December 2003

Mirela Manjani and Periklis Iakovakis named Athletes of the Year for Greece
Dec 31. One more year the Athlete of Year Awards for Greece go to athletics. The Javelin Throw World Champion and season's world leader Mirela Manjani, named woman Athlete of the Year for Greece. Manjani receives for first time this country's award, although she had top world achievements in the past, while Periklis Iakovakis, bronze medalist in Paris in the 400 m.hurdles, won the award in men's category.
Mirela Manjani, was clearly the best sportswoman in Greece for 2003. She dominates the javelin throw world list, while she named javelin thrower of the year by the Track and Field News Magazine. She was also 9th in the competition for the European Athlete of the Year, where we had a Swedish double, for Carolina Kluft and Cristian Olsson.
Iakovakis is the best european 400 m. hurdles runner for this year and a hot prospect for the future of the Greek athletics.
In 2003, 8 Greek men and 11 women entered the top 10 European Lists, more than any year before.
The indoor season opens in Greece on January 10th, with the first athletics meeting to be held in Ierapetra, Crete.

Mutola and Sanchez named Athletes of the Year by the Track and Field News Magazine. Jones and Montgomery in "Athina 2004" meeting.
Dec 10. Maria Lurdes Mutola and Felix Sancez named athletes of the year by the Track and Field News Magazine.
On the meanwhile, the Greek Federation announced that Marion Jones, Tim Montgomery and Josua Johnson will be among the participants of the international indoor meeting "Athina 2004" to be held in Peania on February 22. For Jones will be the first race in Greece after the World Championships in Athens '97. Svetlana Feofanova and Yelena Isinbayeva are also among the early entries of the meeting.
November 2003

IAAF Council Meeting, Berlin
Nov 22. (From IAAF) MONACO - IAAF Council, meeting today in Berlin, has approved a proposal received from the organisers of the 2004 Olympic Games ATHOC to host the Shot Put event – for both men and women – at Olympia, site of the ancient Games. Following consultation with members of the IAAF Athletes’ Commission as well as analysis of technical and logistical issues, IAAF Council agreed that the two events could take place, before the start of the main athletics programme, either on Wednesday 18 August or Thursday 19 August, with the medal ceremonies for both events taking place in the main Olympic Stadium of Athens as originally scheduled on 20 August.President Lamine Diack said: IAAF Council agreed unanimously that this proposal was a unique opportunity to link the ancient origins of our sport with athletics in the 21st century as well as to promote the central role of athletics in the Olympic Games. This will be a tremendous opportunity to show a worldwide audience the purity and excitement of athletics competition in a sacred setting. The Shot Put may now become one of the highlights of the Games.
Council was informed that the further testing of the World Championship doping control samples has now been completed by the laboratory in Paris. There are a total of 2 “A” test positives from the 402 further tests conducted. According to IAAF procedure, no names or nationalities will be released at this time. The relevant federations have been notified who will now request an explanation from the athlete and, if necessary, proceed to the analysis of B samples. The athletes have up to 21 days to request such a test, and the B test must be analysed within 28 days of that decision.

Greek and International Calendar 2004
Nov 08. Besides the Olympics Games, two Grand Prix Meetings, three EAA permit and one IAAF permit meeting are to be held in Greece next year. The Athens Super Grand Prix is scheduled for July 26, while the Grand Prix meeting of Thessaloniki will be held on July 19. The IAAF Permit Indoor Meeting "Athina 2004" will take place in Paeania on February 22.
Complete International and Greek Calendar of 2004

Bayo and Wijenberg win the Athens Classic Marathon. Okayo broke the NY Marathon record.
Nov 02. Tanzania's Zebedayo Bayo (2:16:59) and Nadja Wijenberg of the Netherlands (2:43:18) were the winners of the 21st edition of the Athens Classic Marathon which today was run over next year?s Olympic Marathon course.
The high temperature of 25 degrees and the difficulty of the course, which rises and falls, did not permit a better performance, while the winner's statement is a warning for the runners of the next year's Olympic race. It's a very tough course," said Bayo, "the toughest I've ever run. But I was able to kick away at the end, I enjoyed that".
Nikos Pollias won his seventh national title for Greece in 2:23.16, while Georgia Ampatzidou won the title in the women's race.
Men: 1. Zerebayo Bavo (TAN) 2:16:59,2. Stephen Rugut (KEN) 2:17:06, 3. Elias Chebet (KEN) 2:18:22, 4. Frederick Chumba (KEN) 2:18:33, 5. Paul Atudonyang (KEN) 2:19:30
Women: 1. Nadja Wijenberg (NED) 2:43:18, 2. Giorgia Ampatzidou (GRE) 2:46:47, 3. Margaret Karie (KEN) 2:48:48, 4. Magda Karimali (GRE) 2:55:25,5. Magdaleni Gazea (GRE) 2:55:50, 6. Chiemi Oana (JPN) 2:58.29
Kenyan Margaret Okayo won the New York Marathon in a race record 2: 22' 31", while Marin Lel dominated the men's race in 2: 10' 30"

October 2003

Athens Classic Marathon
Oct 30. A record entry of 3,500 runners from over 30 countries have arrived to Athens for the 21st birthday of the Classic Marathon. The dress rehearsal for the Olympic Marathon takes place this Sunday, 2 November, on the course which gave this running discipline its name, from the village of Marathon to Athens.
Defending champion Mark Saina is looking to continue the run of victories by Kenyans in major marathons recently. But Alahmeyu Assefa of Ethiopia, with a best of 2.07.44, and Bayo Zebedayo of Tanzania, with 2.08.51 are set to challenge. Sonia Krolik of Germany, the bronze medallist from the European Championships in Munich last year is going for her third consecutive victory in the women's event.
Among the Greek runners, Nikos Pollias will have the chance to win his 7th national title.

Gaines Took Banned Drug
Oct 28. The Washinghton Post reports that U.S. sprinter Chryste Gaines, who trains with Ukrainian-born coach Remi Korchemny, tested positive for modafinil, at the U.S. Track and Field Championships in July, according to international officials with knowledge of the results. Gaines was silver medalist in Paris with the USA relay team.... full story
LA TIMES also reffer to Eric Thomas and Sandra Glover ... full story

Calvin Harisson tested positive for modafinil
Oct 26. The doping crisis deepened in this weekend, as Calvin Harrison tested positive on modafinil. Harrison was World Champion in Paris, participating in the 4X400 USA relay team, as well as 6th in the 400 m. final. Just two days ago, Regina Jakobs named as one of the American positives in THG.
International media talks now about a possible link between the usage of modafinil and the production of the THG.
'Apparently, there's an epidemic among track athletes of narcolepsy in the United States,' said Sweden's Arne Ljungqvist, the anti-doping chief for the International Olympic Committee as well as the International Association of Athletics Federations.
full report by THE GUARDIAN

Furhter IAAF statement on THG Investigation
Oct 23. Monte Carlo - At the time of the press release issued by USADA last Thursday, the IAAF was not in a position, for reasons of confidentiality, to give any detailed comment on its involvement in the investigation into the use of the new designer steroid, THG.  Developments in the last 24 hours, however, now call for some clarification of the IAAF?s role in this matter.
In late July of this year, IAAF officials were contacted by USADA concerning information from an anonymous source that a number of US and international athletes were taking an undetectable designer steroid.  This prompted an immediate response. Firstly, the IAAF sought to collect out-of-competition samples from all the international athletes identified by the source and sent the samples to the IOC-accredited UCLA laboratory in Los Angeles for testing for THG.  The IAAF also proceeded to send to UCLA its routine out-of-competition samples that were collected in August prior to the World Championships. Finally, it made arrangements with the IOC-accredited laboratory in Paris to have all samples collected at the World Championships preserved pending the outcome of the USADA investigation.
USADA must take enormous credit for its role in the investigation into THG commented IAAF President, Lamine Diack, earlier today.  ?Its dedication and expertise, together with that of the UCLA laboratory, have been fundamental to this investigation?s success.  We are grateful that USADA shared the information with us at the early stage it did and for the opportunity to work closely with them since late July in casting the net as widely as possible to catch those involved.  It is also pleasing to report the excellent co-operation that we have had from both the French Government and the Paris laboratory concerning the further testing of the World Championships samples. I believe that the current investigation, involving a national anti-doping agency, laboratories, international federation and Governments, all working together with a common aim, exemplifies the kind of international co-operation that is required if we are to beat the cheaters and protect the integrity of our sport.?
The out-of-competition samples collected by the IAAF prior to the World Championships resulted in one positive finding for THG, which was reported to the IAAF by the UCLA laboratory on 23 September.  The B sample analysis in the case is still to be concluded.
The IAAF now intends to move as quickly as it can to commence the further testing of the samples held in Paris.

The Greek Federation announces on THG case
Oct 22. The Greek Federation announced today that, been attuned with the IAAF's directives, decided the retesting of all urine samples taken by the domestic and international meetings held in Greece this year.

THG case shocks the sport! The worst ever drug scandal produces unforseen impacts
Oct 22. The millions of the athletics fans worldwide have to bear up against the impacts of the most repulsive drug scandal hit the sport. The quick developments of the case , the real news and the rumors, make many people to talk about the unforseen impacts even on the future of the sport. The international athletics community will attend with  breathless attention what the coming weeks bring and who of the currently top athletes will finally achieve to participate in the Olympics next year.
Latest news from the international media sources: Four unamed Americans tested positive, Dwain Chambers tested positive
Chambers denied accusation, USA announces "jero tolerance" anti-doping plan, Grand jury summons for Marion Jones and Tim Montgomery, Fears for Athens as 40 to 50 elite athletes could be missing after retesting of samples, IAAF's comment on USADA cases, Samples from Paris retested, New drug scandal shakes the sport

Radcliffe and Lel won the Half Marathon World Champs
Oct 04. Paula Radcliffe won today her third world half marathon title in the last 4 years, running the distance in 1:07.35., in front of Berhane Adere who clocked 1:09.02 and Australia's Banita Johnson who was third with 1:09.26. Martin Lel won the men's gold for Kenya in 1:00.49 while Tanzania's Fabia Joseph and Martin Sulle in 1:00.52 and 1:00.56 respectively.
Tanzania's men team who the first ever country's gold, while the women of Russia achieved to beat the Japanese team and got the gold medal.

September 2003

Tergat runs under 2:05 in Berlin Marathon
Sep 29. Paul Tergat set an all time Marathon best, running the Berlin Marathon in 2.04.55, the first man under 2:05. Khalid Channouchi was the previous record holder with the mark of 2:05.38 set in London last year. The results in Berlin are:
Men: 1. Paul Tergat KEN 2:04:55, 2. Sammy Korir KEN 2:04:56, 3. Titus Munji KEN 2:06:15, 4. Andres Espinosa MEX 2:08:46, 5. Raymond Kipkoech KEN 2:09:21, 6. Kazuhiro Matsuda JPN 2:09:49, 7. Kurao Umeki JPN 2:09:52, 8. Andre Ramos BRA 2 :09 :58, 9. Makhosonke Fika RSA 2:10:16, 10. Javier Caballero ESP 2:10:44
Women: 1. Yasuko Hashimoto JPN 2:26:32, 2. Emily Kimuria KEN 2:28:18, 3. Ornella Ferrara ITA 2:28:28, 4. Ana Dias POR 2 :28 :49, 5. Alina Ivanova RUS 2:29:00, 6. Monika Drybulska POL 2:29:58

Paula Radcliffe runs a half marathon world best in 1.05.40
Sep 21. Five months after her historical world record race in London, Paula Radcliffe smashed today the half marathon world best, running a 1.05.40 in Newcastle. The previous record was this set by Elena Mayer with 1.06.44 in 1999 in Tokyo. During the race, Radcliffe set also world bests in 10 miles with 50.01 and 15K with 46.41. Henric Ramaala of South Africa won the men's race with 1.00.01.  In the Combined Events meeting of Decastar in Talence France's Laurent Hernu won with 8.219 points, while Russia's Helena Prokhorova dominated the heptathlon 6254 points.

Gaines and Gatlin share the $1.000.000 in Moscow
Sep 20. Christe Gaines ran the 100 m. in 10.98 to win the price of $500.000 tonight in the Moscow Challenge. Christine Arron was second in this race with 11.18 and the world champion Kelli White placed third with 11.21. Justin Gatlin was the winner of the men's race with 10.05, beating both Chambers (10.18) and Montgomery (10.19)
Also, in Moscow, Maria Mutola won the 800 m. in 1.58.82, followed by Mina Hamnou who clocked 1.59.32, and Cristian Olsson dominated once more the triple jump with 17.34 m. Tatyana Lebedeva set a long jump personal best at 6.82 m. to defeat Eunice Barber who jumped 6.72 m. El Gouerrouj was the winner of the 1500 m. in 3.36.44 ,close to Paul Korir who clocked 3.36.48. Winfred Bungei defeated by Borzakovnkiy just on the finishing line. The Russiann clocked 1.46.67 and the Kenyan 1.46.68
In the Combined Events meeting of Decastar, France's Laurent Hernu heads the scoretable, after the 1st day, with 4193 points, followed by his compatriot Romain Baras who has 4083 points. In heptathlon, Russia's Helena Prokhorova is on the top with 3616 points.
Finally, China's athletes won all the gold medals on the 1st day of the Asian Games: Wu Tao in the discus throw with 61.43m, Sun Yingjie in the women's 10000 m. in 32:37.04, Huang Qiyuan in the triple jump with 14.39m and Li Meiju in the women's shot put with 18.45m.

Statistics update: Sixty eight national records for Greece in 2003
Sep 16. As the 2003 season is already off, its time for updating of our statistics series, before the start of the Marathons' period.
Starting from the statistics of the Greek athletics, this period we had 68 new national records in several categories. Men and women broke 25 records in indoor and outdoor events, 20 records came by athletes under 23, 8 records by juniors and 15 national records by boys and girls under 18-year-old.
Periklis Iakovakis is the athlete with the more records in the season, 4 records in his individual event (400 m. hurldes) while he participated in both record races of the 4X400 m. relay team. Athanassia Tzoumeleka broke three records in walk events, while also 3 records were broken by Dimitra Emmanuel in the pole vault and the young athlete Panayotis Douvalidis in the 110 m. hurdles. The performances achieved during the year occur significant changes in the all time men's and women's list for Greece.

