byLarry Eder
Robert Harting, photo by PhotoRun.net
Kellie Wells, photo by PhotoRun.net
Pamela Jelimo, photo by PhotoRun.net
German Fernandez, photo by PhotoRun.net
Aries Merritt, photo by PhotoRun.net
I have to start this note with an apology. There are times with you, dear readers, that I communicate in a bit of a short hand. My son, Adam, who has dealt with my embrace of the vague, gently reminds me sometimes that even he has a hard time getting my drift. So, this time, I will try and stay focused and direct, taking in as many points as I feel I need to, in describing the significance of this summer of track & field that we will refer to for many years as simply, London 2012.
As someone who has competed, coached and worked in an industry that I love, I take it for granted that all of our readers just get it. The truth is, many don’t appreciate the significance of great performances, epic competitions and sanctuaries of sport.
To make an Olympic team, in most of the 209 countries that sent teams, is an amazing task. To make one of the positions on the Team USA track & field team, that, dear friends, is near impossible. First, you have 1.4 million high school kids running, jumping and thrower. Then, you might make it to a US college, so you are down to 1 in 7, about 200,000 competing in college. Then, perhaps, you were in the top six in an NCAA final, and you find some sponsorship. For most, it is equipment and some performance bonuses, but you need a job during the day to pay for rent. This is where most athletes call it a day.
But, perhaps, you have that vision thing, you see yourself with an Olympic uniform on, and you make an Olympic Trials. In your first Trials, you do not make the semi finals. In the second, you make the semi finals, make the finals, and with 100 meters to go, you are blocked in by three runners, someone falls, you go over them and kick like you never have before, you make the team. Hard work, good competition skills, a thoughtful coach and support system, and lots of luck play a significant part in those who make a US Olympic track & field team.
Making an Olympic medal? You are then, on that day, one of the three best in your event. You have to show up and perform. No one gets an easy day.
The Team USA track & field team may be the hardest team to make in the world. In 2012, it worked. 29 medals is no mean feat. Everyone was earned, and some athletes came terribly close. All of that takes work. 12-15 years to make a US track team. Allyson Felix, one of the most talented athletes you or I have ever seen, takes difficult workouts and discussions from Bob Kersee most of the year. Clyde Hart, working with Sanya Richards-Ross, helped her get to the place where many thought she could go, and finally, she is racing Amantle Montsho, and winning.
This has been a long season. ISATF Berlin is one of the last meets of the year. Robert Harting of Germany, wins his 33rd discus competition against a field with, once again, some tough discus throwers, Kellie Wells wins the 100m hurdles in Berlin, having grown past a hamstring tear in 2008, and long, tough season,where she took bronze in the 100m hurdles. Pamela Jelimo gets back to the top of the world, taking an Olympic silver and wins the 800 meters.
And German Fernandez, one of the most talented Americans ever, who has suffered through college years where his heart could handle more than his skeletal system, runs a nice 3:34.60 with every kicker at 1,500m in one race. German is now sponsored by Nike and under the
watchful eyes of Jerry Schumacher.
watchful eyes of Jerry Schumacher.
Any athlete who gets to this level should be applauded. Our sport has epic battles each and every meet, because, dear friends, it is all about the competition. For years, I have thought that most sports fans get it that nothing comes easy in this sport. 80,000 fans each night and 75,000 fans each day in London surely got it, now we need to take that message around the world.
