Pretty quiet the past couple of days. The big highlight was Sanya Richards finally getting the “monkey off her back” by winning her first global gold medal after being ranked #1 in the event for the past 5 years. A beautiful race, she finally ran “her” race and beat the field decisively in a world leading 49.00.

Of course it seems with this meet that for every up moment there is a down one, and yesterday we got the news that Tyson Gay was withdrawing from the 200 – which meant we would not get another Tyson Gay / Usain Bolt match up. Bummer, because so far that’s been the real highlight of these championships.

Bolt and the other sprinters did run the opening round and quarterfinals of the 200 meters with no major casualties. Likewise the men ran the opening round of the 400 meters where we are awaiting the next big match up of this meet – Lashawn Merritt and Jeremy Wariner.

Day four finished up with a US 1,3 in the men’s 400 hurdles as Kerron Clement defended his title with a world leading 47.91 with teammate Bershawn Jackson taking the bronze. But perhaps the real star of the event was young Jehue Gordon (TRI). Just 17 years old he was just a hair from the bronze medal as he finished in 4th place in 48.26. A World Junior Record, Trinidadian national record and only .03 from the bronze medal – and he will still be eligible to compete at the World Junior Championships NEXT year!

Day five was a big day for qualifying rounds, with only a handful of finals – and few medals for the US. The Discus saw an upset win for the host nation as Robert Harting came through with a personal best 227′ 9″ inch throw to take the gold. Bernard Lagat got the days lone medal for the US with a bronze medal in the 1500 meters. In what became somewhat of a tactical race, Lagat found himself boxed in coming down the backstretch and around the final turn. He was able to unleash his kick down the homestretch but had given up too much ground to the leaders. Interviewed later, he indicated that he was ready to give it everything he has in the 5000 as he was very disappointed with his finish. Look for Lagat to be a serious contender in the 5000 final.

Another disappointment occurred in the women’s 100 hurdles when Olympic champion and favorite Dawn Harper clipped an early hurdle and never recovered – finishing in an uncharacteristic 7th place. Teammate Virginia Powell was only 1 place ahead of her in 6th place as Jamaican Brigitte Foster Hylton took the gold in 12.51.

Day Five ended with another teenager making waves, as South African Caster Semenya devastated the women’s 800 field. Leading the first lap in a rather torrid 56.83, she then “stepped on the gas” and ran away from the field never looking back! Her margin in the stretch was some 15 plus meters as she ran a personal best and world leading 1:55.45 with defending champion Janeth Jepkoskei a well back 1:57.90 in second place!

Tomorrow the pace will quicken – literally – with finals in the men’s 200 and 110 hurdles, along with the women’s 400 hurdles and a showdown in the women’s high jump between Arianne Friedrich and Blanka Vlasic. Should be a good day of competition.

For results and schedules check here.

A very mixed bag today, and somewhat of a let down after yesterday. Very hard to top that men's 100 meters. Though the women had their final today - and it too was very fast. But before that there was excitement of a sort, as World Record Holder Yelena Isinbayeva no heighted in the pole vault and failed to gain a medal of any color! Perhaps the biggest shock that this meet will see Read More...

Words can't describe what I watched earlier today - so I invented a new one! How else do you describe the greatest 100 meter race in the history of the planet?Consider that Asafa Powell finally ran near his potential in a Major. At 9.84 he would have won almost every other major ever contested. Today he was rewarded by setting a record for the fastest ever third place - in any race! Consider that Tyson Gay shattered the American Record and came within a hair of Usain Bolt's WR with his sizzling 9 Read More...

Very interesting opening day. A few disappointments. A couple of well earned wins. And a possible preview of a repeat of Beijing.With a lot of qualifying taking place in the early round, the meet got going in earnest with the women's steeple heats. And if the heats are any indication, then gold is going to Gulnara Galkina (RUS) Read More...

The wait is over. Tomorrow the biggest meet of the year begins - the World Championships. Start lists are now up. Television schedule and internet links are listed on the right of this blog. The schedule for the opening day is listed below. There will be two finals tomorrow - Men's Shot Put and Women's 10,000 Read More...

The men's 100 meters is THE glamour event at almost any track and field competition. The dragsters of track and field, they cover the length of a football field in some 9.x seconds! Hence the winner of each year's Major is dubbed "The World's Fastest Human". As if the normal expectations for this race aren't enough, this year's rendition in Berlin is taking on EPIC proportions Read More...

This time of year everyone looks back on their favorite moments from World Championships past. Reading various articles all over I've come across the standard fare. The Tokyo 100 meter final and long jump. Jonathon Edwards' 60 foot triple jump and several other WOW moments from the championships. But in a quarter century there have been many many memorable moments Read More...

Mixed in with the competition, every major championship has its share of stories running in the background. Every event has its share of back stories - athletes looking to over come odds, rebound from adversity, emerge in their event, or simply trying to make their mark. Berlin will be no exception. Following are ten US stories that I think will shape events in Berlin Read More...

The most glamorous event on the World Championships stage just might be the Men's 100 meters. Along with winning the gold medal comes the coveted title of "The World's Fastest Human". 100 meter champions often become the "rock stars" of the sport and household names. Jesse Owens, Jim Hines, Valeri Borzov, Carl Lewis, Maurice Greene, Tyson Gay, and Usain Bolt all became household names via championship victories in the 100 meters Read More...

As we head to Berlin I am reminded that earlier this year USATF CEO Doug Logan set a goal of 30 medals in London. This after our 24 medal showing in Beijing. Ever since that goal was set I've been asking myself, and others, if that is a realistic goal? When looking at our teams on average it's clear that, in spite of what were characterized as "down" performances in Beijing, the sprints and hurdles routinely carry the day when it comes to winning medals in major championships Read More...