Yes---and no.
But more on this in a second.
Yes, this is my "full" report on todays Diamond League meet just ended in Birmingham, England.
Luvo Manyonga's 28-0 LJ gave him the Meet Record.
Malaika Mihambo's LJ of 22-10 gave her the Meet Record.
Emmanuel Korir's 1:42.79 win in the 800 also got a Meet Record.
Shaunae Miller-Uibo won the 200 in the MR time of 22.15.
Other "highlights"---
Andreas Hofmann's 294-8 led the JT.
Sifan Hassan won the 1500 in 4:00.60.
Agnes Tirop's 8:32.21 beat Helen Obiri (who ended 3rd) in the 3000.
Orlando Ortega won the 110H in 13.08.
Christian Coleman edged Reece Prescod in the last event--the 100--both getting 9.94's.
The Mile went to an Aussie--Stew McSwewn-- (who beat his fellow Aussie, Ryan Gregson!)--time of 3:54.60.
Notable was that Paul Chelimo's 3:55.96 in 3rd was his initial sub-4.
And Laura Muir won the 1000 in 2:33.93.
Colleen Quigley's 2:36.53 in 6th makes her 10th A-T US!!
Following are the marks from B'ham that motivated me to write this post!
(No names--just the "winning" marks!!)
MEN: 45.54--7-7.75--8:14.33
WOMEN--12.84--15-1.75--59-8.50 (That's feet & inches, NOT metric!!), and 54.86.
So why--despite those RARE good marks--was Birmingham's not just the worst DL of 2018, but one of the worst MEETS of the year??
Is the DL concept worth continuing?
What might replace it?
And what about the entire year's schedule?
I hope to answer these questions below.
The weather was said to be okay--close to 70, no rain, little wind.
The Euros had just ended, but that should have been a PLUS---at least for Europeans!
As for the Americans, they were coming off a long break--and had to travel.
The Down Under crowd are in their "winter" season!!
(Tell that to Mr Manyonga! See above!)
The fields were--for the most part--weak, vis a vis other DL's.
But it was still a DL--and should have produced DL-worthy marks--across the board!!
Sure, other DL's are--more or less--good or not so good.
But that's not my point!
Sorry, but the DL idea is BAD!!
For the most part--there are just 7 meets (NOT 14!!) in which X athlete has a chance to produce!
Those 7 meets do NOT have a majority of the events available to choose from!!
(Ditto with the other 7.)
To "win" the DL, X athlete needs to score points--to win an event!
Yet many athletes do NOT compete in all 7 meets!
If their point total--say, after 3 or 4 of those 7 meets--is enough to get him or her to the "finals" (Brussels & Zurich)---then they can choose to compete--or not!!--in the other meets!
Or, as in the Multi's final events (1500 & 800), they don't HAVE to win that event--to win the overall Dec of Hept!!
Same with the DL's!
Given enough early points, X athlete can finish 2nd or 3rd (or worse!) in their event---or even not compete at all---and STILL win the overall DL title!!
And what about those events NOT on the DL schedule??
Is it fair to EXclude athletes from competing for DL points?
Let's look at the schedule--for the entire year!
But we must begin here by asking WHEN does the "year" begin!!
As everyone knows, I separate the seasons--OUTdoor from INdoor.
So let's make this question about the OUTdoor schedule only!!
While different areas of the world have different schedule problems, the sport as a whole must consider the year's schedule as a WHOLE!
And that creates an imbalance not easily realigned!
For example, how to reconcile the opposite seasons the Down Unders live by with the rest of the world?
You can NOT!!
Thus, individual athletes must make choices--on where to compete--and when!
But in many cases, it's not the athletes who CAN create their own solution.
They must leave that to their "local" federations--Australia's, USATF, etc.
And what about this idea of calling 2018 an "off" year?
We know the reason!
In "off" years, there are no OG's or WC's!
Yet we have Regionals in those years.
But Regionals EXclude more than INclude--a fair share of the World's athletes!
So they aren't the solution either!
The Schedule.
Our sport has a vast variety--in fact, it's TOTAL!!--of events that cover the spectrum--Throws, Jumps, Walks, Distance, Middle Distance, Hurdles, Sprints!
There's also Cross Country--but that falls within the Distance category--even though not run on a track!
Let's take a deeper view--by quarters!!
1st Quarter (Jan, Feb, Mar)
Again, we're talking OUTdoors ONLY here, so let's ignore the fact that these months constitute the CORE of the INdoor season--the world round!!
Okay, so we know that the Southern Hemisphere (South Africa, Australia, New Zealand) is enjoying their Summer.
