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December 2005

Devetzi named Athlete of the Year for Greece
16.12.2005 Athens' Olympics silver medalist, Chrysopigi Devetzi, named Woman Athlete of the Year for Greece. One more girl of athletics, Erfurt's European U23 Champion and European 100m record holder, Maria Karastamati placed second.
In the top male athletes of the year, athletics are not represented, although a special award was given to Konstantinos Filippidis for the significant improvement in 2005 The world swimming champion Aris Gregoriadis named athlete of the year, while the basketball national team, which won the European Championships last summer, won the title of the Team of the Year.

Montgomery announced retirement
14.12.2005 Sprinter Tim Montgomery announces his retirement following his two-year ban for steroid abuse...full story from BBC

Two-year bans for Montgomery and Gaines
14.12.2005 Former 100 meter world record holder Tim Montgomery and three-time World Championships sprint relay gold medallist Chryste Gaines were handed two-year bans today after the American pair were found guilty of doping violations by the Court of Arbitration for Sport.The findings against both Montgomery and Gaines, who had never failed a drugs test, were based upon evidence gathered in conjunction with the U.S. federal investigation of the Balco Lab and its founder Victor Conte.

Montgomery to learn fate
13.12.2005 Former 100m world record-holder Tim Montgomery will find out on Tuesday if he is to be banned from athletics for life... full story from BBC

Chambers may lose further medals
13.12.2005 Athletics' governing body has admitted that Dwain Chambers' revelations to BBC Sport could see the sprinter lose all his medals from 2002 onwards.
Chambers told the BBC that he had used the steroid THG from the start of 2002 - 18 months before he was caught. .. full story from BBC

The CAS hearing will resume on 22 February
Lausanne, 8 December 2005 The Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) held a hearing in the case IAAF v/SEGAS & Kenteris & Thanou in Lausanne on 14 and 15 October 2005. The arbitral Panel adjourned the arbitration at the end of the second hearing day. The hearing will resume on 22 February 2006 in order to terminate the evidentiary proceedings and to hear closing arguments.

EAA verified Karastamati's European Record...
7.12.2005 The European Athletics Association informed the Greek Federation today that Karastamati's winning time in the European U23 Championships (11.03, 16 July 2004, Erfurt) has been officially recognized as a new European Under 23 Record.

... while Papadopoulou banned for 2 years
7.12.2005 Maria Papadopouluo, the national 800m record holder,  banned for 2 years by the Greek Federation, according to the official announcement issued late in the afternoon. Although SEGAS did not announce the substance found in athlete's both samples, press releases refer to erythropietine. Papadopoulou found positive by WADA, when she tested in Athens last July. A mistake made by the IAAF in the early stages of the case, which announced the city of Trikala as the place of the test, as well as the athlete's collaboration with the German coach Thomas Springstein, accused for provision of drugs by the German Courts, provoked an international debate on the case. SEGAS desicion puts an end to the story, at least as to the side of the Greek athlete.

Holmes announced retirement
6.12.2005 Double Olympic Champion, Kelly Holmes announced her decision to retire, in a press conference held in London."This has been a very tough decision to make. Hanging up my spikes forever is a big step. I would have loved to compete in Melbourne, but know that the time is right for me to move on and take up some of the amazing opportunities that have been presented to me."

November 2005

60 national records for Greece in 2005
10.11.2005 Sixty national records in all age groups were broken in 2005, more of them by the new pole vault stars, Konstantinos Filippidis and Ekaterini Stefanidi. Filippidis broke 5 times the men's record and 6 times the juniors record, while Stefanidi improved 6 times the juniors and U18 records for Greece.
At the European level, nine Greeks are among the top 10 athletes of their events. Periklis Iakovakis tops the european season's list in the 400mh, while Hrysopigi Devetzi is 2nd in the triple jump and Maria Karastamati 3rd in the 100m.
Four men and also four girls are included in the top 10 european under 23 athletes, with more significant cases these of Minas Alozidis who is on the top of the respective list of the 400mh and Maria Karastamati, second european U23 sprinter for 2005.
Finally, an impressing youth team holds top positions in the under 18 european lists. Twelve boys and three girls are included in the top 10 spots of their events, with Yervasios Filippidis and Konstantinos Filippidis  lead the javelin throw and the pole vault. European Youth Champion Ioannis Smalios is second in the javelin, while the world youth record holder of the 110mh, Konstantinos Douvalidis, is also second in his event.

Saina and Measo are victorious in the Athens Marathon
6.11.2005In sunny but cool weather (around 15C) more than 3000 runners left the village of Marathon at 8.30am this morning at the start of the 23rd edition of the Athens... our report, written for the IAAF

Gatsioudis re-attempts while Manjani changes coach
3.11.2005 After a long absence from the track and many tough injuries, Konstantinos Gatsioudis fights for his return. The Greek javelin throw, who has won three medals in world championships so far, has entered a period of normal training and last week he attempted some early throws. Gatsioudis hopes to be ready for the European Championships to be held in Gothenburg, Sweden next summer.
Meanwhile, another javelin star, Mirela Manjani started training with Gatsioudis ' coach Antonis Papadimitriou. A choice marking a new career start for the 28-year-old former European and World Champion.
READ ALSO: Athens Classic Marathon, our preview written for the IAAF

October 2005

Chambers return runs into delay
30.10.2005 British sprinter Dwain Chambers will have to wait until next year before he can return to the track. The 27-year-old was expected to return from his two-year ban on 8 November. But under World Anti-Doping Agency (Wada) rules, Chambers must pass three mandatory drugs tests before he is allowed to compete again .... more from BBC

European Athletics – the need for change
21.10.2005 At the European Athletics Extraordinary Congress in Reykjavik, Iceland, on Saturday 15 October, EAA President Hansjörg Wirz presented a framework for change adopted by the EAA Council which aims to ensure a successful future for European Athletics. The framework for change includes the following objectives:
• To invite the IAAF to form a joint working group with the EAA to consider matters of common interest
• To restructure the outdoor season in a logical manner in cooperation with the IAAF, with the climax to be the major championship of the year
• To review the division of responsibilities for the competition structure within Europe between the IAAF and EAA and the IAAF/EAA Permit system
• To devise new competition formats, enhance the presentation of athletics to give it higher appeal and experiment with new forms of athletics
• To organise an European Athletics Championships every two years to be consistent with all other Area Associations
• To devise and introduce appropriate programmes in conjunction with EAA member federations in order to attract more young people to athletics
• To create and implement an enhanced and coordinated communication and promotion strategy for the sport More from European Athletics Association

Was BALCO probe worth all the time, money and trouble?
20.10.2005 With three kingpins in the BALCO doping scandal sentenced Tuesday to a few months in prison or probation, attorneys and steroid experts questioned whether the lengthy and costly federal investigation went far enough.. more from USA TODAY
Read also: Balco boss gets prison sentence from BBC

Papadopoulou case
20.10.2005 The Greek 800m runner Maria Papadopoulou was called by the Greek Federation to defend herself for WADA accusations, according to which the athlete tested positive on July 29, in Trikala. The athlete denied again that she was in the city in July 29th. Further details are not known in public, while the decision of the Federation is expected in two weeks.

CAS official announcement
Lausanne, 17 October 2005  "The Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) held a hearing in its headquarters in Lausanne on 14 and 15 October 2005 in the case IAAF v/SEGAS & Kenteris & Thanou.
The arbitral Panel, composed of Mr Yves Fortier QC, Barrister in Montr?al/Canada (President), Mr Christopher Campbell, Attorney-at-law in San Francisco/USA and Mr Peter Leaver QC, Barrister in London/United Kingdom sat during ten hours every day to hear the witnesses called by the various parties. However, this schedule was not sufficient to hear all witnesses. The arbitration was then adjourned and a second hearing will be scheduled soon by CAS in order to terminate the evidentiary proceedings and to hear closing arguments.
The date of the second hearing will be communicated as soon as it is known."
According to Greek media resources Thanou won't testify before March 2006.

2h 06.52 for Gebreselasie in Amsterdam
16.10.2005 Haile Gebreselassie ran to a 2:06:20 victory at the ING Amsterdam Marathon today, improving his previous personal best of 2:06:35 from London in 2002.
Men: 1 Haile Gebreselassie ETH 2.06.20 PB CR, 2 Daniel Yego KEN 2:08.58, 3 Tesfaye Tola ETH 2.09.17, 4 Bernard Barmasai KEN 2.10.52, 5 George Okworo KEN 2.11.49, 6 Andrew Limo KEN 2.12.13
Women: 1 Kutre Dulecha ETH 2.30.06, 2 Kristijna Loonen NED 2.34.08, 3 Sue Harrison GBR 2.38.26

Extention of hearing in Lausanne
16.10.2005 The long testimony of Kostas Kenteris turned the schedule over and now CAS is looking for a new date in order to give Katerina Thanou the opportunity to testify. The 200m olympic and world champion, who finally arrived to Lausanne along with Thanou and their lawyer, was testifying for 7 hours, reffering to all acusations against him. Kenteris replied numerous questions and tried to reverse the accusation of failing three non-shows, focusing on the case of Chicago. His lawyer, Gregoris Ioannidis, presented the documentation according to which Kenteris had promptly informed IAAF about his travel. Kenteris also referred to the incident in Qatar, while, according to Greek media releases, a crucial point of his testimony was his claim that he had never signed his participation in the Olympic Games, in the afternoon of August 13th, suggesting that his signature had been forged. This point was also examined by the three-member Court during its meeting yesterday. The end of the hearing process is now expected around the end of the month.

Waterford Crystal Trophy 2005
14.10.2005 The public internet poll for the "Waterford Crystal European Athlete of the Year Trophy 2005" has been opened by the European Athletics Association. Click here to vote

Careers to be decided in Lausanne
12.10.2005 Kostas Kenteris and Katerina Thanou will discover if they can return to the track at a hearing of the Court of Arbitration for Sport on 14/15 October. The delegation of the Greek Federation arrives tomorrow in Lausanne, where both sprinters will be represented by their lawyer Gregoris Ioannidis.
The decision of the Court will be known around mid November.

New incentives scheme announced by Greek Federation
5.10.2005 The Greek Federation announced today the new incentives provided to the Greek athletes, who are classified into three main categories, based on their achievements in the last two years. The first category (A1) consists of seven top athletes, who are going to recieve the stronger financial support next year: Fani Halkia, Chrysopigi Devetzi, Christos Meletoglou, Mirela Manjani, Angeliki Tsiolakoudi, Konstantinos Kenteris and Ekaterini Thanou.
Eighteen athletes are included in the second category (A2): Periklis Iakovakis, Luis Tsatoumas, Irene Dimitraki, Konstantinos Zalagitis, Konstantinos Filippidis, Maria Karastamati, Alexandros Papadimitriou, Georgia Kokloni, Dimitra Dova, Konstantina Efentaki, Christina Hatzi, Styliani Pilatou, Flora Redoumi, Ekaterini Voggoli, Athanasia Perra and Argyro Strataki.
Category B includes 29 athletes, while 17 more youngsters are classified into the "new generation group"; among them all the new stars who shone in Kaunas and Marrakesh this season.Marathon runners and walkers will be classified in the next days.
Obviously the Federation takes into account both Kenteris and Thanou in the new planning, waiting for CAS decision expected later this month. But an extremely notable absence from all lists is this of Anastasia Kelesidou, the 33-year-old discus thrower who has won two Olympic medals and three medals in World Championships so far. Currently there is not any official explanation for this exclusion, but it seems that Anastasia needs time to think about resuming training, skipping one more season, or even putting an end to a glorious career.

Barcelona bids for Euro Championships 2010
4.10.2005 Barcelona replaced Madrid's candidature for the European Championships 2010, following the withdrawl of the Spanish Capital. Barcelona faces with no competition as it is the only city which has submitted a bid for the Championships so far.

Tomescu wins first World Half Marathon
1.10.2005 Romania's Constantina Tomescu-Dita clinched the IAAF World Half Marathon womens title in Edmonton on Saturday afternoon. A 19-year-old Tanzanian, Fabiano Joseph won the men's race. [Results][IAAF reports]

September 2005

Olga Vasdeki goes on
29.9.2005 Olga Vasdeki returns to training next month, targetting the qualification for the European Championships in Gothenburg. THe 32-year-old triple jumper failed to qualify for Helsinki, having injury problems and being under medical treatment for the most of the season. She decided to skip the indoor season and concentrate to the European Championships, where in 1998 she won the gold medal. Vasdeki was also bronze medalist in the World Championships in 1999, she won the World Cup in 1998, while she placed 4th in the World Championships held in Athens in 1997 and participated in the finals of Paris 2003 and Athens 2004.

Berlin Marathon results
25.9.2005 Men: 1 Manyim, Philip KEN 2:07:41, 2 Chebet, Peter KEN 2:08:58, 3 Koech, Jackson KEN 2:09:07, 4 Chelanga, Joshua KEN 2:09:10, 5 Ngolepus, Joseph KEN 2:10:10, 6 Mola, Shimeles ETH 2:10:11, 7 Rotich, Michael KEN 2:10:53, 8 Letherby, Andrew AUS 2:11:42, 9 da Silva, Romulo BRA 2:12:03, 10 Yae, Terefe ETH 2:12:07
Women:1 Noguchi, Mizuki JAP 2:19:12, 2 Zaituc, Luminita GER 2:27:34, 3 Tafa, Asale ETH 2:28:27, 4 Kraus, Melanie GER 2:34:23, 5 Tola, Worknesh ETH 2:35:31, 6 Crombie-Hicks, Shona GBR 2:38:42, 7 Aagaard, Anne-Mette DEN 2:38:44, 8 Rahm, Anna SWE 2:39:31, 9 Gradwohl, Eva Maria AUT 2:39:51, 10 Draskau-Petersson, Jess GBR 2:42:00 [Results from Balkan Jrs Champs]

Three Greek wins in Katerini
24.9.2005 Michalis Mertzanidis (long jump), Nikoletta Kyriakopoulou (pole vault) and the men's 4X100m relay team are the Greek winner on the first day of the Balkan Juniors Championships, started today in Katerini, Greece [Results]

Five Kaunas medalists in Katerini
23.9.2005 The Juniors Balkan Championships are scheduled for this weekend in Katerini, Greece, with the participation of 9 countries.
The Greek team includes all Greek medalists of the European Juniors Champs, with the only exception of the 400m runner Dimitrios Regas. Konstantinos Filippidis who was second in the pole vault, the European javelin throw champion Ioannis Smalios, the silver medalists Maria Zarva (javelin throw) and Konstantinos Douvalidis (100mh), but also Michalis Mertzanidis, bronze in the long jump, will be there for the last competition of the season.

Great marks in Shangai
17.9.2005 Xiang Liu clocked 13.05 in Shangai Super Grand Prix where Justin Gatlin won the 100m in 10.01 and Chandra Sturrup the women's race with 11.02. Christopher Williams set a 20.24 at 200m and Yelena Isinbayeva cleared 4.65m [Results]
Sebre and Barber lead the combined events meeting in Talence [Results]

Devetzi and Iakovakis the best Greeks of IAAF rankings
13.9.2005 Athens' silver medallist Chrysopigi Devetzi is the fourth world triple jumper, according to the latest release of the IAAF rankings, after her win in Monaco. Devetzi scores 1300 points, most than every Greek athlete, while Angeliki Tsiolakoudi is 8th in the javelin with 1135 points. Significant positions for both sprinters, Karastamati and Kokloni, currently 17th and 18th at 100m respectively. Periklis Iakovakis is 9th in the 400mh, while the new star of the pole vault, Konstantinos Filippidis is the 14th world vaulter. The Greeks with the better scores are the following:
MEN: 1. Periklis Iakovakis 1276 (400mh, 9th), 2. Konstantinos Filippidis 1240 (PV, 14th), 3. Konstantinos Zalagitis 1213 (TJ, 16th), 4. Luis Tsatoumas 1189 (LJ, 13th), 5. Christos Meletoglou 1178 (TJ, 23rd), 6. Alexandros Papadimitriou 1167 (HT, 17th), 7. Alexandros Theofanov 1157 (110mh,49th)
WOMEN: 1, Chrysopigi Devetzi 1300 (TJ, 4th - 56th overall), 2. Maria Karastamati 1227 (100m, 17th), 3. Georgia Kokloni 1220 (100m, 18th), 4. Flora Redoumi 1202 (100mh, 29th), 5. Konstantina Efentaki 1172 (1500m, 24th), 6. Stella Pilatou 1162 (LJ, 16th), 7. Irene Dimitraki 1161 (TJ, 17th), 8. Angeliki Tsiolakoudi 1135 (JT, 8th). [IAAF Rankings]

Fani Halkia and Georgios Theodoridis back in action
12.9.2005 Olympic Champion Fani Halkia, as well as the former medalist of the world indoor championships, Georgios Theodoridis, have returned to training in order to start their preparation for the next season. Halkia plans to compete in outdoor meetings, setting as main objective the European Championships, while Theodoridis hopes to be ready for the indoor competitions, where he has had the best distincions of his career so far.
Meanwhile, according to press releases, Chrysopigi Devetzi, plans to participate next year in more long jump competitions, including the Grand Prix series, while the triple jump will continue being her main event. After her success in Monaco, she has already been in short vacations and is going to return to track after few days. One more top athlete, Maria Karastamati, European under 23 Champion this year, starts working next week, having in mind the final of the European Championships. Karastamati will probably participate in the world indoor championships to be held in Moscow, an intermediate stop on her way to Gothenburg.

Bekele and Isinbayeva named again Athletes of the Year
10.9.2005 World and Olympic champions Kenenisa Bekele of Ethiopia and Yelena Isinbayeva of Russia have been announced as the men’s and women’s 2005 Athletes of the Year. Both won the same titles in 2004.
Justin Gatlin and Tirunesh Dibaba were confirmed as having provided the Performances of the Year. Both runners took double World Championship triumphs in Helsinki, the American at 100m/200m and the Ethiopian at the women’s 5000m/10,000m. [Report by IAAF]

Sensational second day in Monaco
10.9.2005 The second day of the World Athletics Final reserved an amazing end for the season, with a series of top marks. Greece's Chryopigi Devetzi won the triple jump (14.89m), while Victor Moya (2.35m), Dwight Phillips (8.46m), Tero Pitkamaki (91.33m), Yelena Isinbayeva (4.74m) and Alysson Felix (22.27) are among the sensational performers of the last action day for this year [World Athletics Final][Report by IAAF]

World Athletics Final, Day 1
9.9.2005 The injuries of Justin Gatlin and Jeremy Wariner, the surprising win of Meseret Defar in the 5000m. but also the championships records by Tysaon Gay (19.96), Tyree Washinghton (44.51), Meseret Defar (14.45.87), Lashinda Demus (53.37), Nadezhda Ostapchuk (20.44m), Osleydis Menendez (67.24m) and Yipsi Moreno (74.75m) are among the highlights of the first day of the 3rd World Athletics Final.
[World Athletics Final][Report by IAAF]

Short lists for the Athletes of the Year awards announced
8.9.2005 (From IAAF) At the traditional pre-event press conference to introduce the third IAAF World Athletics Final, IAAF President Lamine Diack announced the shortlist of five male and five female athletes who are still in the running for the Athlete of the Year Award.
Men: Virgilijus Alekna LTU, Kenenisa Bekele ETH, Justin Gatlin USA, Asafa Powell JAM, Liu Xiang CHN
Women: Christine Arron FRA, Tirunesh Dibaba ETH, Yelena Isinbayeva RUS, Carolina Klüft SWE, Paula Radcliffe GBR
Men's Performance of the Year Award: Virgilijus Alekna LTU, Kenenisa Bekele ETH (for his World Cross Double), Kenenisa Bekele ETH (for his World Record), Rens Blom NED, Asafa Powell JAM
Women's Performance of the Year Award: Kajsa Bergqvist SWE, Tirunesh Dibaba ETH, Dorcus Inzikuru  UGA, Yelena Isinbayeva RUS, Paula Radcliffe GBR
A Special Jury of the International Athletic Foundation, will make a final selection of Athlete of the Year after taking consideration of results achieved at the World Athletics Final in Monaco (9-10 September).

