Posted: June 17, 2006

Athletics: TRACK PROFILE Report Weekly (P)Review

By Bob Ramsak
© 2006 TRACK PROFILE Report, all rights reserved

LJUBLJANA, Slovenia - Welcome to the second of TPR's peak-season weekly review/preview reports, this week delayed by a few days in order to include an analysis of the Russian national championships which concluded in Tula on Thursday.

Here in Europe this weekend, the focus is the European Cup First and Second League matches which begin today in four cities around the continent. In First League action in Prague, Czech Republic and Thessaloniki, Greece, teams will by vying for promotion to next year's SPAR European Cup. In Prague's Group A contest, the host Czechs along with the Swedes appear to be the favorites in the men's side of the program. In the women's race for promotion, the Czechs, along with Italy and Belarus are expected to be the key challengers. In Thessaloniki's Group B match, the host Greek men's squad is aiming to return to the top tier, but could face a tough challenge from Portugal and The Netherlands. On the women's side, the Greek and Portuguese squads are the favorites to move up as well.

The continent's top nine national squads will compete in the SPAR European Cup in Malaga, Spain, on June 28-29. Usually held the same weekend as the First and Second League matches, the Cup, formerly known as the Super League, was moved to a mid-week time frame to avoid clashing with the FIFA World Cup, an event now dominating broadcast and newspaper sports coverage not only in Europe, but throughout much of the world.

In North America the elite season is now over, with little on the schedule prior to next week's U.S. national championships set for June 21-25 in Indianapolis.

MEN –

Sprints --

In the ongoing Gatlin-Powell saga, it was Asafa Powell who made his next move count with his surprise 9.77 dash in Gateshead last Sunday (June 11) to equal his own world record in the 100 meters, one that he shares with Justin Gatlin, the world and Olympic champion.

"We were expecting a 9.9," Powell's manager, Paul Doyle told TPR on Thursday, adding that had Powell not eased up in the final few strides and then added a lean at the finish, he probably would have stopped the clock in "9.75 or 9.74." While the pair are set to clash in London on July 28 clash, Doyle emphasized that the Crystal Palace meeting won't necessarily be the first face-off of the year. The latest --"Things are different every day," Doyle said-- is that the two will meet twice this season, with a third head-to-head a possibility if they split their two meetings.

Well behind Powell in Gateshead was his training partner and 2005 world championships silver medallist Michael Frater with a season's best 10.06, just a hair ahead of Dwain Chambers (10.07). In his first outing since finishing up his Balco scandal-related suspension --and racing just hours after getting clearance from the IAAF and UK Athletics to compete-- Chambers' return was a shot in the arm for British sprinting, but with his sullied reputation, he puts British team selectors in a philosophical quandary.

Gatlin made news as well, with his 9.77 world record-equalling dash in Doha last month now officially ratified by the IAAF.

The other primary item in the short dash last week came at the NCAA championships, where 20-year-old Xavier Carter of Louisiana State won the short dash with a personal best 10.09, well ahead of 200 winner Walter Dix (10.18).

Sacramento was all "X-Man" all the time. The football standout was also instrumental in the victorious in the 4x100 and 4x400 relays, and won the 400 in 44.53, also a personal best, nearly two-tenths ahead of Florida State and Jamaica's Ricardo Chambers (44.71 PB), and David Nevill (44.94 PB).

Dix (20.25 2006, 20.18 PB, 2005), also just 20, won the NCAA 200 in 20.30 less than an hour after his runner-up finish in the 100.

Elsewhere, Sprint Capitol's Rodney Martin collected his second 200 meter win in three days in Lille last Friday (June 9) clocking 20.38, just shy of his 20.34 PB from last year. Gary Kikaya (44.72A 2006, 44.53 PB, 2002) continued his sub-45 consistency with a 44.83 win in Lille, and followed up with a 20.40 Congolese national record over the half-lap in Karlskrona, Sweden on Monday (June 12). Two-time world indoor champion Alleyne Francique of Grenada dipped under 45 seconds for the first time this season with his 44.94 win in Gateshead, 1/10 of a second clear of Michael Blackwood.

This weekend, the key sprinter to watch will be Olympic 100 meter silver medallist Francis Obikwelu of Portugal, who is in Thessaloniki for the European Cup First League Group B match where he'll contest both the 100 and 200.

