At the invitation of Ian Stewart of Fast Track Events, ATF's Larry Eder to see how indoor track is done in England. Fast Track Events runs three indoor fixtures, the elite one being the Norwich Union Grand Prix. 10,000 fans were entertained by some of the worlds most elite athletes, but most importantly, this meet was run to the minute, with live televsions for two and one half hours, with clean signage, no extraneous people on the infield or around the track,wonderful announcing--the way an indoor track & field meet should be!

Daniel Komen Leads the world in 3.34.26, Kenenisa Bekele runs 8.05.12 for 2 miles, and Isabeyeva Does not set a World Record!
atf newswire Volume 9, number 9 February 18, 2006 National Indoor Arena, Birmingham, UK ******* A quick tour of Birmingham with Ian Stewart Norwich Union Grand Prix The event

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My trip to Birmingham, England began a month ago, at the Reebok Boston Indoor Games. Ian Stewart, one the partners in Fast Track, the owners of the fixture called the Norwich Union Grand Prix. Stewart is partners with Alan Pascoe and Jon Ridgeon, who all have their parts to play. Stewart's job is to make sure the meet is done on time, as there is no room for screw ups with the BBC, who do the meet live, for three hours on British Television.

I came over because Ian and I have developed a friendship over the years and I have heard about the competitions in the UK and had never seen them. I have always respected his cross country racing and international competitions, where he always liked a good, hard competition. Stewart has taken that need to excel into running track meets, and British athletics is the better for it.

****** I arrived on Friday evening from Frankfurt, and after a short nap, took a quick tour of the downtown for my evening walk. In about an hour of walking through the downtown, I saw clubs, restaurants, and young people dressed up for a good Friday night out. Most of the clubs, like Rococco, had lines, as did the Cinema. British bobbies were in attendance, outside of clubs and restaurants as the revelers walked from club to club, hoping to get into one or another of the hot clubs.

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a man and his city...

Stewart and I decided to walk the five minutes over to the National Indoor Arena, from the headquarters hotel. What I learnt in my five minute tour was alot about the city and a bit about the man. Stewart is proud of his city. He now lives outside the city but is reconsidering being back into Birmingham. His brother and his brother in law are involved in the Birchfield Harriers, where his brother in law is the club president. " They have been around for 140 years, and like all of the clubs, Birchfield, which I ran with, started in cross country. "

Birmingham is a city that has reinvented itself. The London Ballet moved from London to Birmingham. " When I was growing up, this was just a city of odd storage centers, and no one came downtown, " said Ian Stewart, as we walked the five minutes between the Crowne Plaza hotel and the NIA Arena. Stewart is quite proud of his city, to say the least. " Birmingham has focused on the arts, and they have great restaurants and clubs. Did you know we have 35 miles of canals? That's more than Venice!"

The canals now have restaurants and apartments along the canals and the walk is quite beautiful. They were rebuilt over the past decade as the city began working on its city center.

We walked by some small restaurants and clubs along the canals with what are called longboats, boats made just to go in the Birmingham canals. " Look at how narrow that canal is..boats would come from London, but would have to unload their goods outside Birmingham and reload into boats just made to go through Birmingham..that is how the local merchants made a few more ( pounds).." said Stewart as he smiled, acknowledging his predecessors. " We are good at numbers in Birmingham, " noted Stewart. "

That the city has been reinvented, is no doubt. British friends had compared Birmingham to Detroit, in all of the unfavorable ways. However, this city seems to be fighting such a moniker.

The NIA Arena is modern and well built. The Mondo track fits well in the facility and there also is a warm up facility with a Mondo track as well, below the facility. Norwich Union, a financial concern in the UK, is the largest sponsor of British athletics, and they are supported in their athletic endeavors by Fast Track, a marketing and event managment company run by Alan Pascoe, John Ridgeon and Ian Stewart. Last year, UK Athletics, the British national federation, received nine million pounds from Fast Track for sponsorship sales. That is some serious money for a federation!

*******

UK Challenge 800 meters

Running from the front, Karen Harewood, who has gone under 2.02 four times this season, made this race hers. Hitting the 200 meters in 29.35, then 400 meters in 59.46, and the 600 meters in 1.30.44, really making a strong move over the last lap with a fine 2.01.98. Katrina Wooton was second in 2.04.5 and Claire Robinson was third in 2.04.82.

Men's 400 meters

Robin Tobin woke a few people up with his 45.90 world leader last weekend in Sheffield at the British championships for 400 meters. This was my first chance to see the Under 23 champion. I had met the unassuming quarter miler in the elevator last night.

