Friederich out for six months by Alfons Juck, note by Larry Eder

Ariane Friederich, Berlin 2009, high jump, photo by PhotoRun.net


Scratch Ariane Friederich out from Paris 2010 European Indoors! An achilles injury, which happened on December 22, and required surgery to her jump take off leg, was announced December 27. She will be out six months!

EME NEWS (DEC 27, 2010)

Friedrich out for 6 months
FRANKFURT (GER): Serious achilles injury for High Jumper Ariane Friedrich. She will not be able to defend her title from Torino 2009 in Paris Bercy and is out for at least 6 months. It happened during her training session on December 22 and achilles surgery on her jumping leg was needed. Her coach and agent Gunther Eisinger informed that they decided to spread the news only after Christmas. "The most important now is to remain calm and patient," said Eisinger. She hopes to be back for summer season but that is not for sure.

Eaton confirmed for Tallinn
TALLINN (EST): World indoor record holder Ashton Eaton will compete in his first heptathlon since the record breaking mark in February in Estonia. He confirmed his participation at Tallinn Combined Events Meeting on February 5-6 (EA Indoor Permit). After ending his collegiate eligibility this will be his first pro indoor season. Also confirmed is the participation of world outdoor record holder Roman Sebrle who needs a good mark in order to qualify for European Championships in Paris.

Bolt looks forward to 2011
KINGSTON (JAM): Usain Bolt has been named among the top personalities in Jamaica. The Jamaica Gleaner underlined Bolt's personality and impact off the track in a year without any major championships. Bolt also looks into 2010 with great expectations as he wrote on his twitter: "Ppl just know this year is going to be crazy ok I have it covered a me say win oh."

Noguchi again injured
TOKYO (JPN): It is widely reported in Japan media that Olympic marathon winner 2004 Mizuki Noguchi was diagnosed with stress fracture in left ankle. After dismal performance at JPN Corporate team Women's Ekiden championships), Noguchi went to a doctor, because of persistent pain, and that is when the stress fracture was discovered. It is estimated that approximately 6 weeks is required to recover from the injury. Her last ended marathon was Tokyo in 2007 with 2:21:37 win.



OTHER NEWS

LUANDA (ANG): More top Ethiopian runners entered the Sao Silvestre race in Angola on December 31. Among them former 15 km world record holder Deribe Merga and Ali Abdosh. Already earlier announced was the participation of legendary Haile Gebrselassie with Kenyans Josphat Kiprono Menjo and Grace Momanyi.

MOSCOW (RUS): Organizers of Russian Winter IAAF Indoor meet in Moscow on February 6 announced a great 600 m duel. Commonwealth champion Boaz Lalang will run against olympic medalist Ahmed Ismail of Sudan. Their target will be the world best mark 1:15.12 of German Nico Motchebon achieved in 1999 in Sindelfingen.

EDINBURGH (GBR): Kenya's reigning World CC Champion Emily Chebet will contest two races on Spanish soil next month as she prepares for the defence her IAAF World Cross Country title in March. The athlete's manager Zane Branson said she will run only in Seville and Elgoibar after organisers of the Bupa Great Edinburgh Cross Country incorrectly announced her participation in their race on January 8. Another Kenyan and steeple specialist Milcah Chemos has joined the star-studded women's International field for the Bupa Great Edinburgh Cross Country in Holyrood Park. Her appearance will see her line up against fellow countrywomen Vivian Cheruiyot and Linet Masai the reigning World 5000metres and 10000m track gold medallists in the six kilometres in Holyrood Park on January 8. UK media are informing.

KINGSTON (JAM): Jamaican long jump olympic finalist Chelsea Hammond has set her sights on next year's World Championships in Daegu after recovering from a stress fracture, which limited her appearance in 2010. Hammond, who leapt 6.79 metres, a personal best, for fourth in Beijing, said come next year as long as she remains healthy, she will be a contender in Daegu. Informs TrackAlerts.

SAO PAULO (BRA): Best Brazilian long distance runner Marilson Gomes dos Santos will start at the traditional San Silvestre race on December 31 as the top home entry. He won the race twice in 2003 and 2005. His main rivals will be Kenyans headed by James Kwambai, Barnabas Kosgei, Mark Korir and Matthew Kiptoo. On the women side Eunice Kirwa and Alice Timbilil are the top names.

VIENNA (AUT): Barcelona 1500 m finalist Andreas Vojta and World Mountaing Running champion Andrea Mayr are the Austrian athletes of the year 2010. In the vote organised by Austrian Federation OLV the best young athlete of the year was middle distance runner Jennifer Wenth.

NEW DELHI (IND): The Indian Olympic Association (IOA) will undertake the changes to its constitution demanded by the International Olympic Committee (IOC) when its holds its annual meeting in February, informs insidethegames. Suresh Kalmadi, the chairman of the IOA (and IAAF Council Member), promised to respond to calls from the IOC, who sent him a letter earlier this month calling for the changes, which included the 34 sports federations having voting rights with only their Presidents eligible to take part.

SEVILLA (ESP)): Reigning male world CC champion Kenyan Joseph Ebuya is the biggest star of the Cross Internacional de Italica which will be staged on January 16 at the Santiponce park in Sevilla (IAAF CC Permit). His main rivals will be road world record holder Leonard Komon and Ugandan Commonwealth winner Moses Kipsiro. In the women race Kenyan duel of world champions is announced. Linet Masai versus Emily Chebet. On the home side European silver marathon winner Chema Martinez is confirmed.

ZAGREB (CRO): World and European female athlete of the year high jumper Blanka Vlasic was voted for fifth time Croatian Sportswoman of the Year. Second place in the poll of sports daily Sportske Novosti for discus Euro winner Sandra Perkovic. Male winner was alpine-skier Ivica Kostelic.

WARSZAWA (POL): In the 53rd poll of European News Agencies the best European Sports Personality of 2010 is tennis player Rafael Nadal ahead of F1 pilot Sebastian Vettel. Third place and best woman is high jump European Champion Blanka Vlasic. More track representatives in top twenty are 7th French sprinter Christophe Lemaitre and 13th Norwegian javelin thrower Andreas Thorkildsen. In total 68 names were included in the votes, most from one sport was from athletics with 9 names.

BERLIN (GER): German hurdler Carolin Nytra is following in the footsteps of Kirsten Bolm by changing her coach to Rüdiger Harksen. Harksen said he can see a lot of similarities between the athletes and believes Nytra can finally be the 'queen' of German hurdling writes leichtathletik.de. Nytra did not give out details about her next competitions.

LONDON (GBR): Jessica Ennis has revealed that winning the European indoor championships in Paris would be a dream come true and it would bring her closer to her plan to become the first British woman to land a clean sweep of major gold medals writes The Mirror. Ennis already won the World indoor and outdoor championships and the European outdoor championships. Winning in Paris would leave only the Commonwealth Games and the Olympic Games on the list.