Thirty Helsinki golds to participate in World Athletics Final
7.9.2005 All Helsinki world champions have entered the respective events of the World Finals, to be held in Monaco during weekend. Greece is represented by two athletes, Chrysopigi Devetzi (5th triple jumper in the world rankings) and Angeliki Tsiolakoudi (#8 in the javelin throw).
[Preview by IAAF]

Lebedeva picks up the gold
4.9.2005 Tatyana Lebedeva won the last Super League meeting in Berlin and became the only jack pot winner, picking up 1 million USD. The last competition was not easy for the Russian champion, who jumped 14.85m, just three centimeters more than Yamile Aldama who achieved a season's best of 14.82m. Finland's Tero Pitkamaki dominated the close javelin competition with 89.92m, while America's Bernard Lagat set a 5000m personal best with 12.59.29. Germany's Tim Lobinger set a european leading 5.93m to win the pole vault.
Hrysopigi Devetzi was 4th in the triple jump with 14.50m and Konstantinos Filippidis also 4th in the pole vault with 5.63m.
[Berlin GL Results]

Moreno and Tikhon winners in Szombathely
3.9.2005 Belarus’ Ivan Tikhon continued his season’s successes with victory at the Hammer Throw Final (81.70m), the first event of the World Athletics Final, held today in Szombathely. Cuba’s Yipsi Moreno won the women’s event with 74.75m. to defeat World champion Olga Kuzenkova.
[World Athletics Final][Asian Championships]

August 2005

Devetzi in Berlin and Monaco, Filippidis goes on
30.8.2005 Chrysopigi Devetzi participates in two more meetings before the end of the season, as she has alredy entered the last Golden League meeting to be held in Berlin on Sunday 4, but also the IAAF Athletics Final (Monaco, 10-11 Sep.). Konstantinos Filippidis finally decided to compete in one more elite competition, the meeting in Berlin.

5.66m. for Filippidis in Rieti
28.8.2005 Konstantinos Filippidis ended the season with 5.66m in Rieti Grand Prix. The Greek Champion closes a very successful season, marked by the silver medal of the World Universiade and the multiple pole vault national records, the best at 5.75m.
Rieti results

Last chance for Filippidis
27.8.2005 Konstantinos Filippidis entered Rieti Grand Prix, to be held on Sunday. It's his last chance to break the world juniors pole vault record, at 5.81m. Meanwhile, Kenenisa Bekele broke the 10000m world record, yesterday in Brussels, running in 26.17.53. Tatyana Lebedeva won again the triple jump with 14.94m and needs only one win in Berlin to get the 1 million jack pot, while Chrisopigi Devetzi placed fifth with 14.18m. Maria Protopapa clocked 15.13.22 in the 5000m.
Brussels GL

Springstein denies collaboration with Papadopoulou
26.8.2005 German coach Thomas Springstein, making a release over his lawyer, denies that he is the coach of the Greek athlete Maria Papadopoulou (as reffered by the Greek Federation's site). Springstein, who is under suspicion of violating the anti-doping legislation in Germany, argues that any connection of his name with athletes who were found positive of banned sustances is part of a campaign against him....Report
But, according to newer German resources, Springstein and Papadopoulou met each other from July 14th to 19th in a training camp in Zinnowitz, Germany. The case receives increasingly wider dimensions in Germany, where Springstein story has already been examined by the justice.

Papadopoulou attacks WADA and IAAF demanding huge compensation
24.8.2005 The Courts will have to settle the dispute between the Greek champion Maria Papadopoulou (training by the German coach Thomas Springstein) with the world athletics governing bodies, IAAF and WADA. The middle distance runner points the finger to both organizations, claiming that she wasn't asked by WADA to provide any sample in July 29th, when she wasn't in Trikala as WADA argue. The athlete refused to assign any representantive for the investigation of the second sample, which does not belongs to her. The lawyer, Mr. Ioannidis, announced the athlete's decision to go to the national and international courts asking for 10 million euros, as a compensation for her defaming by both organizations.
Meanwhile, in the IAAF Grand Prix meeting held in Linz, Konstantina Efentaki broke the 3000m record for Greece with 8.55.77
Linz results

Maria Papadopoulou denies drug accusations
22.8.2005 The Greek Athletics Federation was informed by WADA that the Greek 800m Champion Maria Papadopoulou was found positive in an out of competition test of July 29th, in the city of Trikala, Greece. The athlete, in a tough statement delivered to the media, denies not only the use of any substance but also the fact of testing itself. According to Papadopoulou, WADA never asked her to provide any sample. Papadopoulou claims that she never gave any urine sample on the 29th of July and furthermore she was not even in Trikala that day.
Earlier this year Papadopoulou had broken the national record with an impressing 1.59.79, while she did not compete in Helsinki because of an injury.

Tatyana Lebedeva, the only contender
19.8.2005 Tatyana Lebedeva won in Zurich, where Christine Arron failed and the Russian triple jumper is now the only candidate for the jack pot of $ 1,0 million. Periklis Iakovakis placed 8th in Zurich, while in the World Universiade, Dimitra Markou was 8th in the triple jump with 13.92 and Maroula Papageorgiou 5th in the high jump with 1.85m.
The Greek Federation was informed by the WADA about a positive drug test of a Greek athlete, whose name will be announced in the next days.
Zurich GL
World Universiade

Silver medal and record for Filippidis
18.8.2005 Konstantinos Filippidis improved once more his own national men and juniors records for Greece, this time to 5.75m and got the silver medal in the World Universiade.... Results

Bronze medal for Emmanuel in Izmir
18.8.2005 Dimitra Emmanuel cleared 4.20m to get the pole vault bronze medal in the World Universiade, held in Izmir, Turkey. Sotirios Iakovakis qualified for the semifinals of the 400mh with a season's best of 50.83 but he didn't make the final and Konstantinos Filippidis cleared 5.30m and qualified easily for the final.

Unforgettable, from many points of view, games are over
14.8.2005 The appearance of new world stars, the strong support of the local crowd, the brilliant performances, two world records, many surprising wins, unexpected triumphs and some tough failures, everything contributes to the well known thrilling of our sport was there, to celebrate the 10th version of the IAAF World Championships.
Everything excellent with one exception, the weather. Low temperature, strong winds and raining, caused problems which in many times influenced the performances of many top athletes. Huge variation in wind readings among the 100mh and 200m heats, tough problems for the pole vaulters and low temperatures for almost all events. In many cases circumstances are very different even for entrants of the same event. Not something unusual, also the 1st World Champs in Helsinki had weather problems.
Finland is among the countries which have developed our sport, bringing to its history some of the most reverent figures. It's a place where athletics find strong local support, the country where an athletics culture has been integrated to the way of living, an ideal venue for world games. But international games should be organized under the best possible conditions. It’s time for the rescheduling of the Games, whenever they are held in the north. In July the weather conditions may be much more favorable for athletics in Scandinavian countries, or at least July can be less risky. This requires a complete rearrangement of the world athletics events within the year, although this decision incorporates a strong financial dimension. The prospect should be examined by the world athletics body, if we still want to watch athletics events in the northern countries.
As for the Greek team, what could we say? Let's keep only the efforts of Devetzi and Papayianni, the personal best by Hatzi, the promising youngsters Karastamati and Filippidis. Let’s accept the “formal” explanation that this year was a transitional period for Greek athletics, after the Olympics, and wish better results in Gothenburg. Let’s accept that some of our stars are tired of the long-term effort or injured, even for those had only a short period of excellence before Athens. Let’s try to forget the bitter taste of these championships, recalling the words of Voula Patoulidou, who better commented the performance of the national team in Helsinki: More entries in international meetings, not only technical training but also psychological preparation, deriving lessons from any failure, no excuses but work.

Menendez breaks world record, European record for Obergfoll
14.8.2005 None could imagine something more impressing for the final day of the World Championships, than this javelin throw competition. Osleydis Menendez broke her own world record with 71.70m, while Germany's Christina Obergfoll set a European Record with a throw at 70.03m. improving her personal best by more than 5.5 meters. Nerius got the bronze and Angeliki Tsiolakoudi placed 8th with 57.99m.
Russians got all medals in the 1500m with Tomasova to be on the top of the podium, while Rashid Ramzi won the 800m, leaving the Olympic Champion, Yuriy Borzhakovskiy, second. Ukraine's Yuriy Krimarenko cleared 2.32m. to get the world title, one more unexpected winner in these championships. Benjamin Limo of Kenya dominated the 5000m final defeating the Ethiopians. Paula Radcliffe won easily the Marathon giving to Britain the only gold in Helsinki. Russian girls and the US men's team won the 4X400m relays.

American triumphs go on
13.8.2005Dwight Phillips who jumped 8.60m. and the 4X100 women's team added more gold to the American collection in Helsinki. Belarus' Nadezhda Ostapchuk won the shot put with 20.51m., while Tirunesh Dibaba, after her win in the 10000m, won also the 5000m. gold, in a race where Ethiopians got top four positions. A very quick French team dominated the men's 4X100m with a world leading 38.08. In the highlights of the day the bronze medal won by Finland's Tommi Evila in the long jump, but also the bronze for the men's team of Britain in the 4X100m. The first medal for the British team which also experience the worst ever world championships.

18th world record in Isinbayeva's career
12.8.2005 Isinbayeva's first world title was accompanied by a new pole vault record at 5.01m, on the 7th day of the world championships. The victories of Jeremy Wariner in the 400m, Ladzi Ducure in the 110m, Alisson Felix in the women's 200m and Olga Kuzenkova in the women's hammer, are the highlights of the day, but also two big failures in the relays semifinals. American men's team and Russia's women's team won't participate in the finals.

Reigning champion Manjani out of the final
12.8.2005 Defending world champion and Athens bronze medallist, Mirela Manjani, failed in the javelin throw qualification round, having three false attempts. Manjani was actually the last hope for a greek medal in this championship, the worst for the national team at least since 1995. Angeliki Tsiolakoudi sent the javelin to 59.08m, 12th performance among the entrants and qualified for the final, in contast to the third Greek participant, Savva Lyka, who had the best throw at 55.03m.

Rens Blom of Netherlands
11.8.2005 One more rather unexpected victory on the 6th day of the World Championships was this of Rens Blom, who cleared 5.80 to reign the pole vault. The American quartett swept the 200m final, where Justin Gatlin take his second gold in Helsinki with 20.04, followed by Wallace Spearmon, John Capel and Tyson Gay! The USA team got two more golds today with Davis Walter (17.57m) in the triple jump and Michelle Perry (12.66) in the women's 100mh, while Franka Dietzsch dominated the women's discus throw. with 66.56m.

Varnik wins the javelin throw world title
10.8.2005 Estonia's Andrus Varnik is the surprising javelin throw world champion, defeating all favorites, the Finnish throwers and Makarov. American Tianna Madison got the long jump gold with 6.89m, while Kotova just achieved to add one more silver to her collection. The American anthem was heard once more today, for the decathlete Bryan Clay who set a world leading 8732 p. to leave Sebrle on second place. Burundi's Rashid Ramzi verified the forecasts and won the 1500m final.
Greece's Christina Hatzi set a personal best of 56.15 to qualify for the 400mh semifinals, while Maria Protopapa clocked 15.32.04 in the 5000m semifinals. Meletoglou and Zalagitis failed in the triple jump qualification round, although Meletoglou had better jumps comparing to Zalagitis dissapointing performance.

Bershaun Jackson, the new hurdlers king
9.8.2005 Under difficult weather conditions, America's Bershaun Jackson won the amazing 400mh final in a personal best of 47.30, after a close competition with his compatriot James Carter. Gold medals for Julia Kalatayud in the 800m final marked by Mutola's failure to get a medal and Shaheen Saaeed in the 3000m steeple.
Konstantinos Filippidis did not make the final, he cleared 5.45m in the qualification round which interrupted for about 2 hours because of technical problems, but the best for the 19-year-old vaulter are for now on. Three failures for the Greek team by Panayotis Sarris (200m), Flora Redoumi (100mh) and Ioanna Kafetzi (long jump)

Lauryn Williams and Berqgvist shine in Helsinki
8.8.2005 Lauryn Williams was finally the winner of the women's 100m with 10.93, while the favourite Christine Arron was just third, behind Williams and Jamaica's Veronica Cambpell, all girls under 11 seconds. Karastamati clocked 11.20 in the semifinals, while Kajsa Berqgvist cleared 2.02 to take the win. Kenenisa Bekele with 27.08.33 in the 10000m, Tikhon with 83.89m in the hammer throw and Izinkuru with 9.18.24 are the world champions in the other events

Kluft and Alekna keep crowns. Gatlin wins with 9.88
7.8.2005 Injured Carolina Kluft triumphed again in heptathlon, while just in the last throw of the men's discus, the Olympic Champion Virgiljus Alekna bended Kanter's resistance and defended successfully his world title with a throw at 70.17m. One year after the Olympics, Justin Gatlin won the world championships with 9.88, the first gold for the American who targets also the 200m and the relay wins. Jamaica's Trecia Smith won the triple jump with 15.11m., Hrysopigi Devetzi was 5th with 14.64m, while Periklis Iakovakis did not make it in the 400m hurdles semifinal.

Karastamati in the semifinals
7.8.2005 Maria Karastamati will run in the 100m semifinals tomorrow, after two successfull races she had today in 11.40 and 11.29. The Under 23 European Champion, who clocked 11.03 in Erfurt last month, said after the morning heats that the season is over for her, as in Erfurt she achieved the main objective she had set. She participates in Helsinki just for the experience of a world class competition, while the future seems to be very promising for the 21-year-old sprinter.

Ivanova returned on the top breaking world record: 1.25.41 - Tears for the Olympic Champion
7.8.2005 Russia's Olympiada Ivanova won the 20000m walk gold medal, setting a world record with 1:25.41. The Olympic Champion Athanasia Tsoumeleka received the red card 3km before the end, while she was on third position. Impressing race for the second Greek walker, Athina Papagianni, who placed 6th with 1:29.21. "On the first round a judge showed me two yellow cards. When I went ahead of the Italian he gave me the red one. I don't feel I made something wrong, I had the cameras on my legs during the race. But the red cards are part of the game, many world stars have received red cards in walk races. This year my participation was too risky taking into account the problems I had. Now I need to rest. I am too young, the best years are from now on." said Tsoumeleka to the Greek journalists just after the race.
Athina Papagianni, 25, comes from Preveza, the same city with Tsoumeleka. Last year she was 10th in Olympics, while she placed 11th in Sydney Olympics, Edmonton World Chams and Munich European Champs. "I'm happy with the result of the best race in my career. I want to thank everyone who helped me, my family and my coach" said Papagianni, talking to the Greek television.

Ivanova returned on the top breaking world record: 1.25.41
9.8.2005 Russia's Olympiada Ivanova won the 20000m walk gold medal, setting a world record with 1:25.41. The Olympic Champion Athanasia Tsoumeleka received the red card 3km before the end, while she was on third position. Athina Papagianni placed 6th with 1:29.21

Adam Nelson and Ethiopia's girls
8.8.2005 After a series of silvers, Adam Nelson finally won the first international gold medal having his best shot at 21.73m. Dibaba sisters and Berhane Adere picked up all medals of the 10000m, repeating Ethiopia's triumph of 2001.Tirunesh Dibaba clocked 30.24.02 to get the gold. Barber leads heptathlon by just 2 points more than Kluft after four events.

Devetzi 14.72m, Godina out
8.8.2005 Chrisopigi Devetzi qualified for the triple final with 14.72m (SB), best mark among all entrants and Periklis Iakovakis for the semifinals of the 400mh. Alexandros Papadimitriou and Athanasia Perra failed in the hammer throw and triple jump repsectively. Godina out of the shot put final, while impressing Barber threatens Kluft in the early heptatlon events.

Tsoumeleka flies to Helsinki
5.8.2005 Although facing with injury problems, Athens Olympic Champion Athanasia Tsoumeleka arrives today in Helsinki for the world championships. Athanasia participates in the 20000m walk race to be held on Sunday.

IAAF calls for tougher penalties
3.8.2005 (From IAAF) The IAAF Congress, at its meeting in Helsinki, has resolved that four years is the most appropriate period of ineligibility for a serious first-time doping violation.
The Congress does not seek unilaterally to change its Rules at this time but it mandates the IAAF to use every appropriate means, together with other organizations that recognise the importance of tougher doping penalties, to seek the above change to sanctions in the World Anti Doping Code at WADA’s next Conference in 2007.

Thessaloniki to host European Cup 2006
02.8.2005 The European Cup 2006, First Division (Group A) will be held in Thessaloniki, Greece (June 17-18), according to the decision of the European Athletics Association.

Papadopoulou out of the championships
02.8.2005 An injury obliged the 800m Greek Champion, Maria Papadopoulou to withdraw from the World Championships, starting on Saturday in Helsinki, Finland

Athens to host the World Cup 2006
01.8.2005 (From IAAF) IAAF Council decided to award the 10th edition of the IAAF World Cup to Athens, following a presentation from representatives of SEGAS, the Greek Athletics Federation.
The IAAF World Cup - which is the only competition on the calendar for track and field teams - will now take place in the Olympic Stadium, on Saturday 16 and Sunday 17 September 2006. It was agreed that Greece would be able to field a 9th team in the competition, pending modification of the existing facility. The teams contesting the World Cup will be: Africa, Americas, Asia, Europe, Oceania, USA, Greece and the two top teams from the 2006 of the European Cup (Super League).
Council also agreed to award the IAAF World Athletics Final to Stuttgart, for the period 2006/07/08. The event will take place in the Gottlieb Daimler stadium, which was the venue of the 1993 IAAF World Championships, and has recently been refurbished in preparation for the soccer World Cup next year.

July 2005

The Greek squad for Helsinki announced
27.7.2005 After the brilliant performance by the juniors team in Kaunas, but also some excellent marks by the youth and under 23 teams in Marrakech and Erfurt, where Greece gathered a total of 10 medals, while 41 athletes entered the finals and 31 got a position among the top 8, the Greek Federation announced the squad for the World Championships.
Even though this year the expectations are lower than in the past championships, the Olympic Champion Athanasia Tsoumeleka, the Athens’ silver medallist Chrysopigi Devetzi, the defending world champion Mirela Manjani, but also the bronze medallist of the last championships in Paris, Periklis Iakovakis, are expected to be again among the contenders of the medals, although some of them have no reached their top form and others face with injury problems.
The European U23 Champion, Maria Karastamati, has a great potential, especially if she manages to improve even more the impressing 11.03 she set in Erfurt.
Interesting additions to the squad, two athletes of the new generation, Konstantinos Filippidis (silver in Kaunas) and Athanasia Perra (bronze in Erfurt). Distinct absences those of Fani Halkia, Anastasia Kelesidou and Ekaterini Voggoli, who did not compete this year, but also Georgia Kokloni and Styliani Pilatou who didn’t make the standards.
One more athlete who had set the standard, the long jumper Luis Tsatoumas does not go to the Finnish Capital because of an injury.
• [The Greek Squad for the World Championships]

Filindras 8.15m, Diamantaras 8.12m in Sparti
27.7.2005 Impressing jumps by Dimitrios Filindras and Dimitrios Diamantaras in the meeting of the Greek Grand Prix series
• [Results]

17.48m for Gregorio, 17.44 for Oprea in Stockholm
26.7.2005 The top triple jumpers of the season, Brazil's Jadel Gregorio and Romania's Marian Oprea met each other in the close competition of the IAAF Super Grand Prix held in Stockholm, with Brazilian to be the winner with 17.44m. The Swedish athletes dominated the high jumps, Holm cleared 2.33m and Enqgvist 1.95m, while Yelena Isinbayeva did not clear 5.01m. Chandra Surrup (11.18) and Gatlin Justin (10.15) dominated the 100m.
• [Results]

Two more silvers by Filippidis and Zerva
24.7.2005 Konstantinos Filippidis finally did not achieve to get the gold medal of the pole vault in Kaunas, defeated by Russia's Dmity Starodubtsev who cleared 5.50m, while the Greek champion shared the silver with the other Russian, Mikhail Golovtsov, both at 5.45m. Maria Zerva had the last attempt at 56.47m to get also the silver, while Panayota Touloumtzi placed sixth in the javelin final. Georgios Tsakonas placed 6th in the triple jump.
• European Juniors Champs [Day 4]

Sarris clocked 20.69, Pilatou 6.54m
24.7.2005 Panayotis Sarris won the 200m in the Balkan Championships, setting a season's best of 20.69 and expects to be included in the Greek team for the World Championships to be announced tomorrow. Stella Pilatou jumped 6.54m in the long jump.

Kokloni 11.36 in Novi Sad. Stefanidi clears 4.15m in Ioannina
23.7.2005 Georgia Kokloni won the 100m of the Balkan Championships with 11.36, one out of eight wins achieved by Greek athletes on the first day of the Games. Athanassia Perra was the winner of the triple jump with 13.71m, Dimitrios Gravalos ran the 400m in 47.22, Platon Gavelas won the 400mh in 51.35, Dimitra Emmanuel cleared 4.00m, Spyridon Jullien had a throw at 72.61m to dominate the hammer, while both 4X100m relay teams won gold medals.
Ekaterini Stefanidi cleared 4.15m in Ioannina. It was the last meeting for the World Youth Champion for this season, who plans to rest before starting her preparation for the next indoor season.

