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Post by Panda on Aug 6, 2013 23:25:42 GMT 1
The World Athletics Championships get underway in Moscow on Saturday. These championships will be a bit strange for a number of reasons. Firstly, the absence of a number of the sport's big names due to both injury and suspension. David Rudisha and Yohan Blake are among the injured, while the biggest athletics story of the summer so far has been the positive drug tests of Tyson Gay and Asafa Powell, while Turkey this week banned 31 athletes for doping offences. The return of the spectre of drugs casts something of a shadow over the championships, though those in charge will say it shows the sport is serious about eliminating doping (whether deliberate or otherwise) and reputation doesn't matter for those who are caught.
The time difference will also make this championships an unusual one from a British perspective. We're used to the Championships alternating between Europe and Asia as they have done since 2005 (and will continue to do so until at least 2017 with the next two championships taking place in Beijing and London) but with this one being in Moscow there will still be something of a time difference from the UK.
The championships return to the BBC after Channel 4's shambolic coverage two years ago. Channel 4 originally had the rights for Moscow as well but at the end of last year decided to transfer the rights to the BBC, following its acquisition of all the Beeb's horse racing coverage. The BBC had already bagged the rights to show the 2015 and 2017 championships so the handover made sense.
Unlike other sporting events in Russia (such as the Champions League final) which have had the start time moved back to suit the TV audience in western Europe, no such provision has been made for these championships meaning the major finals will be taking place between 4PM and 7PM UK time, with the morning sessions starting at around 6AM for British viewers. Jonathan Edwards will present the morning sessions, with Gabby Logan fronting the evening sessions. For those not home in time to see part or all of the evening sessions, there will be full nightly replays on the Red Button.
Incidentally, this will be the third World Championships in a row to take place on a blue track.
From a British perspective, chances of a big haul of medals seem slim and with Jessica Ennis-Hill missing out through injury, Mo Farah looks like the only British athlete to go into the championships as a gold medal favourite as he attempts to repeat his Olympic double over 5000 and 10000m. And while the performance in Moscow is unlikely to be as miserably pathetic as that of the GB swimmers in Barcelona last week, injury problems to some of the other contenders mean we might be relying on some surprise names to produce huge performances on the big stage if the total of 7 medals won in Daegu two years ago is to be matched.
Great Britain & Northern Ireland squad: (current world rankings in brackets)
MEN 100m: Harry Aikines-Aryeety (38), Dwain Chambers (24), James Dasaolu (6) 200m: James Ellington (44), Adam Gemili (27), Delano Williams (25) 400m: Nigel Levine (22) 800m: Andrew Osagie (43), Michael Rimmer (30) 1500m: Chris O'Hare (44) 5000m: Mo Farah (14) 10000m: Mo Farah (-) 110mH: William Sharman (14) 400mH: Dai Greene (12), Sebastian Rodger (24), Rhys Williams (16) 3000mSC: James Wilkinson (61) High Jump: Robbie Grabarz (7) Pole Vault: Steve Lewis (16) Long Jump: Greg Rutherford (14) Discus: Brett Morse (8) Decathlon: Ashley Bryant (28) 20km Walk: Alex Wright (98) 4x100m Relay: Harry Aikines-Aryeety, Dwain Chambers, James Dasaolu, James Ellington, Adam Gemili, Richard Kilty, Andrew Robertson, Deji Tobais (4) 4x400m Relay: Michael Bingham, Jamie Bowie, Luke Lennon-Ford, Nigel Levine, Martyn Rooney, Conrad Williams, Delano Williams (17)
WOMEN 100m: Asha Philip (40) 200m: Anyika Onuora (38), Jodie Williams (51) 400m: Christine Ohuruogu (7) 800m: Jessica Judd (22), Laura Muir (53), Marilyn Okoro (18) 1500m: Hannah England (16), Laura Weightman (38) 100mH: Tiffany Porter (10) 400mH: Meghan Beesley (28), Eilidh Child (7), Perri Shakes-Drayton (3) 3000mSC: Eilish McColgan (37) Long Jump: Shara Proctor (6), Lorraine Ugen (16) Hammer: Sophie Hitchon (19) Heptathlon: Katarina Johnson-Thompson (14) Marathon: Susan Partridge (95), Sonia Samuels (-) 4x100m Relay: Dina Asher-Smith, Hayley Jones, Annabelle Lewis, Ashleigh Nelson, Asha Philip, Bianca Williams, Jodie Williams (4) 4x400m Relay: Margaret Adeoye, Eilidh Child, Shana Cox, Kirsten McAslan, Kelly Massey, Christine Ohuruogu, Victoria Ohuruogu, Anyika Onuora, Perri Shakes-Drayton (2)
This is how I would rate GB's medal chances...