Statistics update: Voggoli and Iakovakis best Greeks according to the IAAF rankings
Sep 16. Katerina Voggoli climbed to the second position of the Discus Throw ranking, with 1242 points, more than every Greek woman. Chrisopigi Devetzi (14th in triple jump) scores 1205 points, Flora Redoumi is 30th in the 100 m. hurdles with 1187 points, Cryssa Goudenoudi has 1183 points and Niki Xanthou (12th in the long jump) has 1181 points.
In men's ranking Periklis Iakovakis is the best Greek. He is 4th in the 400 m. hurdles with 1333 points. Iakovakis is followed by Luis Tsatoumas (10th in the long jump with 1225 points), Alexandros Papadimitriou (9th in the hammer throw with 1219 points), Dimitris Serelis (15th in the long jump with 1189 points), Aris Gavelas (100m with also 1189 points) and Christos Meletoglou (16th in the triple jump with 1184 points). Link to the IAAF World Rankings

Hicham el Gouerrouj writes history with his 3rd Athlete of the Year award. Cloete Hestrie won the women's award.
Sep 14. Hicham El Gouerrouj withdrew on the last minute from the World Athletics Final, suffering a high temperature, and giving Paul Korrir the opportunity to dominate the 1500 m. in 3.40.09. But, this widrawal does not cost the Athlete of the Year award to Hicham, who becomes the first athlete ever who named AOY for 3 periods in a row. Saif Saeed Shaheen needed to complete the 3000m steeplechase in 7:54.49 to overtake El Guerrouj in the IAAF World Rankings and earn Athlete of the Year honours. The neo-Qatari failed to break the barrier despite running a World Leading time and Asian record of 7:57.38.
Hestrie Cloete is the AOY for women, after her yesterday's performance in the high jump. Kelli White, who could replace her on the top, was 4th in the 100 m. with 11.08 (she needed 10.77), where Christe Gaines won with 10.86
Also, today in Monaco, Cristian Olsson jumped 17.55 m. to win the triple jump, while Vera Prospisilova sent the discus to 65.42 m. Katerina Voggoli placed 3rd with 63.55 m; another excellent season for the bronze medalist of the world championships.
Felix Sancez shone again with 47.70, easily the winner of the 400 m. hurdles, where Periklis Iakovakis was 6th with 49.25. Gail Devers ran an amazing season's best of 12.45 to dominate the 110 m. hurldes and
Tatyana Polnova won the pole vault with 4.68 m., while Feofanova was second with 4.60 m. and Isinbayeva only 5th  with 4.40 m. Eunice Barber broke France's long jump record with 7.05 m. to defeate Kotova who was second with 6.92 m.
The winners of the other events are Maria Mutola in the 800 m. with 1.59.59, Joshua Johnson who clocked 20.35 in the 200 m., Yaloslav Rybakov who cleared 2.30 m., the same height with Stefan Holm who was second, Eliud Kipchoge in the 500 m. with 13.23.34, Sergey Makarov who sent the javelin to 85.66 m., Edith Masai who ran a season's best of 8.36.82 in the 3000 m. and Ana Guevara with 49.34 in the 400 m.

Cloete wins with 2.01 m. and takes the lead
Sep 13. Hestrie Cloete is the winner of the high jump in the World Athletics Final with a jump of 2.01 m. This mark is enough for the South African world champion to cover the distance of the 2 points she had before the competition from Carolina Kluft and now she is the favourite for the Athlete of the Year award in women. Cloete's total is now 1441 points, Kluft who denied the invitation to participate in the Final has 1436 points, while White needs a personal best of 10.77 tomorrow in order to replace Cloete on the top.
Kelli White easily dominated the 200 m. in 22.31, followed by Muriel Hurtis 22.41, while Tim Lobinger set a season's best 5.91 m. to dominate the pole vault. Bernard Williams was faster than John Capel in the 100 m. He clocked 10.04 to win, in front of his compatriotion who was second in 10.05.
The winners of the other events, of the 1st day, are Virjilius Alekna in the discus throw with 68.30 m., Allen Johnson in the 110 m. h. with 13.11, Phllips Dwight in the long jump with 8.31 m., Jerome Young in the 400 m. with 45.04, Kenenisa Bekele in the 3000 m. with 7.36.98, Wilfred Bungei in the 800 m. with 1.45.97., Vita Pavlysh the shot put with 19.86 m., Surreya Ayhan the 1500 m. with 3.57.72., Sandra Glover the 400 m.h. with 53.65., Tatyana Shikolenko in the javelin throw with 64.47 m., Christian Cantwell in the men's shot put with 20.93 m., Elvan Abeylegesse the 5000 m. in 14.56.25.
Louis Tsatoumas was 8th in the long jump with 7.22 m.

Voggoli, Iakovakis and Tsatoumas in Monaco
Sep 12. Katerina Voggoli, the Paris bronze medalist of the discus throw, Periklis Iakovakis also 3rd in the 400 m. hurdles and Louis Tsatoumas, 12th in Paris and long jump European under 23 champion earlier this period, are the Greek athletes who are going to compete in the IAAF World Athletics Final, this weekend in Monaco.
After the end of the 2-day Final, the Athletes of the Year for 2003 will be know. This year the AOY awards are based on the IAAF World Ranking system. According to the latest release of the world rankning, Hicham El Gouerrouj is the clear favourite in men. El Gouerrouj is just one step before his third in a row title, being on the top with 1461 points, 20 points more than Kenenisa Bekele who follows and 28 more than Saif Saeed Shaheen who is third.
The women title is more complicate as Carolina Kluft is on the top with 1436 points, but Hestrie Cloete who is second with 1434 points will have a great opportunity to take the lead. Kelli White is currently third with 1421 points.

Gibilisco wins in Rovereto
Sep 10. The pole vault world champion Giuseppe Gibilisco was the winner in Rovereto with a clearence at 5.80 m. Sandra Glover who was impressing in Rieti, defetead by Andrea Blackett, while the European 800 m. Champion Jolanda Ceplak clecked a 1.58.26 and Kenyan Pius Muli pulled out a narrow 2/100s win over compatriot Joseph Mwangi in 13:15.09

Hellenic Federation decisions on dopping cases
Sep 10. The Hellenic Athletics Federation decided to suspend both Greek athletes who failed drug tests early this season. Maria Tsirba, who failed an EPO test is suspended for 2 years from every national or international competition. Stamatis Papantoniou also suspended for 2 years, since he was positive of nadrolone in the Greek Juniors Championships.

White's explanation has not been accepted
Sep 09. The IAAF announced the following on Kelli White Case:
The IAAF has received the athlete’s explanation for testing positive for modafinil at the World Championships in Paris last month and it has not been accepted.
In accordance with the usual disciplinary procedures under IAAF Rules, the matter is now referred to its Member Federation, USA Track and Field, for a hearing on a date to be agreed with the athlete. USATF delegates responsibility for the conduct of disciplinary hearings in doping cases to the United States Anti-Doping Agency, USADA.
The IAAF has already announced that, if it is confirmed after a hearing that the athlete has committed a doping offence, the proper sanction under IAAF Rules will be a public warning and disqualification from the competition concerned.
The athlete is not suspended pending her hearing before USADA.

World Juniors Mile record by Kipchirchir in Rieti
Sep 07. The last Grand Prix meeting of the season held tonight in Rieti, Italy, while the season actually closes on the next weekend with the 1st World Athletics Final to be held in Monaco. Hicham El Gouerrouj won the 1 mile race in a world leading 3.50.20, while Alex Kipchirchir placed second in 3.50.25, breaking the world juniors record. Felix Sanchez dominated the 400 m. hurdles in 48.62, Giuseppe Gibilisco won the pole vault with 5.81 m. and Robert Fazekas sent the discus to 67.16 m. Good run for Sandra Glover who won the 400 m. hurdles with 53.34, beating again Petchonkina. Bulgaria's Venelina Veneva cleared 2.01 m. to dominate the high jump, while Yolanda Ceplak impressed with a 1.58.26. in the 800 m.
Full results from Rieti

The Grand Prix meeting in Rieti marks the end of the season's series
Sep 07. The last Grand Prix meeting of the season held tonight in Rieti, Italy, while the season actually closes on the next weekend with the 1st World Athletics Final to be held in Monaco. Hicham El Gouerrouj won the 1 mile race in 3.50.20 and Felix Sanchez dominated the 400 m. hurdles in 48.62 Giuseppe Gibilisco won the pole vault with 5.81 m. and Robert Fazekas sent the discus to 67.16 m. Good run for Sandra Glover who won the 400 m. hurdles with 53.34, beating again Petchonkina. Bulgaria's Venelina Veneva cleared 2.01 m. to dominate the high jump, while Yolanda Ceplak impressed with a 1.58.26. in the 800 m.
Full results from Rieti

Adrian Annus and Yipsi Moreno won the hammer of the World Athletics Final
Sep 07. The hammer throw event of the 1st World Athletics Final, held today in Szombathely, with the participation of the top 8 world athletes, according to the IAAF world ranking score. Adian Annus won the men's event with 82.10 m., while Slovakia's Libor Charfreitag was second with a throw at 81.22. Paris world champion Ivan Tikhon was third with 80.84, leaving on 4th position Koji Murofushi Koji, who threw 79.12. In women's, the world champion Yipsi Moreno was on the top with 73.42, followed by Olga Kuzankova at 71.16 m. and Mihaela Melinte at 69.27.

Maria Mutola picks up all the gold. Storm of world leading marks in Brussels
Sep 05. Maria Mutola won the 800 m. in the Brussels Golden League tonight, to become the first ever athlete to win the IAAF Golden League Jackpot ($1 million) outright. Mutola clocked 1.57.78 tonight and now she must also compete in the World Athletics Final in Monaco (13-14 September), and if she also wins there can add another US$30,000 to her pay packet.
Four athletes ran the 10000 m. in time faster than 27 minutes. Haile Gebreselasie won in a world leading 26.29.22, Nicolas Kemboi set a personal best of 26.30.03, Quatar's Ahman Abdullalh Hasan set an Asian record with 26.38.76 and Richard Limo ran a season's best of 26.56.63
The 3000 m. steeplechase world champion Said Shaheen broke the Asian record with a world leading mark 8.00.06. Paul Koech was second with 8.00.42, while the European record holder Simon Vroemen placed 3rd with a season's best of 8.09.18
One more world leading mark set by Wilfred Bungei in the 800 m. with 1.42.52. Bungei followed by the South Africans, Mulaudzi who clocked a personal best of 1.42.89 and Sepeng who placed 3rd with a season's best 1.43.12. Kipketer was 4th, while Borzakovskyi placed 6th. Hicham El Guerrouj shone again in the impressing 1500 m., winning with a world leading 3.28.40, while France's Mehdi Baala set a national record of 3.28.98 and Paul Korir placed 3rd with a personal best 3.30.92.
Surreya Ayhan took revenge for her defeat in Paris. She clocked a new Turkish record and world leading 3.55.33 to beat Zadoroshnaya who was second in 4.00.12.
Derartu Tulu clocked an impressive personal best of 14.44.22 in the 5000 m. to win in front of Kenyan Isabela Ochichi (14.47.70) and Edith Masai who was third in 15.06.64 Yuliya Pechonkina, the 400 m. hurdles new record holder, after her failure to win the world title in Paris, clocked 53.49 to beat Sandra Glovers and Ionella Tirlea who were second and third respectively.
Ukraine's Denis Yurchenko cleared 5.80 m. to win the pole vault, the same height with Okkert Brits who was second. The World Champion, Italian Giuseppe Gibilisco was 7th with 5.60 m.
Jamaican Ashafa Pawell dominated the 100 m. in 10.02, followed by the Americans Justin Gatlin and Bernard Williams. Later Gatlin set a personal best of 20.04 to win the 200 m. race. K8im Gevaert won the women's race in 22.72. Tatyana Shikolenko won the javelin with 61.36 m., followed by Stefi Nerius at 60.68 m. The winners of the other events are Allen Johnson in the 110 m. hurdles with 13.16., Ali Said Sief in the 3000 m. with 7.30.79, Hestrie Cloete the high jump with 2.03 m., Bois Henri the javelin throw with 84.33 m. and Tatyana Lebedeva the triple jump with 15.14 m. Full results from Brussels

Vogoli and Iakovakis stand high in the IAAF world ranking
Sep 03. Katerina Vogoli (bronze medalist in the discus throw in Paris) and Periklis Iakovakis (bronze in the 400 m. hurdles) are on the 4th position of their events, according to the IAAF world rankings. Both athletes expected to be nominated for the World Athletics Final, to be held on September 13-14 in Monaco.
For the World Athletix Final those athletes ranked in the top 7 positions are qualified (11 positions for races of 1500m and over) based on the world ranking output of the September 7th, while IAAF has reserved the right to invite 1 wild card athlete per event in a maximum of 5 of the 33 events which will take place in Monaco.
Other Greeks with relatively good positions in the ranking are Anastassia Kelesidou (9th in the discus throw) and Alexandros Papadimitriou (9th in the hammer throw). Worth to mention the 7th position of Agyro Strataki in the heptathlon, while Luis Tsatoumas is 10th (long jump), Niki Xanthou 13th (long jump), Chrisopigi Devetzi 14th (triple jump) and Christos Meletoglou (triple jump) 16th.

Olsson goes on while Bernard Lagat fails EPO test
Sep 03. Christian Olsson, just 3 days after the end of the world champs, jumped a wind assisted 17.57 m. in Gotenborg, where Stefan Holm cleared 2.28 m.
Bernard Lagat, the silver 1500 m. Olympic medalist failed EPO test. Langat was found positive on August 8th, after a meeting he ran in Germany, but just today the case became publicly known.

August 2003

Hestrie Cloete shines on the last day of the World Championships in Paris
Aug 31. The World Champion of the Women's High Jump in Edmonton, two years ago, managed to keep her title, jumping 2,06 m. in one of the greatest ever High Jump competitions. Cloete also gave to South Africa a double win at the event as it was Freitag from the same country that won the Men's competition six days ago. Kuptsova and Bergqvist were 2nd and 3rd with a jump at 2 m. Said-Guerni of Algeria managed to beat Borzakovskiy at the last meters on the 800 m. race and claim the title, while it was Tatyana Tomashova that won the Women's 1.500 m. with a games record time of 3' 58" 52. Ayhan of Turkey came 2nd with 3' 59" 04. The 5000 m. were won by the Kenyan Eliud Kipchoge also in a games' record time (12' 52" 79.). El Guerrouj was 2nd with 12' 52" 83. in one of the most exciting 5K races in the history of the sport. Bekele, the 10K champion, was third with 12' 53" 12. Sergei Makarov managed finally to win a World title at the Javelin and Catherine Ndereba of Kenya set another competition record to claim the Marathon World Champion title in 2 hours 23' 55". USA won both the 4x100 and 4x400 m. Men's Relays and the Women's 4x400 m. Greece was 7th at the Men's 4x400 m. with a time of 3' 02" 56.  For the Results of the 9th day, click here

Mirella Manjani gets the gold medal
Aug 30. Mirela Manjani set a world leading 66.52 m. to get the second world title of her career. Manjani is followed by Tatyana Shikolenko (63.28 m.) and Steffi Nerius (62.70 m.)
Mirela Manjani was also World Champion in Sevilla 1999 and European Champion last year in Munich. She also won the silver medal in the Olympic Games in Sydney and the silver medal of the World Championships in Edmondon 2001.
Double win for the US in the 110 m. hurdles with Allen Johnson to take the gold with 13.12 and Terrence Trammel the silver, while China's Xiang Liu gets the bronze medal.
Eunice Barber finally managed to win the first gold for France, just in the last attempt, jumping 6.99 m. Tatyana Kotova, who was on the lead until the last jump of the competition, was second with  6.74 m., while the bronze medal won, surprisingly, by the Indian jumper Bobby Anju George who jumped 6.70 m. The second gold for France came in the 4X100 women's relay, thanks to a tremendous race by Christine Arron, who sweeped Torri Edwards in the last meters. France clocked a wold leading 41.78, the US team (without Kelli White) ran a 41.83 and Russia got the bronze with 42.66
Morroco's Jaouad Garhib won the Marathon with 2.08.31, while Spain's Julio Rey was second with 2.08.38 and Italian Stefano Baldini third with 2.09.14. Good race for Nikolaos Pollias who set a personal best 2.13.53 and placed 24th.
Tirunesh Dibaba won the third gold for Ethiopia in Paris. Dibaba clocked 14.51.72 in the 5000 m. final, to beat just in the last meters Marta Domingez who was second with 14.52.26 and Edith Masai who was third with 14.52.30. The Greek 4X400 m. men's team, having Periklis Iakovakis in the last lap, broke the national record with 3.02.31 and qualified for the final. For the Results of the 8th day, click here

Positive test for Kelli White
Aug 30. The double World Champion Kelli White was proved positive of the stimulant modafinil (provigil) in the world championships. This stimulant is not included in IAAF's banned list, but it was decided to be put on it next year. IAAF gave the following statement:
Paris - A sample provided by Kelli White, USA after the 100m Final in Paris has tested positive for Modafinil.  The IAAF has not yet received the results of the analysis on her sample provided after the 200m Final.
Today, we have received an explanation from the athlete to the following effect; Ms White has been taking the substance on prescription to treat a medical condition that runs in her family.
As both the nature of the substance and the content of her explanation require further inquiry and investigation, the IAAF has taken the view that bearing in mind the very serious consequences for the athlete of being suspended and being removed from competition at this late stage, the most appropriate course of action is to allow her to compete pending the completion of the necessary scientific and factual investigations.

