byLarry EderLet’s face it, Tyson Gay‘s 100 meters shocked and enthralled the crowd on the cold, damp Friday night at Crystal Palace. Tyson showed that he is both back and ready to race. His smile said it all-Tyson will finish this season: a man satisfied with his performance: 9.78 was phenophenomenal in this weather.
Tyson Gay, AVIVA London GP, PhotoRun.net.
Updated August 17, 2010, Special thanks to Mike Deering.
EME NEWS (AUG 13, 2010) UPDATE
SUPERB GAY IN COLD
LONDON (GBR): Tyson Gay was missing Asafa Powell‘s UK All-Comers record
by just 0.01 with 9.78 in London and said after the race: “I wasn’t
expecting to go that fast in these conditions but I knew I was in good
shape and was going to go fast. I was hobbling a bit at the end. My
groin is a little sore but I’m sure it’s okay. I wasn’t necessarily
sending a message to Asafa and Usain, I was just running my own race. I
think there’s more to come. It’s great to be on top of the world –
that’s important to me. This is not the best shape I’ve ever been in
because I’m still dealing with a few little injuries. My coach said
that I can run 9.7 in any conditions and I think I showed that
tonight.” Next races for Gay who was seen after the race touching his
groing, the relay in Zurich and 100 m in Brussels.
AVIVA GRAND PRIX
(GBR): In rainy start and wet conditions, cold and damp, excellent
world leads in men´s 100 m and women´s 100 m hurdles. Jackson,
Lavillenie, Felix, Langat, Barrios and Vlasic are in positions to be
Diamond Race winners, but must compete in the finals. Only two
Barcelona gold medalists won their events (Ostapchuk, Vlasic) and home
stars did not score too well (Farah second was the best) before
capacity crowd of 16 500. Surprise of the evening was Michalski in pole
vault but that had also weather reasons. Oscar Pistorius clocked 46.93
in national 400 m race.
Event by event review
100 m: Tyson Gay is in superb shape, world lead and meet record 9.78
(-0.4), his 5th fastest of the career, Blake life-time best 9.89, Dix
injured, no GB sprinter made it to the finals.
800 m: Kaki is back in winning (1:44.38), Wheating PB 1:44.56 as second (non DL).
3000 m: Lagat uses his kick to win over Farah and Stockholm winner Kiptoo, top 11 sub 7:50 (non DL).
Steeple: Koech beats Kemboi and Kipruto in fast finish, no pacemakers.
400mH:
Batman wins again 48.12 over Culson only by 0.05 and over Greene nearly
by one second. Jackson has enough points to win the Diamond Race.
PV: Surprise of the day Michalski wins (571 in third) as Hooker and
Lavillenie no-heighted at 551. Still the French vaulter is now
unbeatable in Diamond Race. The monsoon conditions saw the event
temporarily suspended.
TJ: Olsson get´s it over Tamgho, Idowu only 6th.
WOMEN
200 m: Felix easy 22.37 and is Diamond Race winner.
1500
m: Langat another one without pacemakers in 4:07.60 over Alminova and
Dobriskey, Jamal only 14th. She is the Diamond holder now.
5000 m: Tiru gets it 14:36.41 over Vivian Cheruiyot and Ejigu.
100mH:
Priscilla Lopes-Schliep world leading 12.52 (+0.2) in not ideal
conditions was a surprise but a positive one. Pearson and Lolo second
and third.
HJ: Vlasic ruled with 201 in second and is Diamond winner. Howard-Lowe only 6th and is injured.
LJ: Klishina beats Kolchanova on count back (665/655 and 665/649). Eurowinner Radevica fourth.
SP: Ostapchuk again over Vili (20.27-19.83). National record for Trinidad (Borel-Brown 19.03 as 5th).
DT: Barrios remains unbeaten 65.62 over Perkovic 63.30 and is Diamond Race winner.