World’s top five:
100m:
9.77 - Justin Gatlin, USA, Doha 12 May 
9.77 - Asafa Powell, JAM, Gateshead 11 Jun
9.85 - Olusoji A. Fasuba, NGR, Doha 12 May 
10.00 - Travis Padgett, USA, Greensboro, NC 27 May 
10.01 - Marcus Brunson, USA, Carson, CA 21 May
  [15 at 10.10 or better]

200m:
20.06 - Wallace Spearmon, USA, Carson, CA 21 May 
20.08 - Usain Bolt, JAM, Fort-de-France 29 Apr
20.12 - Tyson Gay, USA, Kingston 06 May 
20.13 - Xavier Carter, USA, Coral Gables, FL 15 Apr
20.18A - LaShawn Merritt, USA, Xalapa 13 May
  [15 at 20.35 or better]

400m:
44.12 - Jeremy Wariner, USA, Waco, TX 22 Apr
44.53 - Xavier Carter, USA, Sacramento, CA 10 Jun
44.67 - LaShawn Merritt, USA, Kingston 06 May
44.71 - Kerron Clement, USA, New York City, NY 03 Jun
44.71 - Ricardo Chambers, JAM, Sacramento, CA 10 Jun
  [21 at 45.10 or better]

Middle Distance --

Little news this past week in the middle distances, with the notable exceptions produced by a pair of relative newcomers. 20-year-old Saudia Mohammed Al-Salhi clocked a world-leading 1:44.40 at a small meeting in Rabat, Morocco, on Saturday (June 10), just 1/100 shy of his personal best set last year. Unheralded Mohamed Moustaoui of Morocco produced the biggest surprise in the middle & long distances in Gateshead with his 3:34.40 PB win in the 1500, more than 3/10s of a second clear of Bernard Lagat. The 21-year-old Moustaoui, fifth in Oslo's Dream Mile the weekend before, brought a PB of 3:36.20 to the race, and was the bronze medallist at the 2004 World Junior Championships.

World’s top five:
800m:
1:44.40 - Mohammed Al-Salhi, KSA, Rabat 10 Jun
1:44.59 - Mohammad K Al-Azemi, Oslo 02 Jun
1:44.65 - Dmitrijs Milkevics, LAT, Oslo 02 Jun
1:44.85 - Wilfred Bungei, KEN, Doha 12 May 
1:44.88 - Khadevis Robinson, USA, Walnut, CA 15 Apr
  [6 under 1:45.20]

1500m:
3:32.34 - Rashid Ramzi, BRN, Carson, CA 21 May 
3:32.94 - Bernard Lagat, USA, Carson, CA 21 May 
3:34.30 - Alex Kipchirchir, KEN, Doha 12 May 
3:34.40 - Mohamed Moustaoui, MAR, Gateshead 11 Jun
3:36.08 - Mark Fountain, AUS, Carson, CA 21 May 
  [13 under 3:37.00]

Mile:
3:50.32 - Alex Kipchirchir, KEN, Oslo 02 Jun
3:50.89 - Ivan Heshko, UKR, Oslo 02 Jun
3:51.53 - Bernard Lagat, USA, Eugene, OR 28 May
3:52.39 - Rashid Ramzi, BRN, Eugene, OR 28 May
3:52.41 - Daniel Kipchirchir Komen, KEN, Oslo 02 Jun
  [11 under 3:55.00]

Long Distance --

Again, the primary action was in Gateshead (June 11), where perennial threat Eliud Kipchoge of Kenya, smiling as he entered the homestretch, ended compatriot Isaac Songok's early season domination with a 7:33.54 to 7:33.62 win in the 3000. Lille brought the three fastest performances of the year in the steeplechase, with Olympic champion Ezekiel Kemboi (8:14.70) outkicking fellow-Kenyan Richard Matelong (8:15.05). Tareq Mubarak Taher of Bahrain, the former Kenyan Dennis Kipkirui Keter and reportedly just 17, was third with a national record 8:15.29.

Thessaloniki's European Cup First League match has the strongest individual fields this weekend, with Portugal's Olympic 1500 meter champion Rui Silva contesting the 3000 and Simon Vroeman of The Netherlands, the European record holder in the steeplechase, competing in his specialty.

World’s top five:
3000m:
7:28.98 - Isaac Kiprono Songok, KEN, Doha 12 May 
7:29.74 - Augustine Kiprono Choge, KEN, Doha 12 May 
7:30.48 - Eliud Kipchoge, KEN, Doha 12 May 
7:35.87 - Mike Kigen, KEN, Gateshead 11 Jun
7:36.44 - Tariku Bekele, ETH, Ostrava 30 May
  [15 under 7:42.00]

5000m:
12:55.79 - Isaac Kiprono Songok, KEN, Oslo 02 Jun
12:56.41 - Augustine Kiprono Choge, KEN, Melbourne 20 Mar 
12:58.19 - Craig Mottram, AUS, Melbourne 20 Mar 
12:58.22 - Kenenisa Bekele, ETH, Oslo 02 Jun
12:58.58 - Mike Kipruto Kigen, KEN, Oslo 02 Jun
  [18 under 13:10.00]