Felix Sanchez wins the 400 m. hurdles in 47.25. Periklis Iakovakis gets the bronze medal
Aug 29. Feliz Sanchez clocked an amazing 47.25 in the 400 m. hurdles final to defend his world title. The rising star of the Greek athletics, Periklis Iakovakis, clocked 48.24 to get the bronze medal, in front of Joey Woody who was second. Iakovakis, a great fighter in the last meters overcame the pressure by the Jamaicans Thompson and McFarlane, to get the most various medal in his career so far.
Iakovakis was born in 1979 in Patra, Greece. He was World Juniors Champion in 1998, bronze medalist in the European U23 Championships in 1999 and silver medalist in the European U23 Championships in 2001. He won the gold medal in the Universiade in 2001, while he was second in the European Juniors Championships in 1997. For the Results of the 7th day, click here

.. and finally John Capel wins the 200 m. gold
Aug 29. The American sprinters celebrate the return of the 200 m. world title to the US. John Capel ran a 20.30, proved enough for the gold, while his teamate Darvis Patton was second with 20.31 and the Japanese runner Shingo Shuetsugu third with 20.38. Dwight Philipps won the second gold of the day for the US, dominating the long jump with 8.32 m. James Beckford placed second with 8.28 m., leaving Yago Lamela with the bronze medal at 8.22 m. The European U23 Champion Luis Tsatoumas was 12th with 7.72 For the Results of the 7th day, click here
 

Kelli White doubles world titles
Aug 28. Kelli White managed to double her gold medal, winning the 200 m. final in a world leading 22.05. Russian kapatchynskaja and the other American, Torri Edwards, silver in the 100 m., won the other two medals. Jana Pittman won the world title in the 400 m. hurdles, in 53.22, followed by Sandra Glovers, while Yuliya Pechonkina, who broke the event's world record 2 weeks ago in Tula, was just on the third position.
Giuseppe Gibilisco improved the Italian pole vault record to 5.90 m. to take a surprising gold, leaving Okert Brits second and the young Swedish Patrik Kristiansson on the third position. Finally, Cuban Yipsi Moreno dominated the hammer throw, beating the favorites Olga Kuzenkova and Manuela Montebrun.
Mirela Manjani qualified easily for the javelin final, in contast to Angeliki Tsiolakoudi, but also Niki Xanthou and Stella Pilatou in the long jump, who were far from the qualification standards.
For the Results of the 6th day, click here

The fourth title for Hicham El Guerrouj
Aug 27. Hicham El Guerrouj won his 4th world title toningt in Paris, running a 3.31.77. and followed by Mehdi Baala who offered to France one more silver and the surprise of the final, the Ukrainian Ivan Hesho who was third.
Ana Guevara set a Central American record 48.89 in the 400 m. to beat Laureene Fenton and Amy Thiam who shared the other medal. Tom Papas won decathlon, while Svetlana Kryvelyova was the world champion in the shot put. In this event Nadezhda Ostapchuk was silver, adding one medal to collection of a brillant Belarussian team, presented in Paris. Irene Terzoglou placed 12th with 17.88 m.
For the Results of the 5th day, click here

Periklis Iakovakis and Luis Tsatoumas: The new blood of Greek athletics on the scene
Aug 27. Periklis Iakovakis, the former world juniors champion, won the 400 m. hurdles semifinal, in a national record 48.17, while Luis Tsatoumas, already twice European U23 Champion, jumped 8.00 to qualify for the long jump final. Both young Greeks will be very known internationally in the coming years.

IAAF disqualifies Drummond from World Championships
August 27. The IAAF has received a letter from USATF in the matter of Jon Drummond which states that they cannot conduct the required investigation within the stated deadline of 20:00h on 26 August. According to IAAF rules, based on a report from the Competition Director, the IAAF has disqualified the athlete from taking further part in competition at these World Championships, for behaviour “bringing the sport into disrepute”.

Mr Riedel is not on the podium
August 26. The greatest ever discus thrower, Lars Riedel, is not on the pontium this time, after five world titles won in the last decade. Virjilius Alekna opened the competition with a throw at 69.69 m. and won the title, followed by Robert Fazekas 69.01 m. and Belarus' Vasiliy Kaptyukh who threw 66.51 m. Riedel, sent the discus to 66.28 m. to get the 4th position.
The spite (and the money) shared the gold in the 3000 m steeplechase. Said Shaheen of Qatar (few weeks ago was Robert Cerono of Kenya) won a historical race, beating his former compatriot Ezekiel Kempoy in the last meters. Both athletes led a hectic race from time to time, changing almost every lap their pace, destroying any tactic by the others. Spain's Eliseo Martinez won the bronze. Tatyana Lebedeva jumped 15.18 m. to get the triple jump gold, in front of Francoise Mbango who set an African record at 15.05 m. and Magdelin Martinez who improved the Italian record to 14.91 m. Chrissopigi Devetzi was 8th, equalling her personal best at 14.34 m. and Olga Vasdeki 12th with 14.08 m. Maria Mutola picked up her 3rd world title, overcoming the pressure by Kelly Holmes in the last meters. Jerome Young won the 400 m. gold medal for USA with 44.50, followed by the other American Tyree Washinghton who clocked 44.70, while France's Marc Raquil catched the bronze on the last moment with 44.79. Periklis Iakovakis won his heat with 48.76 and tomorrow is running for a position in the final. Flora Redoumi clocked 13.10 in the 100 m. hurdles semifinal and did not manage to qualify.
For the Results of the 4th day, click here

Kenteris leaves the championships
August 26. Kostas Kenteris announced his decision to withdraw from the World Championships talking on the Greek television. Kenteris said that his tendon injury still exists and doesn't want to risk in Paris, prefering to focus on the best preparation for the Olympic Games.

Kim Collins gets the world title. The greatest ever discus throw competition...
August 24. Irina Yatchenko of Belarus is the discus throw world champion, winning with 67.32 m. a close competition where 6 girls exceeded the 65 m. limit. Anastassia Kelesidou got the silver (her third silver medal in the world champs) with 67.14 m. and the European Champion Katerina Voggoli the bronze with 66.73 m. Worth to mention that Kelesidou had also one more throw at 67.13 m., while Vogoli improved twice her personal best to reach the third position (at 66.04 m. and 66.73 m.).
Kim Collins dominated the 100 m. with 10.07, followed by Trinidad's Darrel Brown and Britain's Darren Campbel, leaving the Americans far from the pontium. Montgomery placed 5th and Williams 6th. Earlier, Maurice Greene had been disqualified from the final...
Christian Olsson was the expected winner of the triple jump with 17.72 m. and Belarus' Ivan Tikhon won the hammer throw gold with a personal best of 83.05 m., leaving on second position Adrian Annus, while the season's world leader Koji Murofushi was bronze medalist.
Svetlana Feofanova cleared 4.70 m. to win the title, followed by Annica Becker who improved her personal best to 4.70 m., while the world record holder Yelena Isinbayeva was just third with 4.65 m.
Charles Freitag dominated the high jump with a clearence of 2.35 m. to defeate the experienced Swedish Stefan Holm (2.32 m.) and Canadian Mark Boswell.
Excellent performances for the Greek athletes, Christos Meletoglou was 7th in the triple jump with a season's best of 16.92 m. and Alexandros Papathimitriou 8th in the hammer throw with 77.79 m. Flora Redoumi qualified for the semifinals of the 100 m. hurdles with 13.15
For the Results of the 3nd day, click here.

Kluft breaks the 7000 points limit
August 24. Carolina Kluft won the Hepthathlon of the 9th World Championships with an exciting score of 7001 point, becoming the 3rd athlete of all times to pass the 7K limit. She started the 2nd day with a jump of 6.68 m., in her third and the only valid attempt, to broaden her gap with Eunice Barber who jumped 6.61 m. In the javelin throw, Kluft set another personal best of 49.90 m. to reach a total of 6.067 points before the 800 m, when she broke yet another PB, clocking 2' 12" 12. Except for Kluft's brilliant performance, the 2nd day of the World Champs will stay in the fans' memory for an incident that indicates the big problems the new regulation about false stars has caused. Jon Drummond, who had a slight nervous movement of his right foot just before the start, was given a false start and was disqualified. Drummond refused for a long time to accept he made a false start. As a result, the whole event was delayed and when -later on- the athletes appeared again at the start, and Drummond was not one of the them, the crowd would whistle and boo delaying the event even more and giving a clear sign to the IAAF that the regulation should change. Kelli White was the winner of the Women's 100 m. race, with 10" 85. (Thanou was 5th) and Bekele managed to outsprint Gebreselasie in a fantastic 10.000 m. race and set a new games record at 26' 49" 57. Earlier, Darrel Brown of Trinitad set a new Juniors World Record at the 100 m., with 10" 01. A Russian walker, Yelena Nikolayeva won the 20000 m. walk with 1.26.52, while the U23 European Champion, Greece's Athanassia Tzoumeleka placed 7th, smashing her own national record with 1.29.34. All the favourites of the women's 400 m. hudles qualified for the semifinals. Chryssa Goudenoudi clocked 52.33 and did not qualify. For the Results of the 2nd day, click here.

Olga Vasdeki back in the finals
August 24. Olga Vasdeki, the former European Champion and World Champs bronze medalist, jumped 14.50 m. in the qualification round of the triple jump and returns to the finals of a world championship, after 3 years of injuries. The second greek athlete, Chrissopigi Devetzi, also qualified with a personal best of 14.34 m. Schoking 400 m. sefinals, where the reigning world champion Avard Moncur failed to qualify for the final, while the European Champion, Germany's Ingo Schultz also failed to qualify. Katerina Thanou ran a season's best of 11.08 to qualified for the final. Thanou placed second in her semifinal, following Chandra Sturrup, while Kellie White was the faster qualifier with 10.96. Impressing course for Georgios Theodoridis, who broke his personal best with 10.17 and qualified for the men's 100 m. quarterfinals.

World Championships' first day in Paris
August 23. The 9th World Championships in Athletics kickstarted this morning in Stade de France with a World Record, by the Atlanta Gold medallist Jefferson Perez of Ecuador (20 Km Walk) and an exciting first day by Sweden's Karolina Kluft at the Hepthathlon. Katerina Thanou of Greece clocked an easy 11" 09. at the 100 m. heats and later qualified for the semifinals with 11.15. Tassoula Kelesidou and European Champion Katerina Voggoli also qualified for the Discus Final, as well as Alexandros Papadimitriou at Men's Hammer Throw. Katerina Kluft broke all her four personal bests at the 100 m.h., High Jump, Shot Put and the 200 m. to score 4.143 points, setting an eye on the Heptathlon World Record. Roula Strataki, with 3.619 p., is 8th at the same event. Ethiopian Berhane Adere won the gold medal of the 10000 m. final, followed by her compatriot Werknesh Kidane, while Yingjie Sun of China got the bronze medal. Belarussian Andrey Mikhnevic dominated the shot put with 21.69 m.
Kostas Kenteris arrived to Paris late in the afternoon, saying that althought he is not in his best form, he will try for the best, as he usually does. For the Results of the 1st day, click here.

Minos Kiriakou elected as member of the IAAF Council
August 21. Minoas Kyriakou, the President of the Greek Champion Club "Panellinios G.S." and owner of the bigger radiotelevion chanel of the country, elected as member of the IAAF's Council, to be the first Greek in this position.
After his involvment with the management of Panellinios, Minos Kyriakou focused and achieved the upgrading of the annual meeting Tsiklitiria, organized by the club, while he works for the wider promotion of the sport in the country. Mr. Kyriakou's election, was warmly welcome by both the political and athletics leadership of Greece, as an event of great importance.
On the meanwhile, the first group of the Greek team arrived in Paris. After the injuries of Kalliopi Ouzouni and Georgia Tsiligiri who initially were included in the team, the greek athletes in Paris are the following
MEN: G Theodoridis (100 m.), K.Kenteris (200 m.)  A.Goussis  (200 m. and 4X400 m.) P. Sarris (200 m. and 4X400 m.) S. Dimotsios (400 m. aqnd 4X400 m.), P.Iakovakis (400 m.hurdles and 4X400 m.), N.Pollias (Marathon), S.Kastanis (50000 m. walk), L.Tsatoumas (long jump), D.Filindras (long jump), D.Serelis (Long jump), C. Meletoglou (triple jump), A. Papadimitriou (hammer throw), D.Tsomos (4X400 m.), G.Doupis (4X400 m.), D.Gravalos (4X400 m.).
WOMEN: E.Thanou (100 m. and 4?100 m.), C.Goudenoudi  (400 m. and  4×400 m.), C.Iakovou (5.000 m. and 10000 m.), F.Redoumi (100 m. hurdles), A.Tzoumeleka (20.000 m. walk), A.Strataki (heptathlon), N. Xanthou (long jump), S.Pilatou (long jump), C. Devetzi (triple jump), O. Vasdeki (triple jump), I.Terzolgou (shot put), E. Voggoli (discus throw), A. Kelesidou (discus throw), S.Tsikouna (discus throw), A. Papageorgiou (hammer throw), E. Tsamoglou (hammer throw), M. Manjani (javelin throw), A. Tsiolakoudi (javelin throw), G.Kokloni (4X100 m.), M. Vassarmidou (4X100 m.), O.Kaidatzi (4X100 m.), M.Pantaleon (4x100 m.), A.Kopsia (4X100 m.), F.Chalkia (4?400 m.), G. Koumnaki (4X400 m.), C.Bouda (4X400m.), C.Chatzi (4X400 m.).

Top names in the Grand Prix of Thessaloniki. Iakovou breaks national record in Heusden
August 03. Big athletics names are going to compete in the IAAF Grand Prix Meeting, held on Sunday in Thessaloniki, Greece. Kim Kollins is the main entrant in the 100 m., who will have to compete with Emendolu, Vries, Clay, J. Jonson and Lewis, while Inger Miller and Mercy Nku will attempt to dominate the women's race. Sydney's Olympic Champion in 400 m., Avard Moncur, with ran with McDonald, Blackwood and Young. Safronnikova and McDonald will compete in the 200 m. race, while Shinkins and Hennagan top the entries in the 400 m. hurdles. Mihaella Melinte and Kamila Skolimovska consist another top duel in the hammer throw. Among the other participants who have verified their participation are also Tatyana Kotova, Fiona May and Olga Rubliova in the women's long jump, Vasiliy Zyukov and Dimitris Filindras in the men's long jump, Marc Boswell, Matt Hemingway and Tomas Janku in the high jump, George Guset in the shot put, Irina Lishinska in the 1500 m., Henry Rotich and Vincent Kemboi in the 800 m.
In the IAAF GPII Meeting, held yesterday in Heusden, Chrissostomia Iakovou broke her own 5000 m. national record for Greece with 15.15.32. In the same race, Maria Protopapa clocked 15.22.39, while Zhana Block defeted by Christe Gaines in the women's 100 m.

