1.58,84 for Olga Raspopova!

Following last year’s disappointing campaign and a subsequent coaching change, Olga Raspopova appeared in top form again in the women’s 800 m final on the last day of the Rusian National Championships. Svetlana Klyuka set a good tempo over the first lap – 57,8, then, with 250 m to go, Raspopova took the lead, Svetlana Cherkasova staying on her heels. In the heated duel of the two athletes that train under the same coach, Svetlana Styrkina, Raspopova did not leave Cherkasova a chance, winning in an excellent 1.58,84, a very respectable time given Cheboksary’s new soft track surface. Raspopova’s progress this year is equally impressive: from a dismal 10th place showing at the Russian Cup in 2.05,78 to last night’s 1.58,84. This sort of feat could only be expected from an athlete who boasts a PR of 1.56,85. Larisa Czao stormed into third place over the last few meters of the distance, running her first-ever 800 m race in under two minutes. Curiously, Czao went through a coaching change prior to Nationals as well, as she now works with Sergey Popov, Tatyana Tomashova’s coach.