Their training and competitive schedule are set up to make the most of the best weather, the most meets, etc.
In the US, and throughout Europe and Asia, these months are mostly focused on either winter training, or the INdoor season!
2nd Quarter (Apr, May, June)
This year saw the CG's in April--but that's basically the final meet for those people.
One thing about the Commonwealth--it's geographically inclusive.
They come from many parts of the world, not just a few.
In the US, we have the Collegiate and HS seasons--from early dual meets through to the Nationals!
And since there are many "foreigners" in US Universities, we can say that the NCAA system covers most of the World's Under-23's!!
This Quarter also sees US Relay extravaganzas, early DL's, early US and European Invitationals and other "lesser" meets!
There's also the Spring Marathons, Gotzis, other Road Races!
Add too the meets dedicated to one TYPE of event--Throws, Jumps, Distances, Sprints!!
3rd Quarter (July, Aug, Sept)
The HEART of the OUTdoor season!
Or at least it's SUPPOSED to be!!
That was the PLAN!!
It's where--if they're on the schedule--the WC's & OG's are held--except in rare cases (Tokyo '64, Doha '19).
But this is ALSO the Quarter when we see the longest GAPS in the schedule!!
(Duly noted by T&FN's Garry Hill in several editorials!!)
And it's those gaps that--IMHO--made the Birmingham DL one of the worst-ever!
4th Quarter (Oct, Nov, Dec)
This is mainly for XC and the Roads!
Yes, there are early Down Under meets, as their OUTdoor season is beginning!
And yes--as noted--there's the INdoor season!
Is it good and okay to have this long of an "off" season EVERY year??
Baseball takes off a few months between the World Series and Spring Training.
Ditto with the other "major" sports!
So why not OUR sport?/
And THAT question brings me back to MY final question (See above!)---What about the ENTIRE year's schedule??
While our sport offers meets & races for EVERY group of athletes, it does NOT do so in a way to promote a balanced offering in its schedule!
There are "Spring" and "Fall" Marathons!
But what about Summer & Winter??
The Autumn is time for XC.
Again, as noted, this is for Distance buffs only (despite the fact middle distance types often run XC!)!
Aren't there areas of the world where the weather is conducive to Throwers, Jumpers, and Sprinters?
Of course, everyone knows that athletes don't compete 365 days a year!
Even if you include INdoors, it's the rare athlete who competes in more than 20 meets each year!
And for OUTdoors alone, that number probably falls to TEN!!
Most athletes talk about "peaking".
They peak for certain meets, or for particular Record attempts!
PERSONAL NOTE--
In my "racing" days, I was a RACER!! Not only actual races, but MANY time trials--and "fast" training runs--often timed!!
That's why I admired Ron Clarke so much!!
But times have changed--Thank you, Bob Dylan!
Just as baseball's pitchers pitch FAR less Innings, T&F's athletes compete in less meets---or races!
Is this due to changes of habit, the need for money, OR because the schedule fails to offer opportunities to compete??
Must Sprinters & Hurdlers be LIMITED to the number of meets they enter---or CAN??
Must Florida and Texas and southern California be their TOTALITY of venues?
Some of the gaps---at least THIS year--were created by certain circumstances!
The World Relays meet wasn't on the schedule.
The TrackTown Summer Series and the American Track League didn't have any meets this year!
Two Regionals--the CG's in April, and the Euros in August--took many athletes OFF the availibility lists for any OTHER meets during--or even shortly before and after those Regionals!
That MIGHT have been the incentive to allow those gaps to appear!!
But why??
As said, those were Regionals--and thus limited to an inclusive group of Nations!!
What about the rest of the World?
Why couldn't the US schedule, for example, have offered a few meets (TTSS or the ATL) DURING that "Euros gap"??
Why couldn't NON-Commonwealth athletes have their own set of OTHER meets available?
(Of course, the NCAA Spring schedule DOES give many young athletes Spring opportunities!!)
Back to the DL's for a moment!
I'd love to see the ENTIRE Diamond League season erased!!
But NOT the MEETS!!
Just don't call them DL's--and burden them with DL's rules!!
Return them to their former Invitational mode!!
When Pre and Bislett had track 10000's!
When ALL field events were often included in most of these meets!
With the PV so popular nowadays, why not have BOTH sexes compete in EVERY "DL" meet---whether CALLED a DL or not??
The Hammer Throw is an EXCITING event!
Yes, there's the World HT Challenge (or whatever it's called!)!
But why not have SOME of those Invitationals return the HT to its schedule??
