Great Day Of Sport, Manchester 15 May (& weekend domestic action)

First topic message reminder :

The Great Day Of Sport that takes place in Manchester on Sunday towers dominantly over the home scene this weekend with a glow that reaches the furthest corners of the planet as the event has gathered enormous success through the years. So much so that many global brightest track and field stars come to line up over a diverse range of events and surfaces, with even an open water race incorporated since last year.

As a matter of fact, the timing of the street sport showpiece could have hardly been better as Manchester will be buzzing with excitement, anticipation and fever since the two football legends of the city, United and City, are gearing up to sweep the domestic and international board through the following few weeks. Manchester United are within half a stride of securing a record 19th Premier League title and clash with Barcelona in the Champion League's final at Wembley while City faces Stoke in the FA Cup final.

Haile Gebrselassie, Tyson Gay, Jessica Ennis, Allyson Felix, Angelo Taylor, Christine Ohuruogu, Bershawn Jackson, Shawn Crawford, Andy Turner, Terrence Trammelle and Francis Obikwelu will be among the stars on show and fireworks should be anticipated blazing up the Manchester skyscape on Sunday.

Great City Games Official Website:
http://www.greatcitygames.org/Events/Great-Manchester-City-Games/Default.aspx

Let's make another round abroad to gather some British performances still left to be mentioned over here.

At Montgeron in France, Samson Oni opened his season with a fourth place on countback at 2.18m in the high jump, before failing all three times at 2.21m.

At the same meet, former world champion Trecia Smith (JAM) set a SB of 14.33m (0.9m/sec) in the triple jump to show some solid form again after a long while and Morocco's Aziz Ouaihdi ran a very interesting 10.13 secs on a perfect tailwind (2.0m/sec), which ought to be a national record.

In Clemson, USA, Natalie Pearson won the women's 200m in a SB of 23.72 secs (1.1m/sec) where she came third in the short dash in 11.70 secs (0.4m/sec). The performance of the meet was arguably American U23 Justin Murdock's big PB of 10.13 secs (1.8m/sec).

In Gothenburg (SWE), at the Kasta Loss Throws meet, world U20 champion and new UK record holder Sophie Hitchon opened with 63.72m in the women's hammer but then suffered three straight fouls before coming back with a last ditch 63.60m for third in the end. I don't think she must have been pleased with that but I guess she's entitled to the occasional slip-up on the way like anyone else.

Former UK No1 Zoe Derham was fifth with a fifth round 61.10m and Rachael Gair seventh at 57.95m.

In the discus, UK champion Jade Nicholls had to endure some poor throwing before she came up with a fifth round SB of 55.63m to snatch top place against the flow of the competition while Rebecca Peake got a SB of 15.77m in the shot.

Over to the men and Chris Scott recorded a second attempt SB of 58.79m to take top spot, with two more throws over 57m, as U23 Zane Duquemin was second with a big PB of 56m sharp with the senior implement, bagging a second one of 17.17m in the shot to the good.

Finally, Alex Smith was second with a last-gasp 69.84m in the hammer, with Mike Floyd third at 68.67m and Mark Dry fourth with 65.94m.

Across the Atlantic and in North Carolina, Hannah Brooks made a double over 800 and 1500m in a SB of 2:04.88 and 4:16.92, slightly outside her recent PB, respectively where David Forrester came fourth in the 1500m in 3:44.98, a SB.

At the Mountain West Conference, Sam Evans was third in 1:50.24 over 800m, as was Keith Gerrard in the 5000m in 14:14.27. Ross Millington and Rory Fraser had a poor day at the office in 7th and 8th well behind.

A nice surprise was U23 Jonny van Deventer's massive PB of 3:43.34 for third in the 1500m at the Swarthmore Last Chance meet, down from 3:49.05 earlier this season.

Also, Stephen Lisgo was top of the 3000m steeplechase in 8:58.71 (SB), sixth Brit under 9 mins this term, as Matthew Graham was a place behind in 9:01.20. Kris Gauson also won the 800m in 1:49.43, a SB.

Finally, down in Jacksonville in Florida, Amy Harris made a further display of her new-found speed in a slightly windy 11.54 secs (2.2m/sec) in poor weather, which she has also set in legal wind conditions, as well as long-jumped 6.29m (2.9m/sec) in one of her only two valid attempts, passing both her last two attempts. Ammending something I said earlier, the women's 100m hurdles final took place but Angelita Broadbelt-Blake opted out due to the conditions, having run the fastest time in qualification.