10,000m:
27:10.51 - Martin Irungu Mathathi, KEN, Kobe 23 Apr
27:15.90 - Ibrahim Jellan Gashu, ETH, Hengelo 28 May
27:16.75 - Micah Kogo, KEN, Hengelo 28 May
27:17.00 - Moses Mosop, KEN, Hengelo 28 May
27:19.45 - Bernard Kiprop Kipyego, KEN, Hengelo 28 May
  [13 under 27:40.00]

3000m S/C:
8:14.70 - Ezekiel Kemboi, KEN, Lille 9 Jun
8:15.05 - Richard Matelong, KEN, Lille 9 Jun
8:15.29 - Tareq Mubarak Taher, BRN, Lille 9 Jun
8:17.76 - Paul Kipsiele Koech, KEN, Prague 05 June
8:18.70 - Collins Kosgei, KEN, Lille 9 Jun
  [8 under 8:20.00]

Hurdles --

Aries Merritt of the University of Tennessee made his final collegiate race a memorable one after scorching to a personal best 13.21 win at the NCAA championships on Friday (June 9) to equal Olympic champion Liu Xiang as the early season world-leader. Shortly thereafter, Merritt, 20, announced that he'd forgo his remaining NCAA eligibility, and signed a professional contract.

The fastest performance in the full-lap event also came at the NCAAs, with Michael Tinsley's dominating 48.25 victory, a massive improvement from his previous best of 48.55 which came at last year's NCAAs where he finished third.

Elsewhere, Latvia's Stanislavs Olijars beat a solid field and a strong 2.4 m/s headwind in Gateshead (June 11) in 13.49, and 25-year-old Igor Peremota clocked a personal best 13.37 to win the Russian national title. In Lille (June 9), Dean Griffiths topped fellow Jamaican 48.81 to 48.86 over the full-lap.

In Thessaloniki's European Cup First League match, Periklís Iakovákis returns to action. Early last month, he lowered the Greek national record to 47.82.

World’s top five:
110mH:
13.21 - Xiang Liu, CHN, Eugene, OR 28 May
13.21 - Aries Merritt, USA, Sacramento, CA 9 Jun
13.22 - Terrence Trammell, USA, Fort-de-France 29 Apr
13.26 - Maurice Wignall, JAM, Melbourne 21 Mar
13.26A - Robby Hughes, USA, Xalapa 13 May
  [19 at 13.40 or better]

400mH:
47.60 - Bershawn Jackson, USA, Osaka 06 May 
47.82 - Periklís Iakovákis, GRE, Osaka 06 May 
47.93 - Kenji Narisako, JPN, Osaka 06 May 
48.05 - L.J. van Zyl, RSA, Melbourne 23 Mar
48.16 - James Carter, USA, Osaka 06 May
  [15 under 49.00]

Jumps --

Jesse Williams of Southern Cal took the NCAA title with a personal best 2.32 to end his collegiate season tied as the 2006 world-leader. But the week's major shock occured in Karlskrona, Sweden, where Linus Thornblad outjumped Olympic champion Stefan Holm with a 2.31 PB. The 21-year-old Thornblad, who leaped 2.34 indoors in February, got the nod for the Swedish team spot for this weekend's First League European Cup, ending Holm's 11-year stranglehold on the team slot. World indoor champion Yaroslav Rybakov, who was given the week off from the Russian championships in Tula, won in Lille last Friday (June 9) on the countback over Italy's Giulio Ciotti, with each clearing 2.30. In Rybakov's absence, Andrey Silnov equalled his personal best of 2.28 to win the Russian title on the countback on Thursday (June 15) over Ivan Ukhov and Andrey Tereshin.

World indoor champion Brad Walker improved to 5.85 this season with his win over Daichi Sawano (5.75) in Gateshead, the main item this week in the pole vault.

While things remained very quiet in the long jump, a pair of 17.42 leaps topped the weekly list in the triple jump, first by Briton Nathan Douglas in Geneva on Sunday (June 11), and then by Danila Burkenya on Thursday (June 15) to win the Russian title, season's bests for both. American Kenta Bell improved his season's best to 17.29 to finish second to Douglas, while Igor Spasovkhodskiy took second to Burkenya with a 17.12 effort, also a season's best.

Following four surgeries, Olympic champion Christian Olsson returned to action in Karlskrona, topping 17 meters twice, and ultimately winning the contest with a 17.09 leap. He is expected to compete this weekend the European Cup Firs League match in Prague.

Prague also boasts a strong high jump field, with Thornblad taking on co-world leader Svatoslav Ton on his home turf. At the Kusocinski Memorial in Warsaw on Sunday, Yuriy Krymarenko of Ukraine and Russia’s Yaroslav Rybakov --world outdoor and indoor champions respectively-- take on Holm.