Ditto with other events!
In today's B'ham DL, featured events included the Men's 100--and the Women's 200!
But why not have a 100 AND a 200--for Men AND Women--in the SAME meet??
Why must Distance athletes have to run just a 3000 or 5000----or an 800 or 1500?
Why not offer a Two Mile, a One Mile, a 1000 (like at the Birmingham meet!!)--SC's for both sexes, etc etc etc??
Even if just 2 hours of each meet is televised, that doesn't mean the meets can't be longer!!
They ARE!!
So have EVERY meet include EVERY event---even if they must include a "Friday night" session, as Prefontaine does!!
So what if "millions" can't see it!!
So what if athletes aren't seen or written about!
(Are they anyway?? NO!!!!!)
CREATE opportunities for athletes. (If you build it, they will come!)
Each and every week should have meets or races on the schedule--meant for EVERY athlete---Throwers, Jumpers, Sprinters, Hurdlers, Distance people, Walkers!
Shake up the offerings.
Have a 10000 one week, a Two Mile the following week, then a 5000, and maybe even a longer distance--such as that year when Pre had a TRACK 30000 meters race AND a 10000 meters race---on the TRACK during the SAME session!!!
Does every meet need a LOADED field in EVERY event?
NO!!
But surely--if the opportunity is there--many athletes WILL go to an event and compete!
They WANT those PR's, those Records--or just a hard effort in "big meet" conditions!
Large chunks of time dedicated to training is fine--but is it necessary?
And do athletes HAVE to travel 100's or 1000's of miles to train in a particular venue (St Moritz, Kenya, Colorado, Flagstaff)?
If they had a meet available, they could stay where they are--get their training in AND compete!!
(Is a personal time trial any different from a race?)
Money!
Why do most elite athletes compete?
To better themselves--to run faster, jump higher, throw farther, etc!
Do they expect to win prize money--or be provided 1st Class accomodations EVERY time they compete?
(They sure don't when they "time trial"!!)
As for the "peaking", they can still peak for certain VERY important meets or races!
But even when doing training ONLY, athletes like to break up their routine with "competition-type" efforts!
To do so in an organized meet or race is surely less boring than doing so alone--even if in gorgeous idyllic surroundings.
The idea of the DL's being a "Championship" series of meets, with overall prizes and winners--is fine!
But we already HAVE that--even if disguised!!
There's the Collegiate Duals and Conference meets!
The HS Conferences & State HS meets!
The series of Spring Relays meets!
The HT Challenge--and other "challenges".
Even the Multi's have this!
But our sport is "multi-grained"---with many ingredients!
The DL's are limiting!!
They should END!!
(But not the MEETS!!)
Expand the sport!
Fill in those gaps!!
Heaven on Earth!!
See you soon!
Saturday, August 18, 2018
Thursday, August 16, 2018
Teens Romp in Adult Euros
NOTE: Why so late? Normally, I try to post results within hours of a meet ending! Saving you the gory details, it came down to some minor health issues, an upcoming apt inspection, and pure laziness!! The latter prevailed! LOL
Mondo and Jakob.
One is a Swedish-American who is closing out a storied Louisiana HS career.
The other is the youngest of 3 from a Norwegian family whose times would SMASH all existing HSR's here in the States!
And THEY were the true Stars of the week-long European Championships recently held in Berlin!
Okay, so only Mondo Duplantis actually broke Meet Records, and beat most of the best from the entire world!
But come on, how many teens (up through 19 years of age!) have won Gold Medals in Championship meets--including the Pan Am's, Commonwealth Games, the Euros, the World Championships, and the Olympic Games??
Ted Meredith, Bob Mathias, and.....??
(Sorry, I don't have that list, but I'm sure it's more than 2 or 3!)
Armand "Mondo" Duplantis--son of 19 footer Greg--not only defeated Renaud Lavillenie, Piotr Lisek, Pawel Wojciechowski, and the "new" best Russian, Timor Morgunov--but he also sent down another US-based High Schooler who is European--Sondre Guttormsen!
Mondo cleared several heights on 1st tries, and caused RL to choose the "passing game" in the latter stages!
But by the measure of his clearances, the power of his run, plant, and twists over the bar--and by the simple knowledge that here was an 18 year old who was making heights (OUTdoors) only ONE other person EVER made---came the stunning--yet almost expected!!--performance of--MONDO!!
Euros Meet Record
Breaks own Age 18 and National Record of Sweden!
Breaks own Senior Class Record!
His 19-10.25 is 2nd A-T World (to Sergey Bubka!!), tied with 3 others!
