by Larry Eder
Mariya Savinova takes the 800 meters from Jenny Meadows, World Indoor Champs 2010, Doha, Qatar, March 14, 2010, photo by PhotoRun.net.
The women’s 800 meters was an excellent race! In the end, it came to Mariya Savinova of Russia and Jenny Meadows…..
Alysia Johnson took the lead and lead through 200 meters, in 28.01, and 400 meters in 58.16. Tucked right in behind here were Jenny Meadows, Mariya Savinova, Anna Pierce of the U.S. and Egle Balciunaite of Lithuana.
Jennifer Meadows took control on the back stretch, hitting the 600 meter mark in 1:28.73, and the race looked to be hers. But, as we know, in the middle distance races, it is seldom over until the finish line!
Jenny Meadows, 2010 World Indoor Champs, Doha, Qatar, photo by PhotoRun.net
Mariya Savinova of Russia moved up on Meadow’s shoulder, with Alysia Johnson holding on for dear life and Anna Pierce moving up behind her.
Mariya Savinova went by Jenny Meadows, with about twenty-five meters to go. Savinova ran a world leading 1:58.26 to take the gold at WIC 800 meters. Jenny Meadows took the silver, in 1:58.43, breaking the British national record (her record), for the second time in three weeks! Alysia Johnson of the U.S.A. held on for the bronze in 1:59.60, her personal best! In fourth place, U.S.’s Anna Pierce ran 2:00.53, her personal best. Egle Balciunaite of Lithuania finished fifth in 2:01.37, a national record!
Savinova over Meadows, 2010 World Indoor Champs, photo by PhotoRun.net.
Mariya Savinova of Russia was ecstatic, ” I am from Cehlyabinsk and we have there minus 30 degrees (Celsius). As you can imagine, I like competing indoors where it is warmer. I had my tactics, but did not expect such a fast race!”
Jenny Meadows, the silver medalist commented, “I tried to keep going until the finish line.It was a big challenge and the girls were enormously strong. When I saw the time, I told myself that at least it was a PB!”
And the ecstatic Alysia Johnson said, ” It is amazing. It was no walk in the park! I was going for the gold and I pushed for it!”
Credit is due for Alysia Johnson, who took a chance, and came home with the first World Champs medal for an American women in many years!
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