Bolt shines again in Zurich
30.08.2008 Jamaica's triple Olympic Champion Usain Bolt clocked 9.83 in Zurich Golden League meeting, where Kenya's Pamela Jelimo broke again the 800m juniors world record with 1.54.01.
Jelimo attempted to break also the 25-year-old women's record of Czech Jarmila Cratoshvilova [results by the IAAF].
In the national scene, SEGAS announced the interruption of any collaboration of the coach Georgios Panayotopoulos, while the 400m national record holder Dimitrios Regas was banned for two years after returning a positive test to M3.
Read also: "Separation of Power", a serious article by Conway Hill and Hellenicathletes.com on doping problem

Thank you Pigi, you re our reason to be proud
17.08.2008 Chrysopigi Devetzi fully justified the admire and respect she has won in the last years getting the bronze medal in the triple jump final in Beijing. Devetzi, who was second in Athens Olympics and also second in Osaka's World Championships proved again the most reliable Greek athlete of the last years. Tonight she improved her season's best to 15.23m to get the bronze, while Cameroon's Francois Mbango won again the gold with 15.39m. The Athens Olympic Champion reappeared this season after four years to defend successfully her crown. Russia's Tatyana Lebedeva won the silver medal.
Devetzi's achievement comes two days after the collapse of one more national hero: Athens Olympic Champion Fani Chalkia was tested positive... The Greek officers have no comment on this, althought  today SEGAS expressed sorrow and declared its avalability to support more intense anti-doping measures by the government.....
Let's see when all these persons, from the political and the athletics authorities, are going to actively apologize for our national abasement....

Let's enjoy the Games
12.08.2008 The magnificent opening ceremony and the impressing performances by Chinese and Americans in the first days of the Games attract the eyes of millions worldwide. The was in the frontiers of Europe, the situation of the human rights in China, the occupation of Thibet, but also the new drugs incidents are not ale to shadow the biggest sports and cultural event…

In Greece we face with the same problem once more. The best European 200m runner last year, Tasos Gousis was this time the athlete who destroyed the joy of the Games. At the same time some of the biggest Russian women runners are not allowed to compete in Beijing accused of using banned substances. Every day more names from different countries. At least names of those found, based on the current technical possibilities of the anti-doping international agencies…

This war should never stop, but be continued and expanded to all possible ways: the bigs and the smalls, the strongs and those politically powerless. Probably some of the Beijing Champions will be known enough later, probably after some years…

Thanou won’t compete too. The IOC decision probably lacks of legislative justification. But who doubts that is morally documented? When you want to do something for your country, first you should not make your people feeling so insulted.

Sometimes the silence, even the disappearance is much better for the defamed one

Athletics start at the end of the week. Some reigning Olympic champions won’t be there. Some others are trying to defend their medals and maybe more new names will enter the scene. No precaution, no suspect can reduce the enthusiasm of watching an athletics competition. Let’s enjoy the Games, even been precautious. Or maybe precaution is the best way to enjoy them in depth.

Fani Chalkia goes to Beijing
28.07.2008 The 400mh Olympic Champion Fani Chalkia is the last addition to the team which is going to represent Greek Athletics in Beijing, the National Athletics Federation decided yestarday.
[Greek National U23 Chaps:Results]

The Greek team for Beijing
22.07.2008 The Greek Athletics Federation sumbitted to the National Olympic Committee the following proposal for the team who is going to represent Greek athletics in the Olympic Games 2008
MEN: Anastasios Gousis (200m), Kostas Douvalidis (110mh), Periklis Iakovakis (400mh), Louis Tsatoumas (LJ), Kostas Baniotis (HJ), Dimitrios Tsiamis (TJ), Michalis Stamatogiannis (SP), Ioannis Smalios (JT), Alexandros Papadimitriou (HT), Kostas Stefanopoulos (50Km walk), Pantelis Melahrinoudis, Dimitrios Gravalos, Kostas Athanasiou, Georgios Doupis, Stelios Dimotsios (4X400m)
WOMEN: Ekaterini Thanou (100m), Dimitra Dova (400m), Flora Redoumi (110mh), Irene Kokinariou (3000m steeple), Konstantina Efentaki (1500m), Eleni Donta (Marathon), Antonia Stergiou (HJ), Afroditi Skafida (PV), Nikoletta Kyriakopoulou (PV), Chrysopig Devetzi (TJ), Athanasia Perra (TJ), Irene Terzoglou (SP), Dorothea Kalpakidou (DT), Savva Lika (JT), Styliani Papadopoulou (HT), Alexandra Papageorgiou (HT), Argyro Strataki (Heptathlon), Athanasia Tsoumeleka (20Km walk), Evangelia Xynou (20Km walk), Despina Zapounidou (20Km walk)

72.10m: Stella Papadopoulou sets hammer throw national record in Nikiti
19.07.2008 Two Less than 24 hours after her winning participation in the Balkan Championships, Stella Papadopoulou broke the women's hammer throw national record for Greece with 72.10m in "Sithonia 2008" Throwing Meeting held in Nikiti. Meanwhile, on the second day of the Balkan juniors Champs, in Prusa, Turkey, Maria Belibasaki broke the 200m U18 record with 24.10 [Sithonia 2008, results][Balkan Championships in Argos Orestiko]

Balkan Championships in Argos Orestiko, Greece
19.07.2008 Two more Greek athletes set the high standards for the Olympics during the first day of the Balkan Championships started on Saturday in Argos Orestiko, Greece. In the pole vault Nikoletta Kyriakopoulou cleared 4.45m, while in the women's hammer Alexandra Papageorgiou had an out of competition throw at 70.38m. Styliani Papadopoulou exceeded once more the 70m winning the event with 70.38m [Results]

Usain Bolt clocks area record 19.67. Robles runs 13.04, Tsatoumas jumps 8.44m in Athens Grand Prix
12.07.2008 Once more the Athens Grand Prix "Tsiklitiria" gathered the best athletes of the world who provided outstanding performances in the Olympic Stadium of the Greek Capital. Usain Bolt set a new200m area record with 19.67, while Dayron Robles set an new meeting record in the 110mh with 13.04. Stefan Holm set world leading 2.37m. in the high jump, Luis Tsatoumas jumped an impressing 8.44m for the third position of the world season's list, while Irene Kokinariou was amazing in the women's steeplechase race smashing the national record with 9.30.72 [Results][Our report written for the IAAF]

Stefanidi wins bronze in Bydgoszcz. Isinbayeva clears 5.03m in Rome
11.07.2008 The former world youth record holder of the pole vault Ekaterini Stefanidi won the bronze medal of the World Juniors Championships, the second for the Greek team in Bydgoszcz.
Meanwhile, Elena Isinbayeva improved her own world record of the event to 5.03m in the Golden Gala held tonigh in Rome.[Results][Pole Vault WR progression]

