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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 typicall