Yes, if he was competing as a US citizen, he would have broken the American Record!!
Morgunov took a strong 2nd, hitting 19-8.25, tying the 2nd Place Record!!
He's 14th A-T World, tied with 6 others!
Lavillenie was 3rd, height of 19-6.25.
He ties the 3rd Place Record!
Lisek took 4th, height of 19-4.25!
In 6th came Sondre Guttormsen, his 18-10.25 the best ever in a HS Mondo-less existence!!
He moves from 4th to 2nd A-T HS!
He also gets the National Record of Norway!
Question: Have TWO High Schoolers ever before held National Records of TWO European countries??
As for Jakob Ingebrigtsen, he gets strong plaudits also, but this blog's purpose being Records, his pair of Golds doesn't quite stack up against Mondo's achievements!
Yet he defeated the best Europe had to offer in the 1500 and 5000--and in both, defeated one or both of his brothers!!
Using last laps of 53 and 54, he ran 3:38.10 and 13:17.06!
In the Metric Mile, Marcin Lewindowski was just 0.04 seconds behind, with elder brother Henrik Ingebrigtsen ending in 4th (3:38.50), and middle brother Filip fading to 12th (3:41.66).
In the 5K, it was a family battle, with Henrik taking Silver in 13:18.75.
(Actually, several of the distance races were pretty fast--but more on that later!)
The Sprints--and especially Dina Asher-Smith--were exciting--and Record-producing!
Using NO wind (0.0!) DAS steamed through the line in 10.85!!
Gina Luckenkemper (10.98) and Dafne Schippers (10.99) didn't run badly--it's just that Asher-Smith was dominant!!
She broke her own National Record of Great Britain!
In Act 2 of the Dina Show, her 21.89 also broke her own British National Record!
This makes her 22nd A-T World!
And again, Schippers showed SOME of the "old" Dafne, ending in 22.14!
Cut OFF my World list was Jarmila Kratochvilova's 21.97, dating from 1981!!
DAS also ran the Sprint Relay for GB--but more on those later!
Ramil Guliyev scored a big W in the 200!
His 19.76 runaway is the Euros Meet Record, and breaks his own National Record of Turkey!
It makes him 18th A-T World!
Nathaneel Mitchell-Blake and Alex Wilson both timed 20.04, with NMB getting 2nd, but Wilson claiming the NR of Switzerland in 3rd!
The Meet Record in the Men's 100 went down twice!!
In the heats, Jimmy Vicaut's 9.97 claimed the Meet Record!
But then Zharnel Hughes ran 9.95 to take the Gold---and Vicaut's MR!!
(The Frenchman was a DNS in the final!!)
Reece Prescod--a Brit--was a close 2nd in 9.96!
The Multi's had headline-making stories.
In the Decathlon, front page was that Kevin Mayer--who was shooting for the World Record!--got no legal LJ's--and was done!!
Germany's Arthur Abele wound up on Top--his 8431 points defeating Ilya Shkurenyov's 8321.
Maicel Uibo was another DNF!
The Heptathlon saw a good battle between heavily favored Nafi Thiam and a revived KJT--aka Katerine Johnson-Thompson!
But in the 800, KJT would've needed a humongous PR to defeat Thiam!
Thiam's 6816 missed the MR by just 7 points!
KJT's 6759 PR makes her 23rd A-T World!
Carolin Schafer's 6602 took the Bronze, while Ivana Dadic's 6552 in 4th breaks her own National Record of Austria!
The meet began with the 50K Walks!
The Men's saw an upset of sorts, as Maryan Zakalnytskyy defeated Matej Toth--3:46:32 to 3:47:27!
The Women's race was a EC first, so the Winner would get the Initial Meet Record!
And that went to WR holder Ines Henriques--whose 4:09:21 easily won over the 4:12:44 of Alina Tsvilty--who got the NR of Ukraine!
The Women's Pole Vault was good, and saw favored Ekaterina Stefinidi finish 1st with her 15-11, which broke her own Euros Meet Record!
Her Countrywoman Nikoleta Kiriakoupoulou is back to form, her 15-9 taking Silver over Holly Bradshaw's 15-7!
Other field events were good---
The Hammer Throws went to Poles--but with Wojciech Nowicki's 262-10 winning over Pawel Fajdek's 258-2!
Anita Wlodarczyk began with a 59 meter throw--leaving her just 4th after the 1st round!
But she then pulled off a 259-0--easily winning, and nailing her own Age 33 Record, first set in the Qualifying round with her 246-5!
She also broke her own Meet Record!
