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Post by Panda on Aug 14, 2009 15:17:29 GMT 1
The World Athletics Championships start tomorrow in Berlin (blue track! Woo!). The highlight of the championship looks like taking place on the first weekend with Olympic champion Usain Bolt going head-to-head with World champion Tyson Gay in the 100m, with Bolt's world record set to come under serious threat. GB has medal chances with Jessica Ennis in the heptathlon, Philips Idowu in the triple jump and Christine Ohuruogu in the 400m attempting to become the first British athlete to successfully defend a world title. Injuries have robbed GB of other medal chances, like Olympic silver medalist Germaine Mason in the high jump, Kelly Sotherton in the heptathlon, Tasha Danvers in the 400m hurdles and Mara Yamauchi in the marathon. Paula Radcliffe's participation in the marathon is still to be confirmed. Mo Farah in the 5000m and the relay squads are also in with a shout but 3 medals probably looks like a realistic target for GB. Past GB medal tallies: Year - Host | G | S | B | Gold medalists | 1983 - Helsinki | 2 | 2 | 3 | Steve Cram (1500m), Daley Thompson (Decathlon) | 1987 - Rome | 1 | 3 | 4 | Fatima Whitbread (Javelin) | 1991 - Tokyo | 2 | 2 | 3 | Liz McColgan (10,000m), R. Black, D. Redmond, J. Regis, K. Akabusi (4x400m relay) | 1993 - Stuttgart | 3 | 3 | 4 | Linford Christie (100m), Colin Jackson (110m hurdles), Sally Gunnell (400m hurdles) | 1995 - Gothenburg | 1 | 3 | 1 | Jonathan Edwards (Triple jump) | 1997 - Athens | 1* | 4 | 1 | I. Thomas, R. Black, J. Baulch, M. Richardson (4x400m relay) | 1999 - Seville | 1 | 4 | 2 | Colin Jackson (110m hurdles) | 2001 - Edmonton | 1 | 0 | 1 | Jonathan Edwards (Triple jump) | 2003 - Paris | 0 | 1* | 2 | 2005 - Helsinki | 1 | 0 | 2 | Paula Radcliffe (Marathon) | 2007 - Osaka | 1 | 1 | 3 | Christine Ohuruogu (400m) |
* GB originally won silver in the men's 4x400m relay in 1997 but were awarded the gold medals in 2008 after the USA's Antonio Pettigrew admitted doping violations. GB originally won silver in the men's 4x100m relay in 2003 but were stripped of their medals after Dwain Chambers admitted doping violations.
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Tom
Member
*Of Royal Blood*
Posts: 15,419
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Post by Tom on Aug 14, 2009 15:24:06 GMT 1
Good thread! Should be able to catch this on Eurosport while im away like with the Olympics last year. Wasn't sure whether the 100m was this weekend or next, so must remember to catch the opening weekend.. Do you know anywhere i can find a full schedule for each day?
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Post by Panda on Aug 14, 2009 15:25:39 GMT 1
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Tom
Member
*Of Royal Blood*
Posts: 15,419
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Post by Tom on Aug 14, 2009 15:27:55 GMT 1
Thanks very much! And for the quick response!
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Post by aeroco on Aug 14, 2009 15:37:33 GMT 1
Love the World Athletics Champs.
Really hope Jessica Ennis wins her event, she is in such great form.
Think Christine Ohuruogu will be lucky to get a medal this time due to her preparation but she has already proved herself with the Olympics and 2007 Worlds. Nicola Sanders may be a better bet for a medal as her fitness seems better. The 4 by 400 relay girls could do really well this time but it is so hard to win as the USA and Russia are very strong and Jamaica have massively improved.
We could also pick up medals in the women's 800m and 1500m, some good runners, but it will be tough. Would love Paula to pick up a marathon medal but we have no clue with her, though I am sort of shocked she is going to run the New York Half Marathon so close to the marathon. What a performer.
The men will struggle, Phillips Idowu has the ability to do very well though he has 4 other tough competitors.
Hopefully we will have some nice surprises from the GB team.
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Post by Panda on Aug 14, 2009 15:50:16 GMT 1
Hopefully we will have some nice surprises from the GB team. That could be the key thing. No-one predicted Mason or Danvers to win medals in Beijing but there always seems to be someone who steps up to win an unexpected medal. Hopefully it will happen again.
