Vladimir Nikitin smashes a new 1500m record at the Russian athletics championships
The wrap-up competitions took place today at the Central stadium in Kazan. Vladimir Nikitin set a new 1500m Russian Championships record. He ran the distance in 3:35.85.
"I ran as fast as I could until the end. I struggled with the wind, the competitors and myself," shared his emotions the athlete after the run. "I was afraid they would catch up with me." As he said, he did not expect to improve his time today or set a new Russian championships record. "We were preparing more for the "five", but I did not have enough strength to deliver the result I was hoping for in the 500m. No I will rest."
Sergey Dubrovskii finished second with a result of 3:40,18. Valentin Smirnov became a bronze medallist of the championships having run the distance in 3:41,35.
At the women's event the crown went to Aleksandra Gulyaeva (4:05,00). "The most important today was the tactics, an experience to get to understand how to reach the victory. It was hard, of course," noted the medallist after the run. "Many thanks to other girls as well, the competition was very tense, it's cool. Everyone was pretty much of the same level, so everybody was "pushing", looking for a better place and a better way to run, it was a little hard."
Elena Korobkina received silver (4:07,45). Inessa Gusarova (4:07,87) finished third.
Ekaterina Koneva topped the podium in the triple jump. Her best result was 14.79m. Darya Nidbaikina followed the winner with a result of 14.13m. Natalya Evdokimova became a bronze medallist (13.92m).
"I will not hide the fact that of course I am pleased with the result, even though I would love to jump a bit farther. I missed some technical trainings because of an injury. We decided not take a risk, so here is the result," said Elena Koneva. "As to the injury, we wanted to cross a 15m line, and it turned out like this. This is not a limit and I realize it, there is something to work on, and I see my mistakes. The championships is like a good training for me in the lead-up to the Europeans." She told us that like many other athletes she would wait for an admission to international tournaments now. Today she comes back to Sochi to see her family and a kid and to continue the trainings. "I hope something will be clear until 26 July. I would love it so much to participate in the European championships, perform well and prove everyone that the Russian athletics is safe and sound and we can jump far.
Aleksandr Yurchenko was the first in the men's event with a result of 16.98m. Aleksey Fedorov grabbed silver 16.76m. Dmitry Sorokin with a result of 16.76 wrapped up the top 3.
Several relays were also held on the final day. In the women's 4 × 400 metres relay the team Moscow took the crown (3:34,18). The Moscow Oblast team was second (3:34,61), and bronze went to Perm Krai (3:34,94).
In the men's event, the team from Saint Petersburg proved to be the fastest (3:04,88). Tyumen Oblast earned silver (3:05,43). Irkutsk Oblast finished third (3:09,67).
The team of Krasnodar Krai topped the podium in the men's 4 x 100m relay (39,73). The top 3 also included Ulyanovsk Oblast (39,81) and Saint Petersburg (39,84).
The best result in the women's event was delivered by a team from Saint Petersburg (44.93).