Day three – five takeaways
Sometimes we overcomplicate our sport. At base, track and field is the purest of sports. Who finished first, who jumped or threw furthest? This week, qualification for the next round seems to have been overcomplicated. So how do you progress to the second round? In some events, the top 12 are given a bye/wild card into the second round. That is not only intrinsically unfair but also deprives the crowd of a chance to watch the top athletes. In some races it is top 2 or 3 in each prelim. In others, eg the W400 this morning, it is top 13 on times, irrespective of placing. In other events, it is a combination of the two – first two in a race plus additional athletes on time. It is fine for me with my data system and printed start lists but hard for the paying spectator to understand what is happening all the time.
Millions of people across the UK and Europe witnessed a once-in-a-generation solar eclipse – a rare phenomenon that won’t be seen again until the end of this century. It happens when the moon passes in front of the sun, obscuring its light, producing a stunning ring of fire around the lunar surface. It is impressive that the event organizers arranged it as a bonus for spectators at no extra charge.
Three GB athletes in the 200m semi-finals and three in the final.Amy Hunt 22.57, Dina Asher-Smith 22.49 and Success Eduan 22.56. At 31, 24 and 21, they represent three not quite generations of GB sprinting. Dina has achieved so much; Amy is at the height of her powers. Success has just finished her hospital-based midwifery degree, fitting training in when she could.
Max Burgin and Ben Pattisen were both well capable of a medal, if not a win, in the Commonwealth Games 800m. Max did not reach the final. He reached the final only as a “fastest loser” in fourth place. He was again only fourth in the final. Today both made the final comfortably. Max won his semi, and Ben ran the second fastest time across the semis. They look ready for the final.
Big shout-out to Emily Newnham (GB), ranked to finish 4th in the 400m hurdles, the youngest athlete in the final, running blind in lane 8, storming home in PR 53.33 to take silver.
53.33