In this race, Daniel Caines went out very fast, hitting 21.5, with Davian Clarke of Jamaica on his shoulder. Robin Tobin got out slow, and after the first lap, Tobin was running tight and was down ten meters. Slowly, Tobin moved, until with one turn to go, Robin Tobin cut the lead to nothing and swung wide after the turn, as the crowd roared, but Tobin was still down about a meter. Robin Tobin grabbed the lead just before the finish line, raising his arm to the crowd of 10,000's delight.

Robert Tobin was first in 46.18, with Davian Clarke of Jamaica in second in 46.29, Daniel Caines in third in 46.51, Matt Elias of the Uk in 46.89 for fourth, Jerry Harris of the United States in 46.98 in fifth and France's Marc Raquil, 2003 bronze medalist and 2003 4 x 400 m gold medalist ( after US team was disqualified) in 47.31 in sixth, and looking a bit tight.

Here is what Tobin had to say after his brilliant run: " I knew they were going off fast, I just wanted to see how close I could stay with them and maybe get them at the end. Going down the back straight I did not think I could get them, but then I saw them tiring and took my chance. I went through 200 meters in 21.7 and wasn't sure I had enough for the end. "

Spar Under 17 200 meters

On the women's side, Ashlee Nelson won here, in 24.61 with Robyn Rashford in second in 24.82. On the men's side, Chris Clarke ran 21.54 with Olufumi Sobodu in second in 22.40.

Women's Long Jump

Concepcion Montaner of Spain duked it out today with Kelly Sotherton of the UK, the 2005 heptathlon bronze medalist. Montaner opened with a 6.50, her seasonal best, and did not improve. Kelly Sotherton opened with 6.50, her seasonl best and did not improve, Julie Holman of UK jumped 6.47 to take third. Elva Goulbourne of Jamaica took fourth in 6.46 and the U.S. jumper Grace Upshaw was fifth in 6.42m.

Concepcion had this to say of her win, " I am happy to have jumped well today. it was my best performance this year, so I am looking forward to the rest of the season. "

Kelly Sotherton is a crowd pleaser. She said this about her jumping, " I am pleased to get a decent result in front of a home crowd. In the past I seemed to have let myself down a little in Birmingham, so it was nice to get a good jump in. It's just a pity that I couldn't get that couple of extra centimeters to take the first place."

Men's 1,500 meters-Komen Leads the World!

This is how you run a 1,500 meters. First, you have two good pace setters, Michael Rotich of Kenya lead at 200 meters in 28.40, and 400 meters in 56.39 with Osmar Dos Santos of Brazil, Daniel Komen and Eliud Kipchoge in tow. Dos Santos took over, taking the six hundred meters in 1.24.96 and the 800 meters in a quick 1.53.62 with Komen taking over the lead as dos Santos moved off track at seven hundred meters.

Daniel Komen was a man on a mission. He wanted the fastest time in the world, which is 3.35.00 this year and he went for it, hitting 1300 meters in 2.51.69 and running the last lap very strongly, finishing in 3.34.26, the world leader. Eliud Kipchoge, the 2003 5,000m gold medalist, doing some speed work, ran 3.36.25 for second, his personal best!

The home crowd got a thrill as Neil Speaights of the UK, had a good, physical run by Ivan Hesko, and ran 3.38.65, a personal best by nearly three seconds from the British Championships last weekend. Speaights came across the line, knowing he had run well with arms raised! Hesko began a quick drop back in the pack.

Laban Rotich, who at 37 is running quite strong, was fourth in 3.39.97, in a seasonal best. Ivan Hesko, the tough Ukrainian distance runner, was sixth in 3.40.59. James Thie was seventh in a seasonal best of 3.41.14 and Eugenio Barrios, one of the young Spaniards, ran a pb in 3.41.23.

Daniel Komen had this to say, after his race: " I was hoping to run much faster today. The early pace was very good but had to do too much work on my own. My target today was to run close to 3.30 but I know I am in good shape going into the world indoor championships so I am not too worried."

Neal Speaights of the UK, with his smart three second personal best added the following commentary after his race: " I am over the moon with that. I was just trying to run sensibly and not try to do too much at the start. My job ws to come and beat James Thie, one of my best mates and use my kick at the end. I felt great at the end when I saw Heshko coming back to me, I could not believe it."

***** I was told by one agent that the British crowds were polite, but a bit quiet. Well, they sure got going when Jason Gardener was introduced! Kelly Southern recieved a warm reception as did Tatyana Isabayeva.