Athens Grand Prix "Tsiklitiria 2008"
11.07.2008 Four world record holders, among whose Usain Bolt and Dayron Robles, the world leader of the most events of the meeting schedule have signed for the Athens Grand Prix "Tsiklitiria 2008" the most prestigious international meeting annually held in Greece (13 July).
[Entries][Our preview written for the IAAF]

Paraskevi Papahristou wins bronze in the World Juniors Championships
10.07.2008 Greece won the bronze medal of the women's triple jump of the World Juniors Championships with Paraskevi Papahristou who jumped 13.73m. It's the sixth medal for Greece in the history of the world indoor championships [Full results by the IAAF]

Devetzi flies to 15.22m in Thessaloniki
09.07.2008 A world leading mark at 15.22m by Chrysopigi Devetzi, after an amazing competition she had with the world champion Yargelis Savigne who jumped 15.15m, a wind assisted 10.85m by Veronica Campbell, an also assisted jump at 8.36m from Luis Tsatoumas and the leap over 2.32m by Stefan Holm were the main highlights of the EAA Premium meeting "Thessaloniki 2008" held today. [Results][Our preport written for the IAAF]

Sprinters and jumpers look set to highlight in Thessaloniki
08.07.2008 Fast sprinters, and an impressive women’s triple jump are at the centre of a quality programme at the “Olympic Meeting” to be held in Thessaloniki on Wednesday 9 July.
The Olympic Meeting Thessaloniki is one of a select group of Area meetings at which points can be acquired by athletes to qualify for the IAAF / VTB Bank World Athletics Final, to be held on 13-14 September in Stuttgart, Germany.
Thessaloniki 2008 (9th July): [Entries/Results][Our preview written for the IAAF]

Robles sets for Athens Grand Prix. Devetzi, Iakovakis, Tsatoumas nominated for the European Athlete of the Month Award
03.07.2008 After the confirmation received by Usain Bolt, one more world record holder participates in Athens Grand Prix. Cuba's Dayron Robles, who as Bolt did, improved the world record of his event earlier in the season will race in the fast track of Athens' Olympic Stadium. Furthermore, it is declared that Bolt goes to Athens to participate in the 200m race, where he also expects a great performance.
Meanwhile, three Greek Athetes who managed significant performances in June are among the nominees for the European Athlete of the Month Award: Periklis Iakovakis in the 400mh, Louis Tsatoumas in the Long Jump and Chrysopigi Devetzi in the Tripl Jump [Click here to vote]

Usain Bolt in Athens Grand Prix
1.07.2008 Jamaica's 100m world record holder Usain Bolt is going to participate in Athens Grand Prix Meeting "Tsiklitiria 2008" to be held on July 13th.[Results from Tofaleia 2008, in Patra]

June 2008

Great Britain and Russia win the last European Cup
22.06.2008 The The men's team of Great Britain won the last European Cup, as from next year a new institution will replace the former Bruno Zauli Cup. Russia won in women for 13th consecutive year.
In the first league the women of Greece won the group of Istanbul, managing wins with Fani Chalkia in the 200m and the 4X400m relay team. [Superleague, Annecy][First League, Istanbul][First League, Leiria]
Meanwhile, in the Greek Juniors Championships thee national records were broken by Andriana Fatala (hammer throw), Antonios Mastoras (high jump) and Georgios tremos (discus throw) [Results]

Tsatoumas (8.17m) and Iakovakis (49.14) winners in Annecy
21.06.2008 The Greek men's team acieved both expected wins on the first day of the European Cup Superleague, with Louis Tsatoumas who jumped 8.17m and Periklis Iakovakis who clocked 49.15 in the 400mh. These wins were not enough to secure something better than the last position in the 1st days cliassification. Great Britain leads the scorebord with 55 points, followed by Poland, while women's of Russia are on the top of the women's classification.
In the second group of the 1st League, held in istanbul, Greek women achieved wins with Chrysopigi Devetzi in the triple jump, Irene Kokinariou in the 3000m steeple and Afroditi Skafida in the pole vault, while the majority of the girls managed top positions leading the national team on the top of the 1st day's scoring.
European Cup Results: [Superleague, Annecy][First League, Istanbul][First League, Leiria]

Greek National Juniors Championships
21.06.2008 During the first day of the Greek National Juniors Champs, opened today in Peania, Paraksevi Papahristou jumped 13.79m in the triple jump a new all time outdoor best for a junior girl for Greece. Papahrisou set a national juniors record for the event during the indoor season, jumping 13.86 last February

The Greek teams for Annecy and Istanbul
17.06.2008 The Greek Federation announced the national teams which are going to participate in the European Cup Golden League (men) and 1st League (women)
Men: 100m Panayotis Sarris, 200m Tasos Gousis, 400m Pantelis Melahrinoudis, 800m Efthymios Papadopoulos, 1500m Panayotis Economou, 3000m Antonis Papantonis, 5000m Tasos Fragos, 100mh Kostas Douvalidis, 400mh Periklis Iakovakis, 3000m st. Alexandros Litsi, HJ Kostas Baniotis, PV Stavros Kouroupakis, LJ Luis Tsatoumas, TJ Dimitrios Tsiamis, SP Andreas Anastasopoulos, DT Spyros Arabatzis, JT Georgios Iltsios, HT Alexandros Papadimitriou, 4X100m Sarris, Gousis, Apostolou, Koutsouklakis, Hlastaras, Gavelas, 4X400 Iakovakis, Melahrinoudis, Kyriakidis, Regas, Gravalos
Women: 100m Georgia Kokloni, 200m Fani Chalkia, 400m Dimitra Dova, 800m-1500m Eleni Filandra, 3000m Konstantina Efentaki (Maria Pardalou), 5000m Katerina Asimakopoulou, 100mh Flora Redoumi, 400mh Christina Chatzi, 3000m st. Irene Kokinariou, HJ Tonia Stergiou, PV Afroditi Skafida, LJ Pigi Devetzi (Stella Pilatou), TJ Pigi Devetzi, SP Irene Terzoglou, DT Dorothea Kalpakidou, HT Stella Papadopoulou, JT Savva Lika, 4X100 Kokloni, Thanou, Neratzidou, Kobidou, Karastamati, Derveni, 4X400 Dova, Chalkia, Derveni, Syrou, Chatzi, Ferra

14.92m world leading jump by Devetzi. Skafida clears 4.55m, Papadopoulou throws 71.80m
15.06.2008 The best ever Greek national championships finished today in Athens Olympic Stadium with a world leading mark set by Chrysopigi Devetzi at 14.92m and two national records. Stella Papadopoulou became the first Greek hammer thrower who exceeds the 71m, as she set a record at 71.80m, while Afroditi Skafida improved twice the pole vault record at 4.50m and 4.55m. Antonia Stergiou cleared 1.97m and Anastasios Gousis clocke 20.58 in the 200m despite the strong negative wind mark.[Results][Our report written for the IAAF]
[2008 GRE Outdoor Lists: [men][women][National Records][All time GRE lists: men, women]

Kokinariou smashes steeple record. 48.80 for Iakovakis, Devetzi 14.70 in the qualification round
14.06.2008 Periklis Iakovakis shone on the second day of the Greek National Championships, winning the 400mh in 48.80 a seson's best for the Greek hurdler. Chrysopigi Devetzi jumped 14.70m in the triple jump qualification round, while Irene Kokinariou improved her own 3000m steeple national record for Greece to 9.36.72, running about 6 seconds faster than the previous mark.
In the highlights of the day should also be included the national U18 record by Antonios Mastoras who cleared 2.18m in the high jump, the verification of Beijing standard by Sava Lika and the new blood of women's 800m who managed good times in the final race of the event.

