Kim Gevaert takes 100m victory in Liège (© Nadia Verhoft)
Liège, BelgiumKim Gevaert enjoyed an emphatic win yesterday at the meeting of the province of Liège. She was excited about the way she dominated the field in the 100m in 11.20. Other highlights were the 800m victory by Australian Tamsyn Lewis and the kick finish of Lauren Fleshman who won the 5000m.
Gevaert on schedule for Osaka
Gevaert is heading confidently for the World championships in Osaka now. The Belgian sprint champion went through a few weeks of tough training and she wants to reach her best form in Japan at the end of August. “I have been training very well and I am perfectly on schedule with my preparation. I put Liège, Heusden-Zolder and London on my competition programme to boost my confidence. I hope to run season best performances in the next days”, said Gevaert before her 100m race.
Sani Roseby came the fastest off the blocks, but Gevaert accelerated impressively and flew past the American, showing perfect technique and great style. She crossed the line in 11.20, Roseby came in second in 11.34, beating Cydonie Mothersill into third place in 11.39.
“I’m very pleased with the way my race went today”, said Gevaert. “My start was a bit sluggish, but the latter stages of the race were just fine. My goals lie with the World championships in Osaka. I am aiming to reach both sprint finals there. The 200m remains my strongest event and I definitely want to perform at my highest competitive level in Osaka”.
Tamsyn Lewis consistent at 800m
The women’s 800m pace was set by Julian Clay and she came through in 57.5 at 400m. Australian Tamsyn Lewis stayed with the pace and left the field far behind in an irresistible finishing effort.
“Yes, I was able to continue hard until the finish, but I do feel very tired anyway. This is my second race in a week time, but it proves that I am very fit,” said Lewis, who already ran sub 2 minutes in the World Athletics Tour meetings in Athens and in Madrid and she repeated that feat yesterday with a 1.59.70 effort.
“Well, it was nice to have a win today. I run in Zaragoza on Saturday and after that I’ll be happy to return to Australia. I love racing and I love to travel on the European circuit, but after eight weeks I’m starting to miss my family and my coach”, said Lewis.
Strong finishing kick from Fleshman at 5000m
The pace in the women’s 5000m dropped dramatically in the middle part of the race and it was only when Bizunesh Urgessa went to the lead that the race really unfolded. The 17-year-old Ethiopian made a very strong move and literally spread the field apart. Molly Huddle, Mary Cullen and Lauren Fleshman gradually closed in and it was the American who went off with 500m to go. Fleshman crowned her 15:08.07 win with a 62 seconds last lap. “It came as a big surprise to me as well”, said Fleshman. “This is my second best career performance. Of course I would have loved to break the 15 minutes mark today, but still I’m happy with the way the race went. I smashed my 1500m personal best last week and I feel very confident now.”
Fleshman was fourth at the US trials and did not qualify for the World championships. “But I am dreaming of going to the Olympics next year. I am a strong finisher and I want to protect my kick. I just need to become a bit stronger now to become competitive at the highest international level.”
Thomas fast at 200m, Wilson the best in Triple Jump
Dwight Thomas (JAM) won his 100m heat in 10.25 into a 2,5m headwind. The other heat was won by Leroy Dixon (USA) in 10.20. The 200m duel between Thomas and Poland’s Marcin Jedrusinski was won by the Jamaican in 20.44. James Kosgei faded in the latter stages of the men’s 3000m but still secured victory in 7:42.64. The Pole Vault competition did not really live up to the high expectations. Pavel Gerasimov won at countback at 5.60m ahead of Richard Spiegelburg and Toby Stevenson who cleared the same height. Aarik Wilson produced another 17m jump in winning the Triple Jump with 17.04m.
Ivo Hendrix for the IAAF
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