Merlene Ottey in Osaka (© Getty Images)
Sprinters Matic Osovnikar and Sabina Veit stole the spotlight at the Slovenian national championships over the weekend in Slovenia's second largest city, Maribor.
Osovnikar, a finalist in the 100m in Osaka last summer and the 2006 European bronze medallist, produced his finest effort of the season by far, winning the dash in 10.16 (w +1.0) on Saturday (19). His run was just 0.03 seconds shy of his national record set in the Osaka heats last summer.
Veit won Sunday's 200m final in 22.74, just 0.02 seconds shy of Merlene Ottey's national record set at the 2004 Olympic Games and an Olympic A standard performance. It was a dramatic improvement for the 22-year-old, who had already run a personal best of 23.14 in the first round. Just a year ago, Veit was an 11.70/23.60 performer.
One more chance for Ottey to earn 8th Olympic trip
Beijing-bound Pia Tajnikar won the 100m on Saturday in 11.52, ahead of Merlene Ottey's 11.61. The 48-year-old Ottey will have one more chance to to secure a spot for an unprecedented eighth trip to the Olympic Games. Tajnikar is currently the fastest Slovenian at 11.35, well inside the Beijing B standard and Ottey, who has clocked 11.60 this year, will have to be significantly faster at a last chance meeting in Maribor on Tuesday.
On the rebound from a minor knee injury Osaka Hammer Throw silver medallist Primoz Kozmus was content with his 77.86m victory.
21-year-old Nina Kolaric, who extended the national record in the Long Jump to 6.72m this season, went nearly as far, leaping 6.68m for the victory. She was well ahead of star triple jumper Marija Sestak --who skipped her preferred event-- who produced a best of just 6.31m, before pulling out with minor leg strain. In Sestak's absence, Snezana Rodic took the title in the triple Jump, reaching a wind-assisted 14.29m.
Elsewhere, Osaka 800m finalist Brigita Langerholc tuned up with a 53.74 win in the 400m, Jan Zumer won the 200m in 20.80, and Rozle Prezelj won the High Jump with a 2.24m leap. National record holder Martina Ratej took the javelin with a 58.04m throw, and Miran Vodovnik collected an easy victory in the Shot Put (19.21m).
Bob Ramsak for the IAAF