Golden Smalios, Silver Douvalidis, record for Maria Zerva
23.7.2005 Ioannis - Georgios Smalios, 18, was the winner of the attempt-by-attempt javelin competition with Germany's Alexander Vieweg. The Greek athlete improved three times his personal best, to win the gold medal just on the last round, when he threw 77.25m.
Konstantinos Douvalidis got the silver medal in the 110mh with 13.99 while Nikolaos Filandarakis placed 4th in the same final. Papadopoulos and Anastasiou placed 5th and 6th respectively in the 400mh final, while both triple jumpers, Georgios Tsakonas and Nikolaos Fragos qualified for the final.
Maria Zerva sent the javelin to 57.92m, the best throw in the morning qualification round of the women's javelin, to set a new juniors record for Greece. Panayota Touloumzi placed 7th and aslo makes the final. Finally, Nikoletta Kyriakopoulou placed 7th in the pole vault with 4.00m, while the men's 4X400m was the 5th qualifier for Sunday's final.
• European Juniors Champs [Day 3]
• [Heusden GPII Meeting]

National record for Maria Zarva
22.7.2005 Maria Zerva sent the javelin to 57.92m, the best throw in the morning qualification round of the women's javelin in the European Juniors Championships, to set a new juniors record for Greece. Panayota Touloumzi placed 7th and aslo qualified for the final.
• European Juniors Champs [Day 3]
• [Heusden GPII Meeting]

The 5 meters dream realized
22.7.2005 Yelena Isinbayeva flied over 5 meters in the IAAF Super Grand Prix in London. The Russian Olympic Champion cleared 4.96m to set a world record and then improved it with the historical clearance at 5.00m.
• European Juniors Champs [Results][Pole Vault WR progression]

Medals by Regas and Mertzanidis. Fabulous Douvalidis
22.7.2005 One year after the Olympics, a new generation enter dynamically the scene, hungry for international distinctions and medals, ready to succeed the Olympic and World Champions who promoted the national scene into the international level within the last decade. Dimitrios Regas in the 400m and Michalis Mertzanidis in the long jump won bronze medals, but a series of distinctive performances warrant the general optimism.
Konstantinos Douvalidis broke the national juniors record for Greece, with 13.78 and qualified for the 110mh final. The world youth record holder has set the best performance among the qualifiers, but also the second Greek entrant, Nikolaos Filandarakis, who was 10th today in the long jump final, also qualified with 14.38. Both youngsters are strong contenders for the podium. Anna Thalassinou also made the steeplechase final, as well as both 400m hurdlers, Spiridon Papadopoulos and Konstantinos Athanasiou and Adamantia Anastasopoulou in the high jump.
• European Juniors Champs: [day II]

Russia, Turkey and Germany got the first golds in Kaunas. Excellent start for Greece's new blood
21.7.2005 The Greek youth team had a very good performance on the first day of the European Juniors Championships, as the most of the entrants set to qualify for the semifinals or the finals of their events. With the only exception of Damianos Kalogerakis who failed in the morning qualification round of the shot put, all the others made it. Dimitrios Regas passed successfully two roundw and partipates in the 400m final, while in the low hurdles race, both Greeks qualified for the semifinal; Konstantinos Athanassiou with 53.23 and Spyridon Papadopoulos with an impressing personal best of 51.91. A double qualification was also achieved in the long jump, where Nikolaos Filandarakis jumped 7.35m and Michalis Mertzanidis 7.40m,but also in the javelin throw with Ioannis Smalios (68.94m) and Konstantinos Vertoudos (68.18m). Nikoletta Kyriakopoulou cleared 3.85m a secured a position in the final of the pole vault.
Tomorrow morning the national hope for a gold medal, Konstantinos Filippidis, starts his attempts in the pole vault qualification round. Filippidis expects to attempt for the world juniors record in the final.
European Juniors Champs: [Day1]

2-year ban for three athletes
20.7.2005 The Greek Federation announced that Christos Polychroniou (hammer throw), Hristoforos Hoidis (100m) and Haralambos Arsoniadis (hammer throw) were banned for two years for violation of the anti-doping legislation. Polychroniou failed a control at the beginning of the year, while Hoidis and Arsoniadis tested positive in the controls carried out by the federation during the national championships.

Filippidis and Douvalidis to compete in Kaunas
18.7.2005 The U18 world record holder of the 110mh, Konstantinos Douvalidis, as well as Konstantinos Filippidis, who targets the pole vault world juniors record this summer, are included in the 24-member team of Greece, which arrives tomorrow in Kaunas for the European Juniors Championships. The team:
MEN: Dimitrios Regas (400m). Konstantinos Douvalidis and Nikolaos Filandarakis (110mh), Spyridon Papadopoulos and Konstantinos Athanasiou (400mh), Nikolaos Filandarakis and Michalis Mertzanidis (LJ), Nikolaos Fragos and Georgios Tsakonas (TJ), Konstantinos Filippidis (PV), Damianos Kalogerakis (SP), Ioannis Smalios and Konstantinos Vertoudos (JT), Vaios Klisaris, Spyridon Papadopoulos, Konstantinos Athanassiou, Dimitrios Regas and Konstantinos Douvalidis (4X400m)
WOMEN: Agni Derveni (200m), Anna Thalasinou (3000m st.), Eleni Kafourou and Eleni Masliga (LJ), Nikoletta Kyriakopoulou and Sofia Apostolou (PV), Panayota Touloumtzi and Maria Zerva (JT), Konstantina Doudoulaki (HT)

Zhelezny opens the season in Thessaloniki GPII
17.7.2005 The triple Olympic Champion, Jan Zhelezny, returned to track after recovering by an achilles injury. In his first meeting for this season he threw 83.43m to set the standard for the world championships.
• [Results]
• World Youth Championships: [day1][2][3][4][5]
• European U23 Championships: [day1][2][3][4]

The new spints star comes up. Maria Karastamati wins the Euro U23 Champs in 11.03
16.7.2005 As expected Maria Karastamati won the 100m gold medal in the European Under 23 Champs. The European Indoor Champs bronze medallist clocked an impressing 11.03, veryfying a strong potential in the international athletics scene. Karastamati's mark is a new European U23 record, breaking the 32-year-old Renate Stecker's time of 11.07, set in Munchen (2 September 1972)
Silver medal for Minas Alozidis in the 400mh and bronze for Athanassia Perra in the tripl jump.
Maria Karastamati was born in 1984 (December 10th). In the European Indoor Championships 2005 she won the first international medal of her career when she placed 3rd in the 60m final. She trains with Georgios Panagiotopoulos and has a personal best of 7.19 in the 60m indoor.
• European U23 Champs results: [day3]

Ekaterini Stefanidi wins gold medal in Marrakesh
16.7.2005 One more expected gold medal for Greece, this one in Marrakesh World Youth Champs, won by Ekaterini Stefanidi. The holder of the youth all time best cleared 4.30m to dominate the pole vault.
Georgios Tsakonas placed 6th in the long jump final and tomorrow competes in the triple jump, while Dimitrios Theoharis was 8th in the same event.One more sixth placed by Dimitrios Fylladitakis in the hammer throw. Hero Ledaki, the second Greek participant in the girls pole vault was finally eleventh.
• IAAF World Youth Championships results: [day4][Full coverage by IAAF]

CAC sprint stars move on to Thessaloniki
14.7.2005 The cream of the sprinting talent which was on show at last weekend’s CAC Championships in the Bahamas will take part  in the ‘Thessaloniki 2005’ – IAAF Grand Prix II
• [entries]
• [Our preview written for the IAAF]

Easy qualification for Maria Karastamati in Erfurt
14.7.2005 Maria Karastamati clocked 11.29 in the semifinals of the European U23 Championships, and qualified for the final where she is the favourite for the gold medal. Dimitrios Gravalos was 2nd in his qualification heat with 46.83 and goes on the semifinals. Two more achieved to qualify for the finals of their events, Athanassia Perra in the triple jump and Nikolaos Syntichakis in the pole vault.
• European U23 Champs results: [day1]

Six Greeks enter the finals in Marrakesh
14.7.2005 Both Greece's long jumpers, Dimitrios Theoharis and Georgios Tsakonas qualified for the long jump final the world youth championships, while the hammer thrower Dimitrios Fylladitakis also set the standard in the morning qualification round. In the afternoon both pole vaulters, Ekaterini Stefanidi and Hero Ledaki cleared 3.90m and secured a position in the entry list of the final to be held on Saturday. Finally, a clearance at 2.00m was enough for Dimitrios Hondrokoukis who also made it.
• IAAF World Youth Championships results:[day1][day2]

IAAF World Youth Championships open in Marrakesh
13.7.2005 The world's biggest ever youth athletics competition started today in Marakkesh. In the morning session, Greece's shot putter Georgios Geromarkakis, qualified third for the final with a personal best shot at 19.02m and later placed 9th in the final with 18.62m. Two Gold medals for South Africa, with Jan Hoffman in the boys shot put and Noel Meyer in the javelin. Kenya won the first gold in girls 3000 with Veronica Nanjiru
• Results: [day1]

Andrianova 1.56.07, Makarov 90.33m, Pechonkina 53.01
12.7.2005 World champion Sergey Makarov produced a 90m Javelin Throw, and five runners went under 1:58 in the women’s 800m, just two of the highlights of a remarkable day in the ‘Arsenal stadium’ at the Russian Championships, yesterday (Mon 11 July).
• [Full report by IAAF]

World leading mark for Alekna in Rethymno, Isinbayeva did not break the record tonight
10.7.2005 Yelena Isinbyevahas bees among the highlights of the Vardinoyiannia 2005 EAA Permit Meeting held in Rethymno, but in a different way than usually. This time did not break the world record.
The discus throw Olympic Champion, Virjilius Alekna, set a world leading 70.58, while Michelle Perry clocked 12.45 in the 100mh. Impressing marks by Alisson Felix (23.00), Zulia Kalatayud (1.58.95), Leonard Scott (10.03 and 20.38), Dominique Arnold (13.15), Brian Johnson (8.32m) and Carlos Santa (45.25)
• [Our report written for the IAAF]
• [Results]
Special thanks to those helped us to prepare our reports and provided us with detailed results during the meet. Especially to the Precident of the organizing club EAR, Mr. Evaggelos Meligounakis, with whom we were in touch all the period before the meeting and had the accurate entry lists, as well as GALANIS SPORT DATA, for the continuous flow of results we received by them during the meeting.

National record for juniors by Damianos Kalogerakis
9.7.2005 Damianos Kalogerakis, 19, set a national juniors record in the shot put, with 19.08m, during the second day of the national juniors championships.
• [Results]

The best ever "Vardinoyiannia" tomorrow in Rethymno
9.7.2005 The 21st annual edition of Vardinoyiannia EAA Permit meeting, to be held tomorrow in Rethymno is expected to be the best ever in meeting history.Yelena Isinbayeva and Stacey Dragila, Virjilius Alekna and Gert Kander, Marian Oprea and Jadel Gregorio, Osleydis Menendez and Sonia Bisset, Dominique Arnold and Anier Garcia, Volodymyr Zyuskov and Miguel Pate, Allyson Felix and Rachelle Boone-Smith are some of the athletes included in the impressing entry lists announced by the organizing committee.
• [Our preview written for the IAAF]
• [Entry lists]

National Juniors Records by Douvalidis and Thalassinou
9.7.2005 The holder of the all time world best youth performance, Konstantinos Douvalidis, broke the 110m national juniors record for Greece with 13.80 on the first day of the Greek National Juniors Championships, held in Thessaloniki. He is now 5th performer in the juniors world list for this season. One more national record by Anna Thalassinou who clocked 10.38.32 in the 3000m steeplechase (14th junior performer of the year).
• [Results]

Gatlin 9.96, Lebedeva 15.03m, Sokolovskiy 2.38m in Rome. Only three go on for the jack-pot
Athens' Olympic Champion dominated the 100m of the Rome Golden Gala with a season's best of 9.96. Tatyana Lebedeva jumped again over 15 meters and Dwight Phillips set a season's best at 8.39m. The 110mh Olympi Champion Xiang Liu was defeated by Dominique Arnold who set a 13.11, and goes to Rethymno meeting on Sunday. World leading marks by Burundi's Rashid Ramzi who clocked 3.30.00 in the 1500m and Ukraine's Andrey Sokolovskiy who cleared 2.38m to defeat Baba and Holm.
In Rome, the jack-pot dreams end for all men contenders (Zakari, Yampoi, Kipchirchir, Doucoure, Holm and Pitkämäki), but also Cherkashova and Masai. Only three girs, Tatyana Lebedeva, Christine Arron and Lashinda Demus go on for the million dollars.
Chrysopigi Devetzi was 3rd in the triple jump with 14.55m. and Louis Tsatoumas 8th in the long jump with 7.78m. Good performance for Irene Dimitraki; she placed 8th in the triple jump approaching her season's best.Maria Papadopoulou ran the 800m in 2.00.73 and Konstantinos Filippidis cleared 5.51m
• [Results]

Ten Olympic Champions tonight in Rome
8.7.2005 With fifteen mainline events being staged during tomorrow night’s three hour international programme of the Borotalco Golden Gala, the second leg of the TDK Golden League 2005, Italy’s premier meeting can rightly be delighted to have attracted ten of last summer’s individual Olympic champions.
• [Full report by the IAAF]

Tsatoumas jumps 8.06m in Salamanca
7.7.2005 Luis Tsatoumas won the long jump with 8.06m in Salamanca, where Manuel Martinez had a throw at 20.22m in the shot put and Kajsa Bergqvist cleared 1.99m
• [Results]

London to host Olympics 2012
6.7.2005 London "has the honour and the responsibility to host the Olympic Games of 2012", according to the surprising decision of the International Olympic Committee, announced today. The failure of the town to organise the World Athletics Championships 2005 was not taken into account and the British capital won the last vote against Paris, the favourite according to all forecasts until today.The results of the votes:
1st vote: London 22, Paris 21, Madrid 20, New York 19, Moscow 15
2nd vote: Madrid 32, London 27, Paris 25, New York 16
3rd vote: London 39, Paris 33, Madrid 31
4th vote: London 54, Paris 50

Isinbayeva at 4.93m Oprea flies to 17.81m and Sturrup clocks 10.84 in Lausanne
5.7.2005 Yelena Isinbayeva opened the season with a world record of 4.93m. at the IAAF Super Grand Prix  in Lausanne. Her nest stop is in Rethymno, Greece for the EAA Permit Meet "Vardinoyiannia 2005" (July 10).
Romania's Mariam Oprea, silver medallist in Athens Olympics, jumped 17.81m, the 11th all time world performance. Chandra Sturrup clocked 10.84, the best of a trio under 11 seconds, Cherkasova was defeated by Zulia Kalatajud in the 800m and Virjilius Alekna set a world leading mark at 70.53m.
Periklis Iakovakis was 3rd in the 400mh with 48.89, the best among the Greeks. Devetzi was 5th with 14.37m, Dimitraki 11th with 13.71m and Zalaggitis 11th with 15.89m
• [Lausanne results]
• [Women's Pole Vault: World Record Progression]

The Greek team  in the European U23 Champs
5.7.2005 The Greek Federation announce the tean for the European U23 Champs to be held in Erfurt, Germany (July, 14-17):
Men: Dimitrios Gravalos (400m), Minas Alozidis (400mh), Nikolaos Syntihakis (pole vault), Dimitrios Diamantaras and Petros Katsis (long jump), Pavlos Galaktiadis (triple jump), Nikolaos Lukopoulos (Discus throw)
Women: Maria Karastamati and Eleutheria Kombidou (100m, 200m), Eleni Filandra (800m), Styliani Demoglou (400mh), Maria Pardalou and Xenia Kazimirova (3000m st.) Antonia Stergiou and Persefoni Hatzinakou (high jump), Dimitra Emmanuel (pole vault), Athanasia Perra (triple jump), Magdalene Komotoglou and Dorothea Kalpakidou (discus throw)

Pyrek, Stefanidi, O' Hara, Swartz join in Rethymno
3.7.2005 Besides the Olympic Champion Yelena Isinbayeva who arrives in Greece next week, two more Athens' finallists enter "Vardinoyiannia 2005" to be held in Rethymno (July, 10), Poland’s Monica Pyrek and Czech’s Pavla Hamackova. The entry list of the event becomes even stronger with the addition of the American Tracy O’ Hara who has cleared 4.60m this year, but also her compatriot Jill Shwartz with a season’s best at 4.55m. The youth all time best performer, Ekaterini Stefanidi and the national record holder, Afroditi Skafida, are the Greek entrants. Svetlana Feofanova cancelled her participation because of an injury.
The 110mh Olympics bronze medallist, Anier Garcia of Cuba, also confirmed his entry, A strong hammer throw competition is expected, among the Olympics finallists, Germany’s Karsten Kobs and Hungary’s Kristian Pars, but also Oli-Pekka Karjalainen, Szymon Ziolkovski and Alexandros Papadimitriou.

Pilatou jumps 6.72m in Thessaloniki
2.7.2005 Styliani Pilatou jumped a season's best 6.72m in the meeting "Achillia 2005" held in Thessaloniki, where Michalis Stamatogiannis dominated the shot put with 19.22m

Three medals for Greece at the end of Mediterranean Games
2.7.2005 Platon Gavelas set a personal best in the 400mh with 49.99 to get the bronze medal on the last day of the Mediterranean Games. Argyro Strataki placed second in heptathlon with a season's best of 5.943 points, while one more medal came form Asterios Noussios, third in the long jump with 7.91m.
Mediterranean Games: [day1][day2][day3][day4]

12.40.18 for Bekele in Paris. Lebedeva jumps 15.11m
1.7.2005 Kenenisa Bekele set a world leading performance, attempting unsuccessfully to break the world record of the event in the IAAF Golden League meeting held in Paris. Tatyana Lebedeva jumped 15.11m the best mark in this season, while  Cherkasova clocked 1.57.82 in the 800m and Williams-Darling 49.69 in the 400m
Periklis Iakovakis placed 3rd in the 400m with 48.71, Maria Papadopoulou was 7th in the 800m with 2.00.19 and Irene Dimitraki 9th in the triple jump with 13.85m
• [Results]

Rahouli 14.98m in Almeria. Five medals for Greece today
1.7.2005 Baya Rahouli jumped 14.98m to dominate the triple jump in the Mediterranean Games, setting a world leading performance. Chrysopigi Devetzi was 2nd with, while four more Greeks won medals. Konstantinos Filippidis (5.60m) in the pole vault, Angeliki Tsiolakoudi (62.61m) in the javelin and Dimitra Dova in the 400m got the golds and Alexandros Papadimitriou was second in the hammer throw.
Mediterranean Games: [day1][day2][day3]

June 2005

Bronze medal for Redoumi. Iakovakis, Dimitraki, Papadopoulou in Paris
30.6.2005 One more bronze medal, by Flora Redoumi in the 110m, was the gathering of the Greek team of the Mediterranean Games.
Tomorrow the IAAF Golden Leaque series start in Paris, with the participation of three Greek athletes, Periklis Iakovakis in the 400m hurdles, Irene Dimitraki in the triple jump and Maria Papadopoulou in the 800m
• Mediterranean Games: [day1][day2]

Meletoglou 17.09w. Three medals for Greece in Almeria
29.6.2005 Although without enough top athletes, the Greek team won three medals on the first day of the Mediterranean Games in Almeria. Hristos Meletoglou won the first gold for Greece jumping a wind assisted 17.09m., while he had a valid jump at 16.74m. Afroditi Skafida was third in the pole vault with 4.15m and Alexandra Papageorgiou got also the bronze in the hammer throw, with a season's best of 67.13m
• [The Greek Team]

Stefanidi leads the 18-member Greek team in Marrakesh
27.6.2005 Ekaterini Stefanidi, the 15-year-old holder of the pole vault all time youth performance, tops the Greek team in the World Youth Championships, to be held in Marrakesh (July 14-17). Stefanidi, who is among the favourites for a medal, is accompanied with other strong entrants. Georgios Tsakonas in the triple jump (15.84m.) can also claim a medal, while good performances are expected from Dimitrios Hondrokoukis in the high jump (2.11m), Georgios Tsakonas (7.49m) and Dimitrios Theoharis (7.29) in the long jump, Georgios Kalambokas (15.29m.) in the triple jump, Stefanos Koufidis (4.80m) in the pole vault, Georgios Tremos (53.04m) in the discus throw, Theodosios Koviou (66.46m) in the javelin and Dimitrios Fylladitakis (73.67m) in the hammer throw. Besides Stefanidi, 8 more girls go to Marrakesh: Maria Panou (2.09.54) in the 800m, Spyridoula Stavrou (24.00.73) in the 5000m walk, Evaggelia Galeni (6.00m) and Vasiliki Savva (5.82m) in the long jump, Hero Ledaki (3.80m) in the pole vault, Triantafyllia Pourgiasi (45.90m) in the javelin and Andrianna Papadopoulou (51.42m) in the hammer throw.