World’s top five:
High Jump:
2.32 - Svatoslav Ton, CZE, Hengelo 28 May
2.32 - Jesse Williams, USA, Sacramento, CA 09 Jun
2.31 - Víctor Moya, CUB, La Habana 25 Mar
2.31 - Linus Thornblad, SWE, Karlskrona 12 Jun
2.30 - Jesse de Lima, BRA, Porto Alegre 07 May 
2.30A - Mickael Hanany, FRA, El Paso, TX 13 May
2.30 - Ivan Ukhov, RUS, Hengelo 28 May
2.30 - Stefan Holm, SWE, Torino 06 Jun
2.30 - Yaroslav Rybakov, RUS, Lille 09 Jun
2.30 - Giulio Ciotti, ITA, Lille 09 Jun
  [18 over 2.28]

Pole Vault:
5.91 - Steven Hooker, AUS, Melbourne 04 Mar
5.85 - Paul Burgess, AUS, Perth 21 Jan
5.85 - Brad Walker, USA, Gateshead 11 Jun
5.80 - Russ Buller, USA, Chula Vista, CA 20 May
5.80 - Tim Lobinger, GER, Kassel 08 Jun
  [9 over 5.75]

Long Jump:
8.56 - Irving Saladino, PAN, Rio de Janeiro 14 May
8.36 - Walter Davis, USA, Fort-de-France 29 Apr 
8.34 - Ibrahim Camejo, CUB, La Habana 24 Feb 
8.33 - Brian Johnson, USA, Fort-de-France 29 Apr 
8.30A - Dwight Phillips, USA, Xalapa 13 May
  [10 at 8.20 or better]

Triple Jump:
17.63 - Yoandri Betanzos, CUB, La Habana 04 Feb
17.62 - Walter Davis, USA, Baie Mahault 01 May 
17.45 - Phillips Idowu, GBR, Melbourne 25 Mar 
17.45 - Jadel Gregório, BRA, Belém 21 May 
17.42 - Nathan Douglas, GBR, Geneva 11 Jun
17.42 - Danila Burkenya, RUS, Tula 15 Jun
  [19 at 17.00 0r better]

Throws --

The hot shot to emerge from the loaded Gateshead (June 11) shot put field was American Christian Cantwell who increased his world lead with a mammoth 22.45 last round heave. Behind him, world indoor champion Reese Hoffa upped his personal best to 21.73 for second, with Dane Joachim Olsen also improving his best throw of the season to 21.13, while four others topped 20 meters as well. The north England appearance topped a solid weekend for Hoffa, who beat world champion Adam Nelson in Lille the Friday (June 9) before with a 21.70 toss. At home in Leiden, Rutger Smith extended the Dutch national record to 21.62 on Saturday (June 10), while Pavel Sofin took the Russian title on Sunday (June 11) with a 20.58 personal best.

It was perhaps fitting that two-time world and Olympic champion Virgilijus Alekna took top honors at his epomymous meet in the Lithuanian capital last Saturday (June 10), improving his season's best to 69.73 in the process. How popular is Alekna at home? A crowd of 10,000 turned out for the one-event meet to watch the 34-year-old extend his unbeaten streak to 13. In the week's only major discus competition, world championships silver medallist Gerd Kanter from Estonia was second (65.50), with Hungary's Zoltan Kovago, the Olympic silver medallist, third (55.00).

Finn Tero Pitkämäki moved up to No. 3 on the yearly javelin list after his 89.52 win at a small domestic meet in Joensuu, while Sergey Makarov collected yet another Russian title on Tuesday (June 13), reaching 84.65, ahead of Aleksandr Ivanov's season's beat 84.22.

World’s top five:
Shot Put:
22.45 - Christian Cantwell, USA, Gateshead 11 Jun
21.76 - Reese Hoffa, USA, Gateshead 11 Jun
21.62 - Rutger Smith, NED, Leiden 10 Jun
21.59 - Dan Taylor, USA, New York City, NY 03 Jun
21.44 - Adam Nelson, USA, Eugene, OR 28 May
  [17 at 20.50 or better]

Discus:
70.82 - Aleksander Tammert, EST, Denton, TX 15 Apr
69.95 - Zoltán Kövágó, HUN Salon-de-Provence 25 May 
69.73 - Virgilijus Alekna, LTU, Vilnius 10 Jun
69.38 - Lars Riedel, GER, Wiesbaden 13 May 
68.91 - Ian Waltz, USA, Salinas CA 24 May
  [19 at 64.50 or better]

