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Worlds Day Two – Bolt One and Done
One and done, that’s what we fans of the sport call the “new” false start rule. Simply put, it means that if you false start you’re done, thrown out of the race. There’s no “oops”. No do overs. You can’t wobble, flinch or shake. You can’t say you heard a camera click, it was too noisy near the track, or the plane flying overhead distracted you. Your day is done. It’s over. One and done. Since the inception of this “new” rule two years ago I’ve been saying that it is a disaster waiting to happen. That one day it was going to bite the sport “where the sun don’t…
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Worlds Opening Day – All Kenya
The opening day of every major is filled with qualifying rounds, and day one in Daegu was no different with only two finals on the docket. If there’s such a thing as making a statement on opening day however, the Kenyan women did just that in those two finals as they swept the medals in both the marathon and 10,000 meters – and added a non medaling fourth place in the 10K! In the marathon the Kenyan’s set the stage for the day, and possibly this championships, as they went to the front early on and worked as a team, methodically burning away the competition. By the latter third of…
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Daegu – a Final Peak before the Gun
It starts tomorrow – the year’s biggest meet. So what are we looking at as we get ready to name the sport’s champions? For starters we’ll be missing some big names in the sprints. Injury took out Tyson Gay (USA, 9.79) at the U.S. Trials. Drug bans this summer have taken out Steve Mullings (JAM, 9.80/20.11) and Mike Rodgers (USA, 9.85). The 400 lost Jeremy Wariner to injury this summer. Then on Thursday we got word that Asafa Powell (JAM, 9.78) is withdrawing due to injury. There’s still a lot of talent left, however, and with Bolt still not looking in ‘08/’09 form things could be very interesting. The female…
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Six Underdogs I’m Rooting for in Daegu
It’s easy to throw your support behind a favorite. Bandwagons are full of those rooting for athletes like Usain Bolt, Yelena Isinbayeva, David Rudisha, and Allyson Felix. But while I too have favorites that I am pulling for, someone has to give the underdogs some love. So here are six underdogs that I am rooting for. Athletes that don’t always get the respect that I think they should, but that I think are very capable of making a big splash in Daegu. Morgan Uceny – 1500 meters I’ve watched the rise of Uceny over the past few seasons and she has become one of my favorite “milers” of…
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Final U.S. Medal Predictions
It’s here. Two days until the start of the WorldChampionships. – which means it’s time to make my final predictions for U. S.medal hopes in Daegu. On the one hand, this list looks very good, as it contains apotential of 31 medals – one more than the stated goal of 30 for London. At second glance, however, this medal countis highly dependent on multiple medals in several events – specifically thesprints and hurdles. If we fall to just one medal per multiple medal events,we’re looking at 25 medals – a much more realistic expectation. Then there isalways the specter of injuries, fatigue, and underperformance – and dare I say,bobbled batons. …
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World Championships Preview – 5000 Meters
For me the most exciting of the distance races is the 5000 meters as men and women with 10,000 meter endurance and 1500 meter speed often end up in a mad dash for gold over the final lap. Daegu should produce two very exciting races as both fields have some very exciting matchups. Men’s 5000 World Record 12:37.35 Kenenisa Bekele ETH Meet Record 12:52.79 Eliud Kipchoge KEN 2009 Gold 13:17.09 Kenennisa Bekele ETH 2011 Best 12:53.11 Mo Farah GBR 12:53.60 Bernard Lagat USA 12:54.18 Isiah Koech KEN 12:54.21 Imane Merga ETH 12:55.29 Vincent Chepkok KEN 12:55.89 Dejene Gebremeskel…
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World Championships Preview–Triple Jump
The triple may be even more exciting than the long jump as a competitive crew of jumpers take to the runway. Originally the men’s event looked to be one of the hottest events of the meet, but injury has dimmed that a bit. Instead it may be four women that bring chills to the fans. Men’s Triple Jump World Record 18.29 / 60’ 0.25” Jonathon Edwards GBR Meet Record 18.29 / 60’ 0.25” Jonathon Edwards GBR 2009 Gold 17.73 / 58’ 2” Phillips Idowu GBR 2011 Best 17.91 / 58’ 9.25” Teddy Tamgho FRA 17.72 / 58’ 1.75” Sheryf El Sheryf UKR …
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World Championships Preview – Long Jump
While I’m discussing speed, and since I have yet to touch on the field, I think the long jump will make a good speed to field transition. A crew of solid jumpers in both the men’s and women’s fields should give us quite a bit of excitement in Daegu. Men’s Long Jump World Record 8.95 / 29’ 4.5” Mike Powell USA Meet Record 8.95 / 29’ 4.5” Mike Powell USA 2009 Gold 8.54 / 28’ 0.25” Dwight Phillips USA 2011 Best 8.54 / 28’ 0.25” Mitchell Watt AUS 8.40 / 27’ 6.75” Ngoni Makusha ZIM 8.40 / 27’ 6.75” Irving Saladino…
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World Championships Preview – 4×1 Relay
Something tells me that this is one event that will be previewed to death on message boards around the world. Then reviewed just as much once it’s all over. Mostly because of all the rivalries in this sport, the short sprint is the hottest and by default this relay is a close second! So let’s get to it. Men’s 4×1 World Record 37.10 Jamaica JAM Meet Record 37.31 Jamaica JAM 2009 Gold 37.31 Jamaica JAM 2011 Best 37.90 USA – Red USA 38.20 All Stars Mixed Nat. 38.23 Stars & Stripes USA 38.33 Jamaica JAM 38.38 Texas A&M…
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World Championships Preview – 4×4 Relay
One of the most exciting events at any track and field championships is the 4×4 relay. Traditionally the 4×4 closes out a meet, but this time around that duty is transferred to the 4×1. It will seem odd not watching the give and take that often occurs in the long relay. Because this year’s races promise to be quite exciting. Women’s 4×4 World Record 3:15.18 Soviet Union URS Meet Record 3:16.71 United States USA 2009 Gold 3:17.83 United States USA 2011 Best 3:22.92 United States – Red USA 2:23.17 United States – Blue USA 3:23.82 Jamaica JAM 3:26.31 Texas…