Tsatoumas 8.32m in Athens. Greek National Champs, Day I
14.06.2008 Louis Tsatoumas was the best performer of the 1st day of the Greek National Championships started today morning in Athens Olympic Stadium. Tsatoumas won the final with 8.32m, while in the morning qualification round jumped 8.14m. Devetzi won the women's long jump with 6.58m and prepares for the triple jump. Andreas Anastassopoulos verified the low Beijing standard with a victorious shot at 19.98m, while Panayotis Sarris (10.37) and Georgia Kokloni (11.57) dominated the 100m finals.
Impressing performances in the 400m races. Cypriot Alissa Kallinikou won the women's race with 52.05, followed by Dimitra Dova who also met the low olympics standard with 52.33 In the men's race Pantelis Melahrinoudis clocked 46.13 to defeat Petros Kyriakidis (46.57) and Dimitrios Regas (46.62)
[Results][2008 GRE Outdoor Lists: [men][women][National Records][All time GRE lists: men, women]

12.87 - 110mh World record for Robles in Ostrava
12.06.2008Running in his third race of the season, Dayron Robles set a World record in the 110m Hurdles, clocking 12.87 at the Golden Spike Grand Prix in Ostrava. [Results][110mh world record progression]

Walker clears 6.04 in Eugene
08.06.2008Brad Walker took a big step toward establishing himself as the Olympic favourite in the Pole Vault in the Prefontaine Classic on Sunday (8 June) part of the IAAF World Athletics Tour.[ Results]

Strataki meets Beijing standard
08.06.2008 Greek heptathlon champion Argyro Strataki won the national championships held in Thessaloniki during weekend with 6.008 points and set the standard for the Olympic Games. Sofia Ifantidou was second with 5.670 pointis, while Konstantinos Karamousalis won the men's decathlon with 7.281 points.

Phillips Idowu jumps world leading 17.55m in Chania
07.06.2008 Triple Jump World Indoor Champion Phillips Idowu produced a world leading jump at 17.55m in "Venizelia 2008" International Meeting held in Chania, Greece. Impressing jump by Canadian Tabia Charles who smashed her personal best to win the long jump with 6.82m. [Results][Our report written for the IAAF]

Dwain Chambers clocks 10.25 in Kalamata. Popescu 4.00.36, Tsatoumas 8.16m
04.06.2008 WPapafleessia 2008 meeting was marked by the return of British Dwain Chamber to the track, whose 10.25 was enough for him to capture the win in the 100m race. Among the highlights of the meeting should be included the win of Romania's Liliana Popescu in the 1500m with 4.00.36, but also the winning jump of Louis Tsatoumas at 8.16m in the long jump.
Antonia Stergiou jumped 1.93m in the long jump to set the low standard for Beijing, while Eleni Filandra hardly lost the standard setting a personal best of 2.01.48 in the 800m [Full results][our report written for the IAAF]
[Alexandria 2008, Hellenic Grand Prix Meeting: results]

Chambers starts the season in Kalamata
03.06.2008 World's top athletics stars are among the latest entries of the "Papaflesseia 2008" to held tomorrow in Kalamata. Among them British Dwain Chambers opens the season participating in the 100m race, in which the entry of the Greek-Canadian Nicholas Makrozonaris gives a special interest.
The reigning Olympic Champion of the women's 400mh Fani Chalkia competes with the American Christine Spence, currently second in the world list and Russia's Natalya Ivanova. Avard Moncur (BAH) is the star of the men's 400m, while Greece's Luis Tsatoumas returns to the city of his origin, where he jumped the world leading 8.66m last year.
Russia's Tatyana Andrianova has to face a strong Romanian team in the women's 1500m, while Krymarenko, Baba and Fomenko are among the high jump entrants Entries

Usain Bolt improved the 100m World Record to 9.72!!
03.06.2008 At last night’s IAAF World Athletics Tour meeting in New York, Jamaica’s Usain Bolt set a new World record* for the men’s 100m in a time of 9.72 seconds [Results][100m WR progression]

Jeremey Wariner defeated in the first Super Grand Prix of the season
01.06.2008 Olympic Champiopn Jeremy Wariner's dreams for a share in the 1 million jca pot collapsed in the first Super Grand Prix of the season, held today in Berlni in front of over 67.000 attendants.LaShawn Merritt dominated the 400m in 44.03 leaving Wariner second with 44.07. In the other events Augustine Choge won the 1.500m 3.31.57, Bershawn Jackson the 400mh in 48.73, Tero Pitkamaki the javelin throw with 85.20m leaving Thordkildsen second with 85.19m! Blanka Vlasic cleared 2.03m and Spain's Josephine Onyia clocked 12.50 in the 100mh to defeat Susanna Kallur who clocked 12.54 [Results]

May 2008

Pyatykh 14.28m, Devetzi 6.66m in Filothei
26.05.2008 Russians Anna Pyatykh and Tatyana Polvova, as well as Greece's Chrysopigi Devetzi were the stars of the 9th version of Filothei Women Gala. Pyathykh dominated the triple jump with 14.28m, while Devetzi was the winner of the long jump with 6.66m, defeating Kotova and Lebedeva. In the pole vault Polnova cleared 4.55m, Belarus' Yevgeniya Valazdo won the 100mh race with 13.33 and Kazakhstan's Maria Aytova cleared 1.85 in high jump. [Results]

Lebedeva - Pyathykh in Filothei on Wednedsay
26.05.2008 The Russian triple jump super star Tatyana Lebedeva is among the lattest entries for Filothei Women Gala, where she has to face her compatiots Anna Pyatykh, silver in Moscow 2006 and the European Indorr Champion in 2006 Viktoriya Gurova. The world juniors champion Tatyana Cernova tops the 100mh entry list

Tatyana Kotova in the 9th Filothei Women Gala
23.05.2008 Katerina The 9th annual version of Filothei Women Gala is scheduled for May 28th and the new entries announced today by the host Club include Tatyana Kotova, twice Olympics medallist of the long jump. Greek triple jumper Chrisopigi Devetzi will be her main rival in the event. Ekaterini Thanou also participates in the 100m race, her first ever participation in Filothei Gala. [Entries]