02/09/2012
ISTAF Berlin
Berlin, 02/09/2012
Men’ results
100 Metres – Men Race 1 Wind: +1.5 m/s
1 Aikines-Aryeetey , Harry GBR 10.22
2 Malcolm , Christian GBR 10.36
3 Devonish , Marlon GBR 10.39
4 Keller , Martin GER 10.54
5 Kosenkow , Alexander GER 10.56
6 Masztak , Kamil POL 10.60
7 Salka , Martin SVK 11.27
8 Baran , Jiri CZE 12.16
100 Metres – Men Race 2 Wind: +0.1 m/s
1 Bailey-Cole , Kemar JAM 10.00
2 Collins , Kim SKN 10.07
3 Vicaut , Jimmy FRA 10.12
4 Patton , Darvis USA 10.12
5 Forsythe , Mario JAM 10.19
6 Frater , Michael JAM 10.20
7 Spearmon , Wallace USA 10.27
8 Reus , Julian GER 10.34
9 Jakubczyk , Lucas GER 10.40
800 Metres – Men
1 Aman , Mohammed ETH 1:43.62
2 Melly , Edwin Kiplagat KEN 1:44.36
3 Bube , Andreas DEN 1:45.12
4 Kosencha , Leonard Kirwa KEN 1:45.18
5 Lopez , Yeimer CUB 1:46.19
6 Rimmer , Michael GBR 1:46.42
7 Keiner , Sebastian GER 1:47.01
8 Lathouwers , Robert NED 1:47.37
9 Nesterov , Ivan RUS 1:52.01
Kiilu , Vincent Mumo KEN DNF
1500 Metres – Men
1 Chepseba , Nixon Kiplimo KEN 3:33.11
2 Birgen , Bethwell KEN 3:33.41
3 Ndiku , Caleb Mwangangi KEN 3:33.43
4 Cheboi , Collins KEN 3:33.58
5 Orth , Florian GER 3:34.56
6 Seurei , Benson KEN 3:34.58
7 Fernandez , German USA 3:34.60
8 Schlangen , Carsten GER 3:34.76
9 Brannen , Nathan CAN 3:35.27
10 Komen , Daniel Kipchirchir KEN 3:35.80
11 Ngetich , Hillary Cheruiyot KEN 3:36.43
12 Tesfaye Heyi , Homiyu GER 3:38.62
13 Choge , Augustine Kiprono KEN 3:41.69
Shaween , Mohammed KSA DNF
Casado , Arturo ESP DNF
Barusei , Geoffrey KEN DNF
Kombich , Ismael Kipngetich KEN DNF
110 Metres Hurdles – Men Wind: +1.2 m/s
1 Merritt , Aries USA 12.97
2 Wilson , Ryan USA 13.45
3 Deghelt , Adrien BEL 13.62
4 Porter , Jeff USA 13.63
5 John , Alexander GER 13.85
6 Bohler , Matthias GER 13.87
7 Odom , Marlon USA 13.95
8 Balnuweit , Erik GER 13.97
9 Papao , Viliam &n
bsp; SVK 14.28
bsp; SVK 14.28
400 Metres Hurdles – Men
1 Sanchez , Felix DOM 48.89
2 Green , Leford JAM 49.06
3 Bultheel , Michael BEL 49.30
4 Fleischhauer , Georg GER 49.37
5 Konigsmark , Varg GER 49.58
6 Williams , Rhys GBR 50.04
7 Plawgo , Marek POL 51.34
8 Schirrmeister , Silvio GER 51.40
Pole Vault – Men
1 Otto , Bjorn GER 5.78
2 Mohr , Malte GER 5.68
3 Starodubtsev , Dmitry RUS 5.68
4 Kudlicka , Jan CZE 5.68
5 Dilla , Karsten GER 5.58
6 Lewis , Steven GBR 5.58
7 Borges , Lazaro CUB 5.43
Mesnil , Romain FRA NM
Hooker , Steven AUS NM
Walker , Brad USA NM
Holzdeppe , Raphael GER NM
Long Jump – Men
Wind
1 Menkov , Aleksandr RUS 8.00 +0.4
2 Smith , Tyrone BER 7.80 +0.5
3 Mokoena , Godfrey Khotso RSA 7.78 +0.5
4 Bayer , Sebastian GER 7.76 +0.3
5 Gaisah , Ignisious GHA 7.66 +0.0
6 Morgunov , Sergey RUS 7.63 +0.2
7 Winter , Nils GER 7.49 +0.3
8 Camara , Alyn GER 7.18 +0.3
9 Jegede , J.J. GBR 6.96 +0.1
Rutherford , Greg GBR DNS
Shot Put – Men
1 Hoffa , Reese USA 21.37
2 Majewski , Tomasz POL 21.31
3 Whiting , Ryan USA 21.17
4 Martin , Cory USA 20.43
