Vivan Cheruiyot, 2011 WC 10,000m, photo by PhotoRun.net
K. Ken Nakamura, one of our favorite track geeks, waxes geekily on the number of sweeps in various events, and why Saturday night, August 27, 2011 was such a magical night!
Medal Sweeps
Men:
100m 1983 and 1991 by USA; 200m: 2005 (actually 1-4 sweep) by USA; 400m 2007 by USA
10000m: 2003 by ETH; 3000mSC: 1997 and 2007 by KEN; LJ: 1983 & 1991 by USA
Women:
5000m 2005 (actually 1-4 sweep) by ETH; 10000m: 2001 & 2005 by ETH, 2011 by KEN (actually 1-4)
Marathon: 2011 by KEN; LJ 2007 by RUS; Heptathlon 1983 by GDR
First to fourth sweep happened thrice: at 200m in 2005 by USA, at W5000m in 2005 by ETH and now at W10000m in 2011 by KEN
Four times in history, a nation swept the medals in two events in the same championships: USA in 100m and LJ in 1983 and 1991,
ETH in W5000m and W10000m in 2005, and now KEN in W10000m and WMarathon.
No nation swept the medals in three events in the same championships. KEN have chance to do so perhaps in 3000mSC?