Pitkämäki thorws 91.53m in Kuortane
26.6.2005 Olympic finalist Tero Pitkämäki, 23, this afternoon launched his spear to 91.53m, the longest throw in the world since 2002
• [Results]

1:56.93 for Cherkasova, five women under 1:59 in Kazan. Greene out of the World Champs
25.6.2005 Svetlana Cherkasova ran a personal best of 1:56.93 in the IAAF Grand Prix Meeting held in Kazan, Russia, in a race with five gilrs set season's leading marks under 1.59
Maurice Greene failed to qualify for the World Championships, as he didn't finish the 100m final of the US Championships. Justin Gatlin was the winner with 10.08, while Wariner dominated the 400m in 44.20 and Walter Davis the triple jump with 17.15m
• [Results from Kazan]
• [USA Champs, results]

Last chance for Marrakesh
25.6.2005 The Youth National Championships start today in Argos and the Greek U18 athletes have one last chance to meet the standards for the World Youth Championships. Ekaterini Stefanidi and the young hammer thrower Dimitrios Fylladitakis are included in a group of sixteen talented boys and girls who have already secured their participation in the champs.
• [Greek Youth Championships, results] [The Greek team in the Mediterranean Games] (revised)

Isinbayeva signs up for Rethymno
23.6.2005 The pole vault world record holder, Russia's Yelena Isinbayeva, participates in the EAA Permit Meeting, "Vadinoyiannia 2005" (Rethymno, July 10). Last year the meeting scored  82.847 points to reach the top of the EAA.
Yelena Isinbayeva broke the pole vault world record in Athens, winning the Olympic Games with 4.91m, while in "Athina 2004" indoor meeting, the competition with her compatriot Svetlana Feofanova led the latter to a world indoor record with 4.85m

The number of lanes makes history...
21.6.2005 (From European Athletics Association) The EAA Council decided at its meeting in Florence on Tuesday 21 June to amend EAA Regulation 601.3.1 which relates to the European Cup so that in the rare cases where the host venue has a nine lane track, nine teams will compete in the SPAR European Cup.
The EAA wishes to use the opportunity offered by a nine lane track to allow the maximum number of countries possible to compete in the SPAR European Cup, the top division of the five group European Cup competition.
As the newly built venue for the 2006 SPAR European Cup in Malaga, Spain, has a nine lane track, the seventh placed men’s team from the 2005 SPAR European Cup, the team of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, is also qualified for next year’s competition on 28-29 June 2006. Nine teams were already due to compete in the women’s competition as Spain qualified only as host nation after not winning promotion from the First League. The teams qualified for the 2006 SPAR European Cup are:
MenGermany, France, Italy, Poland, Russia, Spain (host nation), Great Britain & Northern Ireland, Finland (1st Group A), Ukraine (1st Group B)
Women Russia, Poland, Germany, France, Ukraine, Romania, Sweden (1st Group A), Great Britain & Northern Ireland (1st Group B), Spain (host nation)

Greeks improved in the IAAF ranking
21.6.2005 After the Athens Super Grand Prix and the European Cup, some Greeks have significantly improved their position in the IAAF rankings. Konstantinos Filippidis, after the fourth national record he set in Athens, has already been the 19th world vaulter and now is preparing for the next international competition in Rome Golden League. Maria Karastamati have climbed to the 19th place of the 100m, Periklis Iakovakis stands at 12th place in the 400mh while both Greeks, Konstantinos Zalagitis (14th) and Hristos Meletoglou (12th) are among the top triple jumpers. Hrysopigi Devetzi retains the 4th position and goes on with two international meetings in Paris and Lausanne, where Zalagitis and Maria Papadopoulou also plan to compete. Luis Tsatoumas is 15th in the long jump and participates in the meeting of Saragosa, while Alexandros Papadimitriou, Georgia Kokloni, Styliani Pilatou, Maria Pardalou and Savva Lyka are also among the top 20 athletes of their events.
Four Olympics medallists, Halkia, Kelesidou, Manjani and Tsoumeleka, have eliminated from the rankings, as they haven't competed in this season yet, or they don't have 6 performances within the last year.

Germany and Russia retain the European Cup
19.6.2005 Germany won the European Cup in men, after a close event-by-event competition with the French team, having Michael Friedek, the winner of the triple jump with 17.20m, in great shape. The British team was relegated to the first division for first time in the history of the European Cup, although Christian Malcolm set a 20.15 in the 200m and the 4X400m team achieved to defeat the Polish quartet. A completely unexpected performance for British athletes.
Russia was once more the winner in women, followed by Poland and Ukraine.
A flabby Greece's women team was relegated, because of many injuries, but also as a result of wrong choices in some events and weak efforts by some athletes. The problems of the national team were the significant absences as well as the fact that none believed that the team could retain a position in the Super League.
Italian javelin thrower Francesco Pignata and French sprinter Christine Arron were presented with the inaugural Athlete of the SPAR European Cup awards following their magnificent performances in Florence [Florence][Gavle][Leiria][Tallinn][Istanbul: men, women][Florence day 3 report, by the IAAF][Results from the U23 Greek National Champs]

Ukraine and Great Britain winners in Leiria
19.6.2005 Ukraine's men won in Leiria with 115 points, leaving the Greek team second (111 p), while the British women team returns to the Super League. Konstantinos Filippidis placed second in the pole vault  with 5.65m, Eleutherios Karasmanakis in the javelin throw and the 4X400m relay team gave 8 points to Greece. Alexandros Theofanov disqualified in the 110mh, squandering crucial points for the Greek team.

Finland and Sweden win promotion in Gavle
19.6.2005 The men's team of Finland won the close battle against the Swedish team in the Group of Gavle and promoted to the Super League. Carolina Kluft (6.91w in the long jump), Kallur sisters and Kajsa Bergqvist (2.01m in the high jump) led the women's team to the Super League, winning the Spanish team by three points.

Two positive tests in the Greek National Championships
19.6.2005 The Greek Federation, SEGAS, announced today that out of 55 athletes tested during the national championships, two are positives.The names will be announced after the confirmation of the second sample. According to the greek sport portal sport.gr the first sample belongs to the sprinter Hristoforos Hoidis and the second one to a thrower.

Devetzi 14.62m, Dova 51.89
18.6.2005 Despite the effort of Hrysopigi Devetzi who set a season's best of 14.62m and Dimitra Dova who clocked 51.89 in the 400m, Greece's gilrs are 8th in the Super League and now it's almost impossible to avoid relegation, taking into account the schedule of the events tomorrow. Dissapointing performance by Mirela Manjani, who was 6th in the javelin throw (she was chosen by the Federation instead of Tsiolakoudi who has 62.64m this year), but also the 4X100m relay team. Maria Papadopoulou, faster European 800m so far, withdrew because of an injury.
France leads the men's standing after the second day, where the British team is surprisinlgy 8th, while Russian women have secured one more European title.
Periklis Iakovakis, Alexandros Papadimitriou and the 4X100m relay team achieved three wins in the Group of Leiria. Greece is second after the first day with 58 points, three less than Netherlands.[Florence][Gavle][Leiria][Tallinn][Istanbul: men, women][Florence day 2 report, by the IAAF][Results from the U23 Greek National Champs]

National record for Greece in the women's steeplechase
17.6.2005 Maria Pardalou broke the women's and U23 records of the 3000m steeplechase (10.08.59), on the first day of the European Super League. Russia leads both men's and women's standing's, while the Greek team has picked up only 7 points, mainly because of the under expectations performances in the long jump and the discus throw. [Day 1 report, by the IAAF]

Devetzi, Papadopoulou, Zalagitis set for Lausanne
17.6.2005 Hrysopigi Devetzi and Konstantinos Zalagitis confirmed their participation in the Lausanne Golden League (July 8). Devetzi also competes in Paris three day earlier, while Maria Papadopoulou, who set a european leading 1.59.79 in the 800m race of the Athens Super Grand Prix plans to compete also in Paris and Lausanne. Konstantinos Zalagitis and Styliani Pilatou entered British Grand Prix (London, 22 July). Finally, Luis Tsatoumas participates in the international meeting in Saragosa, Spain, on June 22nd.

Iakovakis leads the Greek team in Leiria
18.6.2005 The men's team of Greece participates in the second group of the First Division of the European Cup. The team consists of Sarris (100m), Gousis (200m), Gravalos (400m), Farouggias (800m), Gelasakis (1500m, 3000m), Fragkos (5000m), Akrout (3000m st.), Theofanov (110mh), Iakovakis (400mh), Syrakos (HJ),  Tsatoumas (LJ), Filippidis (PV), Zalagitis (TJ), Stamatogiannis (SP), Karasmanakis (JT), Papadimitriou (HT), Konstas (DT), Sarris, Goussis, Petridis, Papadias (4X100m), Doupis, Demotsios, Gravalos, Iakovakis (4X400m) [Men's GRE lists 2005]

Olympic medallists Devetzi and Manjani head the women's team in Florence
16.6.2005With one modification, the replacement of Konstantina Efentaki, the women's Greek team arrived in Florence to compete in the European Cup Super League. Greece's girls have the difficult mission to keep their position in the Super League, without the injured Fani Halkia and the discus throwers, but also with other entrants not to have reached the desired shape yet. The team: Karastamati (100m, 200m), Dova (400m), Papadopoulou (800m, 1500m), Dagli (3000m), Protopapa (5000m), Pardalou (3000m st), Redoumi (100mh), Hatzi (400mh), Papageorgiou (HJ), Skafida (PV), Kafetzi (LJ), Devetzi (TJ),  Papadopoulou (SP and HT), Ambatzi (DT), Manjani (JT), Karastamati, Kokloni, Kombidou, Eustratiadou, Kopsia (4X100m), Dova, Papadopoulou, Filanda, Hatzi, Pahatouridou (4X400m) [Women's GRE lists 2005]

The season is over for Lalova
16.6.2005 After a succesfull surgery undregone in Athens, Bulgaria's faster 100m athlete this season, Ivet Lalova, was insisted to interrupt training for the next 8-10 months. Lalova had broken her right leg while warming up before the 100m race of Athens Grand Prix.

9.77: World record for Powell in Athens
14.6.2005 Jamaica's Asafa Powell became tonight the second sprinter who breaks the 100m world record in Athens Olympic Stadium, but also the second ever Jamaican who holds the best performance of the shorter athletics race. Three more world records attempts and storm of world leading marks in the Athens Super Grand Prix "Tsiklitiria" 2005 [Meeting report written for the IAAF][Results][100m World Record Progression]

Olympics revival in the Athens Super Grand Prix
13.6.2005 On the afternoon of 29 August 2004, the Olympic flame was extinguished in the Olympic Stadium of Athens. But tomorrow, Tuesday 14 June, the ambiance of the Games is going to be revived for three hours, in the IAAF Super Grand Prix “Tsiklitireia 2005”. Many of last summer’s Olympians will return to the Olympic arena as part of their build up to this summer’s 10th IAAF World Championships in Athletics, Helsinki, Finland (6 - 14 August) ...our preview written for the IAAF

The Greek team for the Mediterranean Games announced
12.6.2005 The Greek Federation also announced the team for the Mediterranean Games (Almeria, Spain, June 29 to July 6). The team.

National record for Afroditi Skafida in the pole vault. Iakovakis 49.31, Devetzi 6.56m
11.6.2005 Afroditi Skafida, 23, set a national pole vault record with 4.48m on the second day of the national championships and met the standard for the World Championships. Periklis Iakovakis won the 400mh final with 49.31 followed by Minas Alozidis, the 21-year-old hurdler who set a personal best of 49.62. After her win in the triple jump, Chrysopigi Devetzi set a 6.56m today in the long jump, to set a personal best and get the second place after Ioanna Kafetzi who jumped 6.62m. The European Indoor Championships silver medallist, Styliani Pilatou, was thrid with 6.48m. [Results][National Records][National records in 2005][All time lists: MEN, WOMEN][2005 lists: MEN, WOMEN]

Karastamati wins first national title and Devetzi starts with 14.59m
10.6.2005 The long expected close competition between Maria Karastamati and Georgia Kokloni in the 100m never came, as Georgia disqualified in the final when she did the second fault start. Maria Karastamati won easily in a personal best of 11.27 and typically set the standard for Helsinki.
Under the bad conditions of the rainy weather, Chrysopigi Devetzi started the season with 14.59m (she also jumped 14.28m in the qualification round) and tomorrow participates in the long jump. Excellent races for 19-year-old Nikolaos Filandarakis who broke twice the juniors' 110mh record with 13.95 and 13.90, while Konstantinos Douvalidis, the holder of the U18 world best was impressing in the final, where he placed fourth in a personal best of 13.94

Powell 9.85, Makarov 88.84m in Ostrava
9.6.2005 Asafa Powell and  Sergey Makarov shone in Ostrava Super Grand Prix, setting world leading marks with 9.85 and 88.84m respectively. [Results]

955 athletes and 127 start tomorrow in Athens
9.6.2005 The 91st annual version of the Greek National Championships open tomorrow morning in Athens, with a record participation of 955 athletes, representing 127 clubs. On the first day, the triple jump of men and women attract the eyes, as the Olympics silver medalist Chrysopigi Devetzi returns after the injury to compete with Olga Vasdeki, but also the new blood of the event Irene Dimitraki. In the men's event Konstantinos Zalagitis with his season's best of 17.29m has to face with Christos Meletoglou, 6th in the Olympics last summer. The close competition between Maria Karastamati and Olga Kokloni is going to produce good marks in the women's 100m, while Gervasios Filippidis and Eleutherios Karasmanakis have already approached the 80m line in the javelin and are expected to improve further their personal bests. Also tomorrow, Konstantinos Filippidis participates in the pole vault, while at least four runners in the 400m are able to win in times around 46" and get the win. Alexandra Papageorgiou and Stella Papadopoulou are the main contenters for the win in the women's hammer. [National Records][National records in 2005][All time lists: MEN, WOMEN][2005 lists: MEN, WOMEN]

91st Greek National Championships
8.6.2005 The Athens Olympic Stadium opens again for an athletics event, for first time after Olympics last August. About 900 athletes are expected to participate in the 91st version of the national championships, while the most of the country's top athletes are confirmed their participation. Among them, the Olympics silver medallist of the triple jump, Chrysopigi Devetzi, who after recovering from the injury participates also in the long jump, Periklis Iakovakis in the 400mh, Konstantinos Zalagitis and Christos Meletoglou in the triple jump, Alexandros Papadimitriou in the hammer throw, Konstantinos Filippidis in the pole vault and Stella Pilatou in the long jump. The 400mh Olympic Champion, Fani Halkia, participates only in the relay to assist her club, as she hasn't been ready yet because of the injury problems she recently faced with. The championsips start on Friday morning.

Filippidis goes higher, 5.71m and third record in 5 days
6.6.2005Konstantinos Filippidis set his third national record in 5 days, with 5.71m in the EAA Permit Meeting Venizelia 2005, held today in Chania. He attempted three times at 5.81m, two of them were lost just in details. After his attempts Filippidis thanked the other athletes of the competition, who encouraged him during his effort and talked with enthusiasm about him to the media. The 19-year-old athlete competes in the national championships, to be held in the Athens Olympic Stadium on June 10-11 and then in the Athens Grand Prix.
Good marks set by Konstantinos Zalagitis in the triple jump (17.29m), Jenny Kallur (12.88) and Glorie Alozie (12.89) in the 100mh, Styliani Pilatou 6.64m in the long jump, Roland Varga 64.85m in the discus throw and Aziz Zakari who set a 100m meeting record with 10.04 [Results]

9.84w for Gatlin and Powel
4.6.2005 Justin Gatlin and Asafa Powell set a wind assisted 9.84 in the close 100m race of the Eugene Grand Prix Meeting, where Tatyana Kotova jumped 6.80m and Perdita Felicien dominated the 100mh in 12.58. Two Americans, Brad Walker and Toby Stevenson cleared 5.90m [Eugene GP] [Sevilla GP]

Greek 10000m championships
4.6.2005 Michalis Gelasaki (29.44.37) and Ekaterini Asimakopoulou (34.55.51) won the 10000m national championships, held in Megara. Michalis Parmakis (30.21.57) and Eleni - Antonia Papadaki (39.54.37) were the winner of the U23 classes.

Dimitraki 14.10m, Zalagitis 17.17m in Torino.
3.6.2005 Both Greek triple jumpers achieved good results in Torino GP, improving their season's bests. Konstantinos Zalagitis was second with 17.17m, while Dimitraki was also second with 14.10m.
In Filothei Women Gala Maria Karastamati clocked 11.51 in the slow 100m race and Anastasija Zuravlyeva won the triple jump with 14.52m. Good jump for Russia's Tatyana Ivanova, the winner of the long jump with 6.63m [Filothei Women Gala][Torino GPII]

Filippidis clears 5.70m again in Barcelona and Kefala smashes steeple record for Greece
3.6.2005 In the 3-nation meeting held in Barcelona (Greece, Poland and Kataluna), Konstantinos Filippidis cleared again 5.70m and failed to equall the world juniors record at 5.80m. Christina Chatzi clocked 56.53 in the 400mh, while Konstantina Kefala set a 3000m steeple national record for Greece with 9.41.26, improving her own mark by more than 30 seconds and achieving the best European mark for this season. Good performance by Minas Alozidis who set a 400mh personal best with 49.81. Poland won both, men and women, classifications.

Filippidis: In search of the record in five meetings
3.6.2005 Konstantinos Filippidis is going to compete in five meetings in the next 17 days, searching for the appropriate circumstances to vault over 5.80m, the world juniors record. Today he is competing in the 3-nation meeting, Greece, Poland and Kataluna in Spain and then flies to Chania for the annual version of Venizeleia Meeting on Monday. His plans also include the National Championships in Athens, the European Cup and the Athens Super Grand Prix "Tsiklitireia 2005".
[Konstantinos Filippidis was born on November 29, 1986 and trains with Dimitrios Kytteas, the former Greek Pole Vault Champion. In 2003, he placed 4th in the World Youth Championships, while he was 9th in the European Indoor Championships, held in Madrid last March. On January 29th he cleared 5.61m to set a juniors national record for Greece and then participated in 2-3 meetings, attempting for the indoor world juniors record withouth success. He opened the outdoor season with a personal best of 5.53m, set in Limassol (May 15), before breaking the national men's and juniors records in Milano. Among his targets for this season are the standard for the World Championships (5.75m.) and the World Juniors' Record (5.80m), set by Tarasov in 1989 (June 14). "We have a schedule and we strictly follow it step by step. The high performances are coming" said Kytteas after Limassol and the latest developments verify his words.]

Filippidis flies to 5.70m and spreads promises
2.6.2005 Greece's Konstantinos Filippidis, who became known after attempting to break the world juniors all time indoor mark in the pole vault last March, cleared 5.70m in Milano, to smash the men's and juniors' record for Greece. Filippidis needs to improve his record by 10 cm to equall the world record, a performance which is among his targets for this year.
Marion Jones was again second in the 100m, defeated again by Sturrup, while Styliani Pilatou placed 2nd in the long jump with 6.52 and Konstantina Efentaki 5th in the 1500m. with 4.10.62 [Results from Milano]

Filothei Women Gala, Press Conference
2.6.2005 The press conference for the Filothei Women Gala (Friday, June 3) was given today by the director of the meeting and some Greek participants. Giannis Koutsogiannopoulos, the meeting director stated that "in a difficult post-Olympic year we succeed to keep a high level of the meeting, combining our actions with the Venizeleia 2005 meeting to be held on Monday. Although tomorrow we have also the Grand Prix meet in Torino, we managed to book significant participants".
Both top Greek sprinters Maria Karastamati and Georgia Kokloni set as main objective to improve their personal bests tomorrow and Karastamati added that the European U23 Championships is her main target for this season. Georgia Kokloni expressed her will to be ready for the Helsinki final, while Ekaterini Stefanidi also enters Filothei Meeting, ready for a successfull vault at least over 4.25m.

May 2005

Three Madrid 60m finalists in Filothei
31.5.2005 Three girls who ran in the 60m final of the European Indoor Championships in Madrid, Georgia Kokloni, Maria Karastamati and Maria Bolikova confirmed their participation in Filothei Women Gala, to be held on Friday. One more possible entrant is Bulgaria's Ivet Lalova; her confirmation has been expected.[Official Site][Entries]

Gardener sets 10.17 in Kalamata
30.5.2005 Jason Gardener won the 100m of the EAA Permit "Papaflesia 2005" in 10.17, while Maria Karastamati dominated the women's race in 11.31. Good marks for Lolo Jones in the 100mh with 12.85 and omchil Karailiev the winner of the triple jump wity 17.12m [Kalamata]

Bekele clocked 26.28.72 in Hengelo. Cluft and Sebrle winners in Gotzis
28.5.2005 The windy weather was the main opponent of Kenenisa Bekele in his attempt to break his World 10,000m record at the Thales FBK Games - IAAF Grand Prix - in Hengelo today. The Ethiopian finished in 26:28.72, more than 8 seconds behind his time of last year in Ostrava but by far the fastest time in the world this year.
In a dramatic finale in the men’s Decathlon in Gotzis, Czech Roman Sebrle, set his fifth win in a row. His main contender before the event Bryan Clay (USA) had misfortune yesterday but suddenly Sebrle was fighting for first place with his training partner Attila Zsivóczky from Hungary. Sweden’s Carolina Klüft won her 12th Heptathlon in a row since 2001 (she lost the last time in Austria in 2001 in Ried at the European Cup) and her total score of 6824 points is her third best. [Hengelo GP] [HYPPOMEETING]

Carolina attempts for the European Record in Gotzis
28.5.2005 Sweden’s Carolina Klüft (Ist IAAF World Ranked) , after winning 11 successive competitions since July 2001 as well as the World and Olympic Champion titles, attacks the european record. After the 1st day of the HyppoMeeting leads the competition with 4.054 points leaving Kelly Sotherton well behind, at 3.911 p. Kluft cleared 1.94m in the high jump and ran the 100mh in a personal best 13.15.
After the 5th event of Decathlon, Russia's Aleksandr Pogorelov scored 4.398 points, just 5 more than Roman Sebrle and 33 more than Hungary's Attila Zsivotsky.