Katerina Thanou enters Papaflesia 2008
23.05.2008 Katerina Thanou is among the latest entries announced for Papaflesia 2008 Meeting to be held in Kalamata on June 4th. [Entries]
Meanwhile, the early entries of Venizelia 2008 (7th June, Chania) includes two superstars of the triple jump: Phillips Idowu and Ashia Hansen [Entries]

Tatyana Polnova enters Filothei Women Gala
20.05.2008 Russia's Pole Vault Champion Tatyana Polnova is among the entries of Filothei Women Gala. The 29-year-old champion has a personal best of 4.78m and won the bronze medal of the European Championships in Gothenburg two years ago.  Kazakhstan's Maria Aytova, 5th in Valencia's World Championships, participates in the high jump competition. The meeting is taking place on May 28th. [Early Entries]

Pilatou jumps 6.50m, Konstas 61.32m in Heraklion
18.05.2008 The 21st annual version of "Knossia" meeting held in Heraklion with some very good performances. Styliani Pilatou jumped 6.50m, while two discus throwers exceeded the 60m line. Stefanos Konstas threw 61.32m and Spyros Arabatzis was second with 60.06m. Alexandros Papadimitriou won the hammer throw with 75.23m and Magdalene Komotoglou the women's discus throw with 56.32m.

Fani Chalkia and Angela Williams among the early Kalamata entries
17.05.2008 The Greek Olympic Champion Fani Chalkia is among the entrants of "Papaflessia 2008" to held held in Kalamata, June 4. The early entries announced include also the 60m world indoor champion american Angela Williams, who is going to participate in the 100m along with Maria Karastamati, the top long jump performer of 2007 Greece's Luis Tsatoumas, the triple jump bronze medalist of the world indoor championships Marija Sestjak and the 800m runner Tatyana Andrianova of Russia, who was 5th in Athens Olympics. ["Papaflesia 2008", Kalamata 4th June: Early Entries]
Meanwhile in the IAAF Grand Prix meeting held tonight in Dakar, African 100m champion Damola Osayomi's clocked 11.10, while the most of the events were affected by the strong wind. [Dakar GP results]
In Nea Ionia, Athens, Aristidis Drakos and Ekaterini Asimakopoulou won the 10000m national titles for Greece with 30.19.11 and 34.50.47. Finally, two shot putters, Andreas Anastasopoulos (19.40m) and Michalis Stamatogiannis (19.20m) set the best marks in Sparti where the first Greek Grand Prix meeting took place today. Both approached the low standard for Beijing. [Results from Sparti, Hellenic Grand Prix Meeting]

Nizhegorodov smashes 50Km walk record
11.05.2008 Dennis Nizhegorodov won the 50Km walk of the IAAF World Race Walking Cup in 3:34:14, bettering Deakes’ world record by a fabulous 1:33. Russia shone as its athletes won 15 out of 20 medals.Olga Kaniskina was the winner of the women's 20Km with 1.25.42, while the Olympic Champion Athanasia Tsoumeleka was 14th with 1.30.40. Greece's Konstantinos Stefanopoulos was 43th in the 50Km race with 4.0524, while a junior girl Panayota Tsinopoulou was 12th in the 10Km walk 47.49, setting the standard for the World Juniors Campionships. [Full results by the IAAF]

Tsatoumas 8.05m, Devetzi 14.70w
11.05.2008 Louis Tsatoumas opened the season with 8.05m, the best mark of the Greek Cubs Championships held in 11 Groups during weekend. Chrysopigi Devetzi had a wind assisted jump at 14.70m and Alexandra Papageorgiou sent the hammer to 67.50m  [Results]

David Oliver and Alysson Felix shine in Doha
9.05.2008 David Oliver and Alysson Felix was the stars of the first Super Grand Prix meet of the season held today in Qatar.  David Oliver became only the 11th man to go under 13 seconds in the 110m Hurdles, with his victory by over five metres in a 12.95 personal best, while Felix dominated both 100m and 400m races in 10.93 and 49.83 respectively. Brilliant start also for Blanca Vlasic who cleared 2.03m. [Results]
Also today the Greek Clubs Championships started with the Group of Athens. Ten more groups will start tomorrow in different locations of Greece [Results]

The Greek team for Cheboksary
4.05.2008. Athanasia Tsoumeleka leads the team which is going to compete for Greece in the IAAF World Walking Cup, to be held in Cheboksary, Russia next weekend (10-11 May). The team consinsts of 7 men and women walkers: Athanassia Tsoumeleka and Despina Zabounidou (20Km), Theodoros Koupidis (men's 20Km), Konstantinos Stefanopoulos (mens 50 Km), Michalis Yelastos (juniors 10Km), Maria Tsinopoulou and Eleftheria Zapanioti (junior women 20Km).

Bolt 9.76, second all time 100m performer
3.05.2008. Jamaica's Usain Bolt clocked an unbelievable 9.76 running the 100m yesterday in Jamaica Invitational meet, the second all time performance for the event, as only Asafa Powell with his world record 9.74 in Rieti last year was ever faster. The world junior record holder and Osaka silver medalist verified an excellent form about three months before the Olympic Games.
Also women´s 100 m brought excellent results with first years sub 11 seconds as World relay silver holder Jamaican Kerron Stewart improved to PB of 10.96. World Champion Kerron Clement opened at 400 m hurdles with excellent world lead 47.79, while Tyson Gay won the 200m in 20.00.
In other events Sanya Richards clocked 50.60 to win the 400m, Joanna Hayes won the 100mh in 12.72

Tsoumeleka 2nd, Xynou 4th in Sesto San Giovanni
1.05.2008. Reigning World champion Jefferson Perez from Equador and 2000 Olympic silver medallist Kjersti Plätzer clinched solid wins at the 51st edition of the Coppa Citta di Sesto San Giovanni - IAAF Race Walking Challenge - on a very warm day. Greece's Olympic Champion placed second in the women's race continuing her preparation for Olympic title defending. Evangelia Xinou was 4th, making the standard for Beijing.

