Samitova`s Golden Double

Gulnara Samitova, who won the 3000 m final brilliantly on the first day of
the Championships, was already making plans for the Worlds, when she was
approached last night about helping the team out in the 1500 m. Samitova
was the only one in the race to stay with the pacemaker (Irina Vashentseva),
passing 400 m in 1.04 sec, and 800 m in 2.10. The pack, led by Yelena
Zadorozhnaya, trailed by some 2 seconds. After the 1000 m mark (2.43,8), as
Vashentseva stepped of the track, Samitova maintained the brisk tempo, going
through 1200 m in 3.17. At that point, Zadorozhnaya had cut the gap down to
1,5 sec and, by the bell, lap pulled even with the leader. Just before the
ultimate curve, Yelena attempted to take over the lead, but did not succeed.
Then, already on the curve, Zadorozhnaya put together another attack,
which Samitova deterred, taking her advantage into the homestretch and
maintaining it to the tape. Samitova won in a new indoor PR of 4.05,91,
while Zadorozhnaya was also rewarded with an indoor personal best of
4.06,61. However, in Budapest both athletes will represent Russia in the
3000 m. The projected entrants in the 1500 m are bronze medalist Yulia
Chizhenko (4.07,97, also a PR) and seasoned International competitor Yulia
Kosenkova.

Russian Indoor Championships

Moscow, Feb 19

1500 m

Women

1. Samitova Gulnara 4.05,91
2. Zadorozhnaya Yelena 4.06,61
3. Chizhenko Yuliya 4.07,97
4. Kosenkova Yuliya 4.08,51
5. Chumakova Olesya 4.09,22
6. Kanales Yelena 4.11,23
7. Yevdokimova Natalya 4.12,64
8. Ivanova Lyubov 4.13,43
9. Sidorchenkova Yelena 4.14,14
10. Belyakova Oksana 4.15,25