News22 May 2006


Ramzi runs all-time U.S.A all-comers 1500m best in Carson

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Rashid Ramzi holds off Lagat in Carson (© Kirby Lee/Image of Sport)

Carson, California, USAWorld 800m and 1500m champion Rashid Ramzi of Bahrain was the headliner of the adidas Track Classic at the Home Depot Center in Southern California on Sunday 21 May. Though Wallace Spearmon’s world lead win over Jeremy Wariner at 200m (20.06 to 20.19 PB), and Veronica Campbell (JAM) world season quickest in the women’s 100m (10.99) also stood out.

The adidas Track Classic was the second stop of the USA Track & Field Visa Championship Series.

Coe’s mark is surpassed by Ramzi

Ramzi, who last year on his last outing in the USA ran a Bahraini Mile record (3:51.33 – 4 June 2005, Eugene), yesterday won the men’s 1500m in 3:32.34 after a spirited homestretch duel with Bernard Lagat to run the fastest time ever seen on American soil. Ramzi’s time erased the previous all-comers best of 3:32.53 run in the U.S.A by Sebastian Coe (GBR) when retaining his Olympic title at the 1984 final at the nearby Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum. Coe is of course now an IAAF Council member and Chairman of London’s successful 2012 Olympic Games bid.

In Carson, Lagat was second in 3:32.94 for the fastest mark by an American at a U.S. All-Comers meet on a chilly, breezy overcast afternoon.

“To run a great time under these conditions and take those great athletes off the (all-time) list is very important,” Ramzi said through an interpreter. “Running with Bernard made it a lot easier. When you don’t have high quality people in competition, it makes it difficult to even go for records.’’

Lagat grabbed the lead over Ramzi at the bell but the Bahraini quickly responded to regain the lead and held off a strong challenge by Lagat down the final straight. “That last part of the race (Ramzi) ran better than me because he has a lot more speed,” Lagat said.

Prefontaine Mile next for Ramzi and Lagat

Ramzi is on a three-week visit to the USA that will also include an appearance in the Mile against Lagat at the IAAF World Athletics Tour meet, Prefontaine Classic in Eugene, Oregon. on 28 May.

“I really wasn’t sure what kind of time that I would have,” Ramzi said. “My training was good but I didn’t know where it would be in a race situation.’’

For Lagat, a 2000 and 2004 Olympic medalist for his native Kenya who now holds American citizenship, Sunday’s race was his latest imprint on the U.S. list. In 2005, Lagat set U.S. indoor 1,500m and mile records of 3:34.34 and 3:49.89 and the American outdoor 1500m record of 3:29.30.

“This is a good start for me,” Lagat said. “It’s really a great accomplishment when you train and you really want to achieve a lot of things and this is what it leads to.’’

Spearmon defeats Wariner in 200m

Wallace Spearmon ran a controlled race in the men’s 200m from lane 5 and had the race well in hand before shutting down in the last 10m for a 20.06 to 20.19 win over Jeremy Wariner, a personal best for the latter.

Spearmon said that as well as Wariner, he was equally as concerned about the strength of his training partner Omar Brown of Jamaica to his right in the sixth lane. Brown finished third in 20.33.

“I felt (Wariner) coming off the turn and his presence was strong,” Spearmon said. “I was also worried about Omar. You have to run your own race. You can’t run for anybody else.”

Wariner, running in lane 4, said he knew he was on pace for a personal best after sticking with 2005 World silver medallist Spearmon off the curve. “I knew he has a better straight than a curve so I know if I get out and get next to him that I would be in good position to try to win and get a good time,” said Wariner. “I can’t complain. My times get lower and lower each time. My turnover is getting quicker now. There a lot of things to work on to get lower.”
  
Wariner moving up the 200 - 400m list

Wariner’s latest 200m PB of 20.19 moved him into fifth spot on the all-time 200m-400m list based on IAAF scoring tables. The 2004 Olympic and 2005 World 400m champion, who entered the year with a 200m personal best of 20.59, smashed his previous mark of 20.37 run six weeks ago in Arlington, Texas.        Wariner, who has run 20.19 and 43.93, trails only Michael Johnson (19.32 and 43.18),  Danny Everett (20.08 and 43.81), Tommie Smith (19.83 and 44.64) and Butch Reynolds (20.46 and 43.29) as a combination sprinter.

