The Hindu : Sport / Olympic Games : Noguchi triumphs with ease

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Monday, Aug 23, 2004

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Sport - Olympic Games

Noguchi triumphs with ease

By S. Thyagarajan

ATHENS, AUG. 22. In a superb display of endurance and efficiency, Japan's 26-year-old Mizuki Noguchi picked up the women's marathon gold, even as the world record holder Paula Radcliffe of Britain collapsed at the 36-km mark on Sunday evening.

Noguchi was timed at 2:26:20s, followed by Catherine Nderba of

Kenya and Ethiopia's Effenesh Alemu.

Three-time world indoor champion Stefan Holm took the Olympic men's high jump title for Sweden after becoming the only competitor to clear 2.36 metres.

Holm, the world outdoor silver medallist in Paris last year, failed twice at 2.34 but cleared the bar with his final attempt. He then leaped 2.36 before facing an anxious wait while he waited for his opponents to attempt the mark.

None managed and Holm was confirmed as champion. American Matt Hemmingway was second and Jaroslav Baba of the Czech Republic took the bronze.

It's Olsson

Olsson, last year's world indoor and outdoor champion, then took the triple jump by soaring to a National record 17.79 metres. Marian Oprea of Romania, the only jumper to have beaten Olsson in his last 30 meets, won the silver at 17.55. Danila Burkenya of Russia took the bronze at 17.48.

Known in her country as `the queen of half-marathon,' the pint-sized Noguchi, who is among the top-10 in the all-time list, demonstrated the advantage of being a front-runner throughout the course.

Striding fluently, it was Radcliffe who set the pace to lead the field for about an hour, challenged first by Japanese Tossa Reiki and then by Margaret Okayo. At the halfway mark, Reiki was slightly ahead of Radcliffe with Alemu close on their heels. Noguchi began moving up at the 25-km stage while Radcliffe gave up at the 36-km mark, bursting into tears.

Like Radcliffe, Gail Devers of the U.S., who ran the 100m hurdles, pulled a muscle within 30m from the start and had to quit in pain. Devers' jinx with the 100m hurdles in the Olympics continued.

Sprint queen

Yuliya Nesterenko of Belarus outpaced prominent names like Bulgaria's Ivet Lalova — who had the season's best of 10.77s — Veronica Campbell of Jamaica and United States' Lauryn Williams in the women's 100m on Saturday night. Nesterenko clocked 10.93s, well off Florence Griffith-Joyner's Olympic mark of 10.62s set at Seoul in 1988.

Lauryn was the first to react to the gun. Her initial lead, however, was nullified by Nesterenko who began to accelerate. And when the sprinters reached the 70 metre mark, it was clear that Nesterenko could not be stopped. Lauryn had to be content with silver in a personal best time of 10.96s, followed by Veronica.

The gold for Swedish prodigy, 21-year old Carolina Kluft, in heptathlon went according to script. There is none to match this allround athlete who has the distinction of holding the world senior, junior and indoor records.

Kluft aggregated 6952 points — the best for the season — improving her own tally of 6820 achieved at Gotzis this year.

Lithuania's Austra Skujyte and Kelly Southerton of Britan, who had 6435 and 6424 respectively, achieved their personal bests, reflecting the intensity of the competition.

Gallant effort

Mention must be made of the gallant efforts of the two Indians — J.J. Shobha and Soma Biswas. Particularly commendable was the display of Shobha who finished 11th with 6172 points.

While doing her javelin throw routine, Shobha slipped and hurt her knee, raising doubts about her participation in the last event — the 800m. Though the giant scoreboard listed her as DNS (Did Not Start), she actually ran with her knee strapped.

Shobha collapsed after the run, but her performance was praiseworthy. Soma was 24th with 5965 points.

Discus gold for Sadova

A splendid throw of 67.02m in the fifth attempt gave the burly Russian Natalya Sadova the discus gold, improving upon the silver she won in Sydney. With three Greek throwers in the fray, there was enough excitement in the event.

Anastasia Kelesidou's effort of 66.88 in her third try sent the crowd into raptures. However, she had to go back with a silver. The other favourite Ekaernini Voggoli, ranked third in the world with a throw of 67.72m, could manage only 62.37m.

"I was trying to stay cool, but it was hard with all that crowd cheering for the Greek athletes. I focussed on Kalesidou and I was praying to God that it would be me who won the gold,'' said Sadova after the event.

Dragila fails

The failure of defending champion Stacy Dragila of the U.S. in pole vault was a great tragedy. She could achieve only a 4.30m against the qualifying norm of 4.45m.

Even the famous Russian duo of Svetlana Feofanova and world record- holder Yelena Isinbayeva managed only 4.40m, while Poland's Monika Pyrek and Anna Rogowska leaped to 4.45m.

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