Szabo's late surge leaves Szekely high and dry

By K. P. Mohan

EDMONTON, AUG. 8. Two huge kicks within the last 225 metres took Gabriela Szabo past the rest, including hot favourite Violeta Szekely, and on to her maiden global title in the 1500 metres on the fifth day of the World athletic Championships here on Tuesday.

Beaten by the Russians, involved in a court case with Szekely and generally having a low-key season so far, this was Szabo's way of announcing that on a `level playing field' she was ready to tackle any distance and any opponent.

The day, rather late evening action, also produced a crushing victory for Swiss Andre Bucher in the 800 metres, a sweep by the Ethiopian women, led by Derartu Tulu, in the 10,000 metres, a razor-keen women's long jump competition in which Italian Fiona May won by a centimetre from Tatyana Kotova and a new champion in women's hammer throw, in the form of Cuban Yipsi Moreno.

A new face also emerged in the women's 400 metres when Senegal's Amy Thiam Mbacke won after a pulsating battle with Mexican Ana Guevara and Jamaican Lorraine Fenton on the home straight to the delight of the IAAF's Senegalese President, Mr. Lamine Diack.

It's Dvorak again

Expectedly, former World record holder and defending champion, Tomas Dvorak of the Czech Republic, finished with the gold in decathlon, accumulating 8902 points, a new championship record.

The calculators were not out to discuss possibilities before the final event, the 1500 metres. Olympic champion Erki Nool of Estonia, pushing ahead through his favourite pole vault, took the silver while Briton Dean Macey was third.

World record holder Roman Sebrle of the Czech Republic, who slipped some 10 places following an injury he suffered in the 110m hurdles, where he clocked a miserable 16.97 to score only 627 points, eventually finished 10th with 8174. For Dvorak, this was his third title in the championships.

A series of defeats on the Grand Prix circuit this season had raised doubts about Szabo's capacity to win a gold here. But on the eve of these championships, she had promised that she was ready.

Little did one realise that she was ready even for the metric mile, which is not her favourite event, and over which distance she had not run a race this season.

Szekely had won practically everything that mattered on the circuit in the 1500 metres, but she fell into Szabo's trap. Russian Natalya Gorolova did all the front-running, took the bell and seemed to be speeding away on the back straight before Szabo took over.

The Romanian's first `kick' did not produce the desired result as Gorolova hung on with Szekely still very much in the race.

From 130 metres out, Szabo kicked again and this time, neither the Russian nor Szekely, could respond adequately. Szabo majestically strode alone in front on the straight and finished in 4:00.57. Szekely came home a minute-plus behind while Goroloa took the bronze in 4:02.40. Portugal's Carla Sacramento, the 1997 winner, was fourth.

Szabo turned around and took Szekely's hand, raised it and then held the Romanian flag through a lap of honour.

``I do not talk to her and she does not talk to me. But life goes on,'' said Szabo of her relationship with Szekely ever since she called her countrywoman `ugly' and then defended herself in a lawsuit, which since had been withdrawn.

Quite amazingly, the MC at the post-race press conference, asked Szekely what was the race plan she and Szabo had devised. There was a bewildered look on Szekely's face as she tried to answer the question.

Szabo was so happy that she did not want to discuss the Olga Yegorova issue today nor her plans to run or withdraw from the 5000 metres in case the Russian was allowed to run.

Szabo had ended up with the silver in the 1500m at the 1996 Atlanta Olympics while she won the bronze at the Sydney Games last year.

Fiona May's joy knew no bounds as she ran around like a child after clinching the long jump gold with just a centimetre to spare from Russian Tatyana Kotova. She had touched a wind- aided 7.02 on her third attempt while Kotova answered with a 7.01 in the next round. Both failed to touch seven metres after that.

``I was really sick of getting second all the time. I think I did not even believe that I could win anymore,'' said Fiona. She has fond memories of the city where she had claimed her first title in the 1988 World junior championships.

Kotova was naturally disappointed. Dominant throughout the season she responded magnificently to Fiona's challenge but in the end lost by a centimetre. That should rankle for some time.

Bungei, the pace-setter

In the men's 800 metres, Andre Bucher had Kenyan William Bungei to set the pace. He obviously did not want a slow race in which everything could come down to the `kick' and run routine from about 200 metres away. Bungei did a good job at the head of the pack opening with a lap of 50.41.

Once the runners hit the back straight, there was jockeying for positions. Bucher did not wait for long, speeding away decisively from the rest for a fluent, unchallenged victory in 1:43.70. Bungei, having decided to try his luck with a medal, got the silver in 1:44.55. Pole Pawel Czapiewski, running wide from 90, claimed the bronze in a personal best of 1:44.63.

