by Alfonz JuckThe 10,000 meters WR was an amazing record, set by Almaz Ayana on the first day of the Olympic Trials. There has been many snide comments and lots of cynicism about the record. Peter Thompson, a fine coach and keen observer of the sport noted that, for Almaz Ayana, a first half in 14:46 and second in 14:30 shows fine fitness and would be something expected of a runner who has run 14:12.59. And, Tim Hutchings, noted British commentator and 4th in the 1984 LA 5000 meters, noted that “finally, the 10,000m is equivalent of Paula Radcliffe’s marathon WR.”
Here are EME News comments on the highlights of day one, we thank Alfonz Juck for his timely comments.
Almaz Ayana, photo by PhotoRun.net
EME NEWS (AUG 12, 2016)
OLYMPIC GAMES 1ST DAY
QUOTE OF THE DAY
“My doping is my training, my doping is Jesus, otherwise nothing, Im crystal clean,” Almaz Ayana after 10 000 m win.
“I have seen my daugther only three times since she was born. She probably does not recognise me. Since I got married I have rarely had time to go back home,” Wang Zhen after winning 20 km walk.
RESULT OF THE DAY
The 10 000 m World record which eclipsed the former unbeatable mark of Wang Junxia. After Keni Harrison improved Yordanka Donkova this year do we really think about what to do with some unbeatable records?
SURPRISE OF THE DAY
Harting out in discus qualification Amos out in 800 m heats.
MEDALS (7 countries)
CHN 1-1-0, ETH 1-0-1, USA 1-0-0
AGENT RANKINGS (by individual gold medals)
Jos Hermens 2, Karen Locke.
TITLE DEFENDERS
Yes: none, No: T. Dibaba, Adams, Chen Ding, R. Harting
TOP MARKS
WR 1, OR 1, WL 2
Hopes for more spectators
RIO DE JANEIRO (BRA): Insidethegames points out that an extraordinary opening morning session of athletics which included a huge world 10,000 metres record by Ethiopia’s Almaz Ayana and the best high-jumping ever seen within a heptathlon competition took place in a 60,000-capacity Olympic Stadium that appeared less than half full. “We understand about 60 per cent of tickets were sold for this morning’s session,” a spokesman for the International Association of Athletics Federations (IAAF) told insidethegames. Rio 2016 spokesman Mario Andrada said: “We are not disappointed with the athletics ticket sales. We knew the fact there are not many local heroes would make a difference…without heroes and local athletes the public take longer to fall in love with track and field. But one of the legacies of the Games will be to show Brazilians how spectacular these other sports can be and there will be no problem when Usain Bolt competes on Sunday.”
STATS
WSP: Carter won first gold for USA at WSP in the Olympic Games; second medal after bronze by E Brown in 1960. Marton won first medal for HUN at WSP in OG. Now Adams, Chizhova and Zybina also have three medals.
WHT: Wlodarzcyk 76.93 is the best qualification throw ever.
W 10 000 m: All time Best marks for place for 1st to 8th at W10000m were set. 8 National records in one races is second best European Champs 1971 10 000 m had 10. The winning margin of 15.08 sec is the largest ever in the Olympic Games 10k. Tirunesh Dibaba won third medal (2 golds in 2008, 20012 and now bronze) at W10000m exactly matching Derartu Tulu.
Heptathlon : 1.98 by Thiam and Johnson-Thompson is the highest HJ during Heptathlon, indoors pentathlon has better 199 Hellebaut.
20 km walk: Wang Zhen became the first Asian Game Champion to win the Olympic gold at 20Km walk. Best 4th place time (1:19:42) in the Olympic Games was recorded by Bonfim. Having won bronze 4 years ago, gold medalist Wang Zhen became sixth multiple medalist at 20Km walk.
OTHER NEWS
RIO DE JANEIRO (BRA): 2012 Olympic winner Robert Harting confirmed he will change his mind and most probably continue with his career until 202O Tokyo Games. Initially he was thinking to end the career this year or after 2018 European Champs in Berlin. “But ending in this way is not my style,” he said after not beeing qualified for the finals at the Olympic Games.
RIO DE JANEIRO (BRA): Another negative surprise in German throwing team was Christina Schwanitz and her 6th place in Olympic shot put final. “I want to be back stronger than ever and will continue until Tokyo,” she said.