Jason Gardener tops Kalamata entries
27.5.2005 Jason Gardener, Olympic Champion with the British relay team and world indoor champion in 2004, is the top name expected to participate in the "Papafleseia EAA Permit meeting" to be held in Kalamata, on Sunday 29. Other significant entries are those in the women's pole vault with Anzhela Balakhonova, Tanya Stepanova and Ekaterini Stefanidi, Maria Karastamati in the 100m, Charles Friedeck in the men's triple jump against Konstantinos Zalagitis and Mumchil Karailiev, Marcin Urbas and Patrick Jarett in the 200m., Dragutin Topic and Grzegorz Sposob in the high jump, Faith Macharia in the women's 800m, as well as Nikolai Atanasov and Bogdan Tarus in the long jump. [Entries]

Tunde Vaszi in Filothei
25.5.2005 Hungary's Tunde Vaszi, three times in the Olympics final, is among the new entrants of the Filothei Women Gala (june 3rd) announced today. In the 100mh, Vonette Dixon, 8th in the world championships, along with three more athletes with personal bests under 12.80 have confirmed their participation in the meeting. [The Official Site of the meeting][Entries]

Stefanidi in Filothei Women Gala
24.5.2005 Katerina Stefanidi is among the early entrants of the Filothei Women Gala, scheduled for June 03. The 6th annual version of the meeting, supported by the Municipality of Filothei and PEUGEOT, also hosts the national pole vault record holder Georgia Tsiliggiri, the Greeks Afroditi Skafida, Euridice Prezerakou and Antigoni Asteriou. Hungary's Krisztina Molnar (4.53m), Britain's Janine Whitlock and Russia's Yuliya Golubchikova guarantee the high level of the pole vault competition.
Today, some participants of the triple jump were also announced. Nadezhda Bazhenova, 4th in the European Indoor Championships in 2002, has to face with Jamaica's Souzette Lee, the world youth champion of 2003 Christine Sapataru of Romania, her compatriot Ancuta Stucan, Ukraine's Tatyana Schurenko and Uzbekistan's Anastasija Zouravlieva.
A press conference is scheduled for June 2, while more entries will be announced in the next days.

Nerius throws 65.49m in Halle
22.5.2005 Steffi Nerius set a world leading 65.49m in Halle Throwing Meeting, where Virjiljius Alekna was dominated the discus throw with 68.04m. Michalis Stamatogiannis won the shot put in the Greek Throwing Meeting with 19.21m and Alexandros Papadimitriou the hammer throw with 76.20m.  [Halle][Belem GP][Greek Throwing Meeting][Adidas Track Classic]

Vienna Marathon results
22.5.2005Men: 1 Mubarak Shami QAT 2:12:20, 2 Japhet Kosgei KEN 2:15:15, 3 Serem Henry KEN 2:15:26, 4 Richard Mutai KEN 2:15:57, 5 Maru-S. Kipchirchir KEN 2:16:18, 6 Degene-Rega Negussie ETH 2:16:37, 7 Michael Buchleitner AUT 2:16:41, 8 Tereje Wodajo ETH 2:17:19, 9 Norman Dlomo RSA 2:18:06, 10 Sergej Lukin RUS 2:23:59.... 14 Lambros Zaragas GRE 2.26.52 WOMEN: 1 Florence Barsosio KEN 2:31:40, 2 Eva-Maria Gradwohl AUT 2:39:44, 3 Ilona Barvanova UKR 2:47:04

Russian domination in the European Cup Race Walking
21.5.2005 Russia's teams won all walking events of the European Cup held today in Miscolc. The juniors' Greek team placed 7th, with Ioannis Kafkas to get the 10th place in the 10km race. Konstantinos Stefanopoulos and Georgios Argyropoulos was 32nd in the 20km and 50km respectively and Evaggelia Xynou placed 21st in the women's 20km. Alexandros Papadimitriou won the hammer throw with 75.80m, the best mark of the first day of the Greek Military Championships started today in Tripolis. [Results from Miscolc]

Three discus ladies far from the field this year
19.5.2005 Although present in almost all finals in the last years and used to be on the podium of the olympic, world and european championships, three ladies of the discus throw decided not to participate in competitions this year. Anastassia Kelesidou, wants to slow down this season, after many years of hard training and a series of seven medals won in Olympics, World and European champs. At the same time, the reigning European Champion, Ekaterini Voggoli, suffers an injury and decides to avoid any pressure this year, setting as primary target to defend her title in Gothenburg 2006. Along with them, the third member of the Greek discus team, Styliani Tsikouna, has also injury problems. Maybe Greece cannot claim medals in Helsinki, but the new blood has now the chance to fight for the standards, defending the strong country's tradition in the event.

Venues of the Greek champs decided
18.5.2005 The Greek Federation announced today the venues of the Greek Champs as following:
Men - Women National Championships, 10-11 June, Athens Olympic Stadium
Men, Women, Juniors' and U23 10.000m Champs, 4-5 June, Megara
National Walk Championships, 5-6 June, Megara
Under 23 Champs, 18-19 June, Larisa
National Youth Champs, 25-26 June, Argos
National Juniors Champs, 9-10 July, Thessaloniki
Juniors' and U18 combined events Champs, 2-3 July, Agios Kosmas

All time juniors best by Konstantinos Filippidis
16.5.2005 Konstantinos Filippidis, the young pole vaulter who became wider known at the beginning of the year when he attempted to break the world juniors indoor record, cleared 5.53m yesterday in the juniors meeting held in Paphos, Cyprus. Fillipidis' performance is an outdoor all time juniors best for Greece, while the record belongs to the same athlete (5.61m from January 29).

17.58m for Gregorio in Rio
15.5.2005 Brazil's Jadel Gregorio won the triple jump in Rio de Janeiro Grand Prix II meeting with 17.58m, while the shot put Olympic Champion, Cuba's Yumileidi Cumba placed third following New Zealand's Valerie Vili who won with 19.52m and Natalya Khonorenko who had a shot at 18.60m. Double win for Josua Johnson with 10.09 in the 100m and 20.45 in the 200m. [Results]

Strataki and Papaioannou won the combined events champs
15.5.2005Argyro Strataki (5.822p) and Michalis Papaioannou (7.328p) won the combined events championships, held in Edessa. Prodromos Korkizoglou who was on the top of decathlon classification after the first day, failed in the pole vault and finally placed sixth.

Dimitraki jumps 14.07 in "Knoseia 2005"
14.5.2005 Irene Dimitraki jumped 14.07m to set the best mark of Knoseia 2005 the opening meeting of the national grand prix series, held in Herakleion today. Michalis Stamatogiannis who targets a 20m shot this year, won the shot put with 18.94m., while Aristidis Petridis dominated the 100m in 10.49
Prodromos Korkizooglou (3.860p) and Argyro Strataki (3.431p)  are on the top of decathlon and heptathlon classifiactions, after the first day of the Greek combined events championships, held in Edessa. [Results]

Obikwelu defeats the US stars in Doha. Juniors record for Augustine Choge
13.5.2005 Francis Obiklwelu was the winner of the 100m in the Super Grand Prix in Doha, with 10.05, leaving clearly behind Shawn Crawford but also the American Olympic Champion Justin Gatlin.
Kenya's Augustine Kiprono Choge break the 3000m world juniors record with 7.28.78, crossing the line after Eliud Kipchoge who clocked 7.28.56
Very quick race for Stanislav Olijars who clocked 13.11 in the 110mh, while Marian Oprea dominated the triple jump with 17.09m. Meletoglou placed sixth with 16.25m. Tatyana Lebedeva impressed with her jump at 6.70m and Natalya Sadova demonstrated a good shape throwing 65.10m. The bronze medalist of Paris' world championships, Periklis Iakovakis, returned to the GP series and placed 3rd in the 400mh.with 49.05 [Results]

Lewis-Francis lost European Indoor silver medal
13.5.2005 Sprinter Mark Lewis-Francis, who won Olympic relay gold last year, has been given a public warning by UK Athletics after testing positive for cannabis. He has also been stripped of the silver medal he won in the 60m at this year's Spar European Indoor Championships [Full strory from BBC]

The national Grand Prix series open in Crete
12.5.2005 The first meeting of the Hellenic Grand Prix series, Knoseia 2005, is held in Herakleion on Saturday. Also, during the coming weekend the city of Edessa hosts the national combined events championships, for men and women, and U23 men and women.

Iakovakis and Meletoglou in Qatar
7.5.2005 Periklis Iakovakis, after the succesful first race for the season in the Greek Clubs Champs last weekend, confirmed his participation in the GP Meeting to be held in Doha on Friday. Along with him, Christos Meletoglou, the triple jump winner of the Osaka meeting, will also be in Qatar, while Katerina Stefanidi who had planned her debut in the grand prix series, decided to withdraw, following a knee injury.
The long jump champion Luis Tsatoumas, who was also going to compete in Doha, was forced to cancell his participation as the event is not finally included in the meeting schedule. Tsatoumas opens the season in Kalamata, participating in the EAA Permit Meeting "Papaflessia", scheduled for May 30.

Asafa Powell clocks 9.84 for new Jamaica's record
7.5.2005 Olympian Asafa Powell broke his own national 100-metre record of 9.87 set at last year's National Trials with a blistering 9.84 seconds while easing up in the last five metres at the Jamaica International Invitational athletics meet at the National Stadium last night. Dwight Thomas was second in 10.05 and Michael Frater third in 10.09. Jamaica also secured a double win in the women's 100m. Sherone Simpson won in 11.03, with Aileen Bailer second in 11.07. Olympic silver medallist, American Lauryn Williams, was third in 11.08 seconds. Olympic silver medallist Danny McFarlane won the 400m hurdles in 49.01secs, beating American Ricky Harris (49.21) and defending champion LaBron Jarrett, 49.55. [Results][Powell:Easing to his 9.84 "cost me the world record", by TrackProfile and Bob Ramsak]

Wenhiu Zhang threatens area record in Osaka. Winning debut for Meletoglou
7.5.2005 China's Wenhiu Zhang won the hammer throw in the IAAF Grand Prix Meeting, held in Osaka, with 72.34m., just 0.03m less than her own Asian Record. Alysson Felix clocked 11.30 in the 100m and Dmitriy Markov cleared 5.75m to dominate the pole vault. The 100m Olympic Champion Justin Gatlin won the race in 10.15., while Greece's Christos Meletoglou was the winner of the triple jump with a wind assisted 16.78m. Liu Xiang opened the season with a world leading 13.12 in the 110mh. [Results]

Perra jumps 13.95m, Karastamati sets 11.12w and Gervasios Filippidis throws 79.42m.
7.5.2005 Panayota Tsiala set a national U23 record for Greece in the women's javelin with 52.93m. participating in the Group of Attiki of the Greek Club Championships, which has been in process in Agios Kosmas. Aggeliki Tsiolakoudi sent the javelin to 57.70m, while in the Group of Pireaus, the European Indoor Champinships bronze medalist, Maria Karastamati, flied to a wind assisted 11.12. Chrysopigi Devetzi set an also wind aided 13.92m., while Stella Tsikouna was the best among the discus throwers with 56.84m. Konstantinos Filippidis opened the season with a succesful attempt at 5.30m.
A 18-year-old javelin thrower, Gervasios Filippidis set a personal best with 79.42m, the 4th all time performance in Greece, approaching the national juniors record of 80.30m set by Konstantinos Gatsioudis in 1992 (it was the world juniors record then). Athanassia Perra jumped 13.95m in Tripoli, the best european mark this season so far. [Results]

78.28m for Papadimitriou
6.5.2005 The Greek Clubs Championships started today with the events of the 1st day of the Athens Group in Agios Kosmas. Alexandros Papadimitriou set the mark of the day, sending the hammer to 78.28m, while Panayota Koutsioumari jumped a wind assisted 6.41m in the long jump and Cypriot Kyriakos Ioannou cleared 2.20m. The Championships are going on tommorow in 11 groups, with the participation of many top Greek athletes. [Results]

ASA confirms Sepeng positive test
6.5.2005 Athletics South Africa (ASA)  confirmed on Friday they had been informed by the IAAF on May 3 of a positive out-of-competition dope test by Hezekiel Sepeng. Sepeng was tested by the IAAF on February 21 in Potchefstroom, where his urine sample was found to contain the prohibited substance, Norandrosterone.

Positive test for Christos Polychroniou
5.5.2005 The Greek athletics Federation verified today that it was informed by the IAAF about a positive test of a greek athlete. A full announcement is expected in the coming days, after the investigation of the second sample. According to press releases the hammer thrower Christos Polychroniou found positive after a control made by WADA last February. The substance has not been yet known, while the federation denies any responsibility for the linkage of the athlete's name.

April 2005

National Juniors Record in Javelin
28.4.2005 Panayota Touloumtzi, 18, smashed the javelin throw national juniors record for Greece with an impressing attempt at 55.30m during the Combined Events Clubs Championships, held in Thessaloniki.

Athletics is the most tested sport by the USADA
27.4.2005 Track & Field remains the most tested sport by the United States Anti-Doping Agency (USADA), according to first quarter figures for 2005 released by the agency yesterday.... more

Papadimitriou and Devetzi in the Clubs Champs. Papayanni tops the Greek team for the European Cup
25.4.2005 Alexandros Papadimitriou, who has already started competing this period in the European Winter Challenge, confirmed his participation in the Greek Clubs Championships to be held in May 7th and 8th. In the same championships, the European discus throw champion Ekaterini Voggoli plans also to participate, supporting her club, Olympiakos SFP, while the triple jump silver medalist in Athens, Chrysopigi Devetzi, opens the season with a double participation in the long and triple jump competitions.
Meanwhile, Athina Papayanni heads the 13-member team for the European Walking Cup, scheduled for May 21st in Hungary.The Olympic Champion Athanassia Tsoumeleka has been withdrawn, waiting for the full recovery from the injury problems she has recently faced with. The team:
Men: Theodoros Stamatopoulos, Spyridon Kastanis, Georgios Argyropoulos and Ioannis Karageorgos (50Km), Konstantinos Stefanopoulos (20Km)
Women: Athina Papayianni, Christina Kokotou, Evaggelia Xynou, Maria Hatzipanayotidou and Despina Zobounidou (20Km)
Juniors: Ioannis Kafkas, Vassilios Hrysikos and Alexandros Papamichail (20Km)

Xynou and Casandra won the Balkan Walk Champs
19.4.2005 Romania's Liviu Casandra and Greece's Evaggelia Xynou were the winners of the 20.000m walk Balkan Championships, held in Preveza. National youth record for Greece by Vasilios Hrysikos in the 10.000m walk [Results]

Lagat gained US citizenship last year
19.4.2005 Contrary to reports published last week, Olympic 1500 meter silver medallist Bernard Lagat received U.S. citizenship prior to the 2004 Olympic Games, according to a report published today in the Chicago Tribune, raising questions about whether Lagat will be allowed to keep his 2004 Olympic medal. [Full story by TrackProfile and Bob Ramsak]

Ndereba's fourth win in Boston
19.4.2005 Defending champion Catherine Ndereba of Kenya in 2:25:13 became the first four-time women's winner of the B.A.A. Boston Marathon yesterday. Ethiopia’s Hailu Negussie in a time of 2:11:45 won the men's race
Men 1 Hailu Negussie ETH 2:11:45; 2 Wilson Onsare KEN 2:12:21, 3 Benson Cherono KEN 2:12:48, 4 Alan Culpepper USA 2:13:39, 5 Robert Kipkoech Cheruiyot KEN 2:14:30, 6 Timothy Cherigat KEN 2:15:19, 7 Benjamin Kipchumba KEN 2:15:26, 8 Andrew Letherby AUS 2:16:38, 9 Mohamed Ouaadi FRA 2:16:41, 10 Peter Gilmore 2:17:32
Women: 1 Catherine Ndereba KEN 2:25:13, 2 Elfenesh Alemu ETH 2:27:03, 3 Bruna Genovese ITA 2:29:51, 4 Svetlana Zakharova RUS 2:31:34, 5 Madina Biktagirova RUS 2:32:41, 6 Lyubov Morgunova RUS  2:33:24, 7 Shitaye Gemechu ETH 2:33:51, 8 Zhor El Kamch MOR 2:36:54, 9 Mina Ogawa JPN 2:37:34, 10 Nuta Olaru ROM 2:37:37

Paula Radcliffe wins her third London Marathon victory
17.4.2005The world record holder crushed her rivals with a time of 2:17.41, over five minutes ahead of Constantina Dita. Kenya's Martin Lel beat a high-quality field to win the men's racxe. Lel clocked 2:07.24 to finish ahead of world champion Jaouard Gharib of Morocco and South Africa's Hendrik Ramaala.
Men: 1 Martin Lel KEN, 2.07.26, 2 Jaouad Gharib MOR 2:07:49, 3 Hendrick Ramaala RSA 2:08:32, 4 Abdelkader El Mouaziz MOR 2:09:03, 5 Stefano Baldini ITA 2:09:25, 6 Jon Brown GBR 2:09:31, 7 Toshinari Suwa JPN 2:10:23, 8 Paul Tergat KEN 2:11:38, 9 Sammy Korir KEN 2:12:36, 10 Evans Rutto KEN 2:12:49
Women: 1 Paula Radcliffe, GBR 2.17.42, 2 Constantina Tomescu-Dita ROM 2:22:50, 3 Susan Chepkemei, KEN 2:24:00, 4 Margaret Okaya KEN 2:25:22, 5 Lyudmila Petrova RUS 2:26:29, 6 Benita Johnson, AUS 2:26:32, 7 Joyce Chepchumba KEN 2:27:01, 8 Sonia O'Sullivan IRL 2:29:01, 9 Mulu Seboka ETH 2:30:54, 10 Mara Yamauchi GBR 2:31:52.

Macharia and Ivanova win in Nagano
17.4.2005 Kenya's Isaac Macharia anf Russia's Albina Ivanova won the Nagano Marathon in 2:10.59 and 2.28.21 respectivelly. Good race for Greece's Demosthenis Evaggelidis who placed 19th with a personal best of 2.29.50.
Men 1 Isaac Macharia KEN 2:10:59, 2 Grigory Andreyev RUS 2:11:20, 3 Moges Taye ETH 2:14:19, 4 M Mwangi KEN 2:14:55, 5 Tomonori Michikata 2:15:01, 6 Adam Dobrzynski POL 2:15:48, 7 Kazuaki Wakamoto 2:16:49, 8 B Worash ETH 2:16:58
Women 1 Albina Ivanova RUS 2:28:21, 2 Lydia Simon ROM 2:31:20, 3 Derartu Tulu ETH 2:31:58, 4 G. Asiba ETH 2:36:12, 5 Yoshimi Hoshino 2:36:19, 6 Yukako Goto 2:38:21, 7 Taeko Terauchi 2:41:03, 8 Chikako Ogushi 2:45:09

EAA Congress support 2-year EuroChamps cycle
16.4.2005 A proposal by the European Athletics Association Council to stage the European Athletics Championships every two years received unanimous support at the European Athletics Association's 19th Congress on Saturday in Ljubljana, Slovenia. [Full story by TrackProfile and Bob Ramsak]

For Rutto and Cherigat, a challenging weekend
15.4.2005 Competing an ocean apart, training partners Evans Rutto and Timothy Cherigat have put a difficult chore on their plates this weekend: defending titles at two of the world's most prestigious marathons.
For Rutto, the challenge is in Sunday's Flora London Marathon as part of one of the strongest fields ever assembled; for Cherigat, it's the more difficult BAA Boston Marathon course on Monday where a strong field will also gather. [Complete TrackProfile report]

Campbell, Jones, Pittman and Lagat in Walnut
15.4.2005 After several notable big name debuts at last weekend's Texas Relays, the season will pick up substantial steam this weekend as more than 15,000 athletes gather at the 47th Mt. SAC Relays in Walnut, Calif. [Complete TrackProfile report]

Lagat changes nationality
13.4.2005 Bernard Lagat, a two-time Olympic medallist for Kenya in the 1500 meters, has become a United States citizen, the runner announced today. "I thought long and hard before changing my nationality but, at the age of 30, I have to look to my future, after my running career has come to an end," Lagat said in a press statement issued from his home in Tucson, Arizona. The change became effective on 29-March... [Full story by TrackProfile and Bob Ramsak]

The false start rule changes
11.4.2005 (From the IAAF) A change to the false start rule, is among the suggestions of the latest IAAF Council Meeting. At present, each athlete is permitted to make one false start, but any athlete subsequently committing a false start is disqualified. Under the new proposal, any athlete making a false start will be immediately disqualified. This is a recommendation by the Council, while the Congress will take a decision in Helsinki.

