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Daegu 2011 – The Felix Double
One of the big news items heading into this year’s World Championships was the attempt by Allyson Felix to become the first woman to win a 200/400 sprint double at Worlds. The feat had been accomplished twice previously in the Olympics – by Valerie Brisco in 1984 and by Marie Jose Perec in 1996. But, as I outlined in a previous post, the others may have had a slightly easier time than Felix, as this year’s 200 field was potentially stronger than either Brisco or Perec had to face. It also didn’t help that the 400 field became infinitely stronger as Daegu drew near. Still I feel that Felix is…
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Daegu 2011 – U.S. Report Card
Daegu 2011 – U.S. Report Card So just how did the United States do in Daegu? By the numbers we brought home 25 medals – 12 gold, 8 silver, and 5 bronze – a definite improvement over Beijing and Berlin. But how does that compare to the rest of the world? The top 5 medal winning countries were: Nation Gold Silver Bronze Total 1. United States 12 8 5 25 2. Russia 9 4 6 19 3. Kenya 7 6 4 17 4. Jamaica 4 4 1 9 5. Germany 3 3 1 7 5. Great Britain 2 4 1 7 …
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Daegu 2011 – General Comments and Awards
That was an interesting nine days of track and field. The results are well known at this point, as they’ve been reported by everyone all over the globe – including here. What I want to take a look at over the next several days, or more, are my interpretations of the results. I will be taking a closer look at some of the names from the meet; some the happenings during the meet; and the affect those results will have on the sport going forward. I want to start by handing out some “Awards” from this World Championships, but first a few comments on Daegu itself. I’m a big proponent…
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Worlds Day 9 – Bolt & Taylor Close Out in Style
Following the semis for the men and women’s 4×1’s, the finals got underway with the men’s 5000 meters. It became yet another championship race – which means they spent some 4200 meters warming up for a showdown between kickers. What made the race exciting is that this time it was not a set up for a showdown between Kenya and Ethiopia, because the U.S. (Bernard Lagat) and Great Britain (Mo Farah) actually had athletes capable of kicking with the Africans. And kick they did with Farah outkicking the world to get Britain its first ever gold medal in the event. Lagat finished in second as for the first time since…
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Worlds Day Eight – Pearson & Bolt Shine
Friday it was the field events that were sizzling. Today that heat went back to the track as we had some stellar track performances headed by Sally Pearson and Usain Bolt who put down some outstanding times in a meet that has been devoid of fast times. It got started with the men’s 1500 meters. Once again as the gun went off for the men’s 1500 meters the runners settled into a slow pace. New Zealand’s Nick Willis towed the field through pedestrian splits of 60.02 & 2:01.71 before the Kenyans finally took over heading into the bell lap. Silas Kipligat (KEN) took off down the backstretch as he passed…
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Worlds Day Seven – The Field Stars
There were a couple of great races on the track but the real action took place on the field today. In the women’s javelin, Maria Abakumova (RUS) heaved a tremendous 71.25m/233’ 9” in the 2nd round to take a stranglehold on the competition. The mark took over the yearly lead, was a national record, and improved her #3 all time position. She passed her next throw and fouled her 4th as seemingly there would be no threat to her for gold. Then in round 5 WR holder Barboa Spotakova (CZE) sailed her spear out to 71.58m/234’ 10” to snatch the lead from Abukamova with the #3 mark of all time!…
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Worlds Day Six – USA Day (Sort Of)
With three gold medals in five finals, one would have to say that it was a very good day for the United States. But in one event it was a good news, bad news day that left me a bit sad in spite of the gold medal. That event was the final of the women’s 1500, where the field lined up twelve women of fairly equal ability. And they ran like it as no one seemed to want to set the pace as the field was still bunched with 2 laps to go. At that point Morgan Uceny was back in 9th and began was has been her standard move…
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World Championships – Intermission
Wow. We’re already half way through the World Championships, and so far we’ve had a bit of everything. Some controversy; exciting competitions; and lots of young people stepping up! I know that the controversies are dominating most conversations – the Bolt & Robles DQ’s – but to me the most exciting thing to come out of the first few days has been the number of new/young champions that have been crowned. Looking at athletes like David Rudisha (KEN), Kirani James (GRN), Tatyana Chernova (RUS), Jason Richardson (USA) and Pawel Wojciechowski (POL) tells me that we are in the midst of a youth movement in the sport. I suspect that the…
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Worlds Day Four – New Stars Crowned
Just as the opening day was clearly the day of the Kenyans, today was the day for new stars of the sport to get crowned! As we saw several new faces take on some old ones and emerge victorious. The most exciting event of the day was the last event of the day as the men’s 400 meter runners took to the track. Defending champion LaShawn Merritt (USA) lined up in lane four flanked by Jermaine Gonzalez (JAM) inside him and Kirani James (GRN) to his outside. Having run a WL leading 44.35 in the opening round and following it up with another 44.76 in his semi, one had to…
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Worlds Day Three – Montsho Derails the Double
On day three of the championships head to head competition finally took center stage. It wasn’t about World Records, as none were in any imminent danger, but rather stirring competition that brought the focus back where it belongs – on the sports’ outstanding athletes! After a couple of semifinal races (I’ll talk about the men’s 400 in a bit) the first final on the track was the women’s 400 meters. Yesterday’s semis left defending champion Sanya Richards Ross (USA) starting in lane one, and effectively out of contention. Race favorite Allyson Felix (USA) was in lane 3 with Amantle Montsho (BOT) in 4, Francena McCorory (USA) in 5 and Ana…