The stadium is completely full, at 10,000 plus. What is noticable is how well run the meet is. No extraneious people on the track which keeps it clear for viewing. No one hanging on the sides of the track, which keeps it clear. The paper coverings of Uk athletics which circle the stands, keep the track and stadium clean. The signage on the track is much less cluttered than U.S. and it is quite clear who spent the bucks over here.

There is the solid announcing of Peter Matthews, who is informative, but not overly demonstrative. He gets the crowd going and Mark Richardson, who is on the center of the field had some wonderful moments. The management had a green board put on the long jump pit to show where an elite jumper would go, for the fans, many who are not track fans, but are here because it is the thing to do in Birmingham. Mark Richardson would add a few comments, when appropriate about the height of the pole vault and the distance of the long jump. His post event interviews were quick and to the point.

**** Women's 60 meter final

Christine Arron, the two time bronze medalist in the sprints from France ( here medals were in Helsinki) is one of the most technically clean sprinters to watch. There is the belief that Arron just does not believe in herself, but she sure dropped that today.

Running from behind, Christine Arron took the lead midway and won in 7.16 over Kim Gevaert of Belgium, who was second in 7.20, Zhanna Block, the 2001 World Champ, in third, and in fourth, from the U.S., Torri Edwards, also in 7.21.

Christine Arron saw here race this way: " My start was not very good. All the other girls got out faster and I had to make a big effort to come back. My start could be better and it is something I have work on and then maybeI can get some faster times. I got a season's best but I came here to run faster than 7.17."

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Women's 400 meters

Tonique Darling of the Bahamas knows how to run the 400 meters indoors and outdoors. Hitting the 200 meters in 23.4, Darling took the lead and never let go, hitting 51.85, with Claudia Marx of Germany in second in 52.09. Helen Karagounis of Great Britian in 52.88, and Grazyna Prokopek of Poland in 52.90 for fourth. All four sprinters turned in season bests on the 200 meter Mondo surface here!

Men's 200 meters

Wallace Spearmon broke the world record for 300 meters indoors last weekend at the Tyson Indoor in Fayetteville, Arkansas. This weekend, Spearmon, who literally had a sack lunch before he got out of the blocks ( his start, .281,w as twice as slow as anyone else in the field), but he caught the field and made it his, with a fine run of 20.68. Tim Abeyie of Great Britian ran 20.86 for second, in a personal best. John Capel ran well, taking third here in 20.88, his seasonal best and Omar Brown of Jamaica ran 21.09, taking fourth in a seasonal best.

Spearmon has had much luck in the UK, besides this win, he first broke 20 seconds for 200 meters here at the London GP last outdoor season. " It is nice to win but felt a bit flat. I do not knos why as training has been very good. I was hoping for a better time in front of this crowd but I will put it down to jetlag."

Women's 200 meters

Veronica Campbell of Jamaica ran 22.84 for the win in the women's 200 meters. Peta Gaye Dowdie of Jamaica ran 23.02 for second and Christine Huruogu of the UK took third in 23.74.

" I am definitely happy with that, " said Veronica Campbell of her win. " A win is always good. i would like to have run a bit faster but overall I am happy with that race. I have been running a lot of 60s and this was my first 200 meters which is always hard. I am aiming for the 200 meters at the Commonwealth Games and the 60s have been a way of sharpening me up for Melbourne."

******

Mens Long Jump..Stringfellow Stumbles...

Ignisious Gaisah jumped 8.03m for the win here. Nathan Morgan of the UK, was second in 8.02m, but the drama here was that Morgan needed a jump of 8.10m to be selected for the World Indoors.

Salim Sdiri of France was third in 8.01. Savante Stringfellow, who was seventh in 7.63 had a scare where he felt his knee just go out and he was in the pit for a while until they were able to move him. At the time of this publication, we did not know the details on his injury.

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Women's 60 meter hurdles

Lacena Golding Clarke ran 7.87, very clearly over the hurdles to win over Michelle Perry, of the US in 7.88, Aurelia Trywianska of Poland in 7.93, her personal best, and Glory Alzoie of Spain in 7.96.

Golding Clarke added after the race: " I came here to do my best as I am a world leader I have tried to main my standard. The crowd here was wonderful and they really helped with my performance today. I have got a couple of weeks and I am going home for a rest and back to training hard. I am looking for very big things in the future."

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Womens' 3000 meters

The night before the meet, on the second day of the Russian indoor championships, Lillya Shobukhova of Russia broke the world record for 3k by over two seconds in Moscow, Russia. This changed the world record chase a bit. Shobukhova ran 8.27.86, with Olesya Syreva of Russia in second in 8.29.00, also under the former record!