Rotterdam Marathon
10.4.2005 Kenya's Jimmy Muindi and Netherlands' Lornah Kiplagat won the Fortis Marathon in Rotterdam. Greece's Magda Karimali was 10th with 2:43.50, followed by Magdalene Gazea who placed 11th with 2:49.08
Men 1 Jimmy Muindi KEN 2:07:49, 2 Jackson Koech KEN 2:08:01, 3 Felix Limo KEN 2:09:01; 4 Gudisa Shentema ETH 2:09:45, 5 Christopher Cheboiboch KEN 2:10:13, 6 Elijah Chemwolo Mutai KEN 2:10:27, 7 Titus Munji KEN 2:11:07, 8 Yusuf Shongoka KEN 2:11:42, 9 Jose Manuel Martinez ESP 2:11:55, 10 William Kiplagat KEN 2:12:10
Women 1 Lornah Kiplagat NED 2:27:36, 2 Ana Dias POR 2:31:27, 3 Isabel Eizmendi ESP 2:33:14, 4 Anna Thompson AUS 2:33:20, 5 Kristyna Loonen NED 2:33:28, 6 Yesenia Centeno ESP 2:36:43, 7 Fumi Murata JPN 2:39:08

Ostrava to host 2007 World Youth Championships
10.4.2005 IAAF Council agreed to award the 5th edition of the IAAF World Youth Championships in 2007 to Ostrava, Czech Republic [Summary of the decisions of the 2nd day of the IAAF Council meeting]

Paris Marathon results
10.4.2005 Men 1 Salim Kipsang KEN 2:08:04, 2 Paul Biwott KEN 2:08:17, 3 Gashaw Melese ETH 2:09:24, 4 Peter Chebet KEN 2:10:10, 5 Daniel Cheribo KEN 2:10:13, 6 Patrick Tambwe CON 2:10:21, 7 Rodgers Rop KEN 2:10:31, 8 El Hassan Lasshini FRA 2:11:06, 9 Ambessa Tolosa ETH 2:11:41, 10 Girma Tola ETH 2:12:38 Women 1 Lydia Grigoryeva RUS 2:27:01, 2 Florence Barsosio KEN 2:27:18, 3 Asha Gigi ETH 2:27:38, 4 Rosaria Console ITA 2:28:04, 5 Coriunne Raux FRA 2:28:48, 6 Irina Permitina RUS 2:29:44, 7 Irina Timofeyeva RUS 2:30:11, 8 Elena Fetizon FRA 2:34:39

Debno Marathon results
10.4.2005 Men 1 Wojcik Rafal POL 2:14:47, 2 Dudyz Radoslaw POL 2:16:30, 3 Ochal Pawel POL 2:17:47, 4 Labuchenka Aliaksandr BLR 2:22:05, 5 Prusik Piotr POL 2:22:43. Women 1 Karnatsevich Halina BLR 2:39:53, 2 Belkina Tatiana BLR 2:41:33, 3 Malska Janina POL 2:41:43, 4 Meloch Arleta POL 2:41:51, 5 Kaminska Joanna POL 2:42:34

More tests in 2005
10.4.2005 The intensification of drug tests in 2005, is among the proposals to be submitted by the IAAF Council to the Congress to be held in Helsinki this summer. For the World Championships, it was agreed that about 100 out-of-competition tests should be conducted in the month prior to the Championships, in co-ordination with WADA. Approximately 500 urine tests should be conducted before, during, and after the competition. A minimum of 300 blood samples should be collected for EPO screening and other blood doping detection.With regard to blood testing, Council agreed that the commission should progress as quickly as possible with the database project to allow a greater evaluation of athlete’s blood data.
Council agreed that the IAAF Registered Testing Pool for 2005, combining athletes who are included in the top lists and World Ranking lists, will consist of 1500 athletes. [Full report from the IAAF]

Paris Marathon results
10.4.2005 Men 1 Salim Kipsang KEN 2:08:04, 2 Paul Biwott KEN 2:08:17, 3 Gashaw Melese ETH 2:09:24, 4 Peter Chebet KEN 2:10:10, 5 Daniel Cheribo KEN 2:10:13, 6 Patrick Tambwe CON 2:10:21, 7 Rodgers Rop KEN 2:10:31, 8 El Hassan Lasshini FRA 2:11:06, 9 Ambessa Tolosa ETH 2:11:41, 10 Girma Tola ETH 2:12:38 Women 1 Lydia Grigoryeva RUS 2:27:01, 2 Florence Barsosio KEN 2:27:18, 3 Asha Gigi ETH 2:27:38, 4 Rosaria Console ITA 2:28:04, 5 Coriunne Raux FRA 2:28:48, 6 Irina Permitina RUS 2:29:44, 7 Irina Timofeyeva RUS 2:30:11, 8 Elena Fetizon FRA 2:34:39

Debno Marathon results
10.4.2005 Men 1 Wojcik Rafal POL 2:14:47, 2 Dudyz Radoslaw POL 2:16:30, 3 Ochal Pawel POL 2:17:47, 4 Labuchenka Aliaksandr BLR 2:22:05, 5 Prusik Piotr POL 2:22:43. Women 1 Karnatsevich Halina BLR 2:39:53, 2 Belkina Tatiana BLR 2:41:33, 3 Malska Janina POL 2:41:43, 4 Meloch Arleta POL 2:41:51, 5 Kaminska Joanna POL 2:42:34

Isinbayeva: I want to beat Bubka
8.4.2005 "I would like to beat Bubka," Yelena Isinbayeva said. "He had 35 world records. I want to have 36." [Full story by TrackProfile and Bob Ramsak]

Four Greeks in Rotterdam Marathon
8.4.2005 Three women, Magda Karimali, Georgia Ambatzidou and Magdalene Gasea, an on man, Konstantinos Gougousis run in Rotterdam on Sunday, targeting the standard for the World Athletics Championships to be held in Helsinki on August.

Greene, Wariner, Richards headline Texas Relays
6.4.2005 Maurice Greene, Jeremy Wariner and Sanya Richards are among several big names set to compete at this weekend's Clyde Littlefield Texas Relays in Austin, Texas. [Report by TrackProfile and Bob Ramsak][The Prize Money Earnings Report 2004, by Bob Ramsak]

Papadopoulou starts with 67.70m.
4.4.2005 Styliani Papadopoulou won the hammer throw with 67.70m to set the best mark of the Spring Throwing Meeting, held in Thessaloniki, yesterday. Dorothea Kalpakidou improved her personal best to 53.00m to dominate the discus throw.
Vassilios Vagelis and Smaragda Karimali were the winners of the Messini Marathon with 2:38.58 and 3:06.31 respectfully.

Rogge considers investigation into Greek doping cases. Kenteris lawyer to hold a press conference in London
 4.4.2005 The "Kenteris-Thanou" case could take a new turn in the near future, if the International Olympic Committee had more facts to adduce, as implied by President's statement "Even if the case is exhausted at the level of the IAAF...we have the legal possibility to repoen the case. I cannot speculate on the decision of the IAAF neither the eventual decision of the Court of Arbitration for Sport but one thing is clear, this case is not over", said Rogge at the Oceania National Olympic Committee general assembly. ... full story
"By appealing the decision they (IAAF) show their panic and the pressure they are under from the International Olympic Committee and the World Anti-Doping Agency," Kenteris's lawyer, Gregory Ioannidis, told reporters ...full story from REUTERS

LaMark Carter failed test
3.4.2005 American LaMark Carter, 34, three times US champion in triple jump, found positive on salbutanol in a competition held last July. The triple jump claimed he was under an asthma threatment that period.

Juan Carlos de la Ossa and Sabrina Mockenhaupt winners in Barakaldo
2.4.2005 Spain's Juan Carlos de Ossa won the European 10000m challenge with 27:27.80, while Germany Sabrina Mockenhaupt dominated the women's race in 31:21.28. Greece's Michalis Yelasakis placed 17th with 30:06.64 [Results]

Tsoumeleka placed 12th in Rio Maior
2.4.2005 Athanasia Tsoumeleka participated in the IAAF Walking Meeting held in Rio Maior, where she placed 12th with 1.35.11. The Greek Olympic Champion who suffered an ischium pain, failed to follow her rivals at the late stages of the race and now plans to participate in the other meetings of the IAAF World Walking Challenge.

Reactions for the IAAF decision
2.4.2005 The President of the Greek Federation, talking to the TV Chanel ANTENNA, stated that "we respect all decisions of the International Association. I don't know the grounds of their decision, but I am sure there is a serious documentation beyond this move. IAAF tries to accelerate the whole process and this is very positive for all".
"We don't like to say anything on IAAF's decision, as we haven't received it yet. The CAS will decide based on facts which are clear and undoubtful. Mrs Thanou is accused for an non-show in Athens, and, at the same time for refusing the anti-doping control. If she weren't found how did she deny the control" said Thanou's lawyer Mr. Nikolaos Kolias.
"IAAF's decision was expected, although the so quick reaction is a surprise for us. Our arguments are fully documented and the facts undoubtful. We'll present them in the CAS and we are very optimistic for its ruling" was the comment of Kenteris' lawyer, Gregory Ioannidis.
The coach of the Greek sprinters, Christos Tzekos, already banned for 4 years by the Greek Federation was more offensive: "The IAAF has already expressed its feelings for Kostas and Katerina. But, the facts are clear, both will be justified in Lauzanne. There is an attack against big stars of the sport. Let's see what the IOC, the WADA and the IAAF want for the international athletics".

Tsoumeleka and Liping in Rio Maior. Yelasakis in Baracaldo and four more Greeks in Qatar
1.4.2005 The Athens Olympic Champion Athanasia Tsoumeleka of Greece heads the list in the women’s 20km race of the second leg of the IAAF  Race Walking Challenge 2005, to be held in Rio Maior, Portugal on Saturday. Tsoumeleka will be joined by the 2000 Olympic gold medallist Wang Liping, as well as the world’s fastest athlete last year Song Hongjuan who are two members of an extremely high class Chinese squad.
Michalis Yelasakis is the only Greek runner in the European 10.000m Challenge which is held in Baracaldo, Spain on Sunday.
Meanwhile, following the new national rules who made the participation in the IAAF meetings an obligation for the Greek top athletes, four men and women have already confirmed their participation in the Super Grand Prix Meeting of Qatar: the triple jumpers Konstantinos Zalagitis and Christos Meletoglou, the long jumper Luis Tsatoumas, as well as the young vaulter Ekaterini Stefanidi. [Rio Maior preview by the IAAF]

IAAF rejects the Greek Federation decision
1.4.2005, from IAAF "The IAAF’s Doping Review Board has reviewed the decision received from the Greek National Federation to clear the Greek athletes, Konstantinos Kenteris and Ekatherina Thanou, of anti-doping rule violations under IAAF Rules.The Doping Review Board has concluded that the decision is erroneous and the IAAF will now refer both athletes’ cases to arbitration before the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) on a timely basis under IAAF Rules. The CAS decision in both cases will be final and binding. The Doping Review Board has also decided in accordance with IAAF Rules to suspend both athletes pending the outcome of the CAS decision" [The decision of the Greek tribunal]

March 2005

$21 million in prize money awarded in 2004. Olsson and Tonique - Williams top winners
31.3.2005 Nearly $21 million (USD) in prize money and bonuses was awarded in international track & field competitions in 2004, The TRACK PROFILE Report's third annual prize money survey revealed.
Olympic triple jump champion Christian Olsson of Sweden and Bahamian Tonique Williams-Darling, the Olympic 400 meter champion, who shared the one million dollar TDK Golden League Jackpot after winning their respective events at each of the six Golden League competitions, topped the men's and women's tallies. The 25-year-old Olsson's winnings totaled at least $644,660, while those of Williams-Darling reached $571,950 in prize money earnings. [Full analysis by TrackProfile and Bob Ramsak]

Athletes back new anti-doping initiatives
31.3.2005 The World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) announced on Tuesday, 29 March, that it had appointed 13 members to its newly-formed Athlete Committee. Significantly, two of those members are former World Championship winning athletes, reflecting the continuing tough stance taken by the sport of Athletics in the matter of anti-doping, which most recently witnessed the largest ever number of blood tests carried out at the IAAF World Cross Country Championships.[more by the IAAF]

Thanou desperate to make return
28.3.2005 Greek sprinter Katerina Thanou says she is eager to compete again after being cleared of missing a drugs test by an independent Greek tribunal. Talking to the Greek newspaper TO VIMA, for first time after August, she rejected all accusations about using of banned substances. [Full story from BBC]

The Athletix Survey
27.3.2005 Thanks to 135 friends who gave us few minutes we have now a more clear idea of what our readers want from the Athletics Site. Although about the one third of those replied come from Greece, a significant number of textual responses, mainly from friends living in Europe and the US, provide us with extremely useful proposals and recommendations... [View results]

Radcliffe defeated
26.3.2005Isabella Ochichi, the 2004 Olympic silver medallist at 5000 meters, defeated Paula Radcliffe at the Crescent City Classic 10 km today in New Orleans, clocking 30:27, the second fastest-ever performance on the roads.[Report by TrackProfile and Bob Ramsak]

Raymond Kipkoech and Zhou Chunxiu take wins in Xiamen Marathon
27.3.2005 Kenya’s Raymond Kipkoech and Zhou Chunxiu respectively won the men’s and women’s divisions of the third edition of the Xiamen Marathon in China yesterday.
Men: 1 Raymond Kipkoech KEN 2:09:49, 2 Shimelis Mola ETH 2:10:51, 3 Tekeste Kebede ETH 2:12:03
Women: 1 Zhou Chunxiu, 2:29:58, 2 Sun Weiwei, 2:31:11, 3 Zhang Shujing, 2:31:57

Radcliffe defeated
26.3.2005Isabella Ochichi, the 2004 Olympic silver medallist at 5000 meters, defeated Paula Radcliffe at the Crescent City Classic 10 km today in New Orleans, clocking 30:27, the second fastest-ever performance on the roads.[Report by TrackProfile and Bob Ramsak]

"... won't run again"
23.3.2005 The President of the Greek Federation Vasilios Sevastis stated the the careers of sprinters Kostas Kenteris and Katerina Thanou are over, as the damage to their commercial interests has already been done. Kenteris' lawyer Gregory Ioannidis replied that the Greek sprinter goes on his training program and he will be ready to compete again in the opening season. [Full story from BBC]

Despite world record, Clement still a hurdler
23.3.2005 Despite taking down a decade-old World record set by one of the giants of the sport, Kerron Clement isn’t letting that “minor” detail derail his plans to pursue his first love... [Bob Ramsak reports for the IAAF]

Athanasia in Portugal, Katerina in Qatar
21.3.2005 Athens' Olympic Champion Athanasia Tsoumeleka returned from South Africa, where she finished the first stage of her preparation for the new season and now plans to participate in the Walk Grand Prix Meeting to be held in Rio Maior, Portugal, on April 2nd.
Another Greek girl seems very impatient to start her international race. The 15-year-old pole vaulter, Ekaterini Stefanidi, who set a world all time youth best in February with 4.37m., wants to compete in the IAAF Super Grand Prix Meeting to be held in Doha, Qatar, on May 8th. For sure she is a brilliant prospect, but what an example for ...some older compatriots!

The decision spreads controversy
20.3.2005 The tribunal's decision on the Greek duo has been analysed by the Greek media, although under different point of views. From the expressions of relief to the hard title of the newspaper Eleutherotypia "The Law Science has been banned", all the comments underline that now is IAAF's turn to speak.
In spite of what the decision says, the case has not been yet finalised even in Greece. The pending trial, in the civil courts this time, will investigate all incidents of the August 12th, but, furthermore, could trigger the opening of a deep survey on doping, which not include only these two stars. Information about the probable involvement of Greeks (not necessarily Kenteris and Thanou) in BALCO's scandal, the delivery of the Laboratory products in the country, several media reports on the usage of banned substances even in gyms visited by thousands of people every day, the findings of the Police in Tzekos warehouses create a depressing picture of what really happens in the country. The future of the Greek athletics does not need perfunctory investigations, but in depth clearing up. [The decision and the reactions] [Report by TrackProfile and Bob Ramsak]

Bekele's double win in the World XC Champs
20.3.2005 The Kenenisa Bekele won both the short and long races of the World Cross Country Championships, where  Tirunesh Dibaba dominated the women's short race. [Results]

Cleared!
18.3.2005 The long expected decision of the 5-member tribunal on the "Kenteris-Thanou-Tzekos case" was announced in the afternoon. Both athletes has been surprisingly cleared for the acussation of avoiding the anti-doping control of August 12th, while their coach Christos Tzekos has been suspended for 4 years. The Council of the Greek Federation verified the decision, which will be sent to the IAAF tomorrow.
Last November, Kenteris and Thanou were charged by a Greek prosecutor with avoiding a doping test and faking the motorcycle accident. Tzekos was also charged with illegally importing and selling banned substances. That case is expected to come to trial in about a year. Reports by [BBC][CNN/SI]

Immediate reaction by the IAAF
18.3.2005 The IAAF reacted immediately with the following statement: "The IAAF notes the decision to suspend the coach Christos Tsekos for a period of four years but was surprised to learn that the sprinters Kostas Kenteris and Katerina Thanou have been cleared of charges that they tried to evade doping controls.
The IAAF is now looking forward to receiving full documentation in English about this decision, and this will be carefully considered by our Doping Review Board. The IAAF will then decide whether to accept or reject the decision, and in the latter case it reserves the right to appeal to the Court of Arbitration in Sport"

Kelesidou received the bronze medal of ... Edmonton World Champs
18.3.2005 More than three years after the World Championships held in Edmonton in 2001, the Greek Champion Anastasia Kelesidou notified that she has won the bronze medal, after the disqualification of Natalya Sadova. Sadova had been the winner of the Championships, but found positive after the competition. The corrected results are:
1 Zvereva Ellina BLR 67.10; 2 Grasu Nicoleta ROM 66.24; 3 Kelesidou Anastasia GRE 65.50 (SB); 4 Dietzsch Franka GER 65.38 (SB); 5 Sua Seilala USA 63.74; 6 Pospisilova Vera CZE 61.47; 7 Kuehl Kristin USA 61.04; 8 Mollenbeck Anja GER 60.49; 9 Yatchenko Irina BLR 59.45; 10 Li Qiumei CHN 57.81; 11 Rackova Vladimira CZE 56.43; Sadova Natalya RUS DQ

IAAF rejected any decrease of Ayhan's ban...
16.3.2005 According to some Greek media releases, the IAAF rejected the decrease of Sureyya Ayhan's 2-year ban, decided by the Turkish Athletics Authorities. Yesterday, Anatolia News Agency reported that the competition ban on Turkey's 1500m runner has been halved to one year. Ayhan-Kop, the 2002 European champion who was one of the favourites for the Olympic gold, was banned for two years in February after a drug-test violation before the 2004 Athens Games.
... while the Greeks are still waiting
Meanwhile, Kostas Kenteris and Katerina Thanou are set to find out if they have been banned on doping charges, probably before the end of the week. Kenteris' lawyer, Gregory Ioannidis, will hold a press conference in London when the decision is announced.

Greece returns to cross country championships
16.3.2005 Six years after the last appearance of Greek runners, Maria Protopapa (women's long race) and Michalis Gelasakis (men's short race) are going to Saint Etienne tomorrow, in order to participate in the World Cross Country Championships, to be held during weekend.