Alexandra Tswernisa (sp?) took 2nd with 245-4, getting the French National Record!
Christin Hussong did a Double Dip!
In the JT Q round, her 220-9 made her 16th A-T World, tied with 2 others!
(It also knocked FROM my World DDD list one Kara Winger, the lone American!!
Her 218-8 dated from 2010!)
Hussong improved to 222-9 in the final, getting the Meet Record, and moving her from 16th A-T World, tied with 2 others, to 10th!
Michal Haratyk's 71-3.25 took the measure of Konrad Bukowiecki's 71-0.75 in the SP!
Paulina Duba upset Christina Schwanitz in the Women's SP--63-5 to 62-11.50!
Andrius Gudzius's 224-7 defeated Daniel Stahl's 223-10 in the Men's DT!
Sandra Perkovic only "perked" up later in the game, but she took the Women's DT with 221-10.
The Men's JT was a disappointment of sorts!
No MR here, despite the talent(S) present!!
In the end, Thomas Rohler's 293-6 won, with Andreas Hofmann's 287-5 taking Silver.
Johannes Vetter could finish only 5th!!
The recent Women's HJ revelation from Italy--Elena Vallortigara--didn't make it out of Qualifying!
But Mariya Lasitskene still had competition, as Mirela Demirev's 6-6.75 matched Lasitskene's winning mark!
Mateusz Przybylko took the Men's event with his 7-8.50!
Milaika Mihambo's 22-1.75 took the Women's LJ--with Ivana Spanovic being a DNS in the final!
In other EC events---
The Men's 10K went in 28:11 and change--not even worth a mention!
Miltiadis Tortoglou's 27-0.75 won the LJ!
The Women's 10K went to Israeli (but a transplanted African--legit!) Lornah Chemtai Salpeter--time of 31:43.29.
She beat Susan Krumins's 31:52.55, but only because the latter's legs turned to jelly on the last straight!!
Karsten Warholm tried a 400-400H double!
His 47.64 took the Hurdles race--and nipped his own National Record of Norway by 0.01 seconds!!
Yasmani Copello's 47.81 in 2nd breaks his own National Record of Turkey!
But in the flat race, Warholm was an epic fail, his 46.68 taking 8th & LAST!!
Matthew Hudson-Smith's 44.78 took a ho-hum first.
The Women's 800 winner didn't even break 2 minutes!
(Anita Hinriksdottir was DQ'ed in the semi's!)
Pascal Martinot-Legarde sped 13.17 in the 110H, edging Sergey Shubenkov's same time!
The 20K Walks went to Alvaro Martin's 1:20:42, and Marian Perez's 1:26:36 Meet Record!
Justyna Swiety-Ersetic's 50.41 took a faster-than-expected Women's 400!
A pair of National Records went to Maria Belibasiki's 50.45 in 2nd (Greece NR), and Lisanne DeWitte's 50.77 in 3rd (Netherlands NR).
Adam Kszczot's 1:44.59 took the 800!
The Marathons were good, with Koen Naert's 2:09:51 getting the Euros Meet Record--and its first sub-2:10!
Volha Mazuronek's 2:26:22 took the Women's race by a handful of seconds over France's Clemence Calvin!
The 4X400 Relays went to Belgium's 2:59.47, and Poland's 3:26.59!
The 4X100 Relay heats were fast--both going to Great Britain--times of 37.84 and 42.19.
The female Brits improved to 41.88 in the Final!
(Asher-Smith getting her THIRD Gold!!)
The British Men also went faster--to 37.80.
Turkey took 2nd in a National Record time of 37.98.
They move from 20th A-T Nation to 11th!!
The Netherlands also PR'ed--to 38.03--their NR moving them from 19th A-T Nation to 16th!
The Men's 3000SC was so slow---8:31!!--I'm embarrassed to list it!
The Women's wasn't much better--with Gesa Krause's 9:19 & change taking top honors!
In the 100H, Elvira Herman beat Pam Dutkiewicz--12.67 to 12.72.
Alina Talay was a DQ--reason unknown!
Lea Sprunger took the Women's 400H in 54.33.
Paraskevi Papahristou's 47-10.75 took the Women's TJ, with Nelson Evora's 56-1.25 claiming the Men's title.
Laura Muir took the 1500 in 4:02 & change--but with a 2:05 final 800.
Sifan Hassan maybe had the best distance time--her 14:46.12 in the 5000 getting the Meet Record!!
Eilish McColgan was 2nd in 14:53.05, while Yasmin Can also got under 15--14:57.63.