5 Kolašinac , Asmir SRB 19.93
6 Bartels , Ralf GER 19.07
7 Christensen , Kim DEN 18.78
8 Fortes , Marco POR 17.99
Storl , David GER NM
Discus Throw – Men
1 Harting , Robert GER 67.40
2 Alekna , Virgilijus LTU 66.63
3 Malachowski , Piotr POL 66.17
4 Wierig , Martin GER 65.49
5 Casanas , Yennifer Frank ESP 65.22
6 Cadee , Erik NED 65.06
7 Pestano , Mario ESP 64.00
8 Okoye , Lawrence GBR 62.60
9 Munch , Markus &n
bsp; GER 60.44
bsp; GER 60.44
Women’ results
100 Metres – Women Race 2 Wind: -0.5 m/s
1 Baptiste , Kelly-Ann TRI 11.25
2 Stewart , Kerron JAM 11.27
3 Soumari , Myriam FRA 11.34
4 Bailey , Aleen JAM 11.36
5 Anderson , Alexandria USA 11.36
6 Knight , Bianca USA 11.36
7 Barber , Mikele USA 11.47
8 Henry-Robinson , Samantha JAM 11.50
9 Onuora , Anyika GBR 11.60
100 Metres – Women Race 1 Wind: -0.7 m/s
1 Korczynska , Daria POL 11.64
2 Baur , Eva GER 11.86
3 Douglas , Montell GBR 12.01
4 Mazicovi , Iveta CZE 12.20
5 Bezekovi , Alexandra SVK 12.33
6 Tiborski , Monika CZE 12.60
7 Chvlkov , Adéla CZE 12.82
8 Ttukovi , Alexandra SVK 13.01
800 Metres – Women
1 Jelimo , Pamela KEN 1:58.68
2 Niyonsaba , Francine BDI 1:58.78
3 Aregawi , Abeba ETH 1:59.39
4 Hachlaf , Halima MAR 1:59.96
5 Vessey , Maggie USA 2:00.14
6 Okoro , Marilyn GBR 2:00.54
7 Sharp , Lynsey GBR 2:01.32
8 Chebet , Winny KEN 2:01.45
9 Simpson , Jemma GBR 2:01.87
10 Hak , Yvonne NED 2:02.33
Cherkasova , Svetlana RUS DNF
3000 Metres Steeplechase – Women
1 Assefa , Sofia ETH 9:21.64
2 Chepkurui , Lydiah KEN 9:22.27
3 Ayalew , Hiwot ETH 9:25.29
4 Jepkemoi , Hyvin Kiyeng KEN 9:27.69
5 Kertich , Eunice Jepkorir KEN 9:30.42
6 Njoroge , Mercy Wanjiku KEN 9:32.32
7 Nyangau , Ruth Bisibori KEN 9:32.81
8 Bobocel , Ancuta ROU 9:33.25
9 Inzikuru , Docus UGA 9:37.20
10 Cherotich , Fancy KEN 9:37.37
11 Mildner-Schmidt , Antje GER 9:40.02
12 Shmidt , Svitlana UKR 9:43.31
13 Fuentes-Pila , Zulema ESP 10:08.49
Arias , Eva ESP DNF
Kowalska , Katarzyna POL DNF
Jelizarova , Polina LAT DNF
Nguria , Regina Cherotich KEN DNF
100 Metres Hurdles – Women Wind: +0.0 m/s
1 Wells , Kellie USA 12.72
2 Harrison , Queen USA 12.79
3 Lopes-Schliep , Priscilla CAN 12.83
4 Williams , Shermaine JAM 12.90
5 George , Phylicia CAN 12.93
6 Schrott , Beate AUT 13.04
7 Hildebrand , Nadine GER 13.23
8 Schwarzkopf , Lilli GER 13.51
9 Roleder , Cindy &nbs
p; GER 13.53
p; GER 13.53
Hammer Throw – Women
Pts
1 Heidler , Betty GER 75.18 75.18
2 Moreno , Yipsi CUB 73.87 73.87
3 Wlodarczyk , Anita POL 73.80 73.80
4 Lysenko , Tatyana RUS 72.39 72.39
5 Klaas , Kathrin GER 71.97 71.97
6 Marghieva , Zalina MDA 68.46 68.46
7 Khanafeyeva , Gulfiya RUS 67.95 67.95
8 Frizell , Sultana CAN 67.74 67.74
Javelin Throw – Women
1 Viljoen , Sunette RSA 67.52
2 Spotokova , Barbora CZE 66.83
3 Obergfoll , Christina GER 62.57
4 Stahl , Linda GER 62.51
5 Rebryk , Vira UKR 60.77
6 Muze , Lina LAT 58.59
7 Molitor , Kathrina GER 57.75
8 Ratej , Martina SLO 56.47
9 Krebs , Franziska GER 54.40