Smith 21.00m., Tikhon 80.79m. and Brkljacic 71.00m. best performers in Mersin
13.3.2005 Belarus' Ivan Tikhon and Croatia's Ivana Brkljacic set the best marks of the European Winter Throwing Challenge, held in Mersin, Turkey, where Rutger Smith was the winner of shot put with 21.00m.
Greece's Styliani Papadopoulou placed 12th in the women's hammer throw with 64.53m., while Eudokia Tsamoglou was 23rd with 59.34m. In the men's event Alexandros Papadimitriou was 7th with 74.94m.
Steffi Nerius sent the javelin to 61.01m and Natalya Sadova dominated the discus throw with 61.74m. Gerd Kanter set a championships record in the men's discus with 66.05m... Results

World Indoor record for Kerron Clement
13.3.2005 Kerron Clement broke Johnson's 400m. world record, running a 44.57 on the second and last day of the NCAA Indoor Championships.. Results

Results of the Rome Marathon
13.3.2005 Men: 1 Alberico Di Cecco ITA 2:08:02, 2 Philip Manyim KEN 2:08:07, 3 Daniel Yego KEN 2:08:16, 4 Ottaviano Andriani ITA 2:10:12, 5 Dawi Trfe Tefera ETH 2:11:02
Women: 1 Silviya Skvortsova RUS 2:28:01, 2 Tiziana Alagia ITA 2:31:46, 3 Assale Tafa Magarsa ETH 2:32:34, 4 Abeba Tola ETH 2:34:11, 5 Edyta Lewansowska POL 2:35:43

Nagoya Marathon results
13.3.2005 1 Yumiko Hara 2:24:19; 2 Megumi Oshima 2:24:25; 3 Ryoko Eda 2:24:54; 4 Yasuko Hashimoto 2:25:21; 5 Kiyomi Ogawa 2:26:02; 6 Chieko Yamasaki 2:27:22; 7 Yoko Shibui 2:27:40; 8 Takami Ominami 2:31:16; 9 Kaoru Nishi 2:32:39; 10 Monika Drybulska POL 2:33:14

Satisfaction by the youngsters in Madrid
8.3.2005 The performance of the young members of the Greek team in the European Indoor Championships was more than satisfied, as resulted by the press comments, as well as the statements made by the athletes themselves ....more

5 Greeks in the Winter Throwing Challenge
8.3.2005 Alexandros Papadimitriou starts the season once more from the Winter Throwing Challenge, as he does in the latest years. Papadimitriou will compete in Mersin, Turkey this weekend, along with four more Greek throwers: Michalis Stamatogiannis in the shot put, Eudokia Tsamoglou and Stella Papadopoulou in the women's hammer throw and Penelope Petrelli in the javelin throw

Stefan Holm, The Glory of the Sport
6.3.2005 Stefan Holm, the insuperable model of fighting, shone again. Holm, achieved a double personal best at 2.38m and 2.40m, exactly what he needed to overcome Rybakov's challenge. A proof that athletics means not only natural talents, but also heart, courage, willing and morality. The heart of the champion is the eternal example for the coming ages, what burnishes our sport and its perspective...results of the 3rd day

The Swedish twins on the top
6.3.2005 Kallur twin sisters climbed on the top of Europe, winning the 60mh final in Madrid. Susanna clocked a world leading 7.80, while Jenny got the silver medal with 7.99, in front of Germany Kirsten Blom. Iver Lalova dominated the 200m final with 22.91, while Tobias Unger won the men's final with 20.53. Gold medals for Russians in the 800m. with Dmitriy Bogdanov ad Larisa Czhiao, as well as in the triple jump with Victoria Gurova who jumped 14.74m. The 4X400m women's team of Russia won in a world leading 3:28.00. Roman Sebrle was the expected winner of the Heptathlon, while France pick-up two golds with Ladji Doucoure who clocked 7.50 and the 4X400m men's team. Poland's Lidia Chojeka was the faster in the 1500m with 8:43.76., while in the men's race Ivan Heshko survived the attack by the Spaniards to cross the line in a championships record of 3:36.70.

4.90m - World record for Isinbayeva
7.3.2005 Yelena Isinbayeva cleared 4.90m in Madrid to set the 13th world record in her career and get one more gold for Russia. The so desirable gold for Spain came just at the end of the championships. The former Cuban Joan Martinez landed to a world leading 8.37m to win the long jump, where the Greek Luis Tsatoumas ...achieved an unbelievable series of 6 fauls!

Pilatou gets the silver in the long jump
6.3.2005 Finally, Bianka Kappler puts an end to the case, declaring her decision not to accept the signle additional jump she was given by the European Association ""I don't want to jump today. From my point of view the last yesterday's jump is a valid performance and it does not make sense to repeat it today". The official announcement by the European Athletics Federation:
"The official results of the Women's Long Jump from the Saturday evening session were not made official until today because of a technical problem in measuring the final attempt of Bianca Kappler (GER).
The jump was originally measured at 6.96, but there was "no doubt" in the mind of the Jury of Appeals that it was not correct. The referee declared the attempt to be nullified, but there was no subsitute measurement available.
The Jury examined video evidence which showed Kappler's final jump to be in the range of the 6.59 of Adina Anton (ROM), and felt that it was proper to award an additional bronze medal to Kappler.
The competition was won by Naide Gomes (POR) with a national record 6.70, followed by the silver-medal performance of Stiliani Pilatou (GRE) at 6.64. Anton's 6.59 for the bronze will be recognized along with an unmeasured attempt by Kappler. Only one centimetre back of Anton, but officially in fifth place, was Ineta Radevica (LAT) with 6.58."

Stella Pilatou close to the silver
5.3.2005 According to an unprecedented decision following the objections raised by the other long jump finalists, Bianka Kappler's jump is considered as never attempted and the German athlete is given one more attempt on Sunday! The formal announcement of the European Association:
''Women's Long Jump final not finalised due to technical problems. The longest jump of 6.96 by Bianca Kappler (GER) has been determined to be mismeasured. She will be given a single jump tomorrow before the results are finalized. Without that attempt, Naide Gomes (POR) would be the winner in a national-record 6.70, with Stiliani Pilatou (GRE) taking the silver with 6.64. Former world junior champion Adina Anton (ROM) took the bronze with 6.59, just ahead of the 6.58 by Ineta Radevica (LAT)" ...Results of the 2nd day

Greek double on the 60m podium
5.3.2005 Geogia Kokloni got the silver medal of the 60m following Kim Geveart who was the winner of the race with 7.16 The 20-year-old Maria Karastamati was third with 7.25, while Kokloni clocked 7.18
Gold medals for Ireland's David Cillick in the 400m with 46.30, Russia's Igor Spasonkhodskiy with 17.20m in the triple jump, Igor Pavlov with 5.90 in the pole vault, Russia's Svetlana Pospelova who set a wolrd leading 50.41 in the women's 400m. and Romania's Yelena Iagar who also set a world leading mark of 4:03.09 in the 800m. Belarus' Nadzeya Astapcuk dominated the shot put with 19.37m.
Georgia Kokloni was born in Athens on May 7, 1981 and trains with Antonios Giannoulakis. In 2003 she won the 100m in the European Under 23 Championships, while in 2002 she got the bronze medal in the 60m of the European Indoor Championships held in Vienna. In 2001 she was 7th in the World Championships, participating in the 4X100m. national team and 5th in the European Under 21 Championships also in 4X100m relay. She has a personal best of 11.33 in the 100m, set in 2003.
Maria Karastamati was born on December 10, 1984. Actually in Madrid she has her first appearance in a major international championships, as in Athens’ Olympics she participated only in the preliminary round of the 4X100m relay. She has a personal best of 11.48 in the 100m and she is a member of Georgios Papagiotopoulos training team.

Pognon defeated by the British duo. Bronze for Stella Pilatou
5.3.2005 Jason Gardener won the men's 60m. with 6.55 in front of his compatriot Marc Lewis Francis, leaving just third France's Ronald Pognon who had set a new european indoor record two weeks ago.
Stella Pilatou won the third medal for Greece in Madrid. She jumped 6.64m., while Germany's Bianca Kappler set a world leading 6.96m in her last attempt and Portugal's Naide Gomes broke the national record with 6.70m. Alistair Cragg won the second gold for Ireland running the 3000m in 7:46.32, while Anna Chickerova dominated the high jump with 2.01m.
Stella Pilatou was born on March 28, 1980 and trains with Georgios Kokinos. In 2003 she was 6th in the World Indoor Championships, while in 2002 she placed 5th in the European Indoor Championships and 6th in the European Outdoor Championships. She has a personal outdoor best  of 6.75m, set in 2003.

Tsatoumas jumps 8.09m
5.3.2005 Luis Tsatoumas jumped 8.09m and made the standard for the long jump final in Madrid. Stergios Nousios was 15th with 7.79m., while Panayotis Sarris clocked 21.10 in the preliminary round and qualified for the 200m semifinals. Yulia Gushkina in the 200m and Chris Tomlinson in the long jump are the surprising failures in the morning session of the second day of the championships...Results of the 2nd day

Kluft wins the first gold of the Champs
4.3.2005 Georgia Carolina Kluft was the expected winner of the pentathlon, the only final of the first day of the European Indoor Championships. The Swedish Champion set a new championships record with 4.948p approaching the world record of the event (4.991 points)...Results of the 1st day

Kokloni 7.16 - Karastamati 7.19 in the 60m final
4.3.2005Georgia Kokloni was again the faster in the semifinals with 7.16 and qualified for the final winning the second race, while the 20-year-old Maria Karastamati set a personal best of 7.19 to dominate the first semifinal race. The Greek duo will run tomorrow for a medal in the final.
Pigi Devetzi, who interrupted the training just to participate in the chamiponships jumped only 13.92m and failed to qualify. The same for Irene Dimitraki and Athanasia Perra who jumped 13.85m and 13.72m respectively, a dissapointing performance for the Greek triple jump in Madrid.

Arron out of the championships
4.3.2005 Christine Arron, the favorite of the 60m is out of the European Indoor Championships as she abandoned the race in the first round, while the morning session of the first day is also marked by the diqualification of Phillips Idowe in the triple jump.
Greece's Georgia Kokloni was the faster qualifier of the 60m first round with a personal best of 7.14, while Maria Karastamati clocked 7.25 to qualify also for the semifinals. Good race for Euthimios Stergioulis who also made the 60m semifinals, while Stella Pilatou achieved a jump at 6.44m to make the final. The triple jumper Konstantinos Zalaggitis and the second woman in the long jump, Panayota Koutsioumari, failed to qualify for the final of their events...Results

Theodoridis withdraws. The Greek team in Madrid
2.3.2005 Finally, the lastest injury problems did not permit Georgios Theodoridis to compete in the European Championships, attemping one more medal in a major indoor competition. The rest of the team arrived today in Madrid with Pigi Devetzi and Luis Tsatoumas to be the mostly promising greek participants in these championships. [Our report on the Greek team written for the IAAF]

February 2005

Isinbayeva does it again. Arron runs in 7.10 in Lievin
26.2.2005 One more world record from Yelena Isinbayeva, who cleared 4.89m today in Lievin, where Christine Arron clocked 7.10 in the 60m, the best European mark this season. France's Ladji Doucoure won the 60mh in a national record of 6.43, the best world mark this year, while American Leonard Scott was the faster in the 60m in 6.46. Christine Arron was also the winner of the 200m with 22.69.
Meanwhile, in the US National Indoor Championships, John Godina set a world leading mark with 21.83m in the shot put. [Lievin Results][USA National Champs]

Beckford jumps 8.12m in Chemnitz
25.2.2005 James Backford won the long jump in the indoor meeting of Chemnitz with 8.12m, setting one among the better marks of the meeting. Other good performances were set by Austria's Elmar Lichtenegger, who dominated the 60mh in 6.54, Nigeria's Olusoji Fasuba who ran the 60m in a personal best of 6.51 and Sebastian Ernst, the winner of the 200m in 20.66. Jolanda Ceplak clocked 2:00.04 in the 800m...Results

The Greek team for the EuroChamps
24.2.2005 Ten men and twelve women, plus a 4X400m women's relay team will represent Greece in the European Indoor Championships, as announced today by the Greek Federation. Finally, Katerina Stefanidi will not compete but just attend the championships, a honorary offer by the Greek Federation
MEN: Eftimios Stergioulis and Georgios Theodoridis (60m), Stylianos Demotsios (400m), Anastasios Gousis and Panayotis Sarris (200m), Alexandros Theofanov (60mh), Konstantinos Filippidis (Pole Vault) Louis Tsatoumas and Stergios Nousios (Long Jump), Konstantinos Zalagitis (Triple Jump)
WOMEN: Georgia Kokloni and Maria Karastamati (60m), Maria Papadopoulou (800m), Konstantina Efentaki (1500m and 3000m), Flora Redoumi and Georgia Stogiannidou (60mh), Stella Pilatou and Panayota Koutsioumari (Long Jump), Pigi Devetzi, Athanasia Perra and Irene Dimitraki (Triple Jump), Maria Papageorgiou (High Jump), Georgia Koumnaki, Anna Moesiadou, Eleftheria Papadopoulou, Maria Papadopoulou and Eleni Filandra (4X400m) [Results from IAAF Permit meeting in Madrid]

Pigi Devetzi in the European Indoor Champs
23.2.2005 Two major surprises come from Pigi Devetzi, the triple jump silver medallist of the Olympic Games. Today it was announced that the Greek champion decided to stop her collaboration with her coach, Sofia Bakatsaki. Devetzi is going to work with Thanasis Sioundris, the coach of the most successful man triple jumper in the last years, Christos Meletoglou. Furthermore, Pigi Devetzi has the intention to compete in the European Indoor Championships in Madrid, although she hasn't participated in any meeting this year. She is going on training and feels she is in the appropriate shape for the major competition.
Meanwhile it was announced that Konstantina Efentaki participates in the 1500m in the IAAF Permit meeting to be held in Madrid tomorrow, while Dimitris Diamantaras will compete in Chemnitz on Friday.

4.37m.: World Youth Best by Katerina Stefanidi
20.2.2005 Katerina Stefanidi cleared 4.32m. and then 4.37m. to set a double all time world youth best, but also to equal the women's pole vault record for Greece and set the qualifying standard for the European Indoor Championships. World leading mark for Michelle Freeman in the 60mh with 7.94. Good marks for Nigeria's Fasuba Olusoji, 6.55 in the 60m. and Trecia Smith 14.49m in the triple jump, where Greece's Athanasia Pera and Irene Dimitraki set personal bests with 14.27m and 14.23m respectively and confirmed their participation in Madrid.
Katerina Stefanidi was born on February 3rd, 1990. She is a former gymnastics athlete and from the age of 12 has been involved in the pole vault. In 2003 she cleared 3.90m to reach the top of the world list, for 13-year-olds, while in 2004 became the best among the 14-year-old vaulters with 4.14m. From the beginning of this season tops the respective list of the 15-year-old girls, while the second all time best in this age class is 4.05m, by France's Amadine Homo. The previous all time youth best was set by Monica Goetz (4.31m.) in 1998, when the German athlete was 17 years old. [Our meeting report written for the IAAF][Full Results]

4.88m. world record for Isinbayeva
18.2.2005Yelena Isinbayeva broke again the world indoor record in Birmingham with a clearance at 4.88m. Impressing world leading mark 22.38 for Veronica Campbell in the 200m. and national record by Konstantina Efentaki in the 3000m with 8.53.95...Results

"Athina 2005" IAAF Permit meeting preview
17.2.2005 Just six months after the Olympic Games many Olympians return to Athens for the annual version of the IAAF Permit Meeting “Athina 2005”, to be held on Sunday in the Indoor Stadium of Peania, a suburb of Athens. [Our meeting preview written for the IAAF][Entries]

12th Indoor Balkan Games
16.2.2005 It was the second meeting in a row that Kostas Filippidis attempted for the world juniors indoor record in the pole vault. And today his vaults at 5.67m were much better than those on Sunday, but lost in details. "Next attempt in Madrid" said Filippidis after winning the competition, with only 3 attempts, the best at 5.50m.
Later, Katerina Stefanidi, 15, attempted for the world youth indoor record, at 4.35m. She didn't manage it and placed second with national juniors' and youth records at 4.25m.
Maria Karastamati, the 20-year-old Greek sprinter, clocked 7.24 to dominate easily the 60m dash race and verify her participation in the European Championships."I improve my technique from race to race. I'm going on and dreaming. For this year I want the participation in Madrid's final" she said after the race.
In the other events, Serbia's Dragutin Tobic cleared 2.31m. and Stella Pilatou improved her season's best to 6.62m to win the long jump. Good marks for Tania Koleva - Stefanova who cleared 4.50m, Georgi Gouset the winner of the shot put with 19.97m., Adelina Gavrila who jumped 14.33m in the triple jump and Bogdan Tarus who jumped 8.03m participating out of competition in the long jump....Results ["Athina 2005" IAAF permit, early entries]

Rybakov cleared 2.38m in Stockholm
15.2.2005 Yaroslav Rybakov impressed in the IAAF Permit meeting, held in Stockhom tonight, setting a world leading mark of 2.38m. to defeat Jaroslav Baba who was second with 2.34m. Maria Mutola ran the 800m in 1:59.48 and Olessya Krasnomovets the 400m in 51.63. Yuriy Borzhakovskiy dominated the 800m in 1:46.10 and Derek Milles cleared 5.81m to win the pole vault. [Results from Stockholm]

Minos Kiriakou is the new President of the National Olympic Committee
14.2.2005 A man of Athletics, Mr. Minos Kiriakou, member of the IAAF Council and Homorary President of the Greek Athletics Federation, is the new President of the Greek Olympic Committee. His candidature, strongly backed by both the main political parties of the country, was supported by 23 out of 26 representatives of sport federations.
Mr. Kiriakou has been identified with his continuous effort towards the upgrading of the country's athletics scene. President of the National Champion Club "Panhellinios GS" and owner of the bigger private television channel in Greece, he has achieved the revival of the main athletics meeting of the country and its evolution  to a prestigious Grand Prix meeting, contibuted to the extended publicity of the sport during the last years and provided top but also young athletes with incentives, in order to help their progress in athletics.

Ronald Pognon sets European Record in Karlsruhe
13.2.2005 France's Ronald Pognon won the 60m final in Karlsruhe in 6.45 to set a new European Record, breaking the previous mark of 6.46, set by Jason Gardener in 1999. More world leading marks by Daniel Komen Chipchirchir in the 1500m with 3:33.08, Mehdi Baala in the 1000m with 2.17.01, Stanislav Olijiars in the 60mh with 7.50, Jadel Gregorio who jumped 17.21m, Olessia Krasnomovets in the 400m with 51.26 and Lidia Chocheka in the 1500m with 4.04.84. Greece's Flora Redoumi opened the season with 8.08 in the heats and 8.15 in the final to take the 4th place, while Konstantina Efentaki placed 6th in the 1500m with 4.09.88 and Antonis Papantonis 4th in the 3000m with 8.14.58...Results

Kostas Filippidis ready for high vaults
13.2.2005 A  junior athlete, Kostas Filippidis, was the star of the second day of the Greek Indoor Championships. The Greek youngster won the pole vault with 5.55m and then attemped at 5.67m. for the juniors world indoor record. "I can make it in one of the coming meetings" stressed the young champion talking to the Greek television. "Kostas is able to break not only this record, but also the outdoor record next summer" added his coach, Dimitris Kytteas, the former Balkan pole vault champion.
In the other events Luis Tsatoumas jumped 7.98m to win the long jump and Athanassia Perra set a personal best of 14.01m in the triple jump. Panayotis Sarris clocked 21.23 in the 200m. ...Greek Indoor Champs, day 2
All time Greek Indoor Lists [Men][Women]

Isinbayeva vaults 4.87m in Donetsk
12.2.2005 Yelena Isinbayeva has won the Zepter Pole Vault Stars meeting in Donetsk with the World indoor record of 4.87m. Anna Rogowska of Poland set the national record of 4.75m and placed second, while Derek Miles won the men's event with 5.85m [Bob Ramsak reports for the IAAF]

Zalagitis sets a triple jump national record with 16.95m. Kokloni 7.21, Pilatou 6.58m
12.2.2005 Konstnantinos Zalagitis, the outdoor national record holder, returned after 2 years of injury problems and set a national indoor record jumping 16.95m on the first day of the Greek Indoor Champs. Georgia Kokloni was the expected winner of the 60m with 7.21, while the new blood of the country's sprint, Maria Karastamati set a personal best of 7.26 to take the second place. Both are expected to run faster in the coming days and participate in Madrid's final.
In the other events, Stella Pilatou won the long jump with 6.58m, followed by Panayota Koutsioumari and Ioanna Kafetzi, both at 6.40m., while Georgia Koumnaki clocked 54.22 in the 400m. Personal bests for Georgia Stoyannidou, winner of the 60mh in 8.16 and Alexandros Theofanov who dominated the men's race with 7.80. Michalis Papaioannou was the winner of the heptathlon with 4.990 points. Results from [Fayetteville][Russian Championships]. Outdoor results from [Bloemfontein]

The Greek Federation bid for the World Cup 2006
12.2.2005 The Greek Federation submitted yesterday the candidature of Athens for the World Cup in Athletics 2006. The games start on September 2 and last three days.

