Russian Championships in Cheboksary –- Day 1

Closing out the program, distance runners highlighted the first day of Russian Nationals. The women’s 10,000 m was the most intriguing race, producing fast results along the way. Prior to this last event of the day, the twilight descended upon the stadium and the heat that had nagged everyone during the course of the afternoon and early evening gave way to cooler temperatures. The harriers finished in complete darkness, just barely alleviated by the brightly lit scoreboard. After the half-way mark, which was passed in 16.03, last year’s winner Lyudmila Biktasheva broke away, opening up a gap that reached a formidable 250 m near the end of the race. Covering the second half of the distance in a sizzling 15.21 (!), Biktasheva finished in a PR time of 31.23,15. Lyudmila’s five pursuers fought it out for the two remaining spots on the podium over the last 200 m. Superb finishing speed won the silver for Galina Aleksandrova and secured the bronze for Yelena Burykina, both medalists reaching the tape in their lifetime bests as well. The men’s race went to Aleksandr Vasiliev of Cheboksary, who, enthusiastically cheered on by the crowd, made a solo breakaway. The fans were thrown into a raucous frenzy every time Aleksandr passed the main stand, nevertheless failing to push the champion to a time faster than his modest 28.54,56 clocking. Sergey Bychkov, appearing well motivated and leading from the gun, won the men’s short sprint in 10,41. Andrey Yepishin, who posted the fastest time in each of the preliminary rounds, failed to medal in the event. On the women’s side, Marina Kislova did an excellent job on concentrating throughout the distance, fighting off the challenge from favorite Yulia Tabakova. The two women were separated by 0,02 seconds.