April 2008

Doping again on the scene: [A tale of two sprinters], by Chris Galakoutis and HellenicAthletes.com

Alexander the Great Marathon
20.04.2008. Under very warm weather conditions Kenya's Chebet Kipruto won the 3rd "Alexander the Great Marathon" held from the location to ancient Pella to Thessaloniki. Kipruto clocked 2.13.08 while his compatriot Elizabeth Chemweno was the winner of the women's race.
Men: 1 Chebet Ben Kipruto KEN 2:13:08, 2 Leonard Kipkoech Kipyego KEN 2:13:17, 3 Benson Cheruiyot KEN 2:14:04, 4 Jaroslav Musinschi MDA 2:14:57, 5 Yared Mekkonen Temesgen ETH 2:16:46, 6 Chepkwony David Kiptanui KEN 2:16:59, 7 Jacob Kiprotich Mengich KEN 2:17:10, 8 Simon Kipkorir Tonui KEN 2:19:53, 9 Ahmed Jumah Jaber QAT 2:24:34, 10 Aknello Rutto KEN 2:25:37, 11 Sevak Yeghikyan ARM 2 2:29:18, 12 Desalegn Senbetie ETH  2:30:43, 13 Abraham Kilimo Cheruyiot KEN  2:33:49, 14 Denis Bagrev KIR 2:34:09, 15 Dmitry Sivov BRL 2:34:19
Women: 1 Elisabeth Chemweno KEN 2:35:04, 2 Hirut Abere Legesse ETH 2:45:42, 3 Girma Woynishet ETH 2:50:06, 4 Samirawit Baleha ETH 2:51:14, 5  Alevtina Naumova RUS 2:52:15, 6 Vinera Sarmosova RUS 3:03:02

Nagano Marathon
20.04.2008. The defending champions, Nephat Kinyanjui of Kenya and Alevtina Ivanova of Russia won the men’s and women’s divisions respectively of the 10th annual Nagano Marathon
Men. 1 Nephat Kinyanjui KEN  2:14:17, 2. Tomohiro Seto JPN 2:14:17, 3 Fayisa Tusse ETH 2:14:19, 4. Gidey Amaha ETH  2:14:19, 5 Yoshiyuki Suetsugu JPN 2:14:31, 6 Arkadiusz Sowa POL 2:14:39, 7. Tekeste Kebede ETH  2:15:21, 8 Gemechu Woyecha ETH 2:15:27
Women: 1 Alevtina Ivanova RUS 2:26:39, 2 Kate Smyth AUS 2:28:51, 3 Dorota Gruca POL 2:31:54, 4 Miyuki Ando JPN 2:34:25, 5 Asnakech Mengistu ETH 2:37:02

Belgrade Marathon results
20.04.2008. William Kipchumba won the Belgrade Marathon men's race, where also nine of the top 10 men were Kenyans. Natalija Chatkina of Belarus ran a personal best by five minutes to win the women's race, while Nilaj Essen of Turkey in second place became the Balkan champion. Greece's Pavlos Tzanavaras was second in the Balkan Champs classification with 2.41.02
Men: 1 William Kipchumba KEN  2:14:03, 2 Jonathan Kipsaina KEN 2:16:14, 3 Victor Robert KEN 2:16:47, 4 Benjamin Tabut KEN 2:18:47, 5 Veres Gerrabziabher ETH 2:19:18, 6 Pius Mutuku KEN  2:22:22
Women: 1 Natalija Chatkina BLR 2:46:24, 2 Nilaj Eeesen TUR 2:55:47, 3 Mercy Too KEN 2:57:24, 4 Jane Kosgei KEN 2:57:46

Doping again on the scene
15.04.2008. In the shadow of the worst ever doping scandal in Greece, but also the upcoming trial of Trevor Graham, doping engrosses again the debate just few months before Beijing Olympics [The Finger Pointing has Begun, by Conway Hill and Hellenicathletes.com]
Read also: [Greene hits back over drug claims, from BBC]

Double Turkish win in Istanbul
12.04.2008. Turkey became the first country in the history of the European Cup 10000m, which won both men's and women's individual titles. In the 12th version of the annual event Selim Bayrak, who represents Turkey since February, clocked a national record 27:47.75 to break the national record and meet the standard for Bejing. As Girma Legese of Ethiopia he won bronze at World Youth Championships 2003 in Sherbrooke, Canada at 3000 m.
Spanish runner Carles Castillejo was second with 28:07.55 and the bronze medal went to Russian Oleg Kunkov who was leading the second group in 28:48.55. Greek runner Anastasios Fragos placed 16th with 30.24.00
World championships 2007 silver medalist Elvan Abeylegesse won for third time in a row the women race with 31:36.33. Second place for Lornah Kiplagat of Netherlands who achieved 31:53.72, while her  cousin Hilda Kibet won bronze for Netherlands clocking new career best 32:05.49. Greece's Ekaterini Asimakopoulou was 14th with 34.20.95

Four medals for Greece in the Balkan Walk Champs
12.04.2008. Romania won the Balkan Walk Championships, held today in Bucuresti, while the Greek team got the second place in the overall classification. Maria Xatzipanayotidou was second in the 20Km women's walk with 1.39.14 and Maria Evagelou third in the same event with 1.53.16. Michalis Yelastos placed 2nd in the 10Km juniors' walk with 46.39.7 and Eleftheria Zabanioti third in the girls' race with 49.48.9

Tsoumeleka placed 4th in Rio Maior
05.04.2008.The Greek Olympic Champion of the 20Km walk Athanasia Tsoumeleka opened the season in the IAAF International Race Walk of Rio Maior, where she placed 4th with 1.30.00, setting the standard for the Olympic Games. The 2000 Olympic runner-up Kjersti Platzer of Norway was the winner with 1.29.29. Tsoumeleka plans to follow the Schedule of the Race Walk Grand Prix participating in more races in April, as her first appearance indicates a succesful return after the birth of her daughter.

Tsoumeleka opens the season in Rio Major - Devetzi nominated for the European Athlete of the Month title
02.04.2008. Ecuador's Jefferson Perez, three times IAAF world 20km Race Walk champion, Olympic 2004 20km champion Athanasia Tsoumeleka, and local heroes Susana Feitor and Joao Vieira are among the key entrants of the 17th edition of the Rio Maior Walking Grand Prix, to be held on Saturday, April 5th.
The Greek Olympic Champion returns to Portugal for the second time after her triumph in Athens and is expected to  face a tough opposition from Norway's 2000 Olympic runner-up Kjersti Platzer and the home favourite Susana Feitor, the 2005 World championships bronze medallist and winner in Rio Maior from 1993 to 1999.
Meanwhile, the World Indoor Championships silver medallist Chrysopigi Devetzi has been among the nominees for the European Athlete of the Month for March [click here to vote]

Thessaloniki to host World Athletics Final 2009
02.04.2008. The IAAF Council selected Thesalloniki, Greece, to host for the track season-capping IAAF/VTB Bank World Athletics Final for 2009. Formerly the IAAF Grand Prix Final, the annual two-day season-ending gathering was renamed the World Athletics Final in 2003, and hosted by Monaco through 2006. Stuttgart’s three year run as host ends in September.
Birmingham, England, will host the 2009 World Half Marathon Championships

