Farah and Monteiro take European Cup 10,000m victories
Mo Farah of Great Britain and Ines Monteiro of Portugal took their respective titles at the European Cup 10,000m in Marseille on Saturday (5), both running personal bests.
In just his second outing over the distance on the track, Farah, the reigning European 5000m silver medallist, clocked 27:28.86 to knock nearly 16 seconds from his 27:44.54 previous best from 2008. Shadowing Kenyan pacemaker Philemon Limo from the outset, Farah ran from the front throughout to win by nearly 44 seconds.
His victory now opens the door for a possible double at the European Championships in Barcelona in July, where he has already set the 5000m as his chief priority.
More than half a lap behind the Briton, Abdellatif Meftah of France was a distant second in 28:12.83, with Chema Martinez of Spain, the 2009 winner, taking third in 28:13.82.
In the women’s contest, Monteiro defended her Cup title in 31:13.58, slicing more than 10 seconds from her previous best of 31:25.67 set at last year’s World Championships final where she finished 10th.
Germany's Sabrina Mockenhaupt was second in 31:23.86 with Portugal’s Sara Moreira third in 31:26.55 in her debut over the distance.
Portugal successfully defended their women’s team title thanks to Fernanda Ribeiro, the 1995 World and 1996 Olympic champion, who finished seventh in 32:25.61. Ribeiro will celebrate her 41st birthday on 23 June.
Star marathoners Christelle Daunay (32:02.04) of France and Irina Mikitenko (32:48.69) were fifth and ninth, respectively.
Bob Ramsak for the IAAF
Thursday 10/06/2010
3000m World lead for Nuria Fernández in Huelva
Spain’s reigning Ibero-American 1500m champion Nuria Fernández produced the vintage performance at the ‘Gran Premio de Andalucía’ held on Wednesday night (9) in the southwest city of Huelva. The Spaniard set a new world leading performance for the 3000m with a stunning 8:38.05 clocking.
A creditable fourth at last year’s Berlin Worlds in her specialist 1500 event, Fernández’s victory was all but easy as she faced the fierce opposition provided by Kenya’s Ines Chenonge, a fine 6th in Berlin over 5000m, who had to settle for second on this occasion thanks a fine time of 8:38.75.
Powerfully led by Ethiopia’s Almensch Belete the race opened at a brisk rhythm (2:52.61 for the first kilometre). It was Portugal’s Sara Moreira – author of a respectable sub-15:00 5000m time in Hengelo ten days ago – who took charge of the pace then to cruise the 2000m point in 5:47.88.
Shortly after the bell Chenonge made her move to open a sizeable margin on Fernández and Moreira but the local athlete never surrendered. She closed the gap gradually to finally overtake the Kenyan with 50m remaining to the delight of the enthusiastic crowd.
Moreira came third in a PB of 8:42.69 while last year’s victor Natalia Rodríguez, the reigning World indoor silver medallist, faded through the last kilometre to finish a distant fourth in 8:55.03.
First major medal in Barcelona after motherhood?
Fernández became a mother in October 2007 but bounced back successfully in 2009 to become the fastest athlete on the boards with a 4:01.77 1500m performance to later take 4th place at both the Berlin Worlds and that year’s European indoors in Turin over 3000m.
The ecstatic winner declared: “My coach Manuel Pascua had already told me that I was in 8:40 form but before the start I felt a bit tired after my 4:05.71 1500m effort from last Saturday to win the Ibero-American title. Once into the race I realized that I was able to follow the forefront pace so it encouraged me a lot. With some 300m left I had lost ground to (Chenonge) but I still had enough energy to go for her and I managed to finally overtake her.”
The Spaniard, who will turn 34 next August, had also a special mention for the crowd: “The fans helped me a lot, I could perfectly hear how they were cheering for me and that was a bonus of strength for me.” Fernández will race next at the European Team Championships (19/20 June) in Bergen where she’ll be contesting the 800m.
Asked on her expectations for next month’s Europeans in Barcelona, an adamant Fernández, who still lacks a major medal, explained: “I just want to contest the championships at 100% fitness and do my very best. I would say I’m a bit better than last season in terms of shape by this early stage of the season. Would I sign a silver medal right now? No, I don’t sign anything beforehand.”
Domínguez on route to Barcelona gold
The other highlight of the evening took place in the women’s 3000m Steeplechase where Spain’s reigning World champion Marta Domínguez set the fastest European time of the season thanks to a 9:17.07 mark.
Domínguez and the in-form Portuguese Jessica Augusto had agreed to take turns at the front of the race as they were the only two top-class athletes in the line-up. It was the 34-year-old Spaniard who first dictated the pace but Augusto soon replaced her with the pace-setting duties.
The pair went through the opening kilometre in a frantic 3:02.30 led by Domínguez. With 3:45 on the clock the newly-minted Ibero-American 3000m champion Portuguese took command again to reach the 2000m in a still fast 6:07.77. By then Domínguez ran some 10m behind and Augusto’s advantage became even bigger then but entering the final lap the leader began to slow down gradually and Domínguez caught her some 200m left to face the final water-jump with a chance to win.
Domínguez’s winning time of 9:17:07 in her first steeplechase outing since the Berlin final is also the third quickest time so far this season while runner-up Augusto had the consolation of a new career best of 9:18:54, also a Portuguese national record.
Emeterio Valiente for the IAAF