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Post by Panda on Aug 14, 2009 16:29:05 GMT 1
GREAT BRITAIN TEAM:
IAAF World rankings shown in brackets, based on 2009 performances:
MEN: 100m: Dwain Chambers (28), Tyrone Edgar (38), Simeon Williamson (25) 200m: Dwain Chambers (59), Marlon Devonish (68) 400m: Michael Bingham (15), Martyn Rooney (32), Robert Tobin (20) 800m: Michael Rimmer (47) 1500m: Andy Baddeley (48), James Brewer (102), Tom Lancashire (27) 5000m: Mo Farah (29) 110mH: Gianni Frankis (59), William Sharman (29), Andy Turner (14) 400mH: David Greene (11), Rhys Williams (25) 4x100m relay: Harry Aikines-Aryeetey, Marlon Devonish, Tyrone Edgar, Rikki Fifton, Craig Pickering, Simeon Williamson (GB ranked 6th) 4x400m relay: Michael Bingham, Chris Clarke, Nigel Levine, Martyn Rooney, Robert Tobin, Conrad Williams (GB ranked 3rd) Pole Vault: Luke Cutts (47), Steve Lewis (11) Long Jump: Greg Rutherford (40), Chris Tomlinson (11) Triple Jump: Larry Achike (27), Nathan Douglas (30), Phillips Idowu (5) Shot Put: Carl Myerscough (27) Javelin: Mervyn Luckwell (35)
WOMEN: 200m: Emily Freeman (24) 400m: Christine Ohuruogu (25), Nicola Sanders (29) 800m: Jenny Meadows (8), Marilyn Okoro (21), Jemma Simpson (13) 1500m: Lisa Dobriskey (11), Charlene Thomas (32), Steph Twell (20) Marathon: Paula Radcliffe 100mH: Sarah Claxton (19), Jessica Ennis (18) 400mH: Elidh Child (18), Perri Shakes-Drayton (17) 3000mS: Helen Clitheroe (32) 20km walk: Johanna Jackson (27) 4x100m relay: Emma Ania, Montell Douglas, Jeanette Kwakye, Joice Maduaka, Anyika Onuora, Laura Turner (GB ranked 4th) 4x400m relay: Vicky Barr, Lee McConnell, Christine Ohuruogu, Marilyn Okoro, Nicola Sanders, Perri Shakes-Drayton (GB ranked 7th) Pole Vault: Kate Dennison (14) Hammer: Zoe Derham (51) Javelin: Goldie Sayers (32) Heptathlon: Jessica Ennis (1), Louise Hazel (20)
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Post by Shireblogger on Aug 14, 2009 16:56:36 GMT 1
Good subject for a thread. I'll be tuning in - I love championship athletics.
Sadly, the impact of this event will be heavily diluted by the start of the Premiership season, and the British stars won't win as much publicity as they would if it had been a few weeks ago.
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Post by rubcale on Aug 14, 2009 18:09:47 GMT 1
Unfortunately, it's usually the British favourites that fail to win rather than unexpected medals we gain.
I can't reallysee Christine Ohurougu medalling as she is so woefully underprepared and short of races.
If Lisa Dobriskey could run a clever race she has a chance at a medal and no counting of chickens but surely Jessica Ennis..............................
On a personal front I wouldn't have Dwain Chambers anywhere near the team.
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Post by Shireblogger on Aug 14, 2009 21:14:32 GMT 1
On a personal front I wouldn't have Dwain Chambers anywhere near the team. I completely agree with you. I've booed him noisily at UK meetings.
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Post by Panda on Aug 15, 2009 17:22:29 GMT 1
A good first morning for Britain in Berlin.
Jessica Ennis has a 181 point lead after 2 events of the heptathlon.
Williamson, Edgar and Chambers are all through to Round 2 of the 100m.
Christine Ohuruogu and Nicola Sanders both made it safely through their heats of the 400m.
Carl Myerscough qualified for the shot put final in 10th place.
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Post by Panda on Aug 15, 2009 20:35:27 GMT 1
Jessica Ennis leads by a massive 307 points after day 1 of the heptathlon, having achieved the 3rd-highest first day score in history. Only Jackie Joyner-Kersee and Carolina Kluft have scored more in the first 4 events.
Tyrone Edgar and Dwain Chambers are through to the semi-finals of the 100m but Simeon Williamson is out.
Andy Baddeley and James Brewer came through their 1500m heats, the latter with a personal best, but Tom Lancashire is out.
