by Alfonz Juck
Ruth Chepngetich takes Doha first gold, photo by PhotoRun.net
EME news provides the behind the scenes info. A fine team puts this info together (Stephen Mills and Paul Halford, with Alfons Juck), and it should be read daily.
EME NEWS (SEP 27, 2019)
QUOTE OF THE DAY 1
Henrik Ingebrigtsen: “Of course in Norway with three brothers in the final it’s historic. And now we are in a position to be even more historic.”
RESULT OF THE DAY 1
Ruth Chepngetich winning the marathon in hot and humid conditions in 2:32:43. Only seven broke 2:40 including best European Mazuronak as 5th 2:36:21. In jumping qualifications where the majority of results were below the required standard (2 in triple and 1 in long jump only standards), Juan Miguel Echevarria got 840, fourth best ever qualification mark at World Championships.
SURPRISE OF THE DAY 1
Iryna Gerashchenko exiting in the qualifying round of the women’s high jump with 1.85m; European champion Nelson Evora not reaching the triple jump final with 16.80m. Some good names out in 800 m heats (Sharp, Buchel, Green).
MEDALS (3 countries)
KEN 1-0-0, BRN 0-1-0, NAM 0-0-1 (first women medal for the country at the Worlds)
POINTS (7 countries)
KEN 13, BRN 7, NAM 6
AGENT RANKINGS (by individual gold medals)
Federico Rosa 1
LONDON 2017 WINNERS
yes (0)
no (1): R. Chelimo (mar)
GOLD MEDALS BY CONTINENTS
Africa 1
Fair play lesson
DOHA (QAT): On the final lap of the opening 5000m heat, Aruba’s Jonathan Busby began to stagger, clearly exhausted by his efforts. With 200m to go it appeared that he would not be able to finish. But then his fellow competitor Braima Sundar Dabo came to his aid, first hooking his arm under Busby’s arm to keep him on his feet, and then stopping and placing the distressed runner’s arm over his shoulder so he could half-carry him the final 120m to the finish line. Busby was later disqualified for receiving outside assistance, but the moment of sportsmanship will live long after the result is forgotten. Dabo now becomes a prime candidate for the Fair Play Award that is traditionally given at the end of the World Championships.
OTHER DOHA NEWS
DOHA (QAT): European champion Jakob Ingebrigtsen, of Norway, was reinstated after he was initially disqualified for stepping inside the kerb, allowing him to join his brothers Henrik and Filip in the final. It will be the first time that three brothers will compete in the same individual track final at the World Championships.
DOHA (QAT): In the 100m heats where pre-event favourite Christian Coleman of the USA set the pace in 9.98, with African champion Akani Simbine of South Africa next fastest in 10.01.
DOHA (QAT): Women pole vault qualification standard 460 proved to be a soft one with 17 achieving it.
DOHA (QAT): The traditional meeting today between the IAAF Council and the IOC Executive Board on the occasion of the IAAF World Athletics Championships was described by the IAAF President Sebastian Coe as “very successful” and by the IOC President Thomas Bach as “very fruitful.” “First of all the question of how maintain and strengthen the relevance of the sports among the youth. How we can attract the young people to do the sport, and in this case athletics,” said President Coe.
DOHA (QAT): The World Athletics Heritage Plaque has been awarded posthumously to six world renowned coaches and to seven of the sport’s oldest magazines in recognition of their historic contribution to the promotion of the sport. The coaches honoured include Dr. Woldemeskel Kostre (Haile Gebrselassie), Yoshio Koide (Naoko Takahashi), Arthur Lydiard (Peter Snell), Franz Stampfl (Roger Bannister), Lawrence ‘Larry’ Snyder (Jesse Owens) and Dietrich Gerner (Adhemar Ferreira Da Silva) who mentored and moulded countless athletics talents into champions and world record breakers during their illustrious careers. The publications which were also rewarded with an IAAF Plaque are Athletisme (founded in 1921), Leichtathletik (1925), Atletica (1933), Athletics Weekly (1945), Track and Field News (1948), Rikujyokyogi (1951) and Runners’ World (1966).
DOHA (QAT): Despite being free to compete after getting away with a public warning for testing positive at the Jamaican Championships, Briana Williams will not compete at the World Championships, informs the Jamaica Observer. Jonelle Smith has been selected for the third slot alongside Dina Asher-Smith and Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce.
DOHA (QAT): Gina Luckenkemper isn’t taking their chances for granted in the 4x100m relay despite setting a world lead of 41.67 at the ISTAF in Berlin, informs dpa. “At the ISTAF, we showed our potential; the time has given us confidence. However, once again we have to bring such a performance together in Doha. If we can do that, we can go for a medal in the final. However, there are other countries that can run under 42 seconds. Above all the USA, Jamaica and Great Britain,” she said.
DOHA (QAT): Colleen Quigley pulled out of the 3000m steeplechase at the World Championships due to injury. She wrote on Instagram: “It breaks my heart to write this, but I have to scratch from this weekend’s World Championships in Doha, Qatar due to an injury in my hip that I can’t seem to shake.”
DOHA (QAT): Eilish McColgan will only contest the 5000m at the World Championships.
DOHA (QAT): British marathon runner Tish Jones pulled out of the marathon at the World Championships due to a leg injury.
DOHA (QAT): A new series called the World Athletics Continental Tour will be introduced from next year, IAAF chief executive Jon Ridgeon confirmed. Speaking about the changes to the calendar and the Diamond League, he added: “We are looking to take much more control, with our member federations, over the global calendar. Every year we will be fixing regular dates for the World Athletics Series events and hopefully area championships. Beneath that, the next important dates will be your own national championships and trials. Once those are protected, the other one-day meetings, such as the Diamond League meetings, can be fitted around.”
DOHA (QAT): The IAAF and Japanese company TDK have extended their partnership until 2029. The relationship, which began 36 years ago, will see them sponsor bib numbers and fund the world record bonuses at the World Championships.
