Tikhon proves he is King of the ring in Dubnica 18. September 07

The Athletics Bridge European Athletics Permit meeting in Dubnica, Slovakia celebrated it's fifth year with a fantastic meeting that brought together nearly 150 athletes from 27 countries and four continents, amongst them were five Osaka World Champions, five Olympic Champions from Athens, and six current World Leaders.

A 4000-strong crowd enjoyed the spectacle in the Dubnica sunshine, as home-grown 800m star Lucia Klocova won her race in 2:01.41. The 2003 U23 European silver medallist, capitalized on a collision of runners just 200m before the finish line to take a clear lead.

There was further success for the host nation in the 100m Hurdles, where Slovakian record holder Miriam Bobkova, ran the third best time of her career, finishing second in 13.09 ahead of Russia's Pavily and Antonova.

The throwing events are a traditional strength in Dubnica, in particular the men's Hammer, and this year was no exception. All three Osaka medallists, plus three other finalists turned out, including 3-time World Champion, Ivan Tikhon.

Tikhon was determined to show who was the King of the ring, and his third throw of 80.40m sent a clear warning for the 81.29m that was to come in the fifth round. Slovakia's Osaka bronze medallist, Libor Charfreitag, was holding court in second until the last round with a 77.90m throw, then three others improved to 78+ marks and suddenly Charfreitag was fifth, behind Japan's Olympic Champion Koji Murofushi (78.73), Hungarian Krisztian Pars (78.42) and another Slovak Miloslav Konopka (78.15).

In the Shot Put, World Champion, Reese Hoffa, won the first meeting he has competed in since Osaka, in 21.08m, with Slovenia's Osaka finalist, Miran Vodovnik, finishing second as the only other competitor to achieve a 20+ mark with 20.06.

Britain was celebrating, after Tyrone Edgar broke the stadium record that he had already equaled in the heats, to win the men's 100m sprint. There was also a British third place position in the women's 100m for Osaka Relay finalist, Laura Turner, who ran her fourth quickest time of 11.34.

The cold weather conditions for the women's Long Jump seemed to discourage some of the athletes. Carolina Kluft (SWE) finished in second behind Natalya Lebusova (RUS) saying,

"I was tired and it was really cold at the end"

Kluft, who is getting prepared to do some damage in Stuttgart next weekend, jumped 6.54m, but Lebusova managed just 0.02m more to take top honours.

In the men's High Jump, SPAR European cup silver medallist, Andrey Tereshin (RUS) and reigning Olympic and European Indoor Champion, Stefan Holm (SWE) delighted the crowds with a very close battle to clear the 2.30m mark, but with neither athlete achieving it, Holm was relegated to second place on countback.

european-athletics.org