Hammer:
81.49 - Valeriy Sviatokha, BLR, Brest, BLR 27 May 
81.36 - Szymon Ziólkowski, POL, Rehlingen 05 Jun
80.32 - Markus Esser, GER, Fränkisch-Crumbach 04 Jun
79.82 - Koji Murofushi, JPN, Ostrava 29 May
79.81 - Vadim Devyatovskiy, BLR, Bydgoszcz 01 Jun
  [20 at 77.00 or better]

Javelin:
91.59 - Andreas Thorkildsen, NOR, Oslo 02 Jun
90.43 - Vadims Vasilevskis, LAT, Riga 27 May 
89.52 - Tero Pitkämäki, FIN, Joensuu 11 Jun
88.49 - Sergey Makarov, RUS, Ostrava 30 May
86.07 - Jan Zelezný, CZE, Doha 12 May
  [16 at 82.00 or better]

Multis --

In the only major decathlon competition of the week, 21-year-old Aleksey Sysoyev won the Russian title with an 8084 point tally. NCAA record holder Trey Hardee met with disaster at the NCAA championships after a no-height in the pole vault, to finish a distant ninth. Capitalizing best was Arizona's Jake Arnold who took the title with a modest 7870 total.

World’s top five:
Decathlon:
8677 - Bryan Clay, USA, Götzis 28 May
8465 - Trey Hardee, USA, Austin TX 06 Apr
8333w - Roman Sebrle, CZE, Arles  04 Jun
8293 - Dmitriy Karpov, KAZ, Götzis 28 May 
8269 - Maurice Smith, JAM, Götzis 28 May
  [19 at 8000 points or more]

WOMEN –

Sprints --

As with the men, the chief competition last week was in Gateshead (June 11), with each outcome reflected in the world's top five. Torri Edwards continued her comeback from a doping suspension with a dominating 11.06 win and season's best, more than 3/10s ahead of 2001 world champion Zhanna Block. Edwards improved her season's best in the 200 to 20.50, but was no match for 400 ace Sanya Richards, who blistered to a hugh personal best 22.25 to suddenly emerge as a viable force in the half-lap. With Richards absent from the 400, world and Olympic champion Tonique Williams Darling showed that she at least plans to remain a thorn in the side of the rising Richards, winning in 50.13 over Jamaican Shericka Williams' 50.24 breakthrough. Williams is still 20, younger than Richards.

At the Russian championships on Tuesday (June 13), Svetlana Pospelova produced the year's third sub-50 performance (the other two belong to Richards) with her 49.99 win, well ahead of Natalya Antyukh's 50.47.

In Sacramento, Jamaican Kerron Stewart, the year's second fastest in the short dash (11.03), produced the quickest time at the NCAA championships (11.18), but unfortunately, it didn't come in the final where she was upset by South Carolina's Amberly Nesbitt in a modest (w -1.4) 11.34 to 11.36. Favorite Shalonda Solomon of South Carolina won the half-lap in 22.62, with the 22-year-old Stewart (22.65 PB) again the runner-up. After a PB 51.06 in the semis, Texas A&M's Clora Williams won the 400 in 51.11.

World’s top five:
100m:
10.99 - Veronica Campbell, JAM, Carson, CA 21 May 
11.03 - Kerron Stewart, JAM, Fayetteville, AR 14 May
11.04 - Allyson Felix, USA, Lawrence, KS 22 Apr
11.06A - Marion Jones, USA, Xalapa 13 May 
11.06 - Me'Lisa Barber, USA, Carson, CA 21 May
11.06 - Torri Edwards, USA, Gateshead 11 Jun
  [21 at 11.20 or better]

200m:
22.14 - Sherone Simpson, JAM, Kingston 06 May
22.23A - Carol Rodriguez, PUR, Provo, UT 26 May
22.25 - Sanya Richards, USA, Gateshead 11 Jun
22.36 - Shalonda Solomon, USA, Fayetteville, AR 14 May
22.50 - Torri Edwards, USA,Gateshead 11 Jun
  [11 at 22.70 or better]

400m:
49.82 - Sanya Richards, USA, Oslo 02 June
49.99 - Svetlana Pospelova, RUS, Tula 13 Jun
50.13 - Tonique Williams Darling, BAH Gateshead 11 Jun
50.24 - Shericka Williams, JAM, Gateshead 11 Jun
50.28 - Christine Ohuruogu, GBR, Melbourne 21 Apr
  [14 under 51.00]

Middle Distance --

It's become quite a predictable annual ritual: the women's middle distance world lists undergo a major revision after the Russian national championships conclude. It began in the 800 on Wednesday (June 14) with Yuliya Chizhenko's 1:57.07 win, a world leader and personal best (previous 1:57.21) for the world indoor 1500 champion. Behind her, four others dipped under 1:57.3, while five of the first seven notched career bests.