March 2008

European Cup Winter Throwing
16.3.2008 In sunny, but windy conditions Gerd Kanter won for the fifth time in the European Cup Winter Throwing srarted yesterday in Split. Double Italian win with Marco Lingua to dominate the men's hammer throw and Assunta Legnante the women's shot put. Greece's Stefanos Konstas was 8th in the discus throw with 59.98m, where Spyros Arabatzis placed 12th with 58.65m. Ioannis Barlis placed also 12th in the hammer throw with 69.86m.
On Sunday, Rutger Smith dominated the shot put with 20.77, while Greeks Andreas Anastasopoulos (18.85m) and Michalis Stamatogiannis (18.25m) placed 10th and 13th respectively. Styliani Papadopoulou was 6th in the Hammer Throw with 67.27m and Alexandra Papageorgiou 18th with 64.48m. Finally Georgios Geromarkakis placed 7th in the U23 shot put.  [European Cup Winter Throwing Results]

Beijing via Cheboksary - Tsoumeleka prepares for Olympic title defence
13.3.2008 Having a baby doesn’t seem to have harmed Paul Radcliffe’s quest for Olympic glory – and another new mother also eyes the ultimate prize [Full story by the IAAF]

Soboleva breaks again the record to win 15000m gold
09.3.2008 Yelena Soboleva improved her own 1500m world record to 1.57.71 winning the gold medal of the world championships. Impressing golds for Phillips Idowe with 17.75m in the triple jump, Evgeniy Kukyanenko in the pole vault with 5.90m and Sudan's Abukaker Kaki Khamis who clocked 1.44.81 in the 800m. Blanka Vlasic won the high jump gold with 2.03m
[World Indoor Championships results:Day1, Day2, Day3]

Savigne steals the gold on the last attempt. Silver for Chrysopigi
08.3.2008 After Osaka's World Championships where she won the world title, Yargelis Savigne managed to win also the indoor triple jump title, setting an area record at 15.05m in her last attempt.
The Greek Champion Chrysopigi Devetzi had maybe her best competition ever. She led the competition attepting at 14.93m on the first round, a national record for Greece, which she improved to 15.00m on the third round. Having all attempts over 14.83m, Devetzi lost the gold once again "on the last minute" but this cannot decrease the value of the greatest Greek athlete.
Cyprus' Kyriakos Ioannou repated the great achievement of Osaka, winning again the bronze medal in the high jump with 2.30m. Olympic champion Stefan Holm regained the World Indoor title he had secured for the third consecutive time four years ago in Budapest with a first time clearance at 2.36m after the Swede had all but a flawless competition in Valencia’s Velodrome tonight. [World Indoor Championships: Results by the IAAF]
Click also: Chrysopigi Devetzi: official site

Hellebaut wins heptahlon. American double in the shot put
07.3.2008 The Belgian High Jump European Champion Tia Hellebaut won the world indoor title in heptathlon with a world leading 4.867 points. In the dash races Nigeria's Fasuba Olusoj (6.51) and America's Angela Williams (7.06) won the gold medals, while in the shot put we had an expected American double. Christian Cantwell (21.77m) and Reese Hoffa (21.20) hold top spots.

World Indoor Championships open in Valencia. Devetzi targets 11th medal
07.3.2008 The Indoor World Championships start in the morning in Valencia, Spain. Among the 5 Greek participants, Olympics silver medalist Chrysopigi Devetzi , targets one more medal in her long carreer. In the last years Devetzi, who last Christmas named Athlete of the Year for Greece for third year in a row, has won almost all possible honours besides a gold medal:
2004: Silver in the Olympics, bronze in the World Indoor Championships, 2nd in the European Cup
2005: 2nd in the European Cup, bronze in Mediterannean Games
2006: Silver in the European Championships, 2nd and 3rd in the World Cup (triple jump and long jump),
2007: Bronze in the World Championships, 2nd in the European Cup
Her personal bests stand at 15.32m (triple jump) and 6.85i (long jump). This year improved her triple jump indoor record to 14.89m, a national record for Greece.
In the morning qualification round Devetzi was the best with 14.63m she set on the first round, while the second Greek participant Athanasia Perra failed to qualify having the best attempt at 13.61m. Devetzi competes tomorrow in the final, having to oppose Sestjak, Savigne and Aldama, but not Pyatykh who didn't make it.
In the men's long jump Luis Tsatoumas produced a negative surprise as he set a 7.77m losing the ticket for the final. [World Indoor Championships: Results by the IAAF]

February 2008

Greece with 5 in Valencia
26.2.2008 Five Greek athletes are going to participate in the World Indoor Championships to be held in Valencia. Osaka's bronze medalist Chrysopigi Devetzi participates in the triple and the long jumps, while Athanasia Perra also enters the triple jump competition. Nikoletta Kyriakopoulou, the new national record holder competes in the pole vault. Flora Redoumi participates in the 60m hurdles, while the only man of the Greek team is Luis Tsatoumas in the long jump.

Pole vault national record for Greece
23.2.2008 The 22nd annual version of the Greek National Indoor Championships opened today in Peania Hall with the participation of more than 400 athletes. Nikoletta Kyriakopoulou, 22, set a pople vault national record for Greece, with 4.40m and set the standard for the World Indoor Championships. Luis Tsatoumas won the close long jump competition with 7.88m
[RESULTS][2008 GRE Indoor Lists][All time lists: men, women][Greek National Indoor Records]

Powell and Wariner impress in Melbourne, a world juniors record in the 1000m in Stockholm
21.2.2008 Jamaica’s Asafa Powell won easing up in 10.04 and started World record talk at the Melbourne Grand Prix held today. American Jeremy Wariner opening the defence of his Olympic 400m title with a superb 44.82 in his first lap of the 2008 season, while local heroes Scott Martin smashed the Australian record with a Shot Put of 21.27m and Craig Mottram finished strongly to win over 5000m in 13:11.99 from a good international field. [Results]
The women's long jump produced national and meeting records in Stockholm. Irina Simagina jumped 6.98m to improve her career best, Portugal's Naide Gomez produced a national record at 6.93m and Southafrican Karin Mey placed third with 6.85m. Susanna Kallur won again in 7.74, while Stefan Holm cleared 2.33m to dominate the high jump and Dayron Robles won the men's 60mh in 7.44 World leading performance for Sudan's Abukater Kaki who won the 1000m in 2.15.77 setting also a world juniors record [Results]

World record by Isinbayeva in Donetsk. Bekele clocks 8.04.35 in 2 miles in Birmingham
16.2.2008 In her 2008 debut, Yelena Isinbayeva raised her own World record indoors to 4.95m* today at the Pole Vault Stars meeting in Donetsk, Ukraine. [Results]
The 25-year-old Russian added two centimetres to the previous indoor mark she set one year ago at this same competition.
World Champion Kenenisa Bekele fulfilled all expectations of packed NIA at Norwich Union Grand Prix today. In great duel with Paul Kipsiele Koech he finished clocking 8:04.35 at 2 miles. That is new world best, he bettered the previous mark of his famous countrymate Haile Gebrselassie who achieved 8:04.69 here in 2003. World record holder Susanna Kallur improved the stadium record to 7.75 at 60 m Hurdles. Canadian Helsinki medalist Tyler Christopher debuted indoors at 400m into national record and world leading 45.80. Norwegian Jaisuma Saidy Ndure won the 60 m in new national record 6.56. [Results]
In Moscow, Russia made the double winning the European Indoor Cup in men and women [Results] [Greek meetings results]

