by Alfonz Juck
QUOTE OF THE DAY
“I am so excited. It took a lot of courage. It’s really amazing, this one was still missing. Three times world champion, now I can add the Olympic title to this. This one is for my family. Success is not only for me but for my family, my coach, my management. The whole team around me. I couldn’t have done it without them,” Joshua Cheptegei.
RESULT OF THE DAY
Olympic record for Cheptegei in the 10,000m final (26:43.14), improving Kenenisa Bekele’s 27:01.17 from Beijing 2008. It took 52 years since Viren broke 28 minutes at Olympics until Cheptegei broke 27 minutes here.
World record for USA in the mixed 4x400m relay heats (3:07.41), with Norwood (44.47), Little (49.32), Deadmon (44.17) and Brown (49.45). Can they go faster in finals and will the composition be the same?
SURPRISE OF THE DAY
The big favourites have qualified, several smaller surprises, Lake, Demireva, Distin, Apostolovski failed to qualify in the high jump, Mechaal, Mills, Habz only for repechages in the 1500m. In shot put Eurochamp Mihaljevic and Polish Haratyk with Bukowiecki.
MEDALS (8 countries)
CHN, ECU, UGA 1-0-0; ESP 0-1-1; BRA, ETH 0-1-0; AUS, USA 0-0-1.
POINTS (15 countries)
ESP, ETH 15; ECU 11; CAN, UGA 9; CHN 8; BRA 7; AUS, USA 6.
TITLE DEFENDERS
No (3): Stano, Palmisano, Barega
TOP MARKS
WR (1): 3:07.41 mixed 4x400m USA (230th WR at Olympic Games)
OR (2): 3:07.41 mixed 4x400m USA, 26:43.14 10,000m Cheptegei
WL (1): 3:07.41 mixed 4x400m USA
AR (3): 1 – Oceania, NACAC, Europe
AGENTS (individual gold medals)
Jos Hermens, not known for walking winners.
STATS
DEC: Warner’s 10.25 is the second fastest Olympic decathlon 100m (behind his 10.12 from Tokyo);
100 m – women: 11.13 by French Joseph is the fastest non-qualifier from first round at Olympics
4x400m – mixed: USA’s world record (3:07.41) is of course the fastest 1st round time, and 3:11.99 by Nigeria is the fastest non-qualifying time.
800m – women: The fastest heat time at Olympics was improved twice by Ethiopian runners, Mesele (1:58.07) in the third heat and Duguma (1:57.90) in the fifth heat.
5000 m – women: Nozomi Tanaka was fastest nonqualifier in Tokyo and Paris over 5000 m.
Discus – women: Allman’s 69.59 is the longest qualification throw, and 62.54 by another American Fraley is the longest non-qualifier.
10,000m – men: Top 13 finishers under previous OR; 0.32 sec. is the lowest difference between 1 and 3; best ever (all competitions) marks for place 6-13; first gold for UGA and second medal for Cheptegei.
PARIS (FRA): Heartbreaking Olympic debut for Angelina Topić, one of the serious medal contenders in the high jump, has injured her left ankle in a qualification warm-up. After a quick treatment she managed to clear 188 and 192 on her third attempt before failing at 195, and in the end it was enough to advance on countback. However later she said on her Instagram channel that she fractured her ankle and will not compete in the high jump final.
PARIS (FRA): Several national records on the first day at the stadium. In the 10,000m final European record for Spain by Ndikumwenayo (26:49.49), South Africa by Wildschutt (26:50.64) and France by Gressier (26:58.67). In the 100m heats for Canada by Leduc (10.95), Hungary by Takács (11.10), Puerto Rico by Torres (11.12) and San Marino by Gasparelli (11.54). In the 800m heats for Saint Vincent by Moloney (1:58.23), and in the women’s discus qualification for Sweden by Kamga (65.14). Equalled national record in the high jump qualification for Brazil by Martins (192). 7 national records have been broken in the mixed 4x400m relay heats.
PARIS (FRA): Jakob Ingebrigtsen also wore a mask as he went through the mixed zone as “a precaution.” He said: “It’s just my own precaution to make sure I’m as fit as I can be for my race.” Both Ingebrigtsen and Josh Kerr eased through their 1500m heats in Paris 2024.
PARIS (FRA): Despite a DNF in the 20km race walk, Antonella Palmisano is aiming to compete in the first marathon relay race walk next week, informs FIDAL. “Physically it will be easier to start again because I’ve done little more than half the race, what will be difficult is to start again mentally, but I’m used to difficult things. For the relay I will decide with the technicians, I hope to find the strength to be there with the team,” she said.
PARIS (FRA): Solomon Islands’ sole representative Sharon Firisua was entered into the 100m rather than the marathon in Paris 2024, informs AP. President of Solomon Islands Athletics Federation Michael Kuali said the federation had nominated sprinters for the open spot as per universality rules but the National Olympic Committee was responsible for the nomination. Firisua clocked 14.31 in the preliminary round of the 100m.
PARIS (FRA): Armand Duplantis has said that Paris 2024 feels like his “first Olympics” after the coronavirus restrictions in Tokyo 2020, informs SVT. “It feels like it’s my first Olympics and I’ve already won a gold…it’s a different feeling. It feels like this is more real with my family who will be here on site and friends who haven’t seen me since high school.”
PARIS (FRA): Jakob Ingebrigtsen has said he is the favourite for the 1500m title and also said that Josh Kerr “doesn’t feel confident in himself,” informs NRK. “Of course, it’s great to run with a slightly special start number, and it’s probably the reigning champion who is the favourite, yes. I feel very confident in myself, but I don’t think Kerr feels so confident in himself,” he said. While Kerr won his heat, Jakob Ingebrigtsen eased home in third in his 1500m heat.
PRAGUE (CZE): The javelin European champion and silver medallist from the previous Games Jakub Vadlejch left Prague’s Václav Havel Airport shortly before the start of the first evening block at the stadium in Paris. “I confirmed my form at the Diamond League in Paris at the Charléty,” he said. “Chopra, Nadeem, Weber, he hasn’t won a world medal yet, he’ll be very motivated, and also Helander, these are the main rivals for me.” From Czech Athletics.
PARIS (FRA): Veteran Dutch 400m runner Liemarvin Bonevacia has pulled out of Paris 2024 due to a hamstring injury. He was supposed to contest the 400m and mixed 4x400m.
PARIS (FRA): Kevin Kipkorir, who was selected to compete for Kenya in the 4x400m, is ineligible to compete having undergone insufficient out-of-competition testing as stipulated by the Athletics Integrity Unit (AIU), informs Pulse Sport.
PARIS (FRA): USA Track and Field has announced 110m hurdles Olympic silver medallist and 3x 110m hurdles World champion Grant Holloway and 400m hurdles Olympic champion and world record holder Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone have been named the Team USA track and field captains for the Paris Olympics.