Tsamoglou breaks the hammer throw national record
August 01. Evdokia Tamoglou broke the hammer throw national record for Greece, in the hammer throw meeting "Sithonia 2003", held today in Chalkidiki. Tsamoglou broke the record twice with attempts to 67.10 m. and finally to 68.12 m. The results are:
Men: 1. Karsten Kobs GER 80.83 m., 2. Alexandros Papadimitriou GRE 79.52 m., 3. Holger Klose GER 78.21, 4. Nicolas Figere FRA 74.24 m., 5. Vladimir Maska CZE 73.55 m., 6. Ioannis Barlis GRE 70.91 m, 7. Athanassios Koukouzikis GRE 67.65 m., 8. Panayotis Mavraganis GRE 67.16 m.
Women 1. Mihaela Melinte ROM 70.10 m., 2. Susanne Keil GER 70.08 m., 3. Evdokia Tsamoglou GRE 68.12 m., 4. Andrea Bunjes GER 66.63 m., 5. Lia Derveni GRE 60.32 m., 6. Stella Papadopoulou GRE 59.10 m.

July 2003

Fredericks wins 100 m. and 200 m. in Linz
July 31. Frank Fredericks won both 100 m. and 200 m. races in the Grand Prix Meeting of Linz, tonight. Fredericks clocked 10.14 and 20.38 while Kemell Thompson dominated the 400 m. hurdles in 48.66. Joan Martinez jumped 8.01 m. to win the long jump. Results from the Hellenic Grand Prix Final held yesterday in Kifisia.

Goussis breaks Kenteris' 400 m. national record in Pyrgos. Sposob clears 2.30 m.
July 27. Anastassios Goussis broke the 400 m. national record for Greece, running a impressing 45.57 today in the Tofalia 2003 meeting, in Pyrgos. Elena Oleynikova won the triple jump with 14.70 m. and George Gouset the shot put with 20.03 m. Nikolae Atanassov had his last attempt at 8.31 m. to win the long jump, while Dimitris Serelis broke his personal best with 8.17 m. Grzegorz Sposob cleared 2.30 m., while Alina Curcezan ran an impressing 4.05.82 to beat Komyagina in the 1500 m. Cristina Casandra won the 3000 m. steeple in 9.34.99 and Natalya Safronnikova clocked 22.94 in the 200 m.

Kazimirova placed 5th in Tambere. World Juniors Record for Katalina Oprea
July 27. Ksenia Kazimirova placed 5th in the 2000 m. steeplechase final, with 6.36.17, during the last day of the 17th European Junior Championships. The winner of the race, Romanian Katalina Oprea broke the 2000 m. steeple world juniors record with 6.21.78. Pavlos Galaktiadis was 7th in the triple jump with 15.40 m. and Ioanna Parha placed 11th in the javelin throw with 46.32 m.

Kajsa Bergqvist clears 2.06 m. in Eberstadt
July 26. Kajsa Bergqvist is back, in her greatest form ever. She cleared 2.06 m. in Eberstadt, one month before the world championships and now even a wrold record seems possible for the Swedish star.

Gold medal for Dimitris Gravalos in Tambere. Fourth place for Dimitra Emmanouel
July 26. Dimitris Gravalos smashed his personal best, running a 46.54 in the 400 m. final of the 17th European Junior Championships to get the gold medal. In the women's pole vault final, Dimitra Emmanuel cleared 4.10 m. to get the fourth place. Chrisa Moesidou placed 7th in the shot put with 14.64 m., while Michalis Markopoulos was 6th in the 400 m. hurdles with 52.83. Pavlos Galaktiadis in the triple jump and Ioanna Parha in the javelin throw qualified for tomorrow's finals.
On the meanwhile, more enties to "Tofalia 2003" international meeting have been announced.

Top athletes in "Tofalia 2003" meeting
July 25. The "Tofalia 2003" international meeting, hosts some top athletes this year. Among the participants already known is Leonard Milles Myles, Dragutin Topic, Sergey Dymchenko, Pawel Fomenko, Milan Haborak and Darell Brown. The meeting is to be held on Sunday in Pyrgos, Greece, as the Patra's stadium is under reconstruction.
On the second day of the 17th European Junior Championships Dimitrios Diamantaras placed 7th in the long jump with 7.43 m. Ksenia Kasimirova won the 2000 m. steeple semifinal and qualified for the final. Also Dimitrios Gravalos (400 m.) and Michalis Markopoulos (400 m. hurdles) in the finals of their events. In contrast, Nikolaos Sintichakis, who was among the favorites in the pole vault, failed in the qualification round.

The European Juniors' Championships in Tambere
July 24. The 17th European Junior Championships opened in the morning in Tambere, Finland. The European Championships for 19 years old athletes (and younger) have a record participation of 792 athletes from 45 countries, following the exciting U23 championships with a lot of top results also the juniors promise outstanding competitions. Vladimir Kanaykin (RUS/walk), Vernicha James (GBR/200 m), Floé Kühnert (GER/Pole Vault) and Adina Anton (ROM/Long Jump) are the four World Junior Champions 2002 who are competing also in Tambere.

Skolimovska wins with new U23 European Record. Aleksander Walerianczyk clears 2.36 m.
July 20. Kamila Skolimovska goes on the amazing medal collection for Poland in the European Under 23 Championships. Skolimovska won without difficulties with a European U23 record of 71.38 m., while Belarus's Oksana Menkova was second and a Russian thrower, Gulya Khanafeyeva third.  Aleksander Walerianczyk got another gold for Poland, with a jump over 2.34 m. Sweden's Suzanna Kallur won the 100 m. hurdles with a championships record 12.88, while in the men's high hudrles race France's Ladji Doucoure was the winner with 13.25. Chris Lamber was the champion of the 200 m. with 20.36, beating Marcin Jedrusinski who was second with 20.39 and Sweden's Johan Wissman, the bronze medalist with 20.43. Victoria Gurova won the triple jump with 14.37 m. where Georgia Yanaktsidou placed 8th with 13.47 m. Gold medals for Ukraine's Marina Maydanova in the 200 m. with 22.82, France's Mounir Yemmouni in the 1500 m. with 3.44.02, Belarus' Pavel Lyshin in the shot put with 20.43 m., Turkey's Elvan Abeylegesse in the 5000 m. with 15.16.79., Russia's Aleksander Ivanov with 82.59 in the javelin throw and the British athletes Rebecca Lyne with 2.04.66 in the 800 m. and Chris Thompson with 13.58.62 in the 5000 m.

Luis Tsatoumas won the long jump with 8.24 m.
July 20. Luis Tsatoumas verified the forecasts and won the gold medal in the long jump, with a jump at 8.24 m. Tsatoumas was also gold medalist in the European U23 Championships 2001, while he was 4th in the World Juniors' Championships in 1999.
Volodymir Zyukov placed second with a jump at 8.22 m., while Romanian Danut Simion got the bronze with 8.09 m. Dimitris Koukourdis had a great performance in his first international competition and  placed 5th, with a wind assisted jump at 7.87 m.
The pole vault final was a great dissapointment for the Greek team. Stavros Kouroupakis, who is in great form, entered the competition at 5.40 m. and failed three times. Filippos Sgouros, failed also three times at 5.15 m. Ukraine's Oleksandr Korchmid was the winner with 5.50 m. Greece placed 6th in the championships medal table, with 4 golds and 1 bronze, while Russia was on the top with a total of 19 medals, 7 gold, 7 silver and 5 bronze.

Another gold for Greece from Georgia Kokloni in the 100 m.
July 19. Georgia Kokloni set a national U23 record of 11.33 to get the gold medal on the third day of the European Under 23 Championships the third gold won for the Greek team in Bydgoszcz. Daria Onysko from Poland got the silver and Belarus' Oksana Dragun the bronze medal. Kokloni, born in 1981, was bronze medalist in the European Indoor Championships 2002 and 7th in the European U23 Championships 2001. She was also 7th with the Greek 4X100 relay team in the World Championships 2000.
France's Roland Pognon equalled the 100 m. championships record 10.19 to win the gold in the men's race, followed by Estonian Algo Golberg and his compatriot Fabrice Galligny. Russian Lyubov Ivanova broke the U23 3000 m. steeplechase European record with 9.41.16 to get the gold medal. Belarrusian Dmitriy Valyukevich improved twice the championships record to 17.51 m. and 17.57 m. to win the triple jump, while Romanian Marian Oprea was second with 17.28 m.
Rutger Smith won the men's discus with 59.90 m. where Georgios Tsolakidis placed 12th. Gold medals also for Great Britain's Helen Karagounis in the 400 m. with 51.78, Germany's Rene Herms in the 800 m. with 1.46.26, France's Leslie Dhone in the men's 400 m. with 45.04, Olesya Chumakova in the 1500 m. with 4.11.75, Belarus' Natalya Choronenko with 17.66 m. in the shot put, Czech Yarmila Klimesova in the javelin with 60.54 m., Hungarian Christina Papp in the 10000 m. with 33.23.02 and Austria's Martin Proll in the 3000 m. steeple with 8.25.86

Iakovakis broke the 400 m. hurdles record for Greece with 48.51. Mutola set a world leading 1.55.55 in Madrid
July 19. In the Super Grand Prix meeting of Madrid, Periklis Iakovakis was second in the 400 m. hurdles, with a greek national record 48.51, while Maria Mutola won with a world leading 1.55.55, Matt Hemingway cleared 2.30 m., Aleksandr Averbukh jumped 5.93 m. and Frank Fredericks clocked 20.24 in the 200 m. race. In the meeting of Cuxhaven Lars Riedel sent the discus to 67.37 m. to defeat Michael Mollenbeck who threw 67.20 m. Yvonne Buschbaum cleared 4,63 m. and James Beckford jumped 8.12 m. Konstantina Efentaki placed 4th in the 1500 m. with 4.11.48.

Vlacic wins the high jump. Kluft's domination in the long jump. Isinbayeva wins with 4.65 m.
July 19.Carolina Kluft got the long jump with a championships record and personal best 6.86 m., althought she had to face strong jumpers, Irina Simagina who was second with 6.70 m. and Latvia's Inetta Radevica who jumped also 6.70 m. to take the bronze. Kluft's risky decision not to claim the certain heptathlon's gold, is now fully justified. Blanca Vlacic, the big favourite of the high jump, verified the forecasts and got the gold with 1.98 m, leaving Russian Yelena Slesarenko second with 1.96 m. Niki Mitropoulou placed 6th with 1.87 m. Yelena Isinbayeva won with 4.65 m. and then attempted once at 4.85 m. Afroditi Skafida was 8th with 4.10 m.

Gold medals for Poland with Plawgo and Cucinksi. Tsatoumas and Koukourdis in the long jump final
July 19. A polish athlete, Beniamin Cucinski, won the 20000 m. walk of the European Under 23 Championships in a personal best 1.22.07. Luis Tsatoumas, another Greece's prospect for a medal, jumped 7.89 m. to pass successfully the long jump qualification round. The second Greek, Dimitris Koukourdis will be also in the final, as he achieved a personal best of 7.81 m. Volodimirir Zyukov was the only who exceeded the 8 m., jumping 8.11 in his second attempt. Hungarian Krisztian Pars won the hammer throw with 77.25 m., where Turkey Esref Epak got the silver medal and Aleksandr Vashchilio of Belarus the bronze. Spiros Zoulien, the Greek participant in the final, placed 8th with 65.92 m. Oksana Gulumyan from Russia domineted the 400 m. hurdles with 56.23 and Polish Marek Plawgo the men's final with a championships record of 48.45.

Gold medal for Ioannis Kanellopoulos in the 10000 m. Brave Delinikola got the bronze. Six more greek athletes in the finals
July 18. Ioannis Kanellopoulos won another gold medal for the Greek team, running the 10000 m. in 29.00.78. Second was Ukraine's Vasil Matvichuk and third Pawel Ochal from Poland. In the same race Christoforos Meroussis was 9th with 29.56.92.
Vassiliki Delinikola placed 3rd in the heptathlon competition. Delinikola, who was on the top after the 6th event, clocked 2.23.73 in the 800 m. to reach a total of 5.863 points. The gold medal won by Jenifer Oeser from Germany and the silver by Netherlands' Yvonne Wisse. Christos Chalitsios finally placed 9th in the decathlon, while the other Greek athlete, Michalis Papaioannou was on the 7th place, with a personal best 7.436 points. Andre Niklaus of Germany won the gold medal, followed by Estonian Indrek Turi and Latvian Atis Vaisjuns.In the other events six more Greek athletes qualified for the finals: Michalis Tomaras in the high jump, Panayota Koutsioumari in the long jump, Georgia Yanaktsidou in the triple jump, Panayotis Baharidis in the shot put, as well as the pole vaulters Stavros Kouroupakis and Filippos Sgouros.

Greece won the first gold of the European U23 Championships
July 18. Athanassia Tzoumeleka won the first gold of the Under 23 Euroepan Championships. Tzoumeleka was the winner of the 20000 m. walk in 1:33.55, in front of Portugal's Vera Santos and Germany's Sabine Zimmer. It is the 5th medal for Greece - and the third gold - in the history of the European U23 championships. Athanassia Tzoumeleka, born in 1982, was 2nd in the European U23 Championships in 2001, 4th in the World U23 Championships in 2000, while she placed 9th in the European Championships last year, in Munich.

Delinikola and Chalitsios in pursuit of the medal. Kokloni and Tsolakidis in the finals
July 17. The Under 23 Euroepan Championships opened in the morning in Bydgoszcz, Poland. Vassiliki Delinikola, who set a personal best 13.32 in the 100 m. hurdles and Christos Chalitsios, had a good start in the combined events. After the vents of the first day, Delinikola is on the top with a total of 3.579 points, just four points more than Netherlands' Yvonne Wisse. Christos Chalitsios is second, while the other Greek participant in decathlon Michalis Papaioannou is currently placed 4th.
Georgios Tsolakidis qualified for the discus throw final, while Georgia Kokloni win the 100 m. semifinal race in 11.45. Stella Papadopoulou, who placed 7th in the first qualification group of the women's hammer throw and Sotiris Papadeas who was 6th in the 800 m. semifinal, did not manage the qualification.
The first day of the championships does not include finals.

The European U23 Championships open tomorrow
July 17. The Under 23 Euroepan Championships open tomorrow in Bydgoszcz, Poland and some of the top athletics names are ready to compete. Yelena Isinbayeva tops the Russian women's team, while Carolina Kluft is among the Swedish participants, but she will participate only in the long jump. The host country has the Olympic Champion Kamila Skolimovksa in the team, while Blanka Vlacic leads the Croatian delegation. Greece participates in the games with a total of 27 men and women
MEN: Sotiris Papadeas (800 m.), Panayotis Economou (1500 m.), Ioannis Kanelopoulos (10000 m.), Christoforos Meroussis (3000 m. steeple, 10000 m.), Stavros Kouroupakis (pole vault), Philippos Sgouros (pole vault), Luis Tsatoumas and Dimitris Koukourdis (long jump), Panayotis Baharidis and  Michalis Stamatogiannis (shot put), Georgios Iltsios (javelin throw), Spiridon Zoulien (hammer throw), Michalis Tomaras, Georgios Bohtsos and Stilianos Kesidis (high jump), Georgios Tsolakidis and Alexandros Klapsis (discus throw), Christos Halitsios (decathlon), Michalis Papaioannou (decathlon)
WOMEN: Georgia Kokloni (100 m.), Vassiliki Delinikola (heptathlon), Niki Mitropoulou (high jump), Afroditi Skafida (pole vault), Panayota Koutsioumari (long jump), Georgia Yannaktsidou (triple jump), Stiliani Papadopoulou (hammer throw), Athanassia Tzoumeleka (10000 m. walk).