Genuine medal chance (would be a disappointment if no medal won): Mo Farah (5000m and 10000m) Perri Shakes-Drayton (400mH) Christine Ohuruogu (400m) Men's 4x100m relay Women's 4x400m relay
Possible medal chances: (Probably a less than 50% chance of a medal but can't be ruled out) Greg Rutherford (Long Jump) James Dasaolu (100m) Hannah England (1500m) Tiffany Porter (100mH) Dai Greene (400mH) Eilidh Child (400mH) Shara Proctor (Long Jump) Robbie Grabarz (High Jump) Women's 4x100m relay
Potential finalists capable of an unlikely medal: William Sharman (110mH) Rhys Williams (400mH) Brett Morse (Discus) Men's 4x400m relay
There are others who could reach finals but are unlikely to get anywhere near a medal.
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Post by Panda on Aug 9, 2013 14:44:10 GMT 1
Timetable of finals:
Saturday 10/08: 11:00 - Marathon (W) 15:55 - 10,000m (M)
Sunday 11/08: 14:00 - 20km Walk (M) 16:00 - Long Jump (W) 17:15 - Discus (W) 17:35 - Decathlon (M) 18:05 - 10,000m (W) 18:50 - 100m (M)
Monday 12/08: 16:00 - Pole Vault (M) 17:25 - Shot Put (W) 17:30 - Hammer (M) 18:15 - 400m (W) 18:30 - 110m Hurdles (M) 18:50 - 100m (W)
Tuesday 13/08: 06:35 - 20km Walk (W) 16:00 - Discus (M) 16:35 - Pole Vault (W) 17:10 - Heptathlon (W) 18:10 - 800m (M) 18:25 - 3000m Steeplechase (W) 18:50 - 400m (M)
Wednesday 14/08: 05:30 - 50km Walk (M)
Thursday 15/08: 16:00 - High Jump (M) 16:40 - Triple Jump (W) 17:20 - 3000m Steeplechase (M) 17:45 - 400m Hurdles (W) 18:00 - 400m Hurdles (M) 18:20 - 1500m (W)
Friday 16/08: 16:00 - Hammer (W) 16:30 - Long Jump (M) 17:10 - Shot Put (M) 17:45 - 5000m (M) 18:15 - 200m (W) 18:30 - 4x400m Relay (M)
Saturday 17/08: 12:30 - Marathon (M) 15:00 - High Jump (W) 15:35 - Javelin (M) 15:55 - 5000m (W) 16:30 - 100m Hurdles (W) 16:45 - 4x400m Relay (W) 17:05 - 200m (M)
Sunday 18/08: 13:00 - Javelin (W) 13:45 - Triple Jump (M) 14:25 - 1500m (M) 14:50 - 800m (W) 15:10 - 4x100m Relay (W) 15:40 - 4x100m Relay (M)
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Post by Panda on Aug 9, 2013 15:31:08 GMT 1
GB's World Championship medal record:
1983 - HELSINKI 2 Gold: Steve Cram (1500m) Daley Thompson (Decathlon) 2 Silver: Fatima Whitbread (Javelin) Women's 4x100m Relay (Baptiste, Cook, Callendar, Thomas) 3 Bronze: Colin Reitz (3000m Steeplechase) Men's 4x400m Relay (A Bennett, Cook, T Bennett, Brown) Kathy Cook (200m)
1987 - ROME 1 Gold: Fatima Whitbread (Javelin) 3 Silver: Peter Elliott (800m) Jon Ridgeon (110m Hurdles) Men's 4x400m Relay (Redmond, Akabusi, Black, Brown) 4 Bronze: Linford Christie (100m)* John Regis (200m) Jack Buckner (5000m) Colin Jackson (110m Hurdles)
1991 - TOKYO 2 Gold: Men's 4x400m Relay (Black, Redmond, Regis, Akabusi) Liz McColgan (10,000m) 2 Silver: Roger Black (400m) Sally Gunnell (400m Hurdles) 3 Bronze: Tony Jarrett (110m Hurdles) Kriss Akabusi (400m Hurdles) Men's 4x100m Relay (Jarrett, Regis, Braithwaite, Christie)
1993 - STUTTGART 3 Gold: Linford Christie (100m) Colin Jackson (110m Hurdles) Sally Gunnell (400m Hurdles) 3 Silver: John Regis (200m) Tony Jarrett (110m Hurdles) Men's 4x100m Relay (Jackson, Jarrett, Regis, Christie) 4 Bronze: Jonathan Edwards (Triple Jump) Steve Smith (High Jump) Mick Hill (Javelin) Women's 4x400m Relay (Keough, Smith, Goddard, Gunnell)
