in Golden League 400m competition this season and still in contention for the million dollar purse. She left no doubt that the selection process for Team USA is fundamentally flawed by winning her Weltklasse Zürich race by 12 meters, an awe-inspiring margin for a sprint race and an exclamation point for Richards. Here are the final results:

1. Sanya� Richards� (USA) 49.36
2. Novlene Williams� (JAM) 50.85
3. Amy MbackeThiam� (SEN) 50.95
4. Christine Ohuruogu� (GBR) 51.32
5. Ilona Usovich� (BLR) 51.45
6. Mary Wineberg� (USA) 51.53
7. Natalya Antyukh� (RUS) 51.94
8. Joanne� Cuddihy� (IRL) 52.44

1500m, Women
The women’s metric mile was even more pedestrian the the men’s race. Viola Kibiwot (KEN) led at 400m with a 1:09.33, practically a jog for these women. Yelena Soboleva (RUS) led at 800m in a time of 2:18.09. The pace had not increased by much at all. Maryam Yusuf Jamal ran true to form, taking the lead with 400m remaining, and powered away with a 60.09 final lap to win in 4:06.32. Soboleva hung on for second in 4:07.66. Here are the final results:

1. Maryam Yusuf Jamal� (BRN) 4:06.32
2. Yelena Soboleva� (RUS) 4:07.66
3. Olga Yegorova� (RUS) 4:08.10
4. Viola Kibiwot� (KEN) 4:08.96
5. Yuliya� Fomenko� (RUS) 4:09.97
6. Shalane� Flanagan� (USA) 4:10.86
7. Nataliya Panteleeva� (RUS) 4:11.37
8. Daniela Yordanova� (BUL) 4:11.86
9. Agnes Samaria� (NAM) 4:12.30
10. Hilary Stellingwerff� (CAN) 4:12.83
11. Iryna Lishchynska� (UKR) 4:14.70
12. Lidia Chojecka� (POL) 4:19.19
13. Shayne Culpepper� (USA) 4:19.40

110m Hurdles, Men
Dayron Robles (CUB), 4th in Osaka, beat silver medalist Terrence Trammell (USA), 13.15 to 13.22. Allen Johnson proved he still has some life in his 36 year-old legs by finishing third in 13.23. Here are the final results:

1. Dayron Robles� (CUB) 13.15
2. Terrence Trammell� (USA) 13.22
3. Allen� Johnson� (USA) 13.23
4. Anwar Moore� (USA) 13.24
5. Ryan Wilson� (USA) 13.33
6. David Oliver� (USA) 13.37
7. David Payne� (USA) 13.39
8. Aries Merritt� (USA) 13.42
9. Andreas Kundert� (SUI) 13.61

100m, Men
Francis Obikwelu (POR) came from behind to take the men’s 100m in 10.17. Here are the final results:

1� . Francis Obikwelu� (POR) 10.17
2� . Jaysuma� Saidy Ndure� (NOR) 10.2
3� . Marlon� Devonish� (GBR) 10.2
4� . Olusoji A.� Fasuba� (NGR) 10.2
5� . Leroy� Dixon� (USA) 10.23
6� . Marc� Burns� (TRI) 10.36
7� . Matic� Osovnikar� (SLO) 10.4
8� . Craig� Pickering� (GBR) 10.58
9� . Mark� Lewis-Francis� (GBR) 10.6

800m, Women
Jepkosgei Janeth (KEN) showed the world that she could run either from the front, as she did to win gold in Osaka, or by sitting back in a tactical race and kicking, as she did today in Zürich. She did lead at 400m with a slow time of 59. Mayte Martínez (ESP) with a fine kick passed most of the field in the home stretch to take 2ns in 2:00.42

1� . Janeth� Jepkosgei� (KEN) 1:59.03
2� . Mayte� Martínez� (ESP) 2:00.42
3� . Elisa� Cusma Piccione� (ITA) 2:00.50
4� . Brigita� Langerholc� (SLO) 2:00.70
5� . Diane� Cummins� (CAN) 2:00.90
6� . Olga� Kotlyarova� (RUS) 2:00.99
7� . Jemma� Simpson� (GBR) 2:01.17
8� . Svetlana� Cherkasova� (RUS) 2:01.43
9� . Svetlana� Klyuka� (RUS) 2:02.08

100m Hurdles, Women
Michelle Perry couldn’t stay in contention for the Golden League’s $1 Million jackpot, losing to Sweden’s Susanna Kallur and Jamaica’s Delloreen Ennis-London. Here are the final results:

1. Susanna� Kallur� (SWE) 12.66
2. Delloreen� Ennis-London� (JAM) 12.68
3. Michelle� Perry� (USA) 12.68
4. Perdita� Felicien� (CAN) 12.71
5. LoLo� Jones� (USA) 12.81
6. Sally� McLellan� (AUS) 12.86
7. Angela� Whyte� (CAN) 12.89
8. Josephine� Onyia� (ESP) 12.96
9. Vonette� Dixon� (JAM) 12.98

3000m, Men
Bernard Lagat, if he was hoping for a slow, tactical race, didn’t get his wish. Feleke Degela pushed the pace from the start, hoping to blunt Lagat’s devastating kick and give countryman Tariku Bekele an opportunity to steal the race. Over the course of the race the race slowed a bit and Lagat again found himself in perfect position to take the race, doing just that to win in 7:38.77.