RIO DE JANEIRO (BRA): As already informed Bulgarian steeplechaser Silvia Danekova has been pulled from the Olympics after testing positive for EPO, informs Reuters. “Unfortunately, we have a positive. test. We await the opening of the B sample test,” said Bulgarian Olympic Committee’s Secretary General Belcho Goranov. Danekova made the world final in 2013. She was still in the start lists in the morning of Saturday, then a revised version was issued before the start.
RIO DE JANEIRO (BRA): Vivian Cheruiyot will turn her attention to the 5000m after missing out on the Olympic title over 10,000m, informs Sports News Arena. “I’m happy because of my time. I don’t have any regrets because I did a personal best. One day, one time, I know that I’m going to be an Olympic champion. I have trained well for the 5000m and am hoping after the heats on 16 I will have a good race in the final,” she said.
RIO DE JANEIRO (BRA): Sarah Lahti has expressed concern that newly crowned Olympic 10,000m champion Almaz Ayana’s performance might have been achieved through doping, informs Expressen. “I do not really believe that she is 100 percent. It is too easy for her. We see no facial expression while the rest of us are struggling for life at the back,” she said. Lahti finished 12th in a Swedish record of 31:28.43. Ethiopian team doctor Ayalew Tilahun said Ayana was tested three times in July and had blood and urine samples taken yesterday. Ayana addressed the doping claims in the press conference. “My doping is my training, my doping is Jesus. I am crystal clear,” she said.
RIO DE JANEIRO (BRA): Kirani James has said it will be “entertaining” to see if LaShawn Merritt can win medals in the 200m and 400m informs Track Alerts. “I think it might be really entertaining to see him just try to win two medals, three medals, you can count the 4x400m. I think its great for him to try and win medals in both events, which I think it’s the toughest double ever,” he said.
RIO DE JANEIRO (BRA): Yohan Blake has said he has conquered his nerves ahead of the Olympics, informs Reuters. “What’s going to be different this time? I’m more wiser, I’m more stronger, I’m more focused, I’m not young any more. I’m not naive. So this time I won’t be too nervous,” he said, although he believes he stands a much better chance of winning a medal in the 200m than the 100m.
RIO DE JANEIRO (BRA): US 110m hurdles champion Devon Allen wishes he could go head-to-head against world champion Sergey Shubenkov at the Olympics, informs AFP. “As an athlete you always want to compete against the best. The defending world champion is Russian and he’s not here. As a competitor it’s kind of disappointing because obviously I want to compete against him,” he said. Sam Kendricks added he is saddened he won’t be competing against any Russians in the pole vault. “I’m not happy that several of my Russian friends, who I have no doubt compete fairly, will not be here,” he said.
RIO DE JANEIRO (BRA): Kevin Lopez has said he was short of form after being diagnosed with a stress fracture in his foot earlier this summer, informs MARCA. “I could not stay home with the question of knowing what would have happened if he had gone,” he said. Lopez was eighth in his 800 m heat.
RIO DE JANEIRO (BRA): Swedish pole vaulter Melker Svard Jacobsson will miss the Olympics with a tendon injury, informs Expressen.
RIO DE JANEIRO (BRA): Jamaican Fedrick Dacres blamed a cut on his finger on his throwing hand for bowing out in discus qualifying, informs the Jamaica Observer. “As the competition was about to start the rain started to pour so I had a sick finger and it got wet and the wound was open, so it was hard to grip the disc,” he said. His only valid mark was 50.69m.
RIO DE JANEIRO (BRA): Daina Levy will make history when she becomes the first Jamaican to compete in the hammer at the Olympics, informs Jamaica Observer. “I would be satisfied with anything that is close to or above my PR (personal record). That would be the ultimate win for me. Obviously, if I do that, I would have a great chance of making the final as well. That’s the goal right now,” she said. Levy has a lifetime best of 71.48.
OTHER NEWS
ZURICH (SUI): Pole vault Olympic winner Renaud Lavillenie will compete on September 1 at Weltklasse Zurich to try to win for record 7th time the Diamond Trophy. Women will fly already one day before at the Main Train Station with their competition which is not part of the Diamond Race. All Olympic favorites along with Nicole Buchler and Angelica Moser are scheduled to compete.
RESULTS
AANEKOSKI (FIN, Aug 11): Sampo Lehtola won the javelin here with 81.88 m. His second best throw and best in last five years.