1995 - GOTHENBURG 1 Gold: Jonathan Edwards (Triple Jump) 3 Silver: Tony Jarrett (110m Hurdles) Steve Backley (Javelin) Kelly Holmes (1500m) 1 Bronze: Kelly Holmes (800m)
1997 - ATHENS 1 Gold: Men's 4x400m Relay (Thomas, Black, Baulch, Richardson)** 4 Silver: Colin Jackson (110m Hurdles) Jonathan Edwards (Triple Jump) Steve Backley (Javelin) Denise Lewis (Heptathlon) 1 Bronze: Men's 4x100m Relay (Braithwaite, Campbell, Walker, Golding)
1999 - SEVILLE 1 Gold: Colin Jackson (110m Hurdles) 4 Silver: Men's 4x100m Relay (Gardener, Campbell, Devonish, Chambers) Dean Macey (Decathlon) Paula Radcliffe (10,000m) Denise Lewis (Heptathlon) 2 Bronze: Dwain Chambers (100m) Jonathan Edwards (Triple Jump)
2001 - EDMONTON 1 Gold: Jonathan Edwards (Triple Jump) 0 Silver: 1 Bronze: Dean Macey (Decathlon)
2003 - PARIS 0 Gold: 1 Silver:*** Kelly Holmes (800m) 2 Bronze: Darren Campbell (100m) Hayley Tullett (1500m)
2005 - HELSINKI 1 Gold: Paula Radcliffe (Marathon) 0 Silver: 2 Bronze: Men's 4x100m Relay (Gardener, Devonish, Malcolm, Lewis-Francis) Women's 4x400m Relay (McConnell, Fraser, Sanders, Ohuruogu)
2007 - OSAKA 1 Gold: Christine Ohuruogu (400m) 1 Silver: Nicola Sanders (400m) 3 Bronze: Men's 4x100m Relay (Malcolm, Pickering, Devonish, Lewis-Francis) Women's 4x400m Relay (Ohuruogu, Okoro, McConnell, Sanders) Kelly Sotherton (Heptathlon)
2009 - BERLIN 2 Gold: Philips Idowu (Triple Jump) Jessica Ennis (Heptathlon) 2 Silver: Men's 4x400m Relay (Williams, Bingham, Tobin, Rooney, Greene) Lisa Dobriskey (1500m) 2 Bronze: Men's 4x100m Relay (Williamson, Edgar, Devonish, Aikines-Aryeety) Jenny Meadows (800m)
2011 - DAEGU 2 Gold: Mo Farah (5000m) Dai Greene (400m Hurdles) 4 Silver: Mo Farah (10,000m) Philips Idowu (Triple Jump) Hannah England (1500m) Jessica Ennis (Heptathlon) 1 Bronze: Andy Turner (110m Hurdles)
* - Christie originally finished 4th but was awarded bronze in 1989 after Ben Johnson was disqualified ** - GB originally finished 2nd but were awarded gold in 2010 after the USA were disqualified due to Antonio Pettigrew admitting to using performance-enhancing drugs *** - GB finished 2nd in the men's 4x100m relay but were stripped of their medals due to Dwain Chambers' drug use
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Post by rubcale on Aug 9, 2013 18:30:27 GMT 1
I really can't see any medals beyond the first three you mention.
At their best the women's 4x400m can really only be 4th and I wouldn't trust the men's 4 x 100m to get the baton round.
Outside chance for Hannah England in the 1500m and on the day Greg Rutherford in long jump but he really just got lucky in London.
Is the pole vaulter Holly Bleasedale injured? Great things are expected of her but so far she has flopped in the majors.
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Post by Panda on Aug 9, 2013 19:53:44 GMT 1
Disagree completely about the women's 4x4. With Ohuruogu, Shakes-Drayton and Child, they have 3 world class athletes and I would probably expect Shana Cox to make up the quartet. They put up a really impressive time earlier in the year and if they can go quicker in Moscow, they'll get at least bronze.
