Merritt, Isinbayeva struggle ahead of Games
Source: Agencies |
July 22, 2012, Sunday
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Print Edition
Print Edition
AMERICAN runner LaShawn Merritt and Russian pole vaulter Yelena Isinbayeva both had a tough night at the Herculis meet in Monaco on Friday, one week before heading to London to defend their Olympic titles.
Merritt, a two-time Olympic gold medalist, pulled up in the men's 400 meters clutching his left hamstring just as he was heading into the home stretch to challenge for victory.
Isinbayeva, the two-time defending Olympic champion, failed to clear 4.70 meters in a below-par performance that drew groans of disappointment from the Stade Louis II crowd and will give her rivals hope of beating her in London.
Merritt pulled up sharply after feeling a sudden twinge. He then hopped up and down and held the back of his left leg, flexing and kicking it to test how tight his hamstring was. The 26-year-old looked relaxed about the injury afterward, smiling and optimistic that there was no reason to worry about his participation in London.
"It feels kind of tight, it feels like after a cramp. After you have a cramp you have that soreness, but the fact that I can do this (flexing his leg) is reassuring," Merritt said after the race, which was won by Belgium's Jonathan Borlee.
Isinbayeva set the mark at 4.70 for her entry into the competition. Egged on by the crowd, the two-time world champion muttered to herself as she prepared for her third and final attempt, but the groans were loud as she clattered through the bar.
"I felt ready for jumping today but everything went differently than I had expected," she said. "I am physically and mentally ready for the Olympics, but of course, as a human being, I worry like any other competitor. I will train hard for London."
Germany's Silke Spiegelburg won the event when she cleared 4.82 - the world's best mark this year.
American Aries Merritt roared to yet another sub-13 second victory in the 110-meter hurdles while Nigerian sprinter Blessing Okagbare won the women's 100 meters.
After China's Liu Xiang pulled out injured from the final at a cold and wet Crystal Palace a week ago, Merritt won in 12.93 and he ran the same world-leading time for the third time in three weeks on Friday.
Fellow-American Jason Richardson was second in 13.07, with Russia's Sergie Shubenkov edging out another American, Beijing bronze medalist David Oliver, for third.
Okagbare posted 10.96 to win ahead of Tianna Madison, who will also run in London, in 10.99 with fellow American Jeneba Tarmoh third in 11.09.
Merritt, a two-time Olympic gold medalist, pulled up in the men's 400 meters clutching his left hamstring just as he was heading into the home stretch to challenge for victory.
Isinbayeva, the two-time defending Olympic champion, failed to clear 4.70 meters in a below-par performance that drew groans of disappointment from the Stade Louis II crowd and will give her rivals hope of beating her in London.
Merritt pulled up sharply after feeling a sudden twinge. He then hopped up and down and held the back of his left leg, flexing and kicking it to test how tight his hamstring was. The 26-year-old looked relaxed about the injury afterward, smiling and optimistic that there was no reason to worry about his participation in London.
"It feels kind of tight, it feels like after a cramp. After you have a cramp you have that soreness, but the fact that I can do this (flexing his leg) is reassuring," Merritt said after the race, which was won by Belgium's Jonathan Borlee.
Isinbayeva set the mark at 4.70 for her entry into the competition. Egged on by the crowd, the two-time world champion muttered to herself as she prepared for her third and final attempt, but the groans were loud as she clattered through the bar.
"I felt ready for jumping today but everything went differently than I had expected," she said. "I am physically and mentally ready for the Olympics, but of course, as a human being, I worry like any other competitor. I will train hard for London."
Germany's Silke Spiegelburg won the event when she cleared 4.82 - the world's best mark this year.
American Aries Merritt roared to yet another sub-13 second victory in the 110-meter hurdles while Nigerian sprinter Blessing Okagbare won the women's 100 meters.
After China's Liu Xiang pulled out injured from the final at a cold and wet Crystal Palace a week ago, Merritt won in 12.93 and he ran the same world-leading time for the third time in three weeks on Friday.
Fellow-American Jason Richardson was second in 13.07, with Russia's Sergie Shubenkov edging out another American, Beijing bronze medalist David Oliver, for third.
Okagbare posted 10.96 to win ahead of Tianna Madison, who will also run in London, in 10.99 with fellow American Jeneba Tarmoh third in 11.09.
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