It is two days away from the World Champs. I jump on a plane tonight, August 23, and head first to Seoul, Korea, arriving a 4.30 in the AM after a thirteen hour flight, and then, after five hour wait, a quick two hour jaunt to Osaka, Japan. I arrive Friday, August 24, 2007. My first few hours will be a whirwind-first, accreditation, then, hotel, then, hit a few sponsor gatherings and get the scuttlebutt of what is going on just before the opening.
I will follow up with a piece from Seoul, upon my arrival there, and then our daily coverage will begin on Friday evening, August 24, your Friday morning.
As you pine away the hours of my travel, I have linked several things of note for our dear readers to process in order to further enjoy the celebration of world track & field!
News Flash! Three elite injuries!
Jaouad Gharib of Morrocco, who has won the last two World Champ Marathons in 2003 and 2005, has not recovered from his injury in Flora London,
where he took fourth in 2:07.54. Gharib will not defend his title.
Constantina Tomescu-Dita, third in Helsinki, has withdrawn, due to a nagging injury from a spring marathon.
Christiaan Olson, the Swedish triple jumper, injured himself on August 22, 2007,
during practice. He has re injured a hamstring that has caused him problems since
2005 and has withdrawn from the World Champs competition.
Expected Highlights of the World Champs, by Bob Ramsakhttp://www.trackprofile.com
Many of you read Bob’s tomes under Track Profile at american-trackandfield.comhttp://www.american-trackandfield.com site during the year. We have linked to Bob’s previews of the World Champs for your further enjoyment:
Middle Distanceshttp://osaka2007.iaaf.org/news/kind=2/newsid=40298.html
Long Distanceshttp://osaka2007.iaaf.org/news/kind=2/newsid=40295.html
Jumpshttp://osaka2007.iaaf.org/news/kind=2/newsid=40288.html
Hurdleshttp://osaka2007.iaaf.org/news/kind=2/newsid=40287.html
Combined Eventshttp://osaka2007.iaaf.org/news/kind=2/newsid=40274.html
Throwshttp://osaka2007.iaaf.org/news/kind=2/newsid=40281.html
Provisional Entry List: This is the place to find out if your favorite athlete is
still in the competition or not!
http://osaka2007.iaaf.org/news/kind=512/newsid=40309.html
American Track & Field’s World Championship coverage: All links are there, as well as photo galleries: http://www.american-trackandfield.com/features/worldchamps07list.html
ATF Resource Guide, digital edition: ( 32 pp History of World Champs by Mel Watman, printable version of entire issue, all hot links in issue as well ): http://www.flipseekllc.com/ATFguide.html
This should keep you reading for about 48 hours. I will write again on Friday, August 24, 2007!