It's probably 50-50 that then men will even finish the sprint relay but as the medal list shows, when they do make it round, they're right in the mix.
Yes, Holly Bleasdale is injured. She didn't look comfortable when she failed to register a height in Gateshead and it turns out she has problems with her achilles and back.
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Post by Panda on Aug 11, 2013 1:27:44 GMT 1
Very good opening day for GB.
Another fantastic performance by Mo to win gold.
A PB for Eilish McColgan to reach the final of the steeplechase. All Brits through in the men's 100m and 800m. Comfortable qualifications Christine Ohuruogu and Shara Proctor.
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Post by Panda on Aug 11, 2013 16:26:25 GMT 1
James Dasaolu into the 100m final after running 9.97 in the semis.
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Post by Panda on Aug 11, 2013 16:55:33 GMT 1
Andrew Osagie through to the 800m final.
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Post by o on Aug 11, 2013 19:27:00 GMT 1
Been enjoying this.
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Post by Panda on Aug 12, 2013 18:22:36 GMT 1
What a race!
Christine Ohuruogu wins gold in the 400m with a trademark late finish to win it right on the line and breaks Kathy Cook's British record in the process!
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Post by rubcale on Aug 12, 2013 18:50:33 GMT 1
I was squealing because I thought she had won it on the dip but hubbie and most of the commentators seemed to think the Botswanan had nicked it.
TBH coming in to the final I really thought silver was the best she could hope for.
Amazing that Kathy Cook's record has finally gone. It must be gutting for Kathy now when all the facts are known what she was up against in her racing days - she would surely have won championship medals on a level playing field.
Assuming that AndyM will be SPOTY could Christine finsh 2nd?
Considering he scraped into the final in last place as a fastest loser finishing 5th in the 110m hurdles was a respectable showing for William Sharman.
Dai Greene will need a miracle to make the 400m hurdles final.
Shara Proctor once again flattered to deceive.
All in all up to now has been a pretty good showing by the British team.
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Post by Panda on Aug 12, 2013 19:00:52 GMT 1
Assuming that AndyM will be SPOTY could Christine finsh 2nd? I think she'll be behind Mo Farah and Chris Froome.
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Post by rubcale on Aug 12, 2013 19:08:24 GMT 1
Assuming that AndyM will be SPOTY could Christine finsh 2nd? I think she'll be behind Mo Farah and Chris Froome. Justin Rose will be in the mix too. The voting could be quite close between them making it unpredictable.
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Post by o on Aug 12, 2013 19:57:30 GMT 1
That 400m final was amazing!
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Post by Panda on Aug 12, 2013 20:17:12 GMT 1
Considering he scraped into the final in last place as a fastest loser finishing 5th in the 110m hurdles was a respectable showing for William Sharman. His time finishing 5th in the semi was actually quicker than the winning time from the first semi, so 5th was about right for him. I think he needed some of the quicker athletes to mess up to get in the medals but it was a still a good showing, only 4/100ths off a PB.
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Post by coolchristie2 on Aug 12, 2013 22:52:03 GMT 1
I thought that Montsho had just held on in the 400 metres - exciting race!
If a couple of Brits could snatch an unexpected medal these could be a very good championships for us.
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Post by Deleted on Aug 13, 2013 11:46:20 GMT 1
Looking really good for the women's 4x400m - definitely a medal, and possibly Gold....
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Post by rubcale on Aug 13, 2013 12:54:35 GMT 1
Assuming that AndyM will be SPOTY could Christine finsh 2nd? I think she'll be behind Mo Farah and Chris Froome. You're probably right. Apart from The Guardian which has a photo of ChristineO on their front page this morning most of the papers are full of The Ashes and Rooney with Christine buried away on the inside pages.
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Post by Panda on Aug 13, 2013 13:41:16 GMT 1
Another good morning. Mo Farah cruising through to the 5000m final and Robbie Grabarz looking better than he has done for some time to reach the high jump final.
Katarina Johnson-Thompson has given herself a chance of a surprise heptathlon medal after a strong long jump and a 2-metre PB in the javelin this morning. She's in 5th place, just 42 points off 3rd, meaning she has to beat Schippers and Nana Djimou (love that name) by about 3 seconds to win bronze. Schippers and Nana Djimou both have PB's of 2:15. Katarina's PB is 2:10... If she hadn't given away 100 points to the whole field in the shot put, she'd be in 2nd place overall.
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Post by Panda on Aug 13, 2013 18:51:48 GMT 1
What the hell happened to Kirani James there?
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