1. Bernard� Lagat� (USA) 7:38.77
2. Edwin Cheruiyot� Soi� (KEN) 7:39.02
3. Moses Ndiema� Kipsiro� (UGA) 7:39.69
4. Joseph� Ebuya� (KEN) 7:41.05
5. Mohammed� Farah� (GBR) 7:41.86
6. Tariku Bekele� (ETH) 7:42.35
7. Thomas Pkemei� Longosiwa� (KEN) 7:43.69
8. Matt� Tegenkamp� (USA) 7:54.44
9. Jonas� Cheruiyot� (KEN) 8:04.99
10. Abraham� Cherkos� (ETH) 8:09.70

High Jump, Women
World champion Blanka Vlašic of Croatia won the women’s high jump had three tries at a world record 2.10m jump. Two of them were good attempts but she had to settle for the victory. Here are the final results:

1. Blanka� Vlašic� (CRO) 2.04m
2. Yelena� Slesarenko� (RUS) 2.01m
3. Yekaterina� Savchenko� (RUS) 1.98m
4. Ruth� Beitia� (ESP) 1.90m
4. Kajsa� Bergqvist� (SWE) 1.90m
4. Anna� Chicherova� (RUS) 1.90m
4. Antonietta� Di Martino� (ITA) 1.90m
4. Vita� Palamar� (UKR) 1.90m
9. � Emma� Green (SWE) 1.90m

Pole Vault, Women
Yelena Isinbayeva, one of three athletes left in contention for the $1 million jackpot, made it a nail biter, clearing the pole at 4.80m only on her third and final attempt with countrywoman Svetlana Feofanova in the lead at 4.75m. Here are the final results:

1. Yelena� Isinbaeva� (RUS) 4.8
2. Svetlana� Feofanova� (RUS) 4.75
3. Yuliya� Golubchikova� (RUS) 4.65
3. Monika� Pyrek� (POL) 4.65
5. Tatyana� Polnova� (RUS) 4.65
6. Katerina� Badurová� (CZE) 4.55
7. Fabiana� Murer� (BRA) 4.55
8. Vanessa� Boslak� (FRA) 4.4

Triple Jump, Men
In the men’s pole vault, Wayter Davis (USA) Osaka bronze medalist, exacted a bit of revenge on silver medalist Nelson Évora of Portugal by beating him 17.20m to Évora’s 17.18m. Here are the final results:

1� . Walter� Davis� (USA) 17.20m
2� . Nelson� Évora� (POR) 17.18m
3� . Aarik� Wilson� (USA) 17.11m
4� . Jadel� Gregório� (BRA) 16.86m
5� . Aleksandr� Petrenko� (RUS) 16.79m
6� . Dmitrij� Valukevic� (SVK) 16.60m
7� . Alexander� Martínez� (SUI) 16.59m
8� . Mykola� Savolaynen� (UKR) 16.40m

Javelin, Men
The three medalists from Osaka, Pitkämäki, Thorkildsen and Greer, took the top three positions in
Zürich, although this time the top two positions were reversed. Thorkildsen improved on his Osaka distance of 88.61m with an 89.51m throw to beat Pitkämäki this time. Here are the final results:

1. Andreas� Thorkildsen� (NOR) 89.51m
2. Tero� Pitkämäki� (FIN) 87.44m
3. Breaux� Greer� (USA) 83.15m
4. Magnus� Arvidsson� (SWE) 82.47m
5. Aleksandr� Ivanov� (RUS) 81.00m
6. Igor� Janik (POL) 80.09m
7. Vadims� Vasilevskis� (LAT) 78.20m
8. Felix� Loretz� (SUI) 75.62m
9. Stefan� Müller� (SUI) 70.52m

Pole Vault, Men
Osaka gold medalist had a disappointing day, finishing just 4th with a vault of 5.65m. In Osaka he had vaulted 5.86m. Russia’s Igor Pavlov, 4th in Osaka, won today in Zürich. Here are the final results:

1. Igor� Pavlov� (RUS) 5.75m
2. Björn� Otto� (GER) 5.75m
3. Yevgeniy� Lukyanenko� (RUS) 5.75m
4. Brad� Walker� (USA) 5.65m
5. Tim� Lobinger� (GER) 5.65m
6. Danny� Ecker� (GER) 5.5m
Jeff� Hartwig� (USA) No Mark
Steven� Hooker� (AUS) No Mark