by Stuart Weir
Australian women 10,000 meter runners (Celia Sullohern, Madeline Hills and Eloise Wellings) greeting last finisher of 10,000m, Lineo Chaka of Lesotho, photo by J. Stuart Weir
Acts of kindness in this world are few and far between, or so we are told. This piece was posted a bit late, but, I think Stuart Weir did a nice job in covering the classy act of the Aussie distance runners, greeting all the finishers of the 10,000 meters, down to Lineo Chaka of Lesotho. In this world where we are told each day that people are less and less human, it was great to be reminded that it is all about one relationship at a time.
One of the chaplains who has been here for almost 2 weeks wrote in his blog that the Games were nearly over. I had to point out to him that actually the games had just reached the half way stage and that Monday was just day 2 of athletics!
It was a long and interesting day, starting at 10.00am and finishing at 10.00pm.
Hollie Arnold (Wales) won the F46 Javelin with a world record 44.43 with her last throw (not to be confused with the Welsh disability long jumper who on Sunday won with a PR in her final jump. Shouldn’t someone in the Welsh team tell them that the first jump/throw is OK too.
Justin has written an excellent account of the Stella Chesang’s win in the 10000m. I didn’t see much of it as watching the Ugandans in the Games Family seating jumping and screaming was more entertaining – see photo.
The only thing I need to say about the men’s shot put is that Tom Walsh won and the pope is still a catholic – yes there are still some certainties in the modern world. Walsh said afterwards: “I’m getting used to doing those things. New Zealand hadn’t had a men’s world title until I came around, in indoors and outdoors, so I’m pretty stoked to add another one to the tally.
I’m only missing one, which is the Olympic Games, which is another two years away.
At the end of the day I came here to win gold and that’s what I’ve done.” The pope was unavailable for comment.
The semi-finals of the women’s 1500m set up a mouth-watering final with Castor Semanya the fastest qualified but she will come under pressure from two Kenyans (Mary Kuria and Beatrice Chepkeoch) and Winnie Nanyonda. Have you heard the one about the 2 English, 2 Scottish and Welsh and a Northern Irish athletes – sound like a joke. With the four British countries entering separate teams there are six GB ladies in the final. Laura Muir is absent – last heard of checking horses’ heart rate. As her veterinary finals are in a few months she had to forgo the Commonwealth Games.
Note that the lights in the stadium are on during the day, photo by Stuart Weir
The mystery of the day is why the floodlights are needed at mid-day in bright sunshine? The best answer will secure a year’s subscription to RunBlogRun. All other answers two years’ subscription.
The moment of the night for me came in the women’s 10,000 metres. Lineo Chaka of Lesotho finished last, three minutes after the rest of the field. When she finished the three Australian athletes in the race, Celia Sullohern, Madeline Hills and Elzy Wellings were waiting on the finish line to applaud her home. A lovely gesture.