Four World Leading marks in Athens
13.2.2008 "Athina 2008" brings four world leading performances by Irving Saladino (8.42m), Marija Sestjak (15.08m), Daniel Komen Chipchipchir (3.34.80) and Yuliya Golubchikova (4.75m) as well as a national triple jump indoor record set by Chrysopigi Devetzi at 14.89m
Unlucky moments of the meeting the injuries of Saladino, Tsatoumas and Gaisah which actually ended early a great long jump competition
[Results][Our report written for the IAAF]

Athina 2008, IAAF Permit Meeting
11.2.2008 The presence of reigning three World champions and a handful of World and Olympics medallists, as well as of Greek top athletes in the “Athina 2008” IAAF Permit Meeting increases the interest for the event scheduled for Wednesday 13 in the Peania Hall in Athens. [Entrants][Our preview written for the IAAF]

Kallur sets world record in Karlsruhe
10.2.2008 The third world record in a sinlge day came by Sweden's Susanna Kallur who clocked 7.68 to get Narozhilenko's world record. Nelson Evora set a world leading mark of 17.33m in the triple jump [Results]

Soboleva breaks 1500m world record. Second record by a 4X800m team
10.2.2008 (from Alfons Juck) Yelena Soboleva clocked first world indoor record of the year during 3rd day of Russian Championships as she won the 1500 m in 3:58.05. She bettered her own mark from Russian Champs 2006 (Moscow Feb 18) by 0.23.
On more world record was registered at women's 4x800 m relay. The Team of Sverdlovsk Region clocked impressive 8:14.53 and bettered the former mark of Moscow Region Team from last years Russian Championships by huge 4.01 s (8:18.54 on Feb 11 2007 in Volgograd). The world record team consists of  Yevgeniya Zinurova, European 2006 Champion Olga Kotlyarova, Mariya Savinova and Natalya Ignatova.

Brilliant women's jumps in Balkan Champs
9.2.2008 Romania's Adelina Gavrila and Greece's Chrysopigi Devetzi set the best performances of the Balkan Championships, held today in Peania, Athens. Gavrila won the triple jump with 14.70m, while Devetzi in her first season's appearance produced a long jump personal best at 6.85m, to become the 4th world performer of the season. Devetzi participated out of competition, while on Wednesday participates in Athina 2008 IAAF Permit meeting in the triple jump.
One more significant performance was the winning shot of Bosnian Hamza Alic at 20.23m, a personal best for the athlete. Bulgaria’s Tventelina Kirilova clocked 52.61 to smash her personal best in the 400m, while Romania’s Ionella Tirlea placed second with 53.31. Liliana Popescu set the best time in the women’s 800m with 2.00.41 running out of competition, while her compatriot Mihaela Neascu was the winner of the event with 2.03.01.
Romania dominated both men's and women's categories. followed by the Greek teams.[Results]

Soboleva clocks Russian record 1.56.49
9.2.2008 (from Alfons Juck) Osaka 1500m silver holder Yelena Soboleva clocked new Russian indoor record at 800m. During second day of national championschips she achieved world leading and fourth best of all-time 1:56,49. Another world lead was registred in 200m heats as Anastasiya Kapachinskaya achieved 23.02.

Ioannou jumps 2.32m in Novisad. 15th Balkan Indoor Championships on Saturday in Athens
8.2.2008 Cypriot Kyriakos Ioannou, bronze medallist last year in Osaka, opened the indoor season in the Eurotop 2008, held yesterday in Novi Sad, Serbia. Ioannou won with 2.32m a national indoor record for Cyprus, while Greece's Kostas Baniotis placed 3rd with 2.24m  [Results]
The 15th annual version of the Balkan Indoor Championships is taking place in Peania, Athens on Saturday 9. among the significant entrants of the meeting are Romania's Ionella Tirlea, Adelina Gavrila, George Gouset and Bogdan Tudor, Moldova's Ina Gliznuta, Serbia's Dragutin Topic, Bulgaria's Spas Buchalov, Nikolae Atanasov, Antonia Yordanova and Greece's Aris Gavelas, Athanasia Perra, Stella Pilatou. Greece's Osaka bronze medallist Chrysopigi Devetzi participates out of competition, her first meeting for the indoor season. Devetzi who targets almost exclusively in beijing this year, has also entered "Athina 2008" not losing any opportunity to compete with other top world athletes in international meetings.

Three world leads during first day of Russian Championships: 7.09 Polyakova, 1:59.56 Soboleva, 51.42 Zaytseva
8.2.2008 (from Alfons Juck, EME news) The first day of Russian National Championships opened today in CSKA Hall. European indoor silver medalist Yevgeniya Polyakova won the 60 m in a PB and seasonal lead 7.09. Svetlana Nabokina who was co-leading the lists with 7.16 until today finished second clocking 7.18. World indoor medalist Andrey Yepishin won the men's short sprint with 6.64 and the European Indoor Champion of 2005 Dmitriy Bogdanov won the 1500m with 1:46.24 and took the title. Birmingham 2007 silver medalist Aleksandra Antonova won the 60 m Hurdles with 7.98. At men's 60 m Hurdles the top two places were clearly taken by Yevgeniy Borisov (7.59) and Igor Peremota (7.61), while Pavel Sofin with 20.11 m was best in Shot Put beating Ivan Yushkov (19.81).
Other two world leads were established in heats. Women's preliminary round at 800 m registered first seasonal sub 2 minutes times; Yelena Soboleva achieved 1:59.56 and Natalya Ignatova sensationally improved to her first ever sub 2 minutes with 1:59.67. In the morning program female 400 m runners were flying. Goteborg 2006 bronze medalist Olga Zaytseva clocked new world lead in heats with 51.42.
In men's 400 m heats Maksim Dyldin improved to European lead 46.22. Slovakian triple jumper Dmitrij Valukevic won the qualification with 17.13 m, what means for him confirmation of Olympic participation. Goteborg bronze medalist in Long Jump Oksana Udmurtova was the best in female Triple Jump qualification with 14.36 m. World leader in Long Jump Irina Simagina easily qualified in Long Jump with 632 cm.

