Blog: johnloguk

WORLD ATHLETICS CHAMPS, OSAKA

Is anyone else watching this? The time difference is crippling me, staying up through the night to watch it live just because I can't wait until the following evening's highlight show! At least today was a Bank Holiday and I was able to watch some incredible races this morning.

The men's 10,000 metres started off slow and tactical, but really warmed up towards the end. For a while it looked as though 2 times champ Kenenise Bekele was going to be beaten for the first time, as 2 other runners piled the pressure on in the later laps. Experienced commentators were saying that this was the first time they had ever seen Bekele under any sort of pressure in a race. Several times he appeared to drop behind, but he managed to summon up strength from somewhere and was still in with a chance at the bell. Then he lost contact again down the back straight and we all thought that was that, and I was getting ready to file away the memories of the first time I saw him defeated. Then around the final bend he drew down deep into his soul for another last effort, and somehow plucked an incredible sprint finish from the depths of despair to pull away down the straight for an stunning third World Championship victory. I've seen some great races, but this one was as good as any because of the rollercoaster of emotions in those final laps. No wonder they refer to Kenenise Bekele simply as "the Great Man", I wonder if he can keep up his amazing record for Beijing next year? The other runners now know how to put him under pressure, but they also know that he has depths of sheer guts and determination that no one else comes close to.

The women's 100metres was the slowest in World Championship history, and the first to be won outside 11 seconds, but with 6 runners in a blanket photo finish it was one of the most exciting. The event computer simply couldn't cope, and initially had Torri Edwards as the winner, but once they'd sorted it out she was only 4th! Jamaican Veronica Campbell took the gold in the end, with Lauryn Williams given the same time.

There have been some disappointing performances from a very inexperienced GB team, but Kelly Sotherton and Jessica Ennis coming 3rd and 4th in the heptahlon was superb. If only Kelly could throw the javelin and Jessica the shot putt! Now we have 2 British women through to the final of the 400 meteres for the first time, and all eyes will be on Nicola Sanders and Christine Ohorogu in the final.

The most bizarre incident of today (yesterday!) was when a hammer thrower lost his balance in the circle, and let several kilogrammes of metal fly off in the wrong direction. There is a huge net designed to stop the hammer in circumstances like this, but for some reason this time it flew straight through it and landed in the long jump pit! Luckily no one was in it at the time or this post wouldn't have been so jolly!

Even with the spectre of drugs hanging over it I love track and field. The human drama is palpable, even watching on TV thousands of miles away. Tomorrow one of my favourites is in action. Russian Yelena Isinbeyeva has dominated the women's pole vault in recent years, but it is her sheer exhuberance and love of the sport that I like to watch.

by johnloguk on 00:06 on 28th August 2007