``Bungei ran the perfect race for me. We both wanted a fast race. He probably went out for his chances to get a medal. I was very pleased because I did not want a technical race,'' said Bucher.

Amy Thiam Mbacke just about managed to edge Ana Guevara and Lorraine Fenton in the women's 400 metres. The Senegalese won with a national record of 49.86, while Fenton and Guevara clocked season bests.

Amy passed Guevara during the last five metres while Fenton came through from the outside and all but shocked the eventual winner. She did get the better of Guevara.

Nigerian Falilat Ogunkoya, one of the strong contenders for a medal, was unlucky to pull up with an injury on the back straight during the first lap itself.

Yipsi Moreno threw the hammer to a Caribbean record of 70.65 while upsetting the calculations of Olga Kuzenkova. The Russian came just four centimetres behind while Australian Bronwyn Eagles claimed the bronze. A strapped Kamila Skolimowska of Poland, the Olympic champion, could reach only 68.05m for the fourth place.

With the World record holder, Mihaela Melinte of Romania under suspension for a doping offence, Kuzenkova would have been expected to dominate the field. That did not happen as the former World record holder fouled three times to spoil her chances.

Just as it was in the Sydney Olympics, Paula Radcliffe could not come up with a `kick' that mattered most in the women's 10,000 metres. Derartu Tulu added the World title to her Olympic crown as Ethiopia fielded four women, including the wild card Gete Wami, in the 10,000 metres. Berhane Adere, her teammate, tried very hard on the straight to match her senior colleague but failed, though she had the silver. Wami finished with the bronze.

Radcliffe, winner of the World cross-country title this year, did try rather belatedly to break loose from the Ethiopians, but her move, nearly three and a half laps from the finish, did not succeed. The Ethiopians latched onto her and once Tulu took the `bell' in front, with Berhane and Wami in pursuit, Radcliffe's fate was sealed. Berhane made a great attempt to overhaul Tulu near the finish-line, but the Olympic champion looked destined to add this World title to her collection.

10 athletes under scrutiny

Even as the International Association of Athletics Federations (IAAF) announced that the Brazilian girl, 800m runner Fabiane dos Santos had tested positive, it revealed that about 10 athletes could be under scrutiny for EPO-testing through urine samples.

Those 10 from among the 100-odd tested under the IAAF's testing programme, included Russian Olga Yegorova, according to the IAAF.

These athletes, whose blood was initially tested, would be tested on their urine samples. Results were expected before August 9, the day the heats in the women's 5000 metres are scheduled.

Gabriela Szabo who won the 1500 metres today, had threatened to pull out of the 5000 metres if Yegorova was allowed to compete. Other runners were also reportedly planning a sit-in just before the start of the heats to voice their protest.

Fabiane dos Santos, who scored some splendid victories in the 800 metres this season, was found to have an abnormal level of testosterone. She tested positive at the Brazilian Grand Prix in Rio de Janeiro in May. ``Confidentiality was maintained in this case until the `B' sample results were confirmed,'' the IAAF said in a statement. Fabiane has been suspended by the Brazilian federation.

The results:

Men's 800m: 1. Andre Bucher (Sui) 1:43.70, 2. Wilfred Bungei (Ken) 1:44.55, 3. Pawel Czapiewski (Pol) 1:44.63.

Decathlon: 1. Tomas Dvorak (Cze) 8902 pts (Meet Record, old 8837), 2. Erki Nool (Est) 8815, 3. Dean Macey (Gbr) 8603.

Women's 400m: Amy Thiam Mbacke (Sen) 49.86s, 2. Lorraine Fenton (Jam) 49.88, 3. Ana Guevara (Mex) 49.97.

Women's 1500m: 1. Gabriela Szabo (Rom) 4:00.57, 2. Violeta Szekely (Rom) 4:01.70, 3. Natalya Gorelova (Rus) 4:02.40.

Women's 10,000m: 1. Derartu Tulu (Eth) 31:48.81, 2. Berhane Adere (Eth) 31:48.85, 3. Gete Wami (Eth) 31:49.98.

Women's long jump: 1. Fiona May 7.02m, 2. Tatyna Kotova (Rus) 7.01, 3. Niurka Montalvo (Esp) 6.88.

Women's hammer throw: 1. Yipsi Moreno (Cub) 70.65m, 2 . Olga Kuzenkova (Rus) 70.61, 3. Bronwyn Eagles (Aus) 68.67.

Thursday's finals

Send this article to Friends by E-Mail

Section  : Sport
Next     : Qualifiers spotted