The 1500 on Thursday (June 15), was equally impressive, won by Yelena Soboleva with a PB 4:00.47, also a world leader. Runner-up Natalya Pantelyeva, 22, achieved a major breakthrough with her 4:00.81 clocking, nearly 13 seconds better than her pre-champs career best from 2004. Veteran Olga Yegorova, the 2001 world champion at 5000, was third in 4:01.31, the year's third fastest clocking. Two-time world champion Tatyana Tomashova, already given a spot on the Russian squad for August's European championships, was given the week off by team selectors.

Prior to the rampage in Tula, Commonwealth champion Janeth Jepkosgei improved her own world lead in the event with a Kenyan national record of 1:57.22, easily holding off rapidly improving Briton Rebecca Lynn who stormed through the two-minute barrier with a 1:58.20 personal best of her own.

World’s top five:
800m:
1:57.07 - Yuliya Chizhenko, RUS, Tula 14 Jun
1:57.21 - Svetlana Klyuka, RUS, Tula 14 Jun
1:57.22 - Janeth Jepkosgei, KEN, Gateshead 11 Jun
1:57.23 - Svetlana Cherkasova, RUS, Tula 14 Jun
1:57.24 - Olga Kotlyarova, RUS, Tula 14 Jun
  [17 under 2:00.00]

1500m:
4:00.47 - Yelena Soboleva, RUS, Tula 15 Jun
4:00.81 - Natalya Pantelyeva, RUS, Tula 15 Jun
4:01.31 - Olga Yegorova, RUS, Tula 15 Jun
4:01.81 - Tatyana Tomashova, RUS, Eugene, OR 28 May
4:02.23 - Yelena Kanales, RUS, Tula 15 Jun
  [14 at 4:05.00 or faster]

Mile:
4:29.15 - Sarah Jamieson, AUS, Melbourne 18 Feb
4:31.08 - Lisa Corrigan, AUS, Melbourne 18 Feb

Long Distance --

Gateshead again provided most of the highlights in the distance events in an otherwise quiet week, with 5000/10,000 world champion Tirunesh Dibaba leading an Ethiopian parade to the line in the 3000, winning handily in 8:42.04, well ahead of Berhane Adere's 8:44.82.

The other highlights came at the Russian championships, with Galina Bogomolova 31:31.58 win in the 10,000 over Inga Abitova's PB 31:32.24, and Lyubov Ivanova's 9:26.54 win in the steeplechase over Yelena Sidorchenkova's 9:27.35, a 15 second improvement for the latter.

World’s top five:
3000m:
8:40.55 - Priscah Jepleting Ngetich, KEN, Ostrava 30 May
8:40.99 - Meselech Melkamu, ETH, Ostrava 30 May
8:42.04 - Tirunesh Dibaba, ETH, Gateshead 11 Jun
8:42.38 - Pauline Chemning Korikwiang, KEN, Ostrava 30 May
8:44.82 - Berhane Adere, ETH, Gateshead 11 Jun
  [10 under 8:50.00]

5000m:
14:24.53 - Meseret Defar, ETH, New York City, NY 03 Jun
14:30.40 - Tirunesh Dibaba, ETH, Oslo 02 Jun
14:33.52 - Ejegayehu Dibaba, ETH, Oslo 02 Jun
14:33.84 - Edith Masai, KEN, Oslo 02 Jun
14:35.30 - Priscah Jepleting Ngetich, KEN, Oslo 02 Jun
  [16 under 15:00.00]

10,000m:
30:21.67 - Elvan Abeylegesse, TUR, Antalya 15 Apr
31:29.66 - Lucy Wangui, KEN, Melbourne 21 Mar 
31:30.86 - Everline Wambui, KEN, Melbourne 21 Mar
31:31.58 - Galina Bogomolova, RUS, Tula 14 Jun
31:32.24 - Inga Abitova, RUS, Tula 14 Jun
  [15 under 32:00.00]

3000m S/C:
9:19.51 - Docus Inzikuru, UGA, Melbourne 22 Mar
9:24.29 - Melissa Rollison, AUS, Melbourne 22 Mar 
9:25.05 - Donna MacFarlane, AUS, Melbourne 22 Mar 
9:26.54 - Lyubov Ivanova, RUS, Tula 12 Jun
9:27.35 - Yelena Sidorchenkova, Tula 12 Jun
  [13 under 9:40.00]

Hurdles --

The big story emerged from the NCAAs, and her name is Ginnie Powell. Opening with a world-leading 12.55 in the semis, the USC senior dashed to a 12.48 win in the final, making the 22-year-old the fifth fastest American ever and an early favorite for the U.S. title next weekend in Indianapolis. Behind her, Canadian Priscilla Lopes improved to 12.60, to move to No. 2 on the yearly list.