Konstanze Klosterhalfen ended 4th in a 2018 best time of 15:03.73.
The NACAC meet saw some solid Women's marks--
Ajee Wilson's 1:57.52 beat Natoya Goule's 1:57.95 in the 800!
Kendra Harrison won the 100H in 12.55.
Shamier Little sped 53.32 over 400H, beating Janieve Russell's 53.81.
Jenna Prandini's 10.96 used an 0.9 wind to take the 100.
Katie Nageotte's 15-7 took the PV over Yarisley Silva's 15-5, and Sandi Morris's 15-3!!
See you soon!
Mondo and Jakob.
One is a Swedish-American who is closing out a storied Louisiana HS career.
The other is the youngest of 3 from a Norwegian family whose times would SMASH all existing HSR's here in the States!
And THEY were the true Stars of the week-long European Championships recently held in Berlin!
Okay, so only Mondo Duplantis actually broke Meet Records, and beat most of the best from the entire world!
But come on, how many teens (up through 19 years of age!) have won Gold Medals in Championship meets--including the Pan Am's, Commonwealth Games, the Euros, the World Championships, and the Olympic Games??
Ted Meredith, Bob Mathias, and.....??
(Sorry, I don't have that list, but I'm sure it's more than 2 or 3!)
Armand "Mondo" Duplantis--son of 19 footer Greg--not only defeated Renaud Lavillenie, Piotr Lisek, Pawel Wojciechowski, and the "new" best Russian, Timor Morgunov--but he also sent down another US-based High Schooler who is European--Sondre Guttormsen!
Mondo cleared several heights on 1st tries, and caused RL to choose the "passing game" in the latter stages!
But by the measure of his clearances, the power of his run, plant, and twists over the bar--and by the simple knowledge that here was an 18 year old who was making heights (OUTdoors) only ONE other person EVER made---came the stunning--yet almost expected!!--performance of--MONDO!!
Euros Meet Record
Breaks own Age 18 and National Record of Sweden!
Breaks own Senior Class Record!
His 19-10.25 is 2nd A-T World (to Sergey Bubka!!), tied with 3 others!
Yes, if he was competing as a US citizen, he would have broken the American Record!!
Morgunov took a strong 2nd, hitting 19-8.25, tying the 2nd Place Record!!
He's 14th A-T World, tied with 6 others!
Lavillenie was 3rd, height of 19-6.25.
He ties the 3rd Place Record!
Lisek took 4th, height of 19-4.25!
In 6th came Sondre Guttormsen, his 18-10.25 the best ever in a HS Mondo-less existence!!
He moves from 4th to 2nd A-T HS!
He also gets the National Record of Norway!
Question: Have TWO High Schoolers ever before held National Records of TWO European countries??
As for Jakob Ingebrigtsen, he gets strong plaudits also, but this blog's purpose being Records, his pair of Golds doesn't quite stack up against Mondo's achievements!
Yet he defeated the best Europe had to offer in the 1500 and 5000--and in both, defeated one or both of his brothers!!
Using last laps of 53 and 54, he ran 3:38.10 and 13:17.06!
In the Metric Mile, Marcin Lewindowski was just 0.04 seconds behind, with elder brother Henrik Ingebrigtsen ending in 4th (3:38.50), and middle brother Filip fading to 12th (3:41.66).
In the 5K, it was a family battle, with Henrik taking Silver in 13:18.75.
(Actually, several of the distance races were pretty fast--but more on that later!)
The Sprints--and especially Dina Asher-Smith--were exciting--and Record-producing!
Using NO wind (0.0!) DAS steamed through the line in 10.85!!
Gina Luckenkemper (10.98) and Dafne Schippers (10.99) didn't run badly--it's just that Asher-Smith was dominant!!
She broke her own National Record of Great Britain!
In Act 2 of the Dina Show, her 21.89 also broke her own British National Record!
This makes her 22nd A-T World!
And again, Schippers showed SOME of the "old" Dafne, ending in 22.14!
Cut OFF my World list was Jarmila Kratochvilova's 21.97, dating from 1981!!
DAS also ran the Sprint Relay for GB--but more on those later!
Ramil Guliyev scored a big W in the 200!
His 19.76 runaway is the Euros Meet Record, and breaks his own National Record of Turkey!
It makes him 18th A-T World!
Nathaneel Mitchell-Blake and Alex Wilson both timed 20.04, with NMB getting 2nd, but Wilson claiming the NR of Switzerland in 3rd!
The Meet Record in the Men's 100 went down twice!!
In the heats, Jimmy Vicaut's 9.97 claimed the Meet Record!
