World Athletics Championships

All 4 GB women through to the 800 m semi-finals. Keely Hodgkinson had a wildcard entry to the World Champs for wining last years Diamond League final.

Has Steve Backley been on a training course as his commentating has improved. The vocal ticks and errs and constant babble have been replaced with pauses and some thought in what's going on.

For the previous 2 nights, it was just Colin Jackson in the studio but as there is a bit more female interest on the track at the mo, Ennis-Hill and Brainfart Lewis have been wheeled in. I thought they may have melted from the heat back home but apparently not. Evidently, it's a virtual studio in Salford in which, "The real-time photorealistic output enhances the viewer’s experience like never before." What a load of guff.

 

Well done Dina. Another great run and a worthy Bronze medal.

 

What a poor run from Kyle Langford in the men's 800 m. A real shame about Max Burgin as he was in fantastic form and had a realistic chance of a medal.

The men's 200 m final demonstrated that for every modest US male athlete there's at least 2 who are ridiculously over the top.

 

Gemili 0.3 sec slower than the US opening sprinter in men's 4 x 100 relay. Mitchell-Blake on the third leg with 2 ropey change-overs. It all looks like an accident waiting to happen. The girls looked good though with Dina to come in for the Final.

 

We are currently 13th in the medal table, but IMO we should be joint 6th as I think the medal tables should be configured in a different way.

At present gold medals are given priority regardless of how many medals a team has EG: - Currently Peru have just two medals, but as they are both golds they are 6th in the table putting them above many teams who have many more medals but less golds. For instance we have 5 medals but because only one is gold we are way down in 13th spot, which seems wrong to me.

I think that each medal should be awarded so many points: - Gold 3 points; Silver 2 points; Bronze 1 point and that this is how the medal table should be configured. Using my suggested method this would give us 7 points and Peru would only have 6 points which would put us above them in the medal table.

What do you think would this be a better way of configuring the medal table or not?

 

Why does it matter?

 

I’ve always thought that. But actually, you know, who cares?

 

The women were so unlucky, Daryll Neita's split for the final keg was 0.2/0.3 secs faster than the Jamican's split, and as GB were just about level then Gold or Silver beckoned.

Gemili being dropped was completely justified in an excellent Bronze. So, funny watching the US getting pipped by Canada.

The womens 4x400 m have a decent chance to get a Bronze but how on earth can't we get a 16th in the world or better men's 4x400 m relay team from the 400, 400 hurdles, 800 , and 200 m talent available is a huge shame bordering on a disgrace. No team in the Olympics last year either. It needs sorting out.

 

What on earth happened in that women's 100 m hurdles semi?? 12.12 a new world record. GBs Cindy Sember finishes 4th in a new National Record. Crazy. It looked like she was having a bad one until you saw the time. She qualifies for the final as the second fastest loser.

Nice shot of the BBC commentary team at work. Looks like Michael Johnson is doing the crossword.

 

Great run by Keely Hodgkinson for the Silver in the 800 m. Really good race. So close to getting the Gold. Bodes well for the future.

 

Drugs.

 

Well, everyone ran faster, PBs being shattered. Howbout, superspikes, superfast track, perfect sprinting conditions, the world stage, everyone knowing that they'll have to break their PB just to make a final. Also, an event which was due a big breakthrough for a while and it found someone who could sprint really fast and who was also an excellent efficient technician over the hurdles. It's been on the cards and now it's happened. So no, not drugs.

 

It was actually a joke, although my trust in athletics has worn very thin over the years.

 

The USA athlete was running at about the level she'd been running and afforded a time of that form. The Nigerian ran such a technically flawless race that she was able to beat an outstanding American. Obviously, if the drug test results come through in the next few days then I'll take everything back.

It's noticeable that ever since the Kenyans have had their drugs policy properly enforced that their performances aren't quite so dominant in the middle and long distances as they once were.

 

Yes, I know, but I just wanted to make the point that when you get several issues peaking together resulting in "all the planets aligning" then incredible performances can happen.