Isinbayeva broke the world record in Gateshead
July 13. Yelena Isinbayeva cleared 4.82 m. to break Dragila's pole vault record in the Gateshead GP, tonight. Svetlana Feofanova was second with 4.54 m. Christian Olsson impressed once more with his jump at 17.92 m., while Jonathan Edwards was second with 17.61 m. In the other events, Maria Mutola defeated once more Jolanda Ceplak, Hicham El Guerouj clocked 3.33.41 in the 1500 m., Stefan Holm cleared 2.30 m., Steve Backley won the javelin throw with 85.69 m. and Olexiy Lucashevic jumped 8.19 m. in the long jump.The strong negative wind marks did not permit top performances by the sprinters.

Oprea jumps 17.24 in the Balkan Games. National record for Alexandra Papageorgiou
July 13. Marian Oprea jumped 17.24 m. to win the triple jump on the second day of the Balkan Games. Melinte threw 71.75 in the hammer throw, where Alexandra Papageorgiou broke the national record for Greece with 66.66 m. and got the second place. Good performance for Anastassios Goussis  the winner of the  200 m. in 20.53. Greece dominated the overall standing in men and Romania in women.
On the last day of the  World Youth Championships Romanian Cristine Spataru won the long jump, making the double, while Alice Askitopoulou placed 7th. Chinese Juan Hue dominated the women's javelin throw, where Triantafillia Karsa was 10th. Two more Greek athletes participated in today's  finals; completing the successful performance of the greek youth team

Goudenoudi equals the 400 m. hurdles record in the Balkan Games
July 12. Chryssa Goudenoudi equalled her own national record winning the 400 m. hurdles in 56.85, today in the Balkan Games. Alexandros Papadimitriou won the hammer throw, with a season's best of 79.16 m. and Christina Nikolaou jumped 13.86 m. to dominate the triple jump. Marina Vassarmidou (11.55) and Alexandros Terzian (10.49) won the 100 m. final, but, running out of competition, Aristidis Petridis set a personal best 10.29. Romanian Stefan Vasilache jumped 2.30 m. to win the high jump and Dragan Peric dominated the shot put with 20.49 m. Stella Tsikouna won the discus throw with 59.02 m. and Savva Lyka, participating also out of competition in the javelin throw, set a personal best at 60.00 m.

Alice Askitopoulou in the long jump final. Fourth place for Kostas Filippidis
July 12. In the World Youth Championships Alice Askitopoulou, one day after her bronze medal in the triple jump, qualified for the long jump final. Nikolaos Dodas also qualified for the triple jump final. Kostas Filippidis was 4th in the pole vault with 4.95 m., while the Argentinian winner German Chiaraviglio cleared 5.15 m. The winners of the other events are the American Jason Richardson in the 400 m.h, Mohamet Ali-Sahli in the 800 m. and Yahya Al-Gahes in the men's 100 m., both from Saoudi Arabia, the Australian Sally MacLellan in the 100 m. hurdles, Alem Techale from Ethiopia in the women's 1500 m., Irina Kovalenko from Ukraine in the high jump, the Jamaican Anneisha McLaughlin in the women's 200 m., Ali Nagmeldin Abubakr  from Sudan in the men's 400 m. and American Natasha Hastings in the women's 400 m.

Bronze medal for Alice Askitopoulou in the World Youth Championships
July 12. The Greek team celebrates a medal won by Alice Askitopoulou on the second day of the World Youth Championships Askitopoulou placed third in the triple jump final with a national U18 record for Greece of 12.93 m. Romanian Christine Spataru won, with a championships record 13.86 m., while a Finnish jumper, Elina Sorsa was second with 12.95 m. Uruguay's Andres Silva won the octathlon gold medal, setting a world youth best performance of  6.456 points. Nikos Filandarakis placed 12th in this competition with a total of 5.822 points. Brazil's Julio Cesar de Oliveira won the javelin throw with 81.16 m., where Sarandis Parashakis placed 8th with 67.70 m.  Naohiro Shinada of Japan won the long jump, American Jessica Onyepunuka the women's 100 m., Mihail Levin from Russia the hammer thow, where Euthimios Katsikantamis was fifth, and Jason Richardson from USA the 110 m. hurdles. In this race Ioannis Gasionis placed 7th and Kostas Douvalidis did not finish. Finally, Kostas Anastassiou set a 400 m.hurdles personal best bu did not qualify for the final.

Sturrup and Mutola won in Rome and go on
July 11. Both Jackpot contenders, Chandra Sturrup and Maria Mutola won in the Golden League of Rome tonight and go on for the gold. Sturrup clocked an impressing world leading mark of 10.89, while Mutola won the 800 m. in 1.57.21 beating again Ceplek who was second with 1.57.44. Aot Hammou of Morroco and Steffi Graf also clocked under 1.58 minutes. Yamile Aldama jumped exceeded once more the 15 m., this time she was at 15.29 m. John Capel set a 100 m. 10.04 and Abraham Chebii  won the 5000 m., with 12.57.14,  in front of Bekele and Gebreselasie. Bernard Williams dominated the 200 m. in 20.01, while Shawn Crawford was second in 20.02. Tatiana Kotova defeated by Jamaican Elva Goulbourne who jumped 6.71 m. Top performances by Allen Johnson (13.08), Felix Sanchez (48.15), Torri Edwards (22.28), Jana Pittman (53.62), Romain Mesnil (5.92 m.), Jacques Freitag (2.35 m.) and Hestrie Cloete (2.00 m.).

Morroco won the first gold in Sherbrooke. Good start for the Greek team.
July 10. The first medal of the World Youth Championships went to Siham Hilali of Morocco, who clocked  a personal best of 9:12.70, overtaking Pasalia Chepkorir Kipkoech (KEN) and Yuko Nohara of Japan.
Today, in the morning session, the Greek boys started well. Two pole vaulters (Konstantinos Filippidis and Michalis Pastos qualified for the final, while Damianos Kalogerakis also qualified for the shot put final. Konstantinos Anastassiou passed the 1st round of the 400 m. Evaggelos Gasionis set a 13.85 in the 110 m. hurdles to equal the national record for Greece. Gasionis along with Konstantinos Douvalidis qualified for the 110 m. hurdles final, but both javelin throwers, Sarantis Parashakis and Yervasios Filippides failed in the qualification round.
In the afternoon events Chinese Liu Freng won the shot put with a youth world best 21.45 m. Damianos Kalogerakis was 7th with a personal best of 18.70 m. Vera Sokolova won the women's 5000 m. walk in 22:50.23. Euthimios Katsikantamis qualified for the hammer throw final and  Konstantinos Bakalakos failed in the long jump.

58th Balkan Championships
July 10. The 58th edition of Balkan Championships is scheduled for this weekend, in Thiva, Greece. Althought it was expected that all top Greek athletes will participate in the Games, none of the country's Olympic or World medalists will be there. Marian Oprea, Michaella Melinte, Bogdan Tarus and Christina Cassandra are the big names of the Romanian team, while Dragutin Topic tops the Serb delagation. Bulgaria's team includes well known athletes as Tanya Koleva, Petar Dachev and Zivko Videnov.

Iakovakis equals the 400 m.hurdles national record. Long hammer throws in Zagreb
July 07. Manuela Montebrun thew 73.31 m. to defeat Kamila Skolimovska, who also sent the hammer far, at 70.39 m., in the IAAF Grand Prix Meeting in Zagreb. Periklis Iakovakis placed third in the 400 m. race, with 48.66, to equal his own national record for Greece. Kemel Thompson won the race in 48.24 and Joe Woody was second with 48.45. Christina Chatzi clocked 58.22 in the women's short hurdles race. Merlene Ottey won the 100 m. with 11.42., while Aziz Zakari of Ghana won the men's 100 m. final with 10.17, beating Crawford and Gardener. Melissa Morrison was the winner of the 100 m. hurdles with 12.72, while Duane Ross clocked 13.17 in the men's race. Hestrie Cloete and Blanka Vlacic cleared 2.00 m. Impressing 200 m. run by Shawn Crawford who clocked 20.10. Panayotis Stroubakos ran the 1500 m. in 3.37.97, while both Greek long jumpers were dissapointing. Luis Tsatoumas jumped 7.67 m. and Dimitris Serelis 7.56 m.

Brilliant stars shone in Rethymno
July 06. John Capel who won both 100 m. and 200 m. races with 10.03 and 20.21, Christian Olsson who jumped 17.55 m., Vera Prospisilova who won the discus throw with a national record at 67.71 m. leaving Franka Dietzsch second with 66.00 m., Christy Gaines the winner of the women's 100 m. in 11.08 and Tatyana Kotova who jumped 6.94 m. are among the stars who shone in the EAA Permit Meeting "Vardinoyiannia 2003" held tonight in Rethymno. Robert Fazekas won the discus throw with 70.00 m., while Lars Riedel placed second with 65.16 m. and Smitriy Shevchenko third with 64.63 m.  Torry Edwards won the 200 m. in a championships record 22.56, Steffan Holm set a world leading mark of 2.34 m., Michael Blackwood clocked 44.87 in the 400 m. and Koji Murofushi won again with a throw at 82.57 m. Tatyana Kotova jumped 6.94 m. to dominate the long jump, where Niki Xanthou was second with a season's best of 6.76 m.

Greece placed 4th in the European Combined Events Cup Super League. National Juniors record for Dimitra Emmanuel
July 06. The women's team placed 4th in the Super League of the European Combined Events Cup Argyro Strataki was 4th with 6.064 points and Vassiliki Delinikola placed 8th, breaking the Greek U23 record with 5.909 p. The French men and the Russian women won the european titles. The men's team won the Second League held in Maribor and promoted to the First League. Prodromos Korkizoglou placed third wit 7.415 points. On the second day of the Greek Juniors' Championships, Dimitra Emmanuel broke the pole vault juniors record for Greece, with 4.12 m.

Two national records in the juniors' championships
July 05. Stamatis Papantoniou broke the hammer throw juniors record for Greece, with a throw at 75.10 m., during the 1st day of the national juniors championships. Ksenia Kazimirova also broke the 2000 m. steeplechase record with 6:35.19. Good mark for Nikolaos Sintichakis who cleared 5.15 m. in the pole vault.
In the Super League of the European Combined Events Cup, the Greek women's team is 6th after the events of the 1st day. Russia is on the top, followed by Ukraine and Belarus. Argyro Strataki is currently 4th, with 3.621 p. and attempts a new national record. In the men's competition Russia is also on the top, followed by France and Ukraine. In Maribor, where the Second League is held, the men's team of Greece is on the top, while Switzerland dominates the women's standing.
In Cork, Konstantina Efentaki clocked 4:16.42 in the 1500 m. race, where Sonia O'Sullivan won with 4:09.86.

Sturrup wins again in Paris
July 04. Chandra Sturrup won again in the Golden League meeting of Paris, with 11.01. This time Kelli White was second with 11.09 and Christine Arron third with 11.12. Bernard Williams won the men's 100 m., beating Deji Aliu, but also Maurice Greene who was again third.Tatyana Lebedeva jumped 15.12 m. to won the triple jump in front of Yamile Aldama who jumped 15.08 m. Yuriy Borzakovkiy dominated the 800 m. in 1.43.94 and Maria Mutola clocked 1.57.58 to defeat Jolanda Ceplak who was second with 1.57.84. The winners of the other golden league events were Jan Zelezny with 89.06 m., Abraham Gebii in the 5000 m. with 12.53.37, where 5 runners were faster than 13 minutes once more, Allen Johnson in the 110 m. hurdles with 12.97, Sandra Glover in the 400 m.h. with 54.47, Felix Sanchez in the men's race with 48.30, Natalia Rodigez in the 1500 m. with 4.03.33, Blanca Vlacic in the high jump with 1.99 m., Miles Derek in the pole vault with 5.76 m., the same mark with Lobinger, Hysong and Mack. Finally, Gail Devers clocked 12.49 in the 100 m. hurdles, John Capel won the 200 m. in 20.21 and Kelli White the women's race with 22.43, defeating Muriel Hurtis.

Arron defeated by Sturrup in Lausanne
July 01.  Chandra Sturrup won the 100 m. in the IAAF Super Grand Prix, held in Lausanne tonight, running the distance in 11.12 and leaving Christine Arron on the second place with 11.15. Deji Aliu won the men's final with 10.04, where Maurice Greene placed 3rd with 10.11. Excellent race for the winner of the 110 m.hurdles, Allen Johnson, who clocked 13.06, but also for Stanislavs Olijars who set a national record of 13.08. World leading mark for Maria Mutola 1.56.57. Lorraine Fenton won the 400 m. in 49.71, while in the short competition of the discus throw Robert Fazekas threw 64.98 m. and Lars Riedel placed second with 64.29 m. Steffi Nerius threw 63.81 m. to dominate the javelin throw and Marian Oprea won the triple jump with 17.32 m. Finally, Coby Miller clocked 20.04 in the 200 m., the second world performance for this season.

June 2003

Koji Murofushi throws 84.86 m. in Prague. National record for Efentaki
June 29. The IAAF GPII meeting opened in Prague with an impressing hammer throw competition, where Koji Murofushi threw 84.46 m. and Adrian Annus followed at 82.73 m. John Godina won the shot put with 20.74 m. and Bramlett Ron the 110 m. hurdles with 13.27. Dragila won the pole vault with 4.51 m., the same height with Pavla Hamackova. Vera Prospisilova won the discus throw with 63.79 m. Konstantina Efentaki placed 5th in the 3000 m. race, smashing the national record for Greece with 8.57.76. Luis Tsatoumas was 5th in the long jump with 7.85 m. and Panayotis Stroubakos 11th in the 1500 m. with 3.39.97

Kemel Thompson clocked 48.28 in Poznan. Isinbayeva cleared 4.73 m. Serelis jumps 8.00 m.
June 29. Kemel Thompson won the 400 m.hurdles in the international meeting of Poznan in 48.28, the second world mark for this season, while three more runners were under 49 seconds (Myburth 48.61, Herbert 48.61 and Weakley 48.80). Yelena Isinbayeva cleared 4.73 m. to set a personal best. Also good performances by Glorie Alozie (12.83 in the 100 m. hurdles), Debbie Ferguson (11.27 in the 100 m. and 22.74 in the 200 m.), Kim Kollins (10.14) and Frank Fredericks (20.26 in the 200 m.). Bogdan Tarus won the long jump with 8.03 m., where Dimitris Serelis was second with 8.00 m.
Results from the Greek U23 National Championships

Norwich Union International
June 29. Tim Montogomery defeated by the European Champion Dwain Chambers, who clocked a season's best 10.15, in the 100 m. race of the Norwich Union International. Montgomery was second with 10.26. Marina Kislova clocked 11.34 to win the women's race and John Mayock dominated the 1500 m. in 3.37.92. Good marks by Chris Rawlinson in the 400 m.h. with 48.44, Sandra Glover the winner of the women's 400 m.h. with 54.86, Olga Kuzenova who threw 70.03 m. and Grace Upshaw who jumped 6.99 m. beating Tatyana Kotova. The USA team dominated the overall scoretable with 137 points, followed by the Russian team (113 points) while the British team was third with 109 points.

The Greek U23 Championships
June 28. The most events of the Greek U23 Championships, scheduled to start today, postponed for tomorrow morning, because of the unusual weather conditions in Kastoria. Also, tomorrow, three Greek athletes, Luis Tsatoumas, Panayotis Stroubakos and Konstantina Efentaki will compete in the Grand Prix II meeting in Prague.