But then Zharnel Hughes ran 9.95 to take the Gold---and Vicaut's MR!!
(The Frenchman was a DNS in the final!!)
Reece Prescod--a Brit--was a close 2nd in 9.96!
The Multi's had headline-making stories.
In the Decathlon, front page was that Kevin Mayer--who was shooting for the World Record!--got no legal LJ's--and was done!!
Germany's Arthur Abele wound up on Top--his 8431 points defeating Ilya Shkurenyov's 8321.
Maicel Uibo was another DNF!
The Heptathlon saw a good battle between heavily favored Nafi Thiam and a revived KJT--aka Katerine Johnson-Thompson!
But in the 800, KJT would've needed a humongous PR to defeat Thiam!
Thiam's 6816 missed the MR by just 7 points!
KJT's 6759 PR makes her 23rd A-T World!
Carolin Schafer's 6602 took the Bronze, while Ivana Dadic's 6552 in 4th breaks her own National Record of Austria!
The meet began with the 50K Walks!
The Men's saw an upset of sorts, as Maryan Zakalnytskyy defeated Matej Toth--3:46:32 to 3:47:27!
The Women's race was a EC first, so the Winner would get the Initial Meet Record!
And that went to WR holder Ines Henriques--whose 4:09:21 easily won over the 4:12:44 of Alina Tsvilty--who got the NR of Ukraine!
The Women's Pole Vault was good, and saw favored Ekaterina Stefinidi finish 1st with her 15-11, which broke her own Euros Meet Record!
Her Countrywoman Nikoleta Kiriakoupoulou is back to form, her 15-9 taking Silver over Holly Bradshaw's 15-7!
Other field events were good---
The Hammer Throws went to Poles--but with Wojciech Nowicki's 262-10 winning over Pawel Fajdek's 258-2!
Anita Wlodarczyk began with a 59 meter throw--leaving her just 4th after the 1st round!
But she then pulled off a 259-0--easily winning, and nailing her own Age 33 Record, first set in the Qualifying round with her 246-5!
She also broke her own Meet Record!
Alexandra Tswernisa (sp?) took 2nd with 245-4, getting the French National Record!
Christin Hussong did a Double Dip!
In the JT Q round, her 220-9 made her 16th A-T World, tied with 2 others!
(It also knocked FROM my World DDD list one Kara Winger, the lone American!!
Her 218-8 dated from 2010!)
Hussong improved to 222-9 in the final, getting the Meet Record, and moving her from 16th A-T World, tied with 2 others, to 10th!
Michal Haratyk's 71-3.25 took the measure of Konrad Bukowiecki's 71-0.75 in the SP!
Paulina Duba upset Christina Schwanitz in the Women's SP--63-5 to 62-11.50!
Andrius Gudzius's 224-7 defeated Daniel Stahl's 223-10 in the Men's DT!
Sandra Perkovic only "perked" up later in the game, but she took the Women's DT with 221-10.
The Men's JT was a disappointment of sorts!
No MR here, despite the talent(S) present!!
In the end, Thomas Rohler's 293-6 won, with Andreas Hofmann's 287-5 taking Silver.
Johannes Vetter could finish only 5th!!
The recent Women's HJ revelation from Italy--Elena Vallortigara--didn't make it out of Qualifying!
But Mariya Lasitskene still had competition, as Mirela Demirev's 6-6.75 matched Lasitskene's winning mark!
Mateusz Przybylko took the Men's event with his 7-8.50!
Milaika Mihambo's 22-1.75 took the Women's LJ--with Ivana Spanovic being a DNS in the final!
In other EC events---
The Men's 10K went in 28:11 and change--not even worth a mention!
Miltiadis Tortoglou's 27-0.75 won the LJ!
The Women's 10K went to Israeli (but a transplanted African--legit!) Lornah Chemtai Salpeter--time of 31:43.29.
She beat Susan Krumins's 31:52.55, but only because the latter's legs turned to jelly on the last straight!!
Karsten Warholm tried a 400-400H double!
His 47.64 took the Hurdles race--and nipped his own National Record of Norway by 0.01 seconds!!
Yasmani Copello's 47.81 in 2nd breaks his own National Record of Turkey!
But in the flat race, Warholm was an epic fail, his 46.68 taking 8th & LAST!!
Matthew Hudson-Smith's 44.78 took a ho-hum first.
The Women's 800 winner didn't even break 2 minutes!
(Anita Hinriksdottir was DQ'ed in the semi's!)