Campbell wins duel with Barber in Women’s 100m
 
In the women’s 100, Veronica Campbell emerged victorious in her latest sprint duel with the 2006 World Indoor 60 champion Me’Lisa Barber. In February, Campbell defeated Barber in a photo finish in the indoor 60m in the Millrose Games where both sprinters recorded identical times of 7.10 and in the Tyson Invitational, 7.04 to 7.10, on the indoor circuit. On Sunday, Campbell led out of the blocks and held off a late charge by Barber for a 10.99 to 11.06 victory. Torri Edwards was third in 11.17.

“The key was to be patient and execute the race, regardless of how you start,” said Campbell. “That’s what I felt I was able to do today.’’ Barber also felt encouraged by her performance, the fastest 100m season debut of her career. Barber said that she was tentative in the blocks because of a sore hamstring and a sub-11 is within reach at full strength. “I am usually a strong blocks starter,” Barber said. “Once I work on that I will be fine.”

Perry earns redemption in 100m Hurdles

Only a 2.3m per-second wind in the women’s 100m Hurdles prevented another yearly global leading mark by reigning World champion Michelle Perry. Perry timed 12.61 to take the lead on the eighth barrier to defeat Jenny Adams (12.66), Perdita Felicien (12.72) and Anjanette Kirkland (12.74).

Equally important as time for Perry was redemption for a fall in the Qatar Super Grand Prix on 12 May and maintaining her focus on the last five hurdles. “The race was truly a makeup race for me because Doha didn’t go the way that I wanted to even though the conditions were great, the people were great and experience was wonderful,” said Perry. “I just wanted to come out here today and run a better race.”

Jamieson continues good Women’s 1500m form

Sarah Jamieson of Australia added to her dominance of the world yearly 1500m list with her win in 4:05.54 to give the Commonwealth Games Silver medallist the top four times in the world this year. Jamieson also has efforts of 4:03.51 at Osaka (6 May), 4:05.18 at Brisbane (3 March) and 4:05.52 in Sydney (2 March) to her credit.

Kenia Sinclair of Jamaica finished second in 4:08.89 to edge Christin Wurth-Thomas (4:08.91) and Liu Qing (4:08.97).

In the men’s Two Mile, Ethiopia’s Markos Geneti pulled away for a decisive victory in the two miles in 8:19.61 over Alistair Cragg (8:23.75) and Ian Dobson (8:23.75). American record holder Alan Webb faded to sixth in 8:33.92.

Khadevis Robinson won the men’s 800m in 1:45.23 to add to his invitational victories in the Mt. San Antonio College and Modesto Relays, while Blake Russell opened the meet program by clocking a U.S. leading 8:51.57 to win the women’s 3000m over Kara Goucher (8:55.05) and Sara Slattery (8:58.09).

Richards drops down to take Women’s 200m win
 
While World champion Allyson Felix watched the race in street clothes sidelined by a sore hamstring, women’s World 400m silver medallist and the fastest in the world this year, Sanya Richards posted a 200m win in a wind-aided 22.42 over Crystal Cox (22.61) and LaShauntea Moore (22.64).

Dee Dee Trotter won the 400m in Richards’ absence in 51.19 to hold off Novlene Williams of Jamaica (51.38) and Monique Henderson (51.49). After the meet, Trotter celebrated her victory with Me’Lisa Barber dancing to a performance by hip-hop artist Bow Wow.

In the meet’s lone field event, Jenn Stuczynski won the women’s Pole Vault at 4.41m on fewer misses over Gao Shuying of China.

Rock and Brunson post fast sprint wins

Andrew Rock controlled the 400m to win in 44.83 over Jamaicans Jermaine Gonzalez (45.00) and Michael Blackwood (45.22). Otis Harris and Tyree Washington were fourth and fifth in 45.30 and 45.55.

Marcus Brunson was a surprise winner out of lane 9 in the men’s 100m in 10.01. Tyson Gay and Marc Burns were second and third, both timed in 10.04. World Indoor 60m champion Leonard Scott was fourth in 10.05.

Derek Williams won the 400m Hurdles with a lean at the tape over Michael Tinsley (48.98) and LeRon Bennett (48.99).

Kirby Lee for the IAAF

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