Adere clocked 14.29.32 in Oslo. Aldama improved to 15.11 m.
June 27. Yamile Aldama won the first Golden League Meeting of the season, held in Oslo, with a world leading mark 15.11 m. In this event, Olga Vasdeki was 11th with 13.76 m. Berhane Adere approached Jiang's world record, running an african record in 14.29.32, followed by three Ethiopians Kidane, Diabara and Meseret Defar. The latest set a world juniors record with 14.43.46. In the 800 m. Mbulaeni Mulaudzi of South Africa was the winner with 1.44.11, leaving behind Wilfred Bungei, Antonio Reina and Andre Bucher. Six runners were under 12 minutes in the men's 5000 m. race. Kenenisa Bekele won in 12.52.26, followed by Sammy Kipketer (12.52.33) and Eliud Kipchoge (12.52.61)
In the other events, Stanislavs Olijars won in a national record and world leading mark 13.14, Chandra Sturrup set a season's best 10.96 and Jana Pittman dominated the 400 m. hurdles 54.42 beating Ionela Tirlea. Francis - Lewis was the winner of the 100 m. 10.12, while the European Champion Dwaine Chambers placed second. Inka Babakova won the high jump at 2.01, where Kajsa Berqgvist was 6th.

A brilliant night for jumpers in the Super Grand Prix Tsiklitiria 2003
June 24 Both horizontal and verical jumps gave impressing performances in the Super Grand Prix "Tsiklitiria 2003". Svetlana Feofanova cleared easily the 4.70 m. and then attemped, without success, for a world record at 4.83, Yamile Aldama and Tatyana Lebedeva jumped 15.00 m. in the triple jump, while in the men's long jump the winner Dwight Phillips set a championships record at 8.44 m., Luis Tsatoumas placed second with a personal best of 8.34 m., the second all time performance for Greece and Savante Stringfellow was third with 8.28 m. Impressing marks also by Felix Sanchez who dominated the 400 m. hurdles in a world leading 48.07, Jolanda Ceplak, the winner of the 800 m. with 1.57.79, Yuriy Borzakovsyi who set a 1.43.97, Deji Aliu who set a personal record 10.00 in the 100 m., Kostas Kenteris who ran the 200 m. in a season's best 20.30 and Christine Aron who defeated Zhanna Block with 11.09.

France and Russia won the European Cup. The women's team of Greece placed 6th and avoided the relegation
June 21. France in men and Russia in women won the Super League of the European Cup The women's team of Greece secured the participation in the Super League for one more year, junst in the last event, when the girls of the 4X400 m. relay team smashed the national record and defeated the Romanian team which relagated. In the second day, Kostas Kenteris won the 200 m. with 20.37 while the men's 4X400 m. relay team was second in a national record 3.02.69. Impressing competitions in the women's hammer throw, with Montrbrun to win with 74.43 m., and the high jump where Rath cleared 2.00 m. Greece and Spain in men, Italy and Romania in women relegated to the first division.
Results form  the USA Championships

Greek hopes for the women's team in Florence
June 20. The women's Greek team performed well in the European Cup and placed 4th after the events of the first day and now there are hopes for the girls to avoid relegation. Katerina Voggoli won the discus throw with  62.11 m., while Mirela Manjani placed second in the javelin with 63.13 m., but also the rest athletes were very closed or exceeded their personal bests. The men are in 7th position, after the dissapointing run of the relay team. Luis Tsatoumas was the best, as he achieved to win the long jump with 8.06 m. in front of much more experienced athletes, while Periklis Iakovakis performed perfectly and got the 2nd place in the 400 m. hurdles. In the first day some impressing marks set by Rybakov (2.34 m. in the high jump), Pyatykh (14.79 in the triple jump), Aaron (11.07 in the 100 m.), Martinez (21.08 in the shot put) and Raquil (44.88 in the 400 m.)
Yesterday, in the USA Championships, Tim Montgomery defeated in the 100 m. final by Bernard Williams and Kelli White clovked 10.93 to win the women's race.

Greece struggle to avoid relegation
June 20. The top Greek athletes, with the only exception of Katerina Thanou who suffered an injury, are competing this weekend in the European Cup Super League, attempting to avoid relegation. Kostas Kenteris leads the men's team, while Katerina Voggoli, Niki Xanthou, Mirela Manjani will participate in the women's group.

Kenteris runs in Florence and Trikala
June 18. Kostas Kenteris will be the leader of the Greek team which will participate in the Super League of the European Cup to be held in Florence, Italy during the coming weekend. Then, Kenteris will go to Trikala to participate in the IAAF Super Grand Prix Meeting "Tsiklitiria 2003" (June 24th) along with other 9 gold Olympic medalists.In contrast, the participation of Katerina Thanou in both meetings is now in doubt, after the sudden injury she suffers.

National Record for Goudenoudi. Luis Tsatoumas flied to 8.24 m.
June 15. Chryssoula Goudenoudi set a national 400 m. hurdles record on the 2nd day of the Greek national championships with 56.85, while Luis Tsatoumas was the winner of the long jump with a personal best of 8.24 m. Nice come-back for Dimitris Serelis who was seconf with 8.06 m., while Tasos Makrynikolas placed third with 8.01 m. It must be mentioned that 7 greek athletes have exceeded the 8 meters mark this year. Niki Xanthou won the women's long jump with 6.63 m., where 10 girls had jumps over 6 meters. The European Discus throw Champion Ekaterini Voggoli set a personal best  of 65.01 m. Cypriot records for Anni Christofidi in the 800 m. and Anna Fitidou in the pole vault.
Results from Lille GP

Irene Terzoglou broke the shot put record in the national champs
June 14. Irene Terzoglou threw 19.10 m. to break the national shot put record for Greece, during the 1st day of the national championships. The highlights of the day also includes the excellent 400 m. race with Stelios Dimotsios to  cross the line in 45.70, followed by Tassos Gousis who clocked 45.98., while Kostas Filippidis, broke the U18 pole vault with 5.22 m. Alexandra Papageorgiou won the women's hammer throw with 66.32 m. and Christos Meletoglou the triple jump with 16.92 m.

Aldama jumps 15 m. in Ostrava. Polnova cleared 4.70 m.
June 12. Cuban Yamile Aldama jumped 15.00 m. tonight in Super Grand Prix Meeting of Ostrava to set a world leading mark for this season. Stefan Cherono ran the 5000 m. in 12.48.81, the 3rd all time performance, to defeat Hicham El Guerrouj who was second with 12.50.24. Also season's bests set by Tatyana Polnova (4.70 m. in the pole vault), Jolanda Ceplak (1.57.76 in the 800 m.), Felix Sanchez (48.10 in the 400 m. hurdles), Olesya Turova (9.20.28 in the 3000 m. steeplechase) and Stanislavs Olijiars (13.15 in the 110 m.h.). Kajsa Berqgvist cleared 2.01 m., while Wilfred Bungei won the 800 m. in 1.43.24, in front of Borzakovskiy who clocked 1.44.36. Jan Szelezny threw 88.99 m.

The 58th Balkan Championships in Thiva
June 11. The 58th version of the Balkan Chamiponships is held on July 12-13 in Thiva, Greece. In the new stadium of the historical city Olympic and World Champions and medalists are going to compete. The decision of the Greek Athletics Federation to consider the games as a test for the selection of the national team for Paris World Championships leads many top athletes to Trikala. Among the athletes expected to participate are Kostas Kenteris, Katerina Thanou, Mirela Manjani, Anastassia Kelesidou and Katerina Voggoli, while the Romanian team include Ionela Tirlea and Marian Oprea and the Turkish delegation is headed by the European Champion Sorreya Ayhan.

Olsson sets world leading 17.77 m. in Chania.  Filindras jumps 8.30 m. and Higga Maggi wins with 6.95 m. Lobinger cleared 5.85 m.
June 09. Cristian Olsson set today a world leading mark of 17.77 m., in the 55th edition of the EAA Permit Meeting Venizelia 2003. Following the long succesful tradition of the meeting, KYDON Sports Club hosted some of the best athletes of the world in a meeting producing remarkable performances. Besides Olsson, a Greek long jumper, Dimitris Filindras was the winner og the event with an impressing 8.30 m. Danny McFarlane clocked 48.95 in the 400 m.hurdles to set a meeting record, while Higga Maggi won the competition of the women's long jump with 6.95 m. followed by Papavasilaki at 6.74 m. and Xanthou 6.70 m. Tib Lobinger made the second world leading of the night with 5.85 m., while Averbukh and Borgeling placed 2nd and 3rd respectively with 5.80 m. Excellent marks by Svetlana Usovic (51.56 in the 400 m.) and Stella Tsikouna (64.14 m. in the discus throw). Venizelia 2003, the official site

Martinez sets Italian record 14.77 m. in Turin
June 7. Hicham El Guerrouj’s 7:30.23 world season’s best in the 3000m and Magdelin Martinez’s  women's Triple Jump record of 14.77, were the highlights of the Memorial Primo Nebiolo - IAAF Grand Prix II - meeting in Turin last night. Today, in Istanbul, Anastassia Kelesidou won the discus throw with 62.47 m., while Maria Koletsou was second with 57.83 m., and Panayotis Baharidis placed also second in the shot put with 18.80 m.  In Sevilla Grand Prix, Inka Babakova cleared 2.00 m., Ester Balassini won the hammer throw with 70.30 m. and Glorie Alozie clocked 12.83 in the 100 m. hurdles. Robert Fazekas sent the discus to 69.62 m. Stelios Dimotsios clocked a 20.78 in the Greek Grand Prix meeting "Kostas Kenteris". Results from Palo Alto

Cristian Olsson in Chania
June 5. The 55th edition of Venizelia Meeting is to be held in Chania on June 9th. Once again the meeting host some of the top world athletes, as Christian Olsson, Gregorio Zandel, Tim Rusan and Yoelvis Quesada, Tim Lobinger, Richard Spiegelburg and Dmitri Markov, Kevin Dilworth, Yevgeniy Zyukov and Yunes Moudrik. Check the official site of the meeting for updates.
Results from Cottbus

Higa Maggi jumped 7.06 in Milano
June 3. Maureen Higa Maggi jumped a 7.06 to win the long jump, tonigh in Milano GPII, in front of Rublyova and May. Tim Montgomery dominated the 100 m. in his first appearence in Europe for this season, with 10.11, leaving behind Deji Aliu (10.16) and Uchena Emendolu. Angelo Taylor was the winner of the 400 m.h. in 48.85, where Periklis Iakovakis was third, runnning an excellent race in 49.12.

Gebreselasie defeated in Hengelo
June 1. Haile Gebreselasie did not manage to have a victorious 10000 m. debut in  Hengelo GP. His young compatriot Kenenisa Bekele won the very fast race in 26:53.70, leaving Gebre on the second position with 26:54.58, while a third Ethiopian followed in 26:58.96. Kenyan Robert Kwaqlia set a mile world juniors record with 3:50.39, Marina Kuptsova cleared 2.02 m. in the high jump and Vera Prospisilova thew 63.61 m. to win the discus throw. Three women, Montebrun, Melinte and Kuzenkova exceeded 70 m. in the hammer throw. Alexandros Papadimitriou was 4th in the hammer event (held on Friday) with 77.69 m. and Stella Tsikouna placed 6th in the discus throw with 58.91 m. In Gotzis, Carolina Kluft set a new personal best of 6.602 points and Roman Sebrle made his second-best score of 8.807 points to take victory in the 29th edition of the Hypo-Meeting today.

National record by Argyro Strataki
June 1. In the Greek combined events championship, Argyro Strataki set a heptathlon record for Greece with 6.116 p. Prodromos Korkizoglou won the men's title with 7.711 p. Also, today, in the meeting "Herakleia 2003" held in Heraklion, Crete Alexandros Papadimitriou set a season's best of 78.29 m., Anastassia Kelesidou threw 63.87 m. and Stefanos Konstas won the discus throw with 60.56

May 2003

Papaflesia 2003
May 31. The EAA permit meeting "Papaflesia 2003" held tonigh in Kalamata, with enough good performances. Andrey Sokolovskyi won the high jump with 2.30 m., Magdalin Martinez had a triple jump to 14.61 m., Yelena Yelesina won the women's high jump with 1.95 m. and Dmitri Zyukov jumped a 8.22 m. to dominate the long jump. Enough personal records by Greek athletes, Sotiris Papadeas was second in the 800 m. race with 1.46.93, Irene Dimitraki jumped 14.04 m. in the triple jump and Dimitris Filindras was second in the long jump with 8.07 m. Olga Vasdeki improved her season's best to 14.13 m.
Also, today Michalis Yelasakis won the 10000 m. greek national championship with 29.42.77, while three Greek jumpers exceeded 8.00 m. in a meeting in Thessaloniki. Kostas Vassiliadis jumped 8.10 m., the same mark with Kostas Koukodimos who is second, while Kostas Papadopoulos placed 3rd with a jump of 8.00 m. In the same meeting Stella Papadopoulou won the hammer throw with 63.40 m., while Evdokia Tsamoglou was second with 63.03 m. Vaios Tigas opened the season with 18.50 m. in the shot put.

Filothei Women Gala 2003
May 28. The bad weather conditions created enough problems to the Filothei Women Gala, held tonight. Niki Xanthou eas the winner of the long jump with 6.70 m. and Nadezhda Bazhenova dominated the triple jump with 14.06 m. followed by Olga Vasdeki who jumped 14.04 m. Inka Babakova set the best performance of the meeting, jumping a 1.98 m., while Linda Fergat clocked 13.34 in the 100 m. hurdles race and Yelena Pastushenko won the 100 m. in 11.56

Top athletes in Filothei and Kalamata
May 25. Enough top athletes have confirmed their participation in the early international meetings to be held in Greece, during next week. In Filothei Women Gala (May 28) Maureen Higa Maggi will compete with Niki Xanthou and Stella Pilatou, while Francoise Mbango and Nadezhda Bazhenova, along with the Greeks Vasdeki, Devetzi and Dimitraki are the main participants of the triple jump. Jamaican Peta Gaye Dowdie is the big name in the 100 m. race. In Papaflesia 2003, to be held in Kalamata (May 31) Deji Aliu, Tereza Marinova, Davian Clark, Leonard Byrd, Yelena Yelesina, Anna Chickerova, Yunes Murdik, Sergey Klyugin, are among the entries of the meeting. But, this weekend, we have important action including the Super Grand Prix Meeting in Eugene, the European Cup for Champion Clubs and the Hellenic Grand Prix meeting tomorrow in Heraklion.

