by Stuart Weir
This is the final report of the night from Stuart Weir on the 2018 Athletic World Cup. Some great events, and a strong competition, the Athletic World Cup had drawn a crowd on Saturday, and a lighter crowd on Sunday, on a sports crazy weekend. We shall see what becomes of the meet on a schedule that has too many mediocre events challenging athletes, fans and sponsors.
The key for the Athletics World Cup, in the future, is a better date, and more stars to fill out the teams. The team battle has to be close, and in the current model, USA wins hands down with a strong team.
USA win World Cup
Strength in depth was the key to the USA’s win in the first Athletics World Cup in London.
The final standings (based on 8 points for a win, 7 for second etc) were
- USA – 219 points
- Poland – 162 points
- Great Britain and Northern Ireland – 155 points
- Jamaica – 153 points
- France – 146 points
- Germany – 137 points
- South Africa – 135 points
- China – 81 points
Queen Harrison, Captain of USA, said: “It feels amazing, any time you can come out and represent your country it is an amazing feeling. We are a diverse country and to see this team be so diverse and I am proud to be American just now. It is fantastic to be the first winners of the Platinum trophy – every other country will have to come and live up to that and try to win it and we will really want to come back and win it again next year.
“As track and field athletes everyone always wants more but everyone came out and ran, jumped, throw our best for the team and we came out victorious. We did not know what to expect from the stadium or crowd but man were they loud and it was so full and the supporters are always so welcoming and rally around all the countries not just Great Britain so it was a great atmosphere.
