by Larry EderA day with an amazing 800 meter run, a sweep in the long jump for women and steeple for men and a huge suprise in the discus for men was day four! Isinbayeva could be singing ” I am invincible” now…read on for the highlights of Day four of the 11th IAAF
World Athletics Championships.
Day Four, August 28, 2007
Women’s 800 meters
Running from the front, as she did in the semi finals, Janet Kipkosgei of Kenya set a Kenyan national record for the second time in three nights, but this time, she also brought home the gold with her 1:56.04! Kipkosgei’s medal in the 800 meters was the first medal for her country in that event, as was the same case in the silver and bronze medalist. Hasan Behnassi of Morocco took the silver and Matye Martinez of Spain ran down two runners in the last fifty meters to take the bronze, both first medals in this event for Morroco and Spain as well!
Men’s Steeplechase
Allowing Mustafa Mohammed of Sweden to lead for the first two kilometers, the Kenyan team of Ezekial Kemboi, Athens gold medalist, Brimin Kiprop, Athens silver medalist and Richard Mateelong, number three in the world in 2006, were in tow.
The race had a dozen lead changes and some near disasterous hits of barriers. Kiprop sprang into action, passing Mohammed with 300 meters to go as well as Kemboi and went on to run to victory in a slowish 8:13.58. In silver was Ezekial Kemboi. Richard Mateelong caught Mustafa Mohammed in the final stretch and made it 1,2, 3 for Kenya in the steeplechase, the first time Kenya had swept since 1997!
400 meter hurdles
Kerron Clement of the U.S. lead from the start, catching the soon to be silver medalist, Felix Sanchez, on the stagger, and Clement held on to the finish, taking the gold in 47.61. Felix Sanchez of the Domincan Republic, the 2004 gold medalist, took second in 48.01, his seasonal best. In third was Poland’s Marew Plago, who struck not only bronze wit his 48.12, but the Polish national record.
Women’s Pole Vault
If any athlete is invincible, it is now Yelena Isinbayeva of Russia. Using two attempts to clear 4.80 meters, Isinbayeva defended her win at Helsinki. In second
was Katerina Badurova of the Czech Republic, who vaulted a national record of 4.75meters. Svetlana Feofanova of Russia took the bronze, also jumping 4.75 meters, but taking more jumps than Badurova. Jenn Stuczynski of the U.S. the new American record holder, finished tenth, with a bad ankle.
Men’s Discus
In the hugest upset of the World Champs so far, Gerd Kantor of Estonia threw 68.94 meters to give Estonia only its second gold medal ever. Germany’s Robert Harting took the silver in 66.68 meters, and Rutger Smith of the Netherlands was an elated bronze medalist with his throw of 66.42 meters. All three were part of history as the most consistent discus thrower of this era, Virgilius Alekna of Lithuania, the defending gold medalist from the Olympics and World Champs was off form today, having hurt his calf a week ago. Alekna’s string of 37 consecutive wins and 17 consecutive wins over 70 meters was dashed today in Osaka, Japan.
Women’s Long Jump
Just to show the Kenyans that they could do it, the Russian women put on a display of long jumping that will not be seen again soon! First, defending champion Tianna Madison of the U.S. was relegated to tenth place. Then, Tatyana Lebedeva, the queen of the triple jump hit 7.03 twice and 6.98 once, to take gold. On their last jumps, Lyudmila Kolchanova jumped 6.91 meters and Tatyana Kotova jumped 6.87 meters, to take the silver and bronze, respectively! Watch for Lebedeva in the triple jump to come!
