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World Points Standings:
Women’s Jumps
Posted June 19th, 2008 at 9:30 AM by Jesse Squire
Section: News & Results, Track & Field, Rankings, World Standings
High Jump
1. Blanka Vlašic, 108
2. Ariane Friedrich, 59
3. Yelena Slesarenko, 55
4. Vita Palamar, 51
5. Ruth Beitia, 46
6. Marina Aitova, 38
7. Anna Chicherova, 36
7. Tia Hellebaut, 36
9. Ekaterina Savchenko, 32.5
10. Chaunte Howard, 32
Vlašic is the overall points leader for all events, men and women. She goes to all the biggest meets, is undefeated, and regularly jumps higher than any other active jumper’s PR. American Howard should climb the ranks as she continues to improve in her return to competition after having a baby.
Pole Vault
1. Jennifer Stuczynski, 64
2. Yelena Isinbayeva, 48
3. Yuliya Golubchikova, 45
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World records likely in Osaka?
Posted August 23rd, 2007 at 9:00 AM by Jimmie R. Markham
Section: News & Results, Track & Field, Drugs In Sports
The Osaka track is extremely fast, as evidenced by Jeremy Wariner’s early-season 44.02 back on May 5th, 2007 at the Osaka Grand Prix. That bodes well for the sprints, obviously, which means that most of the distance records are probably safe. Hard tracks are best for sprinting, while soft tracks are best for distance races. So which world records are safe and which ones could be broken in Osaka?
The two safest records are undoubtedly Jarmila Kratochvílová’s 1:53.28 in the women’s 800m and Marita Koch’s 47.60 in the women’s 400m. These records were set way back in 1983 and 1985, respectively, and will probably be safe for some time to come. The 2007 world’s best for the 800m, set this week by Ukraine’s Yuliya Krevsun in Bangkok, Thailand, is 1:57.63, nearly 4 1/2 seconds slower than Kratochvílová’s controversial mark.
Rumors of drug use by both Kratochvílová and Koch persist, their best marks having come during the heyday of the Cold War when nationally-sponsored doping programs within the Iron Curtain were rampant. It should be noted, however, that neither neither athlete ever tested positive for PED’s and both records are still considered to be official by the IAAF.
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“Sure Things” in Osaka
Posted August 22nd, 2007 at 12:28 PM by Jimmie R. Markham
Section: News & Results, Track & Field
Barring any freak mishaps such as injury, disqualification, illness, or acts of God, the following athletes are the surest bets to win gold medals at the 2007 IAAF World Championships in Athletics. Each has demonstrated a level of dominance in their respective events to such an extent this season (or in past championships) that they have to be considered the clear favorites to win in Osaka:
MEN
Kenenisa Bekele (ETH) 10000m
Tyson Gay (USA) 100m
Tyson Gay (USA) 200m
Jadel Gregório (BRA) Triple Jump
Virgilijus Alekna (LTU) Discus Throw
Jeremy Wariner (USA) 400m
WOMEN
Meseret Defar (ETH) 5000m
Franka Dietzsch (GER) Discus Throw
Allyson Felix (USA) 200m
Yelena Isinbaeva (RUS) Pole Vault
Christina Obergföll (GER) Javelin
Blanka Vlašic (CRO) High Jump
Allyson Felix upsets Richards; Sets stadium record and earns some bling
Posted August 7th, 2007 at 4:49 PM by Jimmie R. Markham
Section: News & Results, Track & Field
Sanya Richards was hoping to get a DN Galan diamond by breaking the stadium record of 50.13 seconds in the 400m dash. She did break the stadium record with a time of 49.72 seconds; unfortunately for her, Allyson Felix was ahead of her at the finish line.
Felix, just overtaking Richards in the closing seconds of the race with a huge PB of 49.70 seconds (her previous PB was 50.40), proved that she is indeed a triple threat in the 100m, 200m and 400m.
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Blanka Vlašic Jumps Lifetime Best; World-Leading 2.07m
Posted August 7th, 2007 at 4:20 PM by Jimmie R. Markham
Section: News & Results, Track & Field
Blanka Vlašic took yet another diamond away from the DN Galan meet organizers with a lifetime best of 2.07m, just 0.02m away from Bulgarian Stefka Kostadinova’s phenomenal world record of 2.09m, set 20 years ago. Although Vlašic also made 3 attempts at a new world record of 2.10m, only one of the attempts was close. She is all but assured of a gold medal in Osaka. Kajsa Bergqvist, despite having a home-crowd advantage, could only muster a 1.98m third place finish. Anna Chicherova, also jumping 1.98m, took 2nd place with fewer misses.
1 Vlašic Blanka CRO 2.07
2 Chicherova Anna RUS 1.98
3 Bergqvist Kajsa SWE 1.98
4 Green Emma SWE 1.95
5 Forrester Nicole CAN 1.92
6 Acuff Amy USA 1.92
Complete results: [IAAF]
Who was America's most-valuable male runner in 2008?
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