Dai Greene stormed to victory in his 400m hurdles heat.
Kate Dennison qualified for the pole vault final.
Carl Myerscough could only manage 11th in the shot put final after 2 fouls.
Kenya's Chepkwemoi Masai won the first track gold of the championships by winning the women's 10,000m after an amazing finish that saw Meseret Defar drop from 1st to 5th in the final 30m.
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Post by Maximo Mark on Aug 15, 2009 20:39:17 GMT 1
Could someone who knows a bit about athletics tell me if Australia are likely to win any medals? I have them in the sweepstake at work but it's the country with the LEAST medals that wins, apparently they only got two last time which was joint last of all the countries in it...
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Post by Panda on Aug 15, 2009 20:45:54 GMT 1
Could someone who knows a bit about athletics tell me if Australia are likely to win any medals? I have them in the sweepstake at work but it's the country with the LEAST medals that wins, apparently they only got two last time which was joint last of all the countries in it... They have a couple of medal contenders. Steve Hooker is the Olympic pole vault champion and Sally McLellan won silver in the 100m hurdles in Beijing. Fabrice Lapierre might have a chance in the long jump. Anything more than that would be a surprise. What other countries were in the sweep?
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Post by Maximo Mark on Aug 15, 2009 20:48:59 GMT 1
I can't remember entirely, there were 20 altogether. A few only got two last time, a couple of Eastern Europeans, Belarus and maybe Ukraine. Ethiopia, Germany, Italy and the 'bigger' ones; UK, Kenya, USA, China, Russia. I got USA for the Olympics last year...
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Post by Panda on Aug 15, 2009 21:00:17 GMT 1
You may have a chance with Australia then.
Just checked and they got 4 athletics medals in Beijing. 2 of those came in walking events.
Italy could be serious contenders, though. Possibly China, as well.
Is it decided by total number of medals?
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Post by Panda on Aug 15, 2009 21:33:53 GMT 1
Draw for tomorrow's 100m semis:
SEMI-FINAL 1: 1. Martial Mbandjock (France) 2. Jaysuma Saidy Ndure (Norway) 3. Darvis Patton (USA) 4. Daniel Bailey (Antigua & Barbuda) 5. Michael Rodgers (USA) 6. Usain Bolt (Jamaica) 7. Tyrone Edgar (GB) 8. Marc Burns (Trinidad & Tobago)
SEMI-FINAL 2: 1. Gerald Phiri (Zambia) 2. Monzavous Edwards (USA) 3. Richard Thompson (Trinidad & Tobago) 4. Asafa Powell (Jamaica) 5. Tyson Gay (USA) 6. Dwain Chambers (GB) 7. Michael Frater (Jamaica) 8. Naoki Tsukahara (Japan)
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Post by Panda on Aug 16, 2009 13:24:52 GMT 1
Jessica Ennis still has a comfortable lead of 269 points with 2 events left in the heptathlon, after a solid performance in the long jump.
Jemma Simpson, Marilyn Okoro and Jenny Meadows are all safely through to the semi-finals of the 800m. Defending champion Janeth Jepkosgei fell during her heat and was eliminated but has since been re-instated.
Goldie Sayers, who finished 4th in Beijing but has suffered with spinal problems this year, failed to qualify for the final of the javelin.
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Post by aeroco on Aug 16, 2009 22:48:54 GMT 1
Brilliant for Jessica Ennis, hope she gets publicity in the wake of the stunning 100m final. That was unbelievable. Re earlier comments about Chambers, not a massive fan but I admire him for coming back in the face of such adversity. Yes, it was all his original (un)doing but to make the final and come 6th, with no proper grand prix racing is excellent. Think he deserves a break now, it has been over 5 years since his positive test.
Hope David Greene continues to do well, in fact some nice British performances. Hope Christine has something else in the tank for the final. Fingers crossed for her.
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Post by Shireblogger on Aug 17, 2009 9:18:12 GMT 1
Re earlier comments about Chambers, not a massive fan but I admire him for coming back in the face of such adversity. Yes, it was all his original (un)doing but to make the final and come 6th, with no proper grand prix racing is excellent. Think he deserves a break now, it has been over 5 years since his positive test. The point is that it wasn't one unlucky positive test as a result of taking a cold remedy. Chambers systematically abused performance enhancing drugs in league with pharmacists, for many years. He should have been banned for life. No debate. No "give the poor unfortunate a break".
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