Time to put together the whole picture of the domestic action round the various county championships this weekend with some further performances that haven't been mentioned yet.

At the Leicestershire & Rutland & Warwick champs at Nuneaton, world U20 silver medallist Laura Samuel got her outdoor season off to easily her best ever opener of 13.38m to move second in the UK lists, albeit there hasn't been a wind-reading attached to yet. She also long-jumped 5.83m and was second in the 100m in a marginally windy 12.2 secs (2.1m/sec).

In the men's 200m, Somto Erutchie and Julian Thomas ran 21.3 secs apiece but aided by strong winds of 5.3 and 3.7m/sec respectively where Laura Langowski won the 400m in 54.8 secs, U20 800m runner Rowena Cole coming second in 57.1.

At the Kent County Champs in Ashford, Nick Leavey set 21.6 secs in the 200m into a -1.0m/sec headwind with also 400m man Dan Putnam, part of Britain's 4x400m relay at the World U20 Championships last summer, third in 21.9 secs. The latter also ran 10.8 in the 100m (all were handtimed).

Former European U20 bronze medallist Steve Fennell edged the 1500m in 3:49.2 ahead of impressive 17-year-old Robbie Farnham-Rose who posted a huge PB of 3:49.5 - a new name to watch on the U20 scene.

Scott Rider also put 17.88m in the shot.

At Horspath and the Buckinghamshire Champs, world U20 finalist Daniel Pembroke returned to 70m province with a best of 70.23m in the men's javelin. Michael Cox was behind him at 66.06m.

Kate Avery, an U23 this season, made a low-key first appearance in a 4:28.35 solo 1500m at the North Eastern Champs in Gateshead.

Down in Derby at the Nottinghamshire Champs, David Parker-coached U20 Tesni Ward extended her recent PB and UK-lead to 50.78m in the javelin while Michael Warmer set 48.0 secs in the men's 400m.

In Kingston and the Surrey Champs, Helen Pryer ran 24.24 secs into a fierce headwind of -3.3m/sec in the 200m while 17-year-old Katie Snowden was second in the 400m in 56.61 secs, a 54.59 performer last year, and Felix Hatton threw a SB of 68.32m in the javelin.

Finally, at the Merceyside Champs in Liverpool Katarina Johnson-Thompson ran a wind-assisted 12.23 secs in the 100m (4.3m/sec) and threw 10.43m in the shot while Laura Douglas sent the hammer to 57.70m at Deeside and the North Wales Champs.

Hey Isabre, this has nothing to do with the topic here, but do you know when Dai Greene is going to open his account this season? With Van Zyl's stellar performances be interesting to see what Dai could come up with...

Dai Greene opens up at the Diamond League meeting in Rome on May 26 as concerns the hurdles but he could be doing some sharpener over a flat distance beforehand as I've come to understand.

Thanks!

Great Haile Gebrselassie says that Chris Thompson is the one to watch:

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/othersports/athletics/8515540/Haile-Gebrselassie-tips-Briton-Chris-Thompson-for-the-top-after-his-superb-effort-in-the-Great-Manchester-Run.html

I'd like to correct a couple of things in the above article, though. Chris Thompson is 30 years old, born on 17-4-1981, and Helen Clitheroe is focussing on the 5000m but her interest over an outing in the 10000m has been fuelled since her Sunday win in Manchester.

Come to that, here's the Legend Haile Gebrselassie talking to Jonathan Edwards after the end of the men's 10km race in Manchester on Sunday:

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/athletics/13404571.stm

Following up, Chris Thompson reflects on the race and his season plans talking to Jonathan Edwards:

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/athletics/13404573.stm

The highlight of the Great Day Of Sport in Manchester, Tyson Gay's lightning 14.51 secs over a wet track in the men's 150m:

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/athletics/13406399.stm

The women's 200m with Allyson Felix storming through to 22.12 secs, followed by Christine Ohuruogu's post-race interview:

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/athletics/13406397.stm

And, finally, the women's 100mh race in Manchester followed by Jessica Ennis's post-race interview:

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/athletics/13404579.stm