Russian walkers won in the 5th European Cup
May 18. Athletes of Russia dominated the most races of the 5th European Walking Cup German Skurygin was the winner of the 50km in 3.47.50 while Elena Nikolayeva won the women's 20 km with 1.26.22. Ukraine's Andrey Yurin won the junior's 10 km. and Russia's Irina Petrova the women's junior race. Spyros Kastanis placed 16th in the 50 km with 4.03.23, being the best Greek walker of the race and Athina Papayianni was 17th in the women's 20 km (1.32.17). Christina Kokotou set a personal best of 1.33.38 and placed 24th.  During the 2nd day of the Greek Clubs Championships Stella Tsikouna became the fourth Greek over 60 m. this year, with a discus throw at 61.46 m. Georgia Tsiliggiri cleared 4.35 m. in the pole vault. Results from Oregon Grand Prix II Meeting

The second phase of the Greek Clubs Championships
May 17.  The European Discus Throw Champion Katerina Voggoli won again on the 1st day of the Greek Clubs Championships (second phase) with a throw at 63.14 m. In the same event Areti Ambatzi was also impressing, taking the second place with 62.06 m. Mirela Manjani won the javelin throw with 60.61 m., while Niki Xanthou and Stella Pilatou had wind assisted marks at 6.71 m. and 6.63 m. respectively. Michalis Stamatogiannis dominated the shot put with 18.72 m. In the group of Katerini Anastassia Kelesidou sent the discus to 60.94 m., setting the best mark of the group.
Results from Oregon Grand Prix II Meeting and 5th European Walking Cup

64.78 m. for Katerina Voggoli in Edessa
May 13. The Greek Grand Prix 2003 opened today, with 23rd Alexandria Meeting held in Edessa. Katerina Voggoli set a discus throw 64.78 m., the third world mark for this season. Voggoli had another throw at 64.66 m. Tania Tambaki set a wind assisted 13.03 in the 100 m. hurdles, while Pavlos Atmatsidis won the shot put with 18.82 m. Irene Dimitraki won the triple jump with a personal best of 13.98

Montgomery wins in Osaka
May 10. Tim Montgomery was the winner of the Osaka Grand Prix with 10" 04. in front of Australian Patrick Johnson who impressed last week with his season's best of 9"93. Also in Osaka, excellent marks set by Koji Murofushi (82.95), Cryste Gaines (11.03), Leah Malot (15:32.45) and Olga Kuzenkova (71.33). In Kozani, the Greek Armed Forces Championships started, and Kalliopi Ouzouni set the best mark of the 1st day winning the shot put competition with 18.03 m. Kostas Koukodimos jumped 7.63 m. and Spyros Arabatzis won the discus throw with 55.82 m. In Modesto Relays Stacy Dragila cleared 4.61 m., Matt Heminway won the high jump with 2.34 m. and Inger Miller clocked 11.16 and 23.19 in the 100 m. and 200 m. respectively. Alexandra Komnou set a 100 m. hurdles season's best for Greece in 13.45

Tim defeated by Makrozonaris
May 04. The 100 m. world record holder Tim Montgomery defeated by Nicolas Makrozonaris in Mexico City yesterday. Nicolas ran a 10" 03. making a step towards his objective to become the first white sprinter under 10". In this meeting  A. Felix of the USA broke thw world 200 m. juniors record with 22" 11. and Cobby Miller clocked 20"13. in the men's race. Christy Gaines was the winner of the women's 100 m. with 11"02. On the second day of the Greek Clubs Championships Mirela Manjani set a javelin throw 61.36 m. and Georgia Tsiliggiri cleared 4.30 m. Results from Belem GP

The Greek Clubs Championships opened
May 03. The first phase of the Greek Clubs Championships opened today in 8 cities around the country. Athanassia Tzoumeleka broke the 10000 m. walk national record for Greece with 44:40.62 in Pyrgos, while Aristotelis Gavelas won the 100 m. in the group of Athens with 10"36. Kenteris and Thanou ....walked in the 100 m. races in Agios Kosmas, just to offer points to their club. Good start for the discus throwers Anastassia Kelesidou (63.48 m.) and Katerina Voggoli (60.95 m.), but also for Dimitris Filindras (8.06 m.) and Kostas Koukodimos (7.90 m.), Alexandros Papadimitriou who won the hammer throw with 77.03 m. and Periklis Iakovakis who opened the season with a 400 m. hurldes race in 49.67. New National U23 records by Stelios Kesidis in the high jump ( 2.20 m.) and Ioanna Parha in the javelin throw at (50.65 m.)

April 2003

Nikos Pollias clocked 2:14.14 in Hamburg
April 30. Nikos Pollias placed 9th in the Hamburg Marathon, with 2:14.14 and met the standards for Paris and Athens. Also, on Sunday, Spiridoula Souma participated in the Padua Marathon where she was 5th with 2:47.59. On the meanwhile, a Greek athlete, Alexandros Ganotakis competed in La Jolla, California and set a discus throw personal best of 61.80 m., which is the 3rd all time performance for Greece.

Early National Records by young athletes
April 21. Two national records, in U18 and U23 categories, set during the last weekend. In Drama, Kostas Douvalidis broke the U18 110 m. hurdles record with 13.88, while Michalis Papaioannou won the decathlon of the Greek Combined Events Clubs Cup, with 7.210 p. to break his own U23 national record for Greece. Georgia Ambatzidou was 9th in the Marathon of Nagano with 2:41.48, while Vassilis Pouliopoulos clocked 2:32. 04 and Nikitas Markakis 2:46.19.
Finally, the Greek Team for the European Walking Cup (18 May) was announced today. The team consists of Eleutherios Thanopoulos (20000 m.), Spyros Kastanis, Georgios Argyropoulos, Georgios Christoulis (50000 m.), Athina Papagianni, Christina Kokotou, Angeliki Marki (20000 m.).

2:15:25 - Unbelievable race for Radcliffe
April 13. Paula Radcliffe set a Marathon record, running the London Marathon in an incredible time of 2:15:25, being 2 minutes faster than her own previous world best.

Ribeiro and Sghyr won the European 10000 m. Challenge
April 12. Fernanda Ribeiro was the winner of the women's race of he 7th version of the European 10000 m. Challenge, held today, in Agios Kosmas, with the participation of runners from 19 countries. Ribeiro, was also the winner of the cup in 1998. Based on her performance, the Portugese women's team won the team scoring for the 6th time, as only in 2001 Spain, who was second today, achieved to reach the top. The win of Ismail Sghyr in men's race was the first ever for France after four wins of athletes from Spain and two wins by Dieter Baumann.

Fredericks clocked 10.00 in Durban
April 12. Frank Fredericks won the 100 m. race in Durban, setting a world season's best of 10.00, while the women's race was also very fast, with Debbie Ferguson to cross the line in 10.97. Excellent marks for Stanislavs Olijars (13.35), Ian Weakley (48.89), Virjilius Alekna (65.84 m.) and Surita Febbraio (54.85). Results from Runaway Bay (IAAF permit)

European 10000 m. Challenge 2003
April 12. The 7th version of the European 10000 m. Challenge is held today, in Agios Kosmas, with the participation of runners from 19 countries.Fernanda Ribeiro, olympic champion in Atlanta and silver medalist in Sydney, Luminita Zaituc, second in the European Marathon Champs, Irina Mikitenko, Jelena Javornic, Amata Pientra are important participations in the women's race. Ismael Sgir has the best personal record among the men runners, in which many big names are also included: Mohammet Murhit, Eliseo Martin, Isaac Viciosa, Enrique Molina and Domingos Castro.

Mike Rotich won in Paris
April 06. Mike Rotich was the winner of the fast Paris Marathon in 2:06.31, while Benoit Swierzchlewski of France was second with 2:06.36 and Kenyan Wilson Onsare third with 2:06.47. Beatrice Omwanza of Kenya dominated the women's course with 2:27.44. followed by Italian Rosalia Console. Results from Australian Open and Pretoria

Doping incidents in Greek athletics
April 04. The IAAF informed the Greek Federation that Maria Tsirba, 8th in the 3000 m. final in Birmigham, was found positive twice during the World Indoor Championships. The first was on March 12, when the athlete was positive of EPO, while on March 15 she was found positive also of ephedrine. Today, the Greek Federation announced that a Greek walker, Angeliki Makri, was positive of cafeine, during the walking meeting held on March 16, in Aspropyrgos.
March 2003

March 2003

The World XC Championships open in Lausanne.
March 29. Werknesh Kidane of Ethiopia took the senior women’s long course 8km title at the 31st IAAF World Cross Country Championships in Lausanne-La Broye when she out-sprinted long-time leader Deena Drossin of the United States. An attack in the last 200m of the women’s junior race was enough to secure the gold medal for Ethiopia’s Tirunesh Dibaba, while the defending Ethiopian champion, Kenenisa Bekele, retained his crown, in the men's short race.
Yesterday in Rooderpoort, Frank Fredericks clocked 20.40 in the 200 m. and Shaun Crawford won the 100 m. in 10.10. Hestrie Cloete cleared 1.95m to win the high jump, while Tim Lombinger was the winner of the pole vault with 5.70m.

The indoor season is over
March 22. The indoor season is already over and the Greek athletes have started the preparation for the outdoor action of the year. In this weekend the U18 Clubs Championships are scheduled in some greek cities, while the first phase of the men's and women's Clubs Combined Events Championships are to be held on March 29-30, while on next Sunday (March 30) we have the International Marathon of Rhodes. On April 12, the Greek Federation host the European 10000 m. Challenge in Agios Kosmas. Results from Sydney (IAAF permit meeting)

World Record by Feofanova. Mutola picks up a historical gold
March 16.  Svetlana Feofanova broke Dragila's pole vault record, setting a 4, 80 m. in her second attempt on the third day of the world indoor champioships. Kajsa Bergqvist won her second world indoor title and got the third gold for Sweden in Bermingham, with a clearance at 2, 01 m.  Tatyana Kotova set a world leading mark 6, 84 m. to win the title in the long jump, where both Greek athletes weren't in a good form. Xanthou placed 5th with 6, 47 m. and Pilatou 6th with the same mark. Natalya Nazarova dominated the 400 m. in 50.83 and Tyree Washinghton the men's final in a world leading mark 45.34 Mutola won her fifth gold medal (1.58.94), more than any other athlete in the history of the world indoor championships. David Krummenacker was the surprising winner of the men's race, defeating Kipketer, Bungei and Reina. Christian Olsson flied to 17.70 m. in the last attempt to complete the brilliant performance of the Swedish team in the 8th World Indoor Championships. Walter was second with 17.35 m., also in the last attempt and Quesada took the bronze, leaving Jonathan Edwards without a medal.

The last final for Colin Jackson
March 16. Colin Jackson retires after the world indoor championships, where he place 5th today in Birmingham. Jackson's glorious career includes the world titles in 1993 and 1999, a silver medal in the world outdoor championships in 1997, the silver medal in the Olympic Games in 1988 and of course the four european titles from 1990 to 2002. In 1993 he set the world 110 m. hurdles world record 12" 91.

Double win for Germany in the pole vault. National record for Tsirba
March 15.  Germany's pole vaulters achieved a double win on the the second day of the World Indoor Championships, with Lobinger on the top with 5.80 m. and Stolle second with 5.75 m.Driss Maazouzi get the 1500 m. gold medal for France with 3'42"59. in front of Kenyan Lagat and Morrocan Hatchlaf.In men's long jump, the last attempt of Dwight Phillips measured 8.29 m., enough to overcome Lamela's 8.28 m. and bring the world title. Michelle Collins won another gold for the USA, defeating Hurtis in the 200 m. final and seeting a world leading 22"18. In a final of four national records, Ashia Hansen dominated the triple jump with a world leading 15.01 m., in fron of two Africans, Mbango from Cameroon and Ndoye from Senegal. Marlon Devonish won for Great Britain the second gold of the day, running the 200 m. final in 20" 62. Berhane Adere won easily the 3000 m. race with 8' 40" 25. Maria Tsirba placed 8th, breaking again the Greek record with 8' 52" 21. Irina Korzhanenko set a championships record of 20.55 m. to win the shot put, while Stefan Holm collected another valuable medal in his carrer clearing 2.35 m.

Shocking disqualification for Dragila
March 15. In the morning, the second group of the pole vault qualification round reserved the big surprise as Stacy Dragila failed to clear 4,30 m., where she started the competition and disqualified from the final.

A brilliant night for Carolina Kluft
March 14. Sweden's Carolina Kluft was the star of the 1st day of the World Championships.Kluft set personal bests in the 60 mh (8"19.), high jump (1.89m), 60m (6"61.), she was second in the shot put with 14.48 m. and the 800 m.and eventually broke the champioships record with 4.933 points.
Zhana Block was the expected winner of the 60 m. in a world leading 7" 04. Block defeated both Americans Angela Williams (7"16.) and Torri Edwards (7"17), while Marleen Ottey after an impressing 7"17 in the semifinals, was fourth with 7"20. The 21-year-old American Justin Gatlin won the men's 60m. in 6" 46, followed by the Commonwealth Games 100 metres champion, Kim Collins of St. Kitts (6"55.) and Britain’s Jason Gardener (6"56). Earlier in the afternoon, George Theodoridis was 3rd in his semifinal heat and did not qualify.

Maria Tsirba in the 3000 m. final
March 14. At the end of the first day of the World Championships, Maria Tsirba set a national 3000 m.record for Greece 8'52"70. and qualified for the final.

Dissapointing disqualification for Vasdeki and Devetzi
March 14. The 9th version of the IAAF World Indoor Championships opened today in Birmingham, UK and George Theodoridis is the only Greek athlete who managed to qualify for the 60m. semifinals, after the qualification rounds of the morning session. The triple jump reserved a great dissapointment for the Greek team, as both Olga Vasdeki and Pigi Devetzi failed to qualify for the final, while Lebedeva is also out. Aris Gavelas and Georgia Kokloni, also, failed to approach their season's bests. Impressing marks by Karolina Kluft in the early pentathlon events

The Greek team for the World Indoor Championships
March 10. Two men and eight women represent Greece in the World Indoor Championships, to be held on 14-16 March in Birmingham. The only men are George Theodoridis and Aris Gavelas, both in the 60 m. race, while the women are Georgia Kokloni in the 60 m., Konstantina Efentaki (1500m.), Maria Tsirba (3000 m.), Flora Redoumi (60m hurdles), Stella Pilatou and Niki Xanthou (long jump), Chrysopigi Devetzi and Olga Vasdeki (triple jump). Results from Linz and Durban.

"Athina 2003"
March 6. The win of Yelena Isinbayeva in the pole vault was the hightlight of the the IAAF Permit Meeting "Athina 2003" held today in Peania. The Russian pole vaulter equalled her personal best with 4,65 m. and defeated Svetlana Feofanova who was second with 4, 60 m. Yago Lamela won the long jump with 8, 26 m. and Kim Kollins the 60 m. with 6" 57. Dragutin Topic cleared 2, 33 m. to dominate the high jump, Yahumara Neyra clocked 8"00. in the 60 m.hurdles, the same time with Glory Alozie, while Zhana Block won easily the 60 m. in 7" 13. Tatyana Kotova set a  7, 74 m. and Niki Xanthou was second with 6, 72 m. in the long jump. Ouaziz clocked 8' 47" 00. to win the 3000 m. in front of Carla Sacramento. Good marks by Sandie Richards (52" 39.), Yoel Hernandez (7" 67.) and Rui Silva (3' 36" 86.)

Devetzi and Pilatou shine in the Balkan Champs
March 04. Two Greek jumpers were the stars of the Balkan Indoor Champs, held tonight in the new indoor stadium in Peania, Athens. Chryssopigi Devetzi achieved a jump to 14, 84 m. to break Tsiamita's Greek indoor record; it is the second world mark for this season. Stella Pilatou, the new blood of Greek long jump, set a personal best of 6, 80 m. and now she is on the top of the world list. Olga Vasdeki was second in the triple jump with 14, 41 m. and made the standard for the World Champs. Christos Meletoglou set a 16, 70 m. and Flora Redoumi set a personal best in the 60 m. hurdles with 8" 08.