Kenia Sinclair of Jamaica took the Dibaba sisters through 2.50.13 for the first kilometer and the race was on. The second kilometer was hit in 5.51.74 with Tirunesh Dibaba in the lead, but Dibaba would have had to run a last 1k in under 2.35!

Running her last kilometer under 2.50, Tirunesh Dibaba, the 5k/10k world champion, ran a seasonal best of 8.41.22. Ejagayehu Dibaba of Ethiopia, the bronze medalist in 5k and 10k, ran her personal best of 8.49.59. Lidia Chojeka of Poland ran 8.56.69, for third, her seasonal best as Wioltetta Janowska of Poland was fourth in 8.57.91. Julia Coulaud of France ran a personal best of 8.58.53 for fifth, and Tatyana Golovchenko of the Ukraine ran 8.59.90, a seasonal best for sixth. Kate Reed continued her demolition of her 3k best, running 9.05.77 here for ninth.

Tirunesh Dibaba commented after her race as follows: " That was a good race and a good time for me. I do like to race inside as well as outside in the cross country I am feeling good and happy that I won."

***88

Men's Two Mile....Bekele is human, as for Mr. G.....

The two mile run is a tough event. It requires the speed of a miler and the endurance of a 10,000 specialist. Do not respect the event, and you are chopped liver. Emiel Puttemans, the great Belgian runner, ran 8.13.2 in 1973 and no one came near his record for years. It was nearly untouchable.

Kenenisa Bekele watched Haile Gebresalassie on television from Ethiopia, way back in 2000, when Mr. G held off the competition in the 10,0000 meters, and three years later, he beat his hero over 10,000 meters in Paris at the 2003 World Championships.

One of the toughest records that Mr. G has run was his world indoor two mile record, of 8.04.69, where he ran his first mile in 4.01.4. This was run on February 21, 2003.

Well, Kenenisa Bekele made a serious run at this record today and he came ohh, soo close!

Vincent Le Dauphin of France took the pack through 1000 meters, hitting 400 meters in 60.12, 800 meters in 2.00.32 and 1k in 2.31.15 before he retired.

Then Tariku Bekele of Ethiopia, Kenenisa's little brother took thelead, hitting 1200 meters in 3.02.50, just off the record pace.

Kenenisa Bekele took the race from there, running a 61.4 to hit the mile in 4.09.93. Then the magic began, as the crowd was cheering, Bekele ran 60.18, 60.04 and 60.72 before he ran his final 400 meters in 60.18! A second mile in 4.01.4!

Bekele pushed and the crowd went mad as he just missed the world record, running a fine 8.05.12, obviously his personal best! It was the second best ever! Tariku Bekele ran 8.13.32, his seasonal best, for second and Shadrack Korir of Kenya ran a seasonal best of 8.14.84 and Markos Geneti of Ethiopia was fourth in 8.17.39, with Paul Bitok of Kenay in a seasonal best of 8.27.60.

The sight of Bekele in full pursuit is something to behold. His form is much more that of a middle distance runner-his arms are pumped with much effort and his stride is perfect, not too high of a kick back as he relentlessly pushes on. His quality of running, his artistry, is his ability to change gears over and over again, willing himself to the finish line...

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Men's 60 meters

Freddy Mayola of Cuba surprised Jason Gardener of the UK, a crowd favorite, 6.55 to 6.57 with Mark Findlay of the UK third in 6.62. John Capel completed his double this day, finishing fifth here in 6.70.

******

Women's Pole Vault

Yelena Isinbayeva is a rock star. She is athletic, she is the world record holder, she is Bubka with a better body (well, in my mind). The crowds love her and adidas is laughing all the way to the bank, each time a photo goes up on a website, on ESPN, on Eurosport. Isinbayeva is adidas, pure and simple.

Well, on February 12, 2006, in Donetsk, Russia, Isinbayeva cleared 16 1 3/4, or 4.91 meters for a new world record.

Here is how the event goes now, that the Queen of the Vault has arrived. First, the pretenders go by 4.45 and Isinbayeva comes in between 4.50 or 4.55m . Jillian Schwartz of the US went out at 4.45m, with Svetalana Feofanova at the same height.

But tonight, Anna Rogowska of Poland was having a great night, with a national record for Poland of 4.79, which came on her final attempts.

Isinbayeva had two clearances, 4.65m and 4.79, both on the first attempts, and then made three good, but tired attempts at 4.92 a new world indoor record, but it was not to be--but the queen of the vault was human tonight.

No matter, for the 10,000 Birminghamians saw a great track meet, run on time, with strong competition, a nicely lit and staged track and another feather in the hat of British athletics and Fast Track.

Tomorrow I will write up a bit on what I have learnt from this meet, watch for that early next week!

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