Swede Susanna Kallur cruised to a brisk 12.68 win in Karlskrona (June 12), well ahead of American Danielle Carruthers (12.76), whil Brigitte Foster-Hylton (12.70) took an easy win over compatriot Delloreen Ennis-London (12.81) in Lille (June 9).

Auburn's Markita James produced the fastest performance over the full-lap hurdles with her 54.47 win at the NCAAs. The 22-year-old began the season with just a 57.41 personal best. Another 22-year-old to make a big jump was Vanya Stabolova after her 54.55 win at the Bulgarian championships on Sunday (June 11), eclipsing her previous best of 56.29 set last year by more than a second-and-a-half. Tasha Danvers-Smith was the winner in Gateshead (June 11) in 54.85, while Yevgeniya Isakova won the Russian title in 55.09.

In news off the track, world leader Jana Pittman announced that she'll be taking the rest of the year off to have her first child.

World’s top five:
100mH:
12.48 - Ginnie Powell, USA, Sacramento CA 09 Jun
12.60 - Priscilla Lopes, CAN, Sacramento CA 09 Jun
12.63 - Michelle Perry, USA, Eugene, OR 28 May
12.64 - Damu Cherry, USA, Eugene, OR 28 May
12.65 - Brigitte Foster-Hylton, JAM, Melbourne 23 Mar
  [16 at 12.80 or faster]

400mH:
53.82 - Jana Pittman, AUS, Melbourne 23 Mar
54.00 - Lashinda Demus, USA, Carolina, PUR 18 May
54.45 - Yevgeniya Isakova, RUS, Valencia 27 May
54.47 - Markita James, USA, Sacramento CA 10 Jun
54.69 - Tiffany Ross-Williams, USA, Belém 21 May
  [18 under 55.50]

Jumps --

Gateshead provided the highest jump of the week in the shape of Chaunte Howard's 1.98, beating fellow-American Amy Acuff's 1.96. Howard, last year's surprise silver medallist at the world championships, was the season's first two meter jumper.

Svetlana Feofanova, bronze medallist at the world indoor championships and former world record holder, opened her outdoor campaign with a 4.55 victory at the Russian championships, where she competed in windy and rainy conditions. Tatyana Polnova (4.50) was second. In Lille (June 9) French record holder Vanessa Boslak topped Germany's Nastja Ryjikh, with each clearing 4.50, a personal best for the 27-year-old German.

Olympic champion Tatyana Lebedeva of Russia, already the world leader in the triple jump, reached 6.95 for a dominating victory in Gateshead --British heptahlete Kelly Sotherton was a distant second (6.67)-- while Russian domination of the world lists continued at the national championships on Thursday (June 15), won by world leader Oksana Udmurtova over Lyudmila Kolchanova, with each reaching 6.97.

The Russian championships produced the only performances of note in the triple jump, where Anna Pyatykh reached a near season's best of 14.67 to win on Monday (June 12), over Yelena Oleynikova's 14.63.

This weekend, high jumper Blanka Vlasic of Croatia returns to action in the Second League match in Banska Bystrica, Slovakia, where she'll hope to lead her squad back to the First League, while Monika Pyrek, the world championships silver medallist, headlines the pole vault at home in Warsaw.

World’s top five:
High Jump:
2.03 - Venelina Veneva, BUL, Filothei 31 May
2.00 - Chaunte Howard, USA, Walnut, CA 15 Apr
2.00 - Blanka Vlašic, CRO, Ostrava 30 May
1.99 - Yelena Slesarenko, RUS, Eugene, OR 28 May
1.98 - Tia Hellebaut, BEL, Oslo 02 Jun
  [10 at 1.95 or higher]

Pole Vault:
4.70 - Anna Rogowska, POL, Sopot 03 Jun
4.62 - Kym Howe-Nadin, AUS, Melbourne 25 Mar
4.60 - Chelsea Johnson, USA, Eugene, OR 14 May
4.60 - Monika Pyrek, POL, Biala Podlaska 27 May
4.58 - Lacy Janson, USA, Winston-Salem, NC 20 Apr
  [16 at 4.50 or higher]

Long Jump:
7.02 - Oksana Udmurtova, RUS, Doha 12 May 
7.00 - Lyudmila Kolchanova, RUS, Sochi 26 May
6.97 - Bronwyn Thompson, AUS, Melbourne 24 Mar
6.97 - Tatyana Lebedeva, RUS, Doha 12 May 
6.86 - Kumiko Ikeda, JPN, Osaka 06 May
  [11 at 6.70 or farther]