Next week the decision over the sprinters' future
12.2.2005 The five-member tribunal currently investigating the doping scandal which shocked Greece on the eve of the Olympic Games, is expected to announce its ruling at the end of next week

Merritt and Lagat shown in Fayetteville
11.2.2005 LaShawn Merritt, 18, became the second-fastest indoor 400m runner in history, after Michael Johnson, with a winning time of 44.93. yesterday in Fayetteville. Kenya’s World Indoor 3000m champion Bernard Lagat was close to the World Indoor Mile record with a 3:49.89 clocking, while Allen Johnson with 7.51 and Veronica Campbell with 7.09 set world leading marks in the 60m hurdles and 60m dash respectively. Results from [Fayetteville][Russian Championships]

No limits for Stefanidi
11.2.2005 Katerina Stefanidi broke once more the juniors' and U18 records for Greece, in a meeting held in Pireaus. Stefanidi cleared 4.20m to impress once more, breaking again not only the national records but also the world all time best for 15-year-old vaulters. After the record, Stefanidi attempted at 4.32m without success.

Maria Panti wins the pentathlon Championships. Theodoridis starts from the Balkan Games
11.2.2005 A 21-year-old athlete, Alena Maria Panti, won the pentathlon competition in the first day of the Greek Combined Events Championships, with 4.171 points. Panayota Alexandrou placed second with 4.096 points, while Chrisoula Spanou, 18, was third with 3.391 p. After the events of the 1st day, Michalis Papaioannou is on the top of the heptathlon with 2.707 points.
George Theodoridis, the bronze medallist of the World Indoor Championships last year, opens the season in Wednesday participating in the Balkan Games. Meanwhile, the sprints and the horizontal jumps of the Greek National Championships attrack the eyes of the athletics friends. Tomorrow Georgia Kokloni and the rapidly rising star Maria Karastamati, 20, promise a fast 60m final, while Luis Tsatoumas targets another record in the long jump. In the women's event Stella Pilatou, Panayota Koutsioumari and Ioanna Kafetzi attempt for the Madrid's standard. [Results from Russian Championships]

The Greek National Championships start tomorrow. Cantwell and Heshko in "Athina 2005"
10.2.2005The 2005 National Combined Events Championships start tomorrow in Peania with the participation of 41 men and women. Many Greek top athletes have already confirmed their participation in the National Indoor championships, which will be held during weekend in the same stadium, targetting the standards for Madrid.
Bulgaria's Federation confirmed the participation of enough country's stars in the Balkan Championships, scheduled for Wednesday. Among them Tania Stefanova, Atanas Rusenov, Ilia Evremov, Venelina Veneva and Antonija Yordanova are included.
Meawhile, USA's Christian Cantwell in the Shot Put, Ukraine's Ivan Heshko in the 1500m and Viktor Kuznechov in the long jump and Kenya's Winfred Bungei also for the 1500m, are among the early entries for "Athina 2005" IAAF Permit meeting (Sunday 22).

WADA again in Athens
9.2.2005 Four Greeks were tested yesterday by the WADA in Athens training center: Chrisopigi Devetzi, Mirela Manjani, Periklis Iakovakis and Christos Meletoglou provided the requested samples without any problem.

Baba wins again
9.2.2005 (From Alonz Juck) After the withdrwal of the Olympic Champion Stefan Holm, Czech's Jaroslav Baba was the expected winner in Banska Bystrica High Jump Meeting. "It was nice, the atmosphere very good. Maybe I was too tired at the end, but I think sooner or later I will do this height," said Baba. Czechs dominated the event as Svatoslav Ton bettered his indoor PB to 2.31m and was second. "Great competition, but I think I can go higher,"said Ton, who after two misses at 2.33m tried for once also 2.35m. Andrey Sokolovskiy from Ukraine had also close attempts at 2.33m and finished third. One of the surprises of the evening was the british jumper Ben Challenger.
Results: 1. Jaroslav Baba, CZE 233 (220/1, 225/1, 231/2, 233/1, 238/xxx), 2. Svatoslav Ton, CZE 231 (215/1, 220/1, 225/1, 229/1, 231/1, 233/xx, 235/x), 3. Andriy Sokolovskiy ,UKR 229 (220/1, 225/1, 229/2, 233/xxx), 4t. Andrea Bettinelli, ITA and Jamie Nieto, USA 227, 6. Ben Challenger, GBR 225, 7. Nicola Ciotti, ITA 225, 8t. Giulio Ciotti,ITA and Jan Janku, CZE 220, 10. Laszlo Boros, HUN 220, 11.Vladimir Kisil, RUS 220, 12. Artoym Zaytsev,BLR 220, 13t. Peter Horak and Marko Alekseyev, EST 215, 15. Sergey Ivanov, BLR 215, 16. Thomas Bipella, SWE 215

Greek athletes target the standards
8.2.2005 Three meetings, within a 10-day period, are an excellent challenge for the Greeks who wish to participate in the European Indoor Championships next month. The National Championships will be held next weekend (February 12-13) in Peania, where on Wednesday 16 the Balkan Indoor Games will take place. Finally, on Sunday 20, the IAAF Permit "Athina 2005" gives the country's stars an opportunity to face with some of the best world athletes this season and increase their possibilities for a distincion in Madrid.
This season, there are already some athletes who have shown a significant potential. The long jumper Luis Tsatoumas, currently 2nd European, as well as the 1500m runner, Konstantina Efentaki (3rd European in this event) are the athletes who have already produced national records for their events.
Along with them, a woman sprinter, Georgia Kokloni, bronze medallist of the last European Indoor Championships, who is already 4th in the respective European list and Kostas Philippidis, the second all time European junior vaulter, are athletes who want to improve their performances even more, in order to be ready for the top european event of the indoor season.
There is no doubt that more men and women could join the previous mentioned, most of the new country's generation. The shot putter Michalis Stamatogiannis, the jumpers Irene Dimitraki and Ioanna Kafetzi are just few names among those expected to be the stars of the coming days in the Peania Indoor Stadium.

Arron runs faster than Gevaert
6.2.2005 Christine Arron ran a world leading 7.14 in the IAAF Permit meeting, held today in Ghent, to cross the line in front of Belgium's champion Kim Gevaert who clocked 7.19. Both will be the main contenders for the gold of the European Indoor Championships next month.
Daniel Chipchirchir Komen also clocked a world leading 3:35.61, dominating the 1500m race, while France's Ronald Pognon ran the faster 60m in this season with 6.51.
In Leipzig, Jason Gardener clocked 6.56 in the 60m and David Canal won the 400m in 47.16 Results from: [Ghent][Leipzig]

Satoshi Irifune wins Beppu-Oita Marathon in 2:09.58
6.2.2005 1 Satoshi Irifune JPN 2:09:58; 2 Scott Westcott AUS 2:11:36; 3 Yoshiteru Morishita JPN 2:11:48; 4 Tomonori Onitsuka JPN 2:12:48; 5 Sisay Bezabeh AUS 2:13:14; 6 Masaki Iwahara JPN 2:13:16; 7 Tadayuki Ojima JPN 2:13:26; 8 Kazutaka Enoki JPN 2:13:34; 9 Lahoussine Mrikik MAR 2:14:18; 10 Adam Dobrzunski POL  2:14:45

Rybakov, Baba and Chickerova set world leading marks in Arnstadt
5.2.2005 Jaroslav Rybakov and Jaroslav Baba cleared 2.37m in Arnstadt, while Anna Chicherova dominated the women's competition with 2.00m.

World leading mark 7.54 from Wignall. Ceplak clocked 2.00.62
4.2.2005 Jolanda Ceplak clocked 2:00.62 in the 800m, one among the better marks set tonight in Erfurt.Germany's Kirsten Blom won the 60mh in 8.01, while James Beckford jumped 8.01m in the long jump. Jamaica's Maurice Wignall won the men's 60m hurdles in a world leading 7.54...Results

Libor Charfreitag sets european all time best in Weight Throw
4.2.2005 (from Alfonz Juck) Slovakian hammer national record holder and seventh placer in Athens' Olympics, Libor Charfreitag, who lives and trains in Dallas, Texas is in shape of his life. At United Heritage Invitational in Nampa, Idaho he achieved on Friday new European Indoor best in Weight throw twice. In first series with 25,25 m bettered his own mark since february 2003 (also in Nampa) by 22 cm, in fifth throw he managed even 3 centimetres more to 25.28 m. Only Lance Deal had ever three better throws at US Nationals 1995 and 1996 in Atlanta (25.86, 25.48 and 25.29). Charfreitag had a fine series with three throws over 25 metres: 25.25 – 25.18 – 24.84 – 24.74 – 25.28 – f. In the history of 25 m throws – they are 10 after Friday, 6 belong to Deal and 4 to Slovakian thrower. "I must admit I was thinking about 26 metres. I missed more pressure from other throwers, they were far behind. The series are very nice, I´m also now feeling healthy in comparison to last weekend when I made in Lubbock 24,64 but was not feeling good. That is was also a reason for my hope for a even better result. Already in warm-up my throws were flying over 25 metres. I was confident with my shape because even technically bad throws were long. If one would be nearly to ideal I would be over 26 metres,“ said Charfreitag after the competition. He is thinking about next meeting in two weeks time in Princeton, New Jersey.

Kluft jumps 6.84m in Gothenburg
4.2.2005 Sweden's Karolina Kluft jumped 6.84m in the "EuroJump" meeting held yesterday in Gothenburg. Jaroslav Rybakov cleared 2.35m and Jenny Kallur clocked 7.28 in the 60m....Results

Holm vs Baba vs Nieto in Banska Bystrica
3.2.2005 (from Alfonz Juck)  The 12th annual High Jump meeting with music in Banska Bystrica, scheduled for February 8, will be again a combination of top world stars and new but upcoming jumpers. After Saturday in Arnstadt (Germany), Sweden's Olympic Champion, Stefan Holm, will meet again the Czech World Leader Jaroslav Baba. Jamie Nieto, America's top jumper last year, will join them after competing on Friday at Millrose Games in New York. Holm is returning for third time to Banska, having won there in the last two years (with 234 cm).  "I love to come back to Banska Bystrica, I have a mission there,“ said Holm, who is very popular in this middle Slovakian city.
Nieto will compete in Banska Bystrica for first time, although he was there last September for the outdoor meeting. Romanian jumper Sorin Matei, holds the meeting record (236 in 1995), which seems to be in danger.
Provisional start list: Vladimir KISIL, RUS, Nikolaos GIOSSIS, GRE, Thomas BIPELLA, SWE, Sergey IVANOV, BLR, Peter HORAK, SVK, Artyom ZAYTSEV, BLR, Laszlo BOROS, HUN, Marko ALEKSEYEV, EST, Giulio CIOTTI, ITA, Jan JANKU, CZE, Nicola CIOTTI, ITA, Svatoslav TON, CZE, Andrea BETTINELLI, ITA, Jamie NIETO, USA, Jaroslav BABA, CZE, Stefan HOLM, SWE

And now the ... DMT
1.2.2005 The World-Anti Doping Agency (Wada) has discovered a second ''designer steroid'' in the wake of the ongoing THG scandal. A sample of the new steroid has been seized by Canadian customs officers at the border with the USA.
Wada says the drug has been developed specifically for use by athletes. ''This is the second designer steroid we have found,'' said Wada's Olivier Rabin on Tuesday. ''We believe this was created purely for doping in sport.'' The new steroid was created in a laboratory and would have a similar impact to testosterone if used, increasing strength, muscle bulk and stamina.

January 2005

Dibaba breaks 5000m world record
29.1.2005 Ethiopia's' Tirunesh Dibaba set a 5000m world record of 14.32.93 in Boston.Kenenisa Bekele was defeated in the 300m race by American Alistair Cragg, while Jason Smoots clocked a wolrd leading 6.53 in the 60m.[Results from Boston][Results & report from Ostrava, by Alfonz Juck]

Tsatoumas 8.15m - Filippidis 5.61m - Stefanidi 4.15 m., set national records. Kokloni clocked a world leading 7.18
29.1.2005 The second indoor meeting in Peania, Athens, brought an impressing long jump national record for Greece, set by Luis Tsatoumas, who jumped 8.15 m. in his first attempt.
Georgia Kokloni, the bronze medalist of the European Indoor Championships 2002, clocked 7.18 in the 60m, approaching her personal best, while Katerina Stefanidi cleared 4.15 to break again the juniors and U18 pole vault records for Greece. Cyprus's Anna Fitidou was the pole vault winner, with 4.40m, improving 4 times her own national record.
One more juniors' record for Konstantinos Filippidis who cleared 5.61m and attempted unsuccessfully at 5.71m. Filippidis new mark is also better than the national outdoor juniors record, while it is the second all time indoor performance by a junior athlete in Europe....Results

Greek spinters attend hearing
29.1.2005 The Greek sprinters Kostas Kenteris and Katerina Thanou attended a hearing Saturday and Sunday, concerning accusations they intentionally missed a drug test before the Athens Olympics. The five-member tribunal is expected to announce its ruling at around mid February. The sprinters could face a ban of up to two years if found guilty.

Seven world leading marks in Stuttgart. National record for Efentaki
29.1.2005 As expected the IAAF permit meeting held tonight in Stuittgart brought significant changes in the season's lists, as seven athletes set world leading performances: Okken 1.46.27 in the 800m, McIlroy 2:12.49 in the 1000m., Heshko 3:37.40 in the 1500m, Jawher 7.43.30 in the 3000m, Yeremenko 5.84m in the pole vault, Adere 8.37.91 in the women's 3000m, Chizhenko 4.07.68 in the 1500m. Greece's Konstantina Efentaki smashed the 1500m national record for Greece, taking the 3rd place with 4.08.73...Results

Russians set a 4X200m all time best in Glascow
29.1.2005 A Russian 4X200m women's team, set an all time world best today in Glascow, running a 1:32.41. Jason Gaardener won the 60m with 6.63m, while Olesya Krasnomovets clocked 52.02 in the 400m and Larisa Chzhao 2:02.56 in the 800m. Kelly Holmes won the 1500m with 4:14.74 in front of Dehiba and Cherkasova and Stefan Holm was defeated by Russia's Aleksey Dmitrik who cleared 2.34m....Results

Rogowska vaults 4.73m. in Bydgoszcz. Torra Harris wins in Trinec
23.1.2005 Poland’s Olympic women’s Pole Vault silver medallist Anna Rogowska leapt to a national record and world season lead of 4.73m at the Elite Café Cup meet in Bydgoszcz, Poland, last night. Pyrek, the former World indoor and outdoor bronze medallist, and Feofanova, the reigning World outdoor champion, were tied for second place with first time jumps at 4.53m, while Russia’s Tatyana Polnova was in fourth thanks to a second attempt vault at that same height.
Meanwhile, US jumper Tora Harris, was the surprising winner of the second leg of Moravia High Jump Tour, held in Trinec, Czech Republic. [Results and report from Trinec, by Alfonz Juck]

Baba clears 2.35m in Hustopece
23.1.2005 Jaroslav Baba set a world leading 2.35m in the high jump meeting held in Hustopece, Czech Republic. Olga Kaliturina won the women's competition with 1.95m. [Results and report by Alfonz Juck]

Fast 800m races at the "Russian Winter"
23.1.2005 Larisa Chzhao led the fast women's 800m of the "Russian Winter" IAAF Permit Meeting, crossing the line in 1:57.53 and defeating Irina Vashentsheva who was also under 2 minutes. Anna Pyatykh jumped 6.57m to dominate the long jump, while Tatiana Polnova cleared 4.40m to win the pole vault. Borzhakovskyi was the winner of the men's 800m in 1.48.02 and Cuba's Freddy Mayola was the faster in the 60m with a mark of 6.56. Anna Chickerova cleared 1.96m, Irina Shevchenko clocked 7.97 in the 60m hurdles, while Dmitriy Valjukevich was on the top of the triple jump competition with 17.11m....Results

Double record for Stefanidi. Good long jumps in the season's opening meeting
22.1.2005 Katerina Stefanidi, the 15-year-old pole vaulter goes on breaking records. Today, she cleared 4.10m. to break both Juniors' and Under 18 records for Greece, in the first indoor meeting for this season, held in Peania. The young girl has a personal best of 4.14m from last season, the all time world best among 15-year-olds athletes in the women pole vault.
Good mark for Panayota Koutsioumari, the winner of the long jump with 6.48m. Alexandra Komnou clocked 8.41 in the 60m hurdles, while Georgia Kokloni won the 60m in 7.48. Marios Tsalabounis, 20, won the men's 60m in 6.78 and Stergios Noussios dominated the men's long jump with 7.83m.
Meanwhile, Maria Papageorgiou cleared 1.86m in the indoor meeting held in Thessaloniki, where Chrisoula Makri set a pole vault personal best with 3.90m.
In Dessau, Germany, Ukraine's Ruslan Yeremenko cleared 5.70m and Switzerland's Corine Muller won the high jump with 1.87m. Greece's Soultana Papasotiriou placed 4th with 1.78m [Results from Peania] [Results from Dessau] [Results from Perth outdoor meeting]

Sokolovskiy 2.33m, Pyrek 4.50m
21.1.2005 Andrey Sokolovskiy opened the season with 2.33m in Wuppertal, where Monica Pyrek won the pole vault with 4.50m.

Houston Marathon results
15.1.2005 David Cheruiyot and Kelly Keane were the winners in the Houston Marathon. Good run for both Greek runners. Magdalene Karimali was 5th in the women's race with 2:45.29, while Ioannis Maris was 13th in the men's classification with 2:35.11
MEN: 1 David Cheruiyot 2:14:50; 2 Andrej Naumov 2:15:16; 3 Marek Jaroszewski 2:15:34; 4. Dmitry Burmakin 2:22:13; 3 Tesfaye Eticha 2:24:57
WOMEN: 1 Kelly Keane 2:32:27; 2 Wioletta Kryza 2:35:25; 3 Kay Ulrich 2:39:08; 4 Maria Portilla 2:40:59; 5 Magdalene Karimali 2:45:29

The scene opens in Greece next weekend. Greek stars in South Africa.
14.1.2005 Both indoor stadiums in the greater area of Athens, those of Pireaus and Peania, will be available next weekend for the Greek athletes. On Saturday 22 a meeting for junior athletes will be held in Pireaus, while on Sunday, men and women have the possibility to participate in the meeting to be organised by the Greek Federation in Peania.
Meanwhile, in the coming days the indoor stadium in Thessaloniki will also be available to the athletics events, after the latest settlement of the ground.
Three top Greek athletes, who plan not to compete in the indoor season, the Olympic Champions Fani Chalkia and Athanassia Tsoumeleka, as well as Paris' bronze medallist Periklis Iakovakis, moved to South Africa, where they have started their preparation for the new season.

Filandarakis sets juniors' record for Greece
8.1.2005 The indoor season for Greece opened with a 60mh juniors' record of 7.92, set by Nikos Filandarakis today in Ierapetra. Many Greek Champions plan to start the season next weekend, when the first season's meeting will be held in the indoor stadium in Peania.

Christmas Cup, results
7.1.2005 The 800m Olympic Champion, Yuriy Borzhakovskiy opened the indoor season today in Yekaterinburg, running the 1000m in 2:21.46, where Olga Chicherova cleared 1.92m to win the high jump. In Moscow, Yulia Pechyonkina won the 300m in 37.09 and Lyudmila Kolchanova the long jump with 6.47m.

Standard Chartered Dubai Marathon, results
7.1.2005 Men 1 Dejene Guta ETH 2:10:49; 2 Willy Cheruyiot KEN 2:11:24; 3 Giday Amha ETH 2:11:26; 4  Johnstone Kipkoror KEN 2:11:28; 5 Augustus Kavutu KEN 2:11:39; 6 Joseph Mutunga KEN 2:11:53; 7 Geb Gebremariam ETH 2:12:01; 8 Joseph Kadon KEN 2:12:07
Women1 Diribe Hunde ETH 2:39:08; 2 Delia Asiago KEN 2:39:13; 3 Larisa Malikova RUS 2:40:27; 4 Yihunelesh Bekela ETH 2:43:10; 5 Selomie Getnet ETH 2:43:37

Olsson and Holmes won the Crystal Trophy 2004
6.1.2005 Swedish triple jumper Christian Olsson and British middle distance runner Kelly Holmes have won the "Waterford Crystal European Athlete of the Year Trophy 2004". Olsson topped the European Athletic Association's internet poll for the second year in a row. Double Olympic Champion Holmes follows the footsteps of Svetlana Masterkova (RUS), who in 1996 also won the 800m and 1500m and was then named European Athlete of the Year.
MEN: 1 Olsson Christian SWE, 2 Holm Stefan SWE, 3 Sebrle Roman CZE, 4 Korzeniowski Robert POL, 5 Baldini Stefano ITA, 6 Borzakovskiy Yuriy RUS, 7 Obikwelu Francis POR, 8 Olsen Joachim DEN, 9 Thorkildsen Andreas NOR, 10 Alekna Virgilijus LTU
WOMEN: 1 Holmes Kelly GBR, 2 Isinbayeva Yelena RUS, 3 Klüft Carolina SWE, 4 Lebedeva Tatyana RUS, 5 Slesarenko Yelena RUS, 6 Halkia Fani GRE, 7 Nerius Steffi GER, 8 Radcliffe Paula GBR, 9 Feofanova Svetlana RUS, 10 Abeylegesse Elvan TUR