JT: Spotakova revenge over Patterson and her Barcelona beaters Stahl and Obergfoll.
ATHLETES
LONDON
(GBR): Andrew Wheating who clocked personal best on Friday said per
his management company that this was his last meet of the year. He
competes for Nike’s Oregon Track Club, has had a breakout summer with
personal best performances in 3 of the 4 Diamond League competitions he
has entered. He now has personal bests of 1:44.56 (800m), 3:30.91
(1500m) and 3:51.74 (mile).
BAGDAD (IRQ): Olympic gold medalist and four-time World Champ,
Allen Johnson has set out to a whole new venture outside of athletics.
For the last two weeks Allen has been in Iraq meeting and greeting with
U.S. soldiers as part of the Goodwill Military Tour. Writes
Trackandfieldnews.com. Allen arrived in Kuwait on the 3rd of August and
was then transported to Iraq by military escort. For the next week he
visited wounded soldiers in military hospitals, do walking tours of
military bases and meet with soldiers. Allen said while on tour, “I am
very excited to be doing this. I have huge amount of respect for the
men and women who serve our country, and I feel that with me there I
can personally thank as many of them as I meet.”
LOS ANGELES (USA): A mysterious illness struck two-time 400H world
champ Kerron Clement early in his summer stay in Europe, ultimately
putting a premature end to his season. According to Wilson Joseph,
agent for the 24-year-old hurdler, “Kerron started feeling ill the
morning of the Lausanne meet. But he decided to try to tough it out.”
Clement finished 8th and last in the Swiss race at 50.41. Wilson
continues, “After Lausanne, Kerron went to Paris to train. While in
Paris, his condition worsened and he sought medical attention.” Looking
ahead to the ’11 campaign, should Clement defend his global title in
Korea he would become the first one-lap hurdler, man or woman, to win
three world titles, let alone in a row. Other men’s two-time 400H
champions are Edwin Moses (1983-87) and Felix Sanchez (2001-03). Writes
Trackandfieldnews.com.
LONDON (GBR): Pulled hamstring might bring an interesting
difficulty for Walter Dix after the London 100 m final. He is clear
Diamond Race winner in the 200 m but needs to compete in the final in
Zurich to get the award. He is undergoing examinations on Saturday to
see what his status would be. He was also named to represent Americas
in both sprints at IAAF Continental Cup.
LONDON (GBR): US High jump record holder Chaunte Howard-Lowe is
ending her season after London and leg injury (only 185 as 6th). She
was also selected for Americas for IAAF Continental Cup in Split.
OTHER NEWS
BERLIN
(GER): World best 800 m runner David Rudisha will compete for first
time since his African Championships win at 69th ISTAF meet in Berlin
on August 22 (IAAF World Challenge). Informs the meeting website. He
wants to return to the place and forget last years World Championships
when he was out in semifinals and plans weather permitting for a fast
time. It will be first of four European races for him, others to follow
in Brussels and Rieti against Abubaker Kaki. Last in Split at IAAF
Continental Cup where he was selected to run with Ethiopian Shiferaw
Wola to represent Africa. In 3000 m double world champion 2007 Bernard
Lagat will be the star. Both should attack meeting records (1:42.98 by
Joaquin Cruz in 1985 and 7:30.76 by Ali Saidi-Sief in 2000).
SPLIT (CRO): Jamaican sprint star Asafa Powell was named in team
Americas for IAAF Continental Cup in Split at 200 m. The second entry
from that team in the 200 m was Walter Dix but his participation should
be confirmed now as he was injured on Friday in London. Next in row
will be world medalist Wallace Spearmon of USA. Dix was also named in
the 100 m together with Antiguan Daniel Bailey to run for Americas. In
case of confirmed injury he will be most probably replaced by in-shape
running Yohan Blake of Jamaica.
LONDON (GBR): Latest Pat Butcher´s blog www.globerunner.org: the Youth Olympic Games.
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