Triple Jump:
15.00 - Tatyana Lebedeva, RUS, Torino 06 Jun
14.68 - Anna Pyatykh, RUS, Filothei 31 May
14.64 - Hrysopiyí Devetzí, GRE, Athína (Ellinikó) 29 Apr
14.63 - Yelena Oleynikova, RUS, Tula 12 Jun
14.60 - Yargelis Savigne, CUB, La Habana 24 Feb
14.60 - Viktoriya Gurova, RUS, Sochi 28 May
  [8 at 14.40 or farther]

Throws --

Again, the Russian Championships produced the most sterling results, topped by Gulfiya Khanafeyeva's 77.26 world record in the hammer throw on Monday (June 12). The 24-year-old, who took bronze at the 2003 European Under-23 Championships, added 20 centimeters to the previous mark set by Tatyana Lysenko in Moscow last year. Lysenko, still just 22 and the reigning world championships bronze medallist, didn't go down easy, reaching 76.34, her farthest effor of the year. In a strong competition, two others --Yelena Konevtsova (72.88) and Yekaterina Khoroshik (72.16)-- threw beyond 72 meters. The previous Friday (June 9) in Lille, Betty Heidler continued her breakout season, with yet another German record, this time reaching 75.38. Last month Khanafeyeva became the sixth woman to join the event's 75-meter club; the 22-year-old Heidler, who began the season with a 72.73 best, is now the seventh.

Olympic champion Natalya Sadova had no equals at the Russian championships, where she reached 66.55 for her ninth national title in the event and sixth consecutive win, and fourth this season. A distant second was 20-year-old Darya Pishchalnikova, who reached a personal best 62.96.

The Russian shot put title went to 37-year old Irina Khudoroshkina, the 1996 Olympic bronze medallist, who reached a season's best 18.84, to easily top Olga Ryabinkina's 18.56, also a season's best. Lada Chernova won the javelin competition in Tula with a personal best 61.25 to move up to No. 11 on the year.

In Warsaw on Sunday, Sadova will be challenged by Czech Vera Cechlová, while Heidler returns to action in the hammer.

World’s top five:
Shot Put:
20.20 - Valerie Vili, NZL, Christchurch 28 Jan
19.66 - Yumileidi Cumbá, CUB, 1Neuwied-Engers 24 May
19.19 - Petra Lammert, GER, Neuwied-Engers 24 May
19.18 - Natallia Khoroneko, BLR, Tel Aviv 18 Mar 
18.97 - Olga Ivanova, RUS, Sochi 27 May
18.93 - Nadine Kleinert, GER, Neuwied-Engers 24 May
  [14 at 18.50 or farther]

Discus:
67.24 - Natalya Sadova, RUS, Ostrava 30 May
66.01 - Wioletta Potepa, POL, Halle 20 May
66.00 - Yania Ferrales, CUB, La Habana 10 Feb
65.78 - Franka Dietzsch, GER, Kassel 08 Jun
65.44 - Vera Cechlová, CZE, Salon-de-Provence 25 May
  [18 at 62.00 or better]

Hammer:
77.26 - Gulfiya Khanafeyeva, RUS, Tula 12 Jun
76.34 - Tatyana Lysenko, RUS, Tula 12 Jun
75.38 - Betty Heidler, GER, Lille 09 Jun
74.69 - Oksana Menkova, BLR, Stayki 21 May
74.69 - Yipsi Moreno, CUB, Ostrava 29 May
  [23 at 70 or better]

Javelin:
65.28 - Barbora Špotáková, CZE, Valencia 27 May
65.26 - Nikola Brejchová, CZE, Ostrava 30 May
65.02 - Osleidis Menéndez, CUB, Santiago de Cuba 04 Mar
64.07 - Steffi Nerius, GER, Kienbaum 20 Feb
62.77 - Sonia Bisset, CUB, Fortaleza 17 May
  [22 at 60.00 or farther]

Multis:

23-year-old Yuliya Ignatkina provided the week's only highlight in the heptathlon after her personal best 6463 point tally to take the Russian title on Tuesday (June 13). Her previous best of 6120 came in 2004 when she won the European Cup multi crown in Hengelo. Alena Ivleva was a distant second with 6102 points, her first tally beyond the 6000 mark. Three others topped 6000 points as well.

World’s top five:
Heptathlon:
6719 - Carolina Klüft, SWE, Götzis 28 May
6463 - Yuliya Ignatkina, RUS, Tula 13 Jun
6448 - Lyudmyla Blonska, UKR, Götzis 28 May
6396 - Kelly Sotherton, GBR, Melbourne 22 Mar
6335 - Lilli Schwarzkopf, GER, Götzis 28 May
  [24 beyond 6000 points]

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