Nelson shots 22.07 in New York - Vlasic 2.03, Silnov 2.37 in Arnstadt - Kallur 7.72 in Stuttgart
2.2.2008 Adam Nelson set a world leading 22.07m in the shot put, the best performace of the Millrose Games held yesterday in New York. [Results]
Today, Paraskevi Papahristou set a new national triple jump record in juniors jumping 13.86m in Peania. This mark improves also the outdoor record for Greece [Results]
In Arnstadt, Germany world leading marks were achieved by Russian European Champion Andrey Silnov who cleared 2.37 cm and Croatian World Champion Blanka Vlasic who won with 2.03 cm. [Results]
Susanna Kallur clocked 7.72 in Stuttgart, setting again a Swedish record and approaching even closer to the 60mh world indoor record [Results]

January 2008

Kallur clocks 7.75, Robles 7.45 in Gothenburg
29.1.2008 Susanna Kallur clocked an amazing 7.75 to set a new national 60mh record, missing Narozhilenko's world record by just 0.06. World leading marks set also by Cuban Dayron Robles (7.45 in the men's race) but also the high jump world champion Blanka Vlasic who opens the season with 2.01m. Another Cuban, the triple jump world champion Yargelis Savigne also started the season with a world leading mark at 14.56m.
Stefan Holm won the men's high jump with 2.33m and American Derek Miles the pole vault at 5.75m [Results]

Russian Winter Results
27.1.2008 The 17th edition of the ‘Russian Winter’ indoor meeting in Moscow witnessed a heavy snowfall of world season indoor leading marks which was somewhat appropriate for the opening event of the 2008 IAAF Indoor Permit season.The most impressive mark was the national record in the women’s Mile which was set by Yelena Soboleva. The previous mark - 4:24.11 -was set 7 years ago by Yelena Zadorozhnaya. [Results from Russian Winter][Results from Peania][Glascow results][Boston results]

Brilliant high jump stars to shine in "Athina 2008"
22.1.2008 The announcemet of the stars who are going to participate in "Athina 2008" IAAF Permit meeting is going on. Today it was announced that two athletes who won medals in the last world championhips will be among the entrants in the men's high jump competition: The world champion Donald Thomas from Bahamas and the bronze medallist Cypriot Kyriakos Ioannou.
Among the other entrants the Ukraine's Yuriy Krimarenko, winner in Helsinki World Championships in 2005 is also included. [ENTRANTS]

World leading marks in Hustopece
20.1.2008 Russia's Ivan Ukhov, Ukraine's Vita Palamar but also Germany's Adriane Friedrich won the high jump meeting held in Hustopece, Czech Republic, set world leading marks.
Ukhov cleared 2.36m to defeat Swedish Linus Thornblad who had his best leap at 2.34m. Palamar was the winner yesterday with 1.99m, the same performance with the German who was second. [Results]
Meanwhile, in the first Greek indoor meeting, held in Patra yesterday, Antonia Stergiou won with 1.85m, the best performance of the meeting.

Gebre clocks second faster time ever in Dubai Marathon
18.1.2008 Haile Gebrselassie won the Standard Chartered Dubai Marathon clocking the second fastest time ever 2:04:53. Ethiopia's champion followed a very fast pace in the first half of the race, covered in 1:01:27, while the repsective time of the record race in Berlin was 1:02:29. Berhane Adere won in the women category with 2:22:42, setting also a new race record for Dubai Marathon. [Results from Wuppertal and Nordhausen]

Devetzi vs Savigne in "Athina 2008"
16.1.2008 Impressing entries for the women's triple jump in "Athina 2008" were announced today by the greek Federation. Athens' silver medallist Chrysopigi Devetzi will compete with the World Champion Yargelis Savigne of Cuba, but also Slovenia's Marija Sestjak (5th in Osaka last year), Ukraine's Olga Saladukha (7th in Osaka), France's new national record holder Teresa N'Zola and Brazil's Keila Kosta.
Tatyana Lebedeva announced that she is not going to compete in any indoor meeting this year, starting her preparation for Beijing Olympic Games

Simagina jumps 6.94m in Moscow
14.1.2008 Irina Simagina jumped 6.94m to set the best mark in Moscow Christmas Cup meetig held on Saturday. Tatyana Kimivyagi cleared 1.94m, while Yevgeniy POlotnir jumped 17.02m in the triple jump [Results]

Daniel Komen Chipchirchir enters "Athina 2008"
11.1.2008 The silver medalist of the World Indoor Champs 2006, kenya's Daniel Komen Chipchirchir is going to participate in the 1500m race of "Athina 2008" Indoor meet. Mansur Ali Bilal from Burundi, Kenya's Remi Limo and Spain's Sergio Gallardo and Juan Carlos Esteso will be among his main rivals.

Saladino and Tsatoumas to meet in "Athina 2008" Indoor
8.1.2008 The Greek long jump champion Luis Tsatoumas who didn't manage to compete in the world champs last year facing injury problems will meet with the World Champion Irving Saladino in the "Athina 2008" Indoor meeting to be held on February 13 in Athens. They are the first names announced by the Greek Federation which attempts to gather in Peania Stadium some of the bigger world athletics stars for the annual version of the IAAF meeting.

Kajsa Bergqvist retiring
7.1.2008 After an international career spanning no less than fifteen years Swedish high jumper Kajsa Bergqvist, 31, the 2005 World champion has today announced that her athletics career has come to an end.
Between 2000 and 2006 Bergqvist competed in ten international championships (Olympics, World, European) outdoors and indoors, without missing the podium even once and winning 50% of them - one World, two World Indoors, one European and one European Indoors. She first cleared 2 metres in 2000 and then did it at least once each of the following seven years amassing a total of 52 meets at 2.00+.
In 21 Golden League High Jump competitions she won 3, reached the podium in 13 and only once finished out of the top-6. She raised the Swedish national records from 1.94 both outdoors and indoors to 2.06 and 2.08 respectively. The latter also constituting a World Indoor record.[Full report from IAAF]

Ukhov and Silnov open season with 2.34m in Yekaterinburg
7.1.2008 At Ulatov Memorial Christmas Stars Russian High Jumpers started greatly into the season. Last year world indoor leader (with 239 National record) Ivan Ukhov went over 234 cm and the same height for second placed European Champion from Goteborg Andrey Silnov [Results]

Kajsa Bergqvist retiring
7.1.2008 After an international career spanning no less than fifteen years Swedish high jumper Kajsa Bergqvist, 31, the 2005 World champion has today announced that her athletics career has come to an end.
Between 2000 and 2006 Bergqvist competed in ten international championships (Olympics, World, European) outdoors and indoors, without missing the podium even once and winning 50% of them - one World, two World Indoors, one European and one European Indoors. She first cleared 2 metres in 2000 and then did it at least once each of the following seven years amassing a total of 52 meets at 2.00+.
In 21 Golden League High Jump competitions she won 3, reached the podium in 13 and only once finished out of the top-6. She raised the Swedish national records from 1.94 both outdoors and indoors to 2.06 and 2.08 respectively. The latter also constituting a World Indoor record.[Full report from IAAF]

The New Year starts with a 4-year ban for Justin Gatlin
1.1.2008 Reigning Olympic 100-meter champion Justin Gatlin learned last night that his 20-month fight against doping charges -- and probably his track and field career -- had ended. Gatlin was informed he had received a four-year competition ban for an April 22, 2006, positive test for testosterone and its precursors, according to several people close to the case. [More from Washinghton Post]