World Athletics Championships

Starts today for 10 days. US have farked up with visa issuing. Coe is blustering away making excuses for the fiasco, like the mediocre politician he was, with the great Michael Johnson putting the boot in, with his excellent direct style. He's not in the studio but is trackside for the Beeb. Unfortunately, it's the usual suspects in the studio including Denise Brain Freeze Lewis.

 

Looks like Nick Miller through to Hammer final but the UK mixed 4 x 400 relay, really farked up their semi-final.

 

What is the point of this competition? Is it just to give a second chance to athletes who failed at the Olympics?

 

It's just the equivalent of a world cup for their sport (athletics).

 

For Athletics, it's the chance to be crowned World Champion in your discipline. It was set originally set up to counter-act the political boycotts of The Olympics in the 70s and 80s.

 

That was hard luck for Holly Bradshaw. Pole breaks are pretty rare but to happen at a major championship is just really bad luck. Luckily, she is OK.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/av/athletics/62188456

 

As sure as night follows day, 2 more doping suspensions have been announced. Kenyan marathon runner, one of the faves, and a US 400m sprinter for tampering with his whereabouts, not my words but Steve Cram's.

 

Weird atmosphere in the stadium which has the feel of a standard Track Meet. Probably not helped that the evening session featuring the Men's 100 m final, the Blue Ribbon sprinting event is not sold out. All 3 Brits in the Men's 1500 m are through to the next round which is encouraging.

Meanwhile in the Men's Marathon we find out that Steve Cram doesn't like cheese and the simpering Tax Exile does not educate us with new knowledge. Why does the cash-strapped BBC continue to employ someone who has made the conscious decision not to financially contribute to the country who kept her healthy and educated her in her formative (and beyond) years.

 

Cue the Not the Nine o' Clock News sketch!

 

Who's the exile?

 

Monaco's own Paula Radcliffe.

 

No, I think that's tomorrow.

Lord Percy Percy in the Disucs is the one to wtach.

 

Oh dear.

 

Heir to the Duchy of Northumberland?
Worth a watch to see if he finally gets the hang of alchemy!

 

Doom of Belgium in 400 M heats. I'm not feeling confident about his chances.

Cherry finishes on top.

 

He’d better not come on here when we play Sunderland.

 

Mixed results in the women's 100 m. but Dina Asher-Smith makes it through to the Final with an outside chance of sneaking the bronze.

 

I used to coach a little girl whose father was an interesting man.
He ran a boxing gym/school for children who had been thrown out of education. His establishment was the last chance for these youngsters.
One of the children was a talented runner so Chris took them to Lea Valley Harriers (?) for help.
The coach told him in conversation never to trust Jamaican sprinting,ever.
This was pre Bolt.
This came to mind when I heard the result this morning.

 

Richard Kilty certainly didn't. He was and still is very angry about the offending at least, idiot, at worst, cheat, squad member.

https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2...-reece-prescod-over-cj-ujah-olympic-drugs-ban

 

So very close. The lane draw didn't help with a slower starting athlete next to her. If she was drawn amongst the Jamaicans then I think she wouldn't have broken the British record and sneaked a medal. Still a really good performance from her. Bodes well for the 200 m and the relay.

 

Such a gutsy run at near World Record pace. Nothing more she could have done.

Gemili's meltdown didn't really help himself. Perhaps it's time for him to move on and do something else.

UK Athletics seem to be becoming more peripheral on the World Stage. Cuts to grassroots and schools programmes over recent years haven't helped. Perhaps some of the younger talent will be allowed to shine during the Commonwealth Games and the European Championships.

 

Best achievement in his family since Hazel donated a cup!
Well done!

 

Stunning run. With 200 m to go and he hit the front you were just waiting for Ingebrigtsen to come charging past, but each time he tried to move, Wightman just kicked again, and with about 30 m to go you knew he had it in the bag. Superb.

 

Luckily, we didn't have to endure fashion disaster Iwan Thomas interviewing him immediately after. His Dad was also the announcer at the UK Champs a few weeks ago. He was well choked up.

 

Big shame that Max Burgin, the fastest man in the world this year and a real medal hope, had to pull out of the 800 m. Hopefully, he'll be OK for the Commonwealth Games and the Europeans later.