ATHLETICS. Lack of stars, excess of intrigue – Russian championships preview

The national trials for Osaka, to go in the ancient town of Tula from July, 31 to August, 3, promise tough competition although lack most famed stars. While the squad for Osaka is still to be named after the trials, six reigning World champions and seven athletes who have already proved there absolute leadership in the country, have got from the head coach Valery Kulichenko an excuse to miss the team selection in Tula. Among this impressive group – Olympic champions Elena Slesarenko and Tatyana Lebedeva, world record holder Gulnara Samitova-Galkina, Andrey Tereshin, Elena Soboleva, Gulfiya Khanafeyeva  and Tatyana Kotova. 

Those who are still to compete have to fight mainly for the first place according to the selection formula “1+2”. The winner gets the ticket to Osaka automatically, while two others are to be selected by the coach council. And if to take into account the huge group of non-participants, in many disciplines one place in the squad seems to be already occupied.

Lonely star Yuriy Borzakovskiy

The Olympic champion in Athens Yuriy Borzakovskiy have not met tough competition in the country for years. Russia’s number two Dmitry Bogdanov, coached also by Vyacheslav Evstratov, does not look to be ready, both mentally and physically, to beat the leader. Still Borzakovskiy may try to follow the South African Mbulaeni Mulaudzi with his season best run in Monaco – 1:43,74. Having clocked 1:44,38 this season, Borzakovskiy will have the last chance to improve before his duel with Mulaudzi at the “Russian Challenge” on August, 5.

Five to rival in Isinbaeva’s absence

In the absence of the World record holder, Olympic champion and the World champion 2005 Yelena Isinbaeva, the battle for the three places left in the squad promises to be tough. Olympic silver medalist Svetlana Feofanova seems to get close to her best shape with 4,71 m jump this season. Vice-European indoor champion 2007 Yuliya Golubchikova and bronze medalist from Geteborg 2006 Tatyana Polnova who have 4,70 and 4,72 m jumps respectively are also to prove their status for Osaka. Young Anastasia Shvedova (4.65) and Alexandra Kiryashova (4,50) haven’t yet lost chances to be in the squad. Still the number of the team will much depend on the results as Kulichenko does not see much sense in bringing all four pole vaulters to Osaka unless the results are high.

Tough battle for high jumpers

As the World Indoor Champs 2006 silver medalist Andrey Tereshin has got an excuse from Tula after the win at the European Champions Cup, high jumpers will have to share two places left in the squad. World indoor champion Yaroslav Rybakov with 2,34 m this season seems to be a favorite. The only jumper to clear the 2,40 m mark after Javier Sotomayor Vyacheslav Voronin is gaining shape with 2, 30 jump in Belgrad. The same result showed the trio of Alexey Dmitrik, Pavel Fomenko and Alexandr Shustov. And this is when the European champion Andrey Silnov (2,27) and world indoor record holder Ivan Ukhov (2,20) are still more or less far from their best conditions.

In the women’s high jump sector Anna Chicherova and Yekaterina Savchenko look firm favorites for the squad. After clearing 2,00 m mark for the first time in her life this season, the experienced 30-year-old Savchenko is just 2 cm ahead of Chicherova (1,98 m this summer).

Women middle distances solid as usual

The competition at the women middle distance runs is expected to be at a high level, which is typical of Russia in the recent years. In 800 m, even in the absence of Yelena Soboleva, there are six others to go out of two minutes, including European indoor champion 2007 Oksana Zbrozhek (1:58,80), Svetlana Cherkasova (1:59.03) and the Olympic 2000 bronze medalist in 400 m relay, reigning European outdoor champion in 800 m Olga Kotlyarova (1:59,98).

World indoor champion 2006 Yuliya Chizhenko-Fomenko with an impressive run in Athens for 4:00,7 will have to face at 1500 m experienced Olga Egorova and the world number one pacemaker Olga Komyagina, who has declared serious intentions to fight for the place in the squad for Osaka.

Lebedeva not sure about the long jump

In the women long jump sector much depends on the decision of the Olympic champion in this event Tatyana Lebedeva if to combine both triple and long jump in Osaka. Lebedeva has already got guaranteed place in the squad in the triple jump, and may with high possibility get an excuse from the nationals in the long jump if she feels ready for this. This case the world leader Lyudmila Kolchanova (7,21 m), world number three Irina Simagina (7,11) and Oksana Udmurtova (7,11) will have to jump for only one place left in the team after Lebedeva and Kotova. With 6,90 jump this season Kotova has been included in the team after winning with Russia the European Champions Cup, but made wind assist over 7 meter jump – 7,10, in Albufeira.

In the men long jump Ruslan Gataullin with 8,29 jump at the start of the season in Sochi will be opposed by well experienced Kirill Sosunov (8,04) and young hope Dmitry Sapinskiy (8,05).
The triple jumper Danil Burkenya, fifth in the world this season (17,48 m), after the third place at Golden League in Rome, may face competition from gaining confidence Alexander Petrenko (17,29).

Relay squad – the main question for 100 and 400 m

While men sprinters are still lagging behind, women 100, 200 and 400 m sprints promise tough battle for the place in the relay team. The 100 m relay in the squad of Yuliya Guschina, Natalia Rusakova, Irina Khabarova and Yekaterina Grigorieva in Geteborg became the first European champions in this event in Russian history. And now, with the help of the country number one in 100 m Yevgenia Polyakova and the special scientific group to minimize the time of the bar transfer, the team is getting ready to fight for the medals in Osaka.

In 400 m, with no under 50 seconds results, there is still a number of athletes to make a reasonable relay. Among them – Natalya Antyukh (50,90), European champion Svetlana Pospelova (51,13) and the famed world indoor and outdoor champion Natalia Nazarova, although far from her best conditions (51,36).

Pishchalnikova and Konevtseva unopposed in Tula

In the throws the main attention would be at the promising 22-year-old European champion 2006  Darya Pishchalnikova, with 64,15 m result this season. In the women hammer throw, in the absence of the world record holder Tatyana Lysenko, who is not likely to compete in Osaka, and Gulfiya Khanafeyeva  Yelena Konevtseva with the throw of 76,21 looks to be the main favorite to take the place in the squad.

The squad for 10 000 m, heptathlon, decathlon, race walk and marathons already announced

Since the nationals in the long run and poliathlons have already taken place in Zhukowcki, the squad for Osaka in these events is formed. Besides the world junior champion and the world leader Tatyana Chernova, who has got the right to miss the team selection, in the squad are Russian champion Anna Bogdanova and Olga Kurban. In the men event Alexey Drozdov and the new European junir record holder Alexey Sysoyev are in the squad. The only to represent Russia at the 10 000 m distance will be the champion Inga Abitova.  Gulnara Vygovskaya, Lyubov Morgunova, Nailiya Yulamanova and Galina Bogomolova are to compete at the marathon. At the race walk, the team of eleven has been selected, including the Olympic 2004 silver medalist and current world number two Denis Nizhegorodov and the reigning world champion and also the silver medalist from Athens Olimpiada Ivanova.

Natalia Maryanchik