by Larry EderIn some brilliant running, the British women showed their stuff over 400 meters, taking gold and silver, Bernard Lagat won the 1,500 meters for the U.S. and a huge upset in the high jump! All in Day five, and there are four more to go!
Here is one for the record books–Donald Thomas, the gold medalist high jumper from the Bahamas, never high jumped until seventeen months ago. A friend bet him he could not high jump six foot six, and he jumped seven feet!
August 29, 2007
Day Five, World Champs
Women’s 100 m hurdles finals
Michelle Perry, running in lane six, ran a perfect race, not hitting a hurdle and leaned well at the line, taking the gold in 12.46. Perdita Felician of Canada,
the 2001 and 2003 World Champion, ran 12.49, her seasonal best. Deiloreen Ennis-London, or Jamaica ran a personal best of 12.50 to take the bronze.
Perry’s reaction time was a mind blowing .105. Felician’s reaction time was.132 and Ennis-London reacted in .116. All three got out pretty darn fast!
In fourth was Susanna Kallur of Sweden, the European champion, in 12.51, a personal best. Virginia Powell of the U.S. running 12.55, took fifth. LoLo Jones of the U.S. ran 12.62, to take sixth. Vonette Dixon of Jamaica finished seventh in 12.64-her personal best- and Angela Whyte of Canada ran 12.66 to take eighth.
The finish was much closer than the times suggested. The leans at the tape were extreme and it took a few minutes to figure out the results.
Women’s 400m final-Oh Britannia!
In the absolute upset of the World Championships, much heralded British sprinters
Christine Ohuruogo and Nicola Sanders ran brilliant races, keeping their heads about them for 395 meters and then leaning at the right time, to not only take gold and silver respectively, but run personal bests of 49.61 and 49.65! In third was
Novlene Williamsof Jamaica, who ran 40.66, her seasonal best. In fourth place,
Ana Guevara of Mexico ran 50.16, her seasonal best. In fifth place was DeeDee Trotter of the U.S who ran an uninspired 50.17. and In sixth place was Natalya Antyuch of Russia, who ran 50.33.
The race was close for the first 380 meters, where anyone in the field could have won. After than, Novlene Williams was building a sizable lead and Ana Guevara was coming on fast, but Christine Ohurougo and Nicola Sanders blew by Williams and Guevara and leant so well that they should be the textbook for sprint finishes, changing the complete outcome of the race!
Nicola Sanders said after the race, ” I had let them get away from me abit at 200 meters, but I caught up, and in the last twenty meters, it was just leaning at the finish.”
Christine Ohuruogu, the gold medalist, was the first British women to win a global 400 meter title and first Brit women to win a global title since Sally Gunnell in 1992.
Christina Ohurugu said, ” I hope this brings up the standards of the 400 meters in Britian, and I am happy that I had endured. Just because people write things do not know what they are talking about. I know what I do. I am pleased that I can walk off the track because I know what I do and achieve the goals I set. I work off challenges. I like people say I can not do things. The final , I had to make the last charge.
Congratulations to the Brits, who are the perfect advertising for the London 2012 games. If BBC does not replay that race for twenty four hours straight, then they are
out of their minds! What a race!
Men’s 1,500 meter final
In a race reminiscent of Steve Scott’s leading the 1984 Olympic 1,500 meter final, Alan Webb used the tactic that gave him success earlier this year. But, this is a 1,500 meter final in the World Championships.
Webb lead the 400 meters at 58.63, and through 700 meters, when he was passed by Asbel Kiprop of Kenya who cruised past the 800 meters in 1:58.08, a 59.46 second lap. Right behind Kiprop were Alan Webb of the U.S. Bernard Lagat of the U.S., Rhashid Ramzi of Bahrain, Shedrack Korir of Kenya.
At 1100 meters, hit in 2:41, Alan Webb shared the lead with Asbel Kiprop, and then Kiprop took the lead at 1200 meters in 2:55.21.
Kiprop, Webb, Korir were the top three at Lagat stayed next, ready to move, with Ramzi on his shoulder. Kiprop lead through the last turn, with Webb, Korir, Ramzi and Lagat right there.
With 80 meters to go, Lagat pounced and went past the Kenyans, Korir and Kiprop, as Rhashid Ramzi followed. Webb, who was perfectly positioned for a final move, collapsed and started moving back, finishing in eighth place.
Lagat, who ran a final lap in the 53 second range, ran 3:34.77 to take the gold. Rhashid Ramzi of Bahrain, the defending gold medalist from Helsinki, ran 3:35.00, his seasonal best, to take the silver. In bronze position was Shedrack Kibet Korir of Kenya in 3:35.04. In fourth was Asbel Korir of Kenya in 3:35.24, a personal best. In fifth place was Tarek Boukensa, of Algeria, in 3:35.26. In 3:35.29, in sixth, was Antar Zerguelane of Algeria. In 3:35.62 was Arturo Casado of Spain, in seventh.
In eight place was Alan Webb of the U.S. in 3:35.69. In ninth place, in 3:35.29 was Great Britians’ Andrew Baddeley. In tenth place, 2006 Commonwealth gold medalist Nicholas Willis of New Zealand, in 3:36.13.
Bernard Lagat ran this race to win, staying out of trouble, showing his cards at the last moment and running through a field of collapsing runners with a burst of speed that defines victors over losers in this type of a race. Ramzi, short on racing, also ran a smart race, sprinting to silver. Korir, who was leading or in the lead pack most of the way, held on for the bronze.
It was a hard luck race for Alan Webb, who had the world leading time this year, but who could not finish his kick when it was needed in the last fifty meters. Less than one second separated first from eighth place in this very tactical and brutal 1,500 meter final.
“This is most important moment of my life, being first champion in 99 years in
US history!” Noted Bernard Lagat.
Rounds
In the men’s 400 meters, LaShawn Merritt, Jeremy Wariner and Angelo Taylor lead qualifying, with times of 44.31, 44.34 and 44.45 respectively.
In the women’s 200 meters rounds, Allyson Felix ran 22.50, Sanya Richards ran 22.74, Torri Edwards ran 22.90 to move on. Murieal Hurtis-Houairi of France ran 22.83, Susanthika Jayasinghe of Sri Lanka had the second best qualifier with a time of 22.55, her seasonal best. Kim Gevaert of Belgium looked great as well.
Treniere Clement and Erin Donahue moved to round 2 in the women’s 1,500 meters. Christian Wurth-Thomas did not.
Men’s high jump final
In a high jump fraught with pressure and drama, Donald Thomas of the Bahamas had his day and cleared 2.35, the world leader on his first attempt. Yaroslav Rybakov of Russia also cleared 2.35 meters, but on his second attempt, and Kyriakos Ioannou of Cyprus took the bronze, clearing the height of 2.35 m on his third attempt. Stefan Holm of Sweden, the defending champion, cleared 2.33 meters, but did not get 2.35 meters. All of Sweden mourns.
For complete coverage from American Track & Field: http://www.american-trackandfield.com/features/worldchamps07list.html
For the interactive digital version of American Track & Field resource guide:
http://www.flipseekllc.com/ATFguide.html
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