European Winter Throwing Challenge. Second place for Papadimitriou and third for Tsikouna
March 01. The European Winter Throwing Challenge started today in Gioia Tauro, Italy. Rutger Smith of Netherlands won the shot put with 20, 52 m., while Estonian Gerd Kanter was the winner of the discus throw with an attempt at 64, 17 m. Irina Khudoroshkina won the shot put with 18, 47 m. Italian Nicola Vizzoni won the hammer with 75, 35 m., in front of Alexandros Papadimitriou who was second with 74, 74 m., and Stefi Nerius dominated the women's javelin with 62, 50 m. Stefanos Konstas was 17th in the discus throw with 56, 86 m. and Pavlos Koukouzikis placed 14th in the hammer throw with 66, 51 m. During the second day, Tereza Machado sent the discus to 63, 65 m., while Stella Tsikouna placed 3rd.In the US Championships Gail Devers shone again running the 60 m.h. in 7" 85. and Allen Johnson won the men's event in 7" 39.  Results from Melbourne GPII Meeting

February 2003

Feofanova, Block and Szabo in "Athina 2003"
February 28. Zhana Block and Gabriela Szabo are going to participate in Athina 2003", the IAAF permit meeting to be held on March 6, in the new indoor stadium of Peania. Among the other world and olympic champions who plan to participate in the meeting are Carla Sacramento, Allan Johnson and Anier Garcia, Bernard Lagat, Yago Lamela, Glorie Alozie, Svetlana Feofanova and Ivone Buschbaum, Tatyana Kotova, Niki Xanthou and Maureen Maggie, Mark Boswell, Michael McDonald, Cristy Gaines, Kim Collins and others. Two days earlier, on March 4, the indoor Balkan Games will also take place in the same stadium, with the participation of the top athletes of the Balkan peninsula.
Yesterday in Moscow, during the Russian Indoor Champs, four women achieved jumps over 2, 00 m.; Yelesina and Chicherova at 2, 02, Kuptsova and Lapina at 2,00 m. New Russian record by Natalya Gorelova who ran the 1500 m. in 4'00"72. In Karlsruhe, Yamile Aldama jumped a personal best of 14, 88 m. and Constantina Efentaki smashed the 1500 m. Greek record with 4' 12" 91.

European Record by Garcia
February 22. Few days after his 5000 m. european record, Alberto Garcia run the 3000 m. in 7' 32" 98. tonight in Sevilla, setting another European indoor Record. The previous one was 7' 36" 61. by his compatriot Fermin Cacho, from 04 Feb. 1996. Results from Canberra and Agios Kosmas.

Gebre and Feofanova set world records in Birmingham
February 21. Haile Gebreselasie smashed the 2 miles indoor world record in Birmingham, running the distance in 8' 04" 69. The second world record of the night came by Svetlana Feofanova who cleared 4, 77 m., while Ashia Hansen dominated the triple jump with 14, 71 m.; a world best for this season. Olga Vasdeki placed 7th in this competition with a jump of 13, 94 m. Jonathan Edwards was the triple jump winner with 17, 44 m.

Top athletes to participate in Balkan Champs
February 20. Tereza Marinova Tanya Koleva top the Bulgarian team, who will participate in the Balkan Indoor Championships to be held in Athens, on March 04.  Among the Bulgarians who is expected to come to Athens are also Tzventelina Kyrilova and Magdalena Christova, while the Romania team come with all the top athletes currently competing in indoor meetings. Tomorrow, in Bermingham, Olga Vasdeki will  to improve once more her season best, while the Greek Federation announced the throwers who will participate in the European Winter Throwing Challenge; Stella Tsikouna (discus throw), Alexandros Papadimitriou and Pavlos Koukouzikis (hammer throw)and Stefanos Konstas (discus throw). On Saturday evening another indoor meeting is to be held in Agios Kosmas, with the participation of the Greek top athletes.

Big Jump for Devetzi at 14, 48 m.
February 16. Devetzi jumped a 14, 48 m. in Athens, the best european mark for this season so far, while Niki Xanthou improved more to 6, 61 m. National Juniors Record by Stergioulis who ran the 60 m. in 6" 74.

Spain and Russia won the European Indoor Cup
February 15. The women team of Russia and the men team of Spain won the 1st European Indoor Cup, held in Leipzig, Germany. Men of Spain and Germany gathered 56 points, but Spain got the Cup having won one event more the German team. Spain and Russia disqualified in the last combined event. Jason Gardener won the 60 m. in 6" 55. and Svetlana Feofanova the pole vault with 4, 65 m. Christine Arron clecked 7" 18. to dominate without difficulty the 60 m., why Yago Lamela jumped 8, 09 m. to win the long jump. Olga Vasdeki placed 2nd with 14, 17 m. in the triple jump, while Aris Gavelas got another second place for Greece, running the 60 m. in 6" 61. But, the men's team could not avoid the last position of the classification, while the women's team ranked just 7th.

Alberto Garcia broke the European Record in Ghent
February 09. Brillant marks tonight in Ghent, where Spain's Alberto Garcia set a 5000 m. european record in 13' 11" 39. and Zhana Block ran the 60 m. in 7" 09. Ottey, already 43 years old, placed second in the same race with 7" 18., in front of Hurtis who clocked 7" 20. Maria Mutola dominated the 800 m. in 1' 58" 88.and Zahra Ouaziz the 3000 m. race with 8' 42" 01. Christian Olsson jumped 17, 24 m. to win the triple jump while Coby Miller clocked 6" 50. and won the 60 m. final. The only Greek participant, Anastassios Goussis, placed 6th in the 200 m. race with 21" 40.

Devers and Dragila set American Records in New York
February 08. Stacy Dragila and Gail Devers charmed the crowd setting American records at the 96th annual Verizon Millrose Games.  Devers, won the women's 60m hurdles, in 7.78 and received the 2003 Fred Schmertz Outstanding Performer Trophy, while Stacey Dragila, cleared 4, 72 m. to overcome the American record. Trammel won the 60 m. in 6" 51. leaving Greene third with 6" 57.
In addition, the Greek Team for the European Cup was announced today, after the indoor meeting held in Agios Kosmas:
MEN: Aris Gavelas (60 m.), Anastassios Goussis (400 m.), Pavlos Farougias (800 m.), Kostas Karakatsanis (1500 m.), Michalis Yelasakis (3000 m.), Dimitrios Pietris (60 m.h.), Dimitris Sirakos (HJ), Louis Tsatoumas (LJ), Vaios Tigas (SP), Economidis, Farougias, Goussis, Georgiou (relay)
WOMEN: Marina Vassarmidou (60 m.), Chrysa Goudenoudi (400 m.), Maria Dalaka (800 m.), Konstantina Efentaki (1500 m.), Maria Tsirba (3000 m.), Flora Redoumi (60mh), Olga Vasdeki (TJ), Georgia Tsiliggiri (PV), Tsapara, Dalaka, Kaidatzi, Goudennoudi (relay)
Swedish jumpers shone in Arnstadt where Holm (2, 36 m.), Kuptsova (2, 02 m.) and Begqvist (2, 02 m.) set world season's bests. The 2, 02 m. mark is a new national record for Kajsa. In Chemnitz, yesterday night, Annika Becker won the pole vault with 4, 67 m. and attempted without sucess to break Feofanova's world record.

Sokolovskyi cleared 2, 33 m. in Athens. Seryogina and Bergqvist at 2, 00 m.
February 05. Andrey Sokolovskyi cleared 2, 33 m. to win the international high jump, organized by the Municipality of Herakleion in Athens. The Ukrainian jumper is now on the top of the world list for this season.  Genady Moroz of Belarus placed second with 2, 20 m., the same height with the Greek Dimitris Syrakos who is third. In women's competition, Viktoria Seryogina won at 2, 00 m., while Kajsa Bergqvist was second, after clearing also 2, 00 m. Marina Kuptsova placed third with 1, 98 m. Results from Dortmund

World Records by Jacobs and Feofanova. Dragila cleared 4, 71 m. in Boston
February 02. Regina Jacobs, few months before turning 40, broke the 1500 world indoor record in Boston. Jacobs, who ran a 3' 59" 98. is the first women under 4 minutes in the indoor track, breaking Melinte's world record 4' 00" 27. (February 1990). Stacey Dragila won the pole vault with an American Record of 4, 71 m. and Bernard Lagat dominated the 1500 m. run in 3' 38" 15. Maurice Greene started the season with 6" 52. in the 60 m. Svetlana Feofanova broke the world indoor record with a clearance of 4, 76 m. in Glascow where Zhana Pintusevich clocked 7" 09. in 60 m. In Athens, Niki Xanthou opened the season with a jump at 6, 55 m. and Olga Vasdeki jumped 14, 17 m. Personal bests for Christoforos Choidis and Aris Gavelas; both ran the 60 m. in 6" 61. Louis Tsatoumas won the long jump with 7, 98 m. Results from Stuttgart

Pole Vault juniors record by Dimitra Emmanuel
February 01. Dimitra Emmanuel cleared 4, 06 m. to break the pole vault juniors record, in the meeting held in Agios Kosmas. Cypriot Julia Farmaka set a national high jump record with 1, 85 m. and Stavros Kouroupakis won the pole vault with a personal best of 5, 45 m.

January 2003

Gardener clocked 6" 52. in Erfurt. Kravec returns with 14, 44 m. in Moscow
January 31. Jason Gardener won the 60 m. final in Erfurt with a time of 6" 52. the best so far for this season. James Beckford jumped 8, 17 m. and Annika Becker cleared 4, 53 m. Stavros Vathistas was the only Greek in the meeting and clocked 48" 46. in the 400 m. race. In Wuppertal, Jaroslav Baba won the high jump at 2, 31 m., Dora Gyorffy cleared 1, 94 m. and Monica Pyrek dominated the pole vault with 4, 52 m. Inessa Kravec, the triple jump world record holder, returns to the field and jumped 14, 44 m. in the Russian Winter 2003, held, yesterday, in Moscow. Good marks by Ruslan Gataulin who jumped 8, 11 m., Marina Kislova who ran a 7: 17. in 60 m., Svetlana Laukhova who clocked 7" 99. in the 60 m. hurdles race and Marina Kupsova who cleared 1, 99 m. Natalia Nazarova dominated the 400 m. in 51" 35. and Pavel Fomenko cleared 2, 28 m. to win the high jump.

Vasdeki jumps 14, 01 m. in Ierapetra, Choidis ran 6" 65. in Athens. Aldama jumps 14, 85 in South Africa.
January 26. Olga Vasdeki jumped a 14, 01 m. yesterday in Ierapetra, coming back after a two-year hard period of injuries. The former European Champion and World Cup Winner had attempted a long jump at 6, 23 m. two weeks ago and seems ready for returning to international competitions soon. Another impressing come-back was this of Aristotelis Choidis, who ran the 60 m. in 6" 65. in Athens, where Louis Tsatoumas improved his indoor personal best to 7, 90 m. Good mark by Pavlos Atmatsidis who won the shot put with 18, 85 m. in Thessaloniki, while in the U18 meeting in Agios Kosmas, Stavros Tsibidis broke the U18 60 m. hurdles record for Greece in 7" 92. Yesterday night, in the opening meeting of ABSA Series, in Germiston, Morne Nagel won the 100 m. in 10" 22. held in Germsiton, South Africa, Sherwin Fries won the 100 m. in 10" 25. leaving Nagel second with 10" 37. Aldama jumped an impressin 14, 85 m. and the Greek champion, Chrysopigi Devetzi, who is training in South Africa, place second with 14, 01 m. On Sunday, Euthymios Stergioulis broke the 60 m. juniors record for Greek, running a 6" 77. in Agios Kosmas. Finally, in Samara, Russia Christian Olsson opened the season with a jump at 17, 14 m. Results from Polish Juniors Championships

Chotokouridou cleared 1, 87 m., Vassilopoulos 18, 07 m.
January 18. The personal best set by Ioannis Vassilopoulos who thew 18, 07 m. and the win of Georgia Tsiliggiri with 4, 25 m. was the main marks of the meeting held in the afternoon in Agios Kosmas. Cypriot Julia Farmaka cleared 1, 80 m. to win the high jump at the same height with Niki Mitropoulou and Stavros Kouroupakis started the season with 5, 25 m.Marina Korda set a 60 m. personal best at 7" 52. In Thessaloniki, Maria Chotokouridou cleared 1, 87 to set a personal best and Athanassia Pera jumped a 12, 88 m. Irene Terzoglou won the shot put with 17, 14 m. On the meanwhile, in Volgograd, Tatyana Lebedeva jumped 14, 16 m. in a meeting where Yulia Tabakova ran the 60 m. in 7" 24.and Tatyana Polnova cleared 4, 50 m.

Good start for Stella Pilatou
January 11. Stella Pilatou (sixth in Munich EC last summer) opened the season in the meeting of Ieraperta, Crete with a jump of 6, 47 tonight. Olga Vasdeki attempted a return after 2 years of injuries, participating in the long jump and placed second with 6, 23 m. Georgia Yannakitsidou won the triple jump with 13, 07 m. In the meeting of Thessaloniki Georgia Tsiliggiri won the pole vault with 4, 20 m., followed by Antigoni Asteriou and Errica Prezerakou; both cleared 4, 00 m. Kostas Vasiliadis jumped 7, 58 m. in the long jump and Dimitris Sirakos cleared 2, 16 m. to win the high jump.

Chikerova shone in Yekaterinburg
January 09. Anna Chikerova, the European junior silver medallist, broke the Russian high jump record at 2, 04 m. during the "Christmas Cup 2003" in Yekaterinburg, beating the reigning Olympic Champion who cleared 2, 01 m. in the same competition and boke her personal best. Aleksey Krysin won the men's competition at 2, 25 m.
Marina Kisola was the winner of the 60 m. in 7" 22. In the meeting of Moscow, Yaroslav Ryakov cleared 2, 25 m. and Kiril Sosunov jump 7, 78 m. to win the long jump.

Ayhan and Chambers won the Crystal Trophy 2002
January 08. In a surprise result, widespread strong support by Turkish athletics fans throughout Europe helped middle distance runner Süreyya Ayhan to win the Waterford Crystal European Athlete of the Year Trophy 2002, leaving Radcliffe behind. Although EAA has changed the process of the election, in order to prevent the multiple voting from a singe countey and thus the expression of nationalistic aspects, the result was the veryfication that the method of election should be under more investigation. Maybe a standard, but enough wide and representative panel of Athletics fans could be a solution to this problem.
In the men's ranking, sprinter Dwain Chambers was eleceted as Athlete of the Year for Europe, clearly ahead of his British compatriot Steve Backley. More than 10,000 people participated in this vote on the European Athletics Association website. Two Greeks were among the top10 of the rankings; Kostas Kenteris in 6th position and Mirella Tzelili in 9th position of women's classification.
The Rankings
Men 1 Chambers Dwain GBR 281, 2 Backley Steve GBR 224, 3 Fazekas Robert HUN 221, 4 Jackson Colin GBR 209, 5 Kipketer Wilson DEN 206, 6 Kenteris Konstantinos GRE 190, 7 Edwards Jonathan GBR 176, 8 Sebrle Roman CZE 165, 9 Korzeniowski Robert POL 150, 10 Fernandez Francisco Javier ESP 123
Women 1 Ayhan Süreyya TUR 359, 2 Radcliffe Paula GBR 317, 3 Bergqvist Kajsa SWE 292, 4 Ceplak Jolanda SLO 247, 5 Szabo Gabriela ROM 223, 6 Feofanova Svetlana RUS 223, 7 Kotova Tatyana RUS 130, 8 Alozie Glory ESP 113, 9 Manjani Mirela GRE 88, 10 Hurtis Muriel FRA 81

A new year came, the indoor season is coming closer.
January 3. The entry of the new year brings the opening of the indoor season. In Greece, the indoor meetings are scheduled to start on January 19th in Ierapetra, Crete. The regional stadiums are going to host the main athletics events to be held in Greece within the next year, as both the Olympic Stadium in Athens and the Indoor Stadium of Pireaus are under reconstruction in order to meet the needs of the Olympic Games. The Gubernator Cup, in Samara, Russia is the first significant international indoor meeting, scheduled in January 26th, while the meetings in Moscow and Erfurt follow in the next days. The outdoor season in the southern hemisphere goes on with the meeting of Germiston on January 24th. On the meanwhile, the IAAF and EAA permit cross country meetings are already in progress.