Pascal Martinot-Legarde sped 13.17 in the 110H, edging Sergey Shubenkov's same time!
The 20K Walks went to Alvaro Martin's 1:20:42, and Marian Perez's 1:26:36 Meet Record!
Justyna Swiety-Ersetic's 50.41 took a faster-than-expected Women's 400!
A pair of National Records went to Maria Belibasiki's 50.45 in 2nd (Greece NR), and Lisanne DeWitte's 50.77 in 3rd (Netherlands NR).
Adam Kszczot's 1:44.59 took the 800!
The Marathons were good, with Koen Naert's 2:09:51 getting the Euros Meet Record--and its first sub-2:10!
Volha Mazuronek's 2:26:22 took the Women's race by a handful of seconds over France's Clemence Calvin!
The 4X400 Relays went to Belgium's 2:59.47, and Poland's 3:26.59!
The 4X100 Relay heats were fast--both going to Great Britain--times of 37.84 and 42.19.
The female Brits improved to 41.88 in the Final!
(Asher-Smith getting her THIRD Gold!!)
The British Men also went faster--to 37.80.
Turkey took 2nd in a National Record time of 37.98.
They move from 20th A-T Nation to 11th!!
The Netherlands also PR'ed--to 38.03--their NR moving them from 19th A-T Nation to 16th!
The Men's 3000SC was so slow---8:31!!--I'm embarrassed to list it!
The Women's wasn't much better--with Gesa Krause's 9:19 & change taking top honors!
In the 100H, Elvira Herman beat Pam Dutkiewicz--12.67 to 12.72.
Alina Talay was a DQ--reason unknown!
Lea Sprunger took the Women's 400H in 54.33.
Paraskevi Papahristou's 47-10.75 took the Women's TJ, with Nelson Evora's 56-1.25 claiming the Men's title.
Laura Muir took the 1500 in 4:02 & change--but with a 2:05 final 800.
Sifan Hassan maybe had the best distance time--her 14:46.12 in the 5000 getting the Meet Record!!
Eilish McColgan was 2nd in 14:53.05, while Yasmin Can also got under 15--14:57.63.
Konstanze Klosterhalfen ended 4th in a 2018 best time of 15:03.73.
The NACAC meet saw some solid Women's marks--
Ajee Wilson's 1:57.52 beat Natoya Goule's 1:57.95 in the 800!
Kendra Harrison won the 100H in 12.55.
Shamier Little sped 53.32 over 400H, beating Janieve Russell's 53.81.
Jenna Prandini's 10.96 used an 0.9 wind to take the 100.
Katie Nageotte's 15-7 took the PV over Yarisley Silva's 15-5, and Sandi Morris's 15-3!!
See you soon!
Monday, August 6, 2018
NOT a European Championships Preview
I know I promised a Preview for the 24th edition of the OUTdoor European Championships!
But the closer it got, the more I questioned my intent!
Looking back in my archives, I saw I'd never done a full-on Preview of a Regional Championship---whether it be the Euros, the Pan Ams, or the Commonwealth Games!
So why now?
Regionals---however productive and "great"--is still limited to a "region"---or one group of Nations separated from all the others!
Believe me, it's NOT because there are no Americans here---Mondo Duplantis's national declaration notwithstanding!!
Although, as an American, I tend to make this blog US-centric--if only because most of the spring OUTdoor meets I cover are in this country!
One thing I discovered today is that the Euros allow 12 "Wild Cards" to pass on to the Semi's in events 400 meters or shorter!
But they don't name these WC's!!
So how can one predict who will do what if you have no idea who's running what??
(From today's results, missing were such as Karsten Warholm from the 400H, Jimmy Vicaut from the 100, plus 1 or 2 others I expected to see in the Heats!)
All that said, I'll present some basic data I'd gathered in preparation for my "Preview"!
The meet goes from today, the 6th, through the 12th!
It has all the standard events, including 50K Walks for both Men and Women, and the full Marathon!
(They ran the Half-Marathon in 2016's edition, and there were NO Walks---50 or 20K!!)
Following are the order of the Finals--by day--with the Meet Record given!
Commentary follows each day!
MEN WOMEN
Tuesday, August 7
50K Walk (WR & MR 3:32:33) 50K Walk (First time at the Euros!)
HT (WR & MR 284-7) 100 (10.73)
10000 (27:30.99)
SP (72-10.75)
100 (9.99)
Be nice if a Women's WR came in the 50K Walk!
Easiest MR's (besides the Women's 50K Walk!) should be the Men's 100 and 10000--though the latter is always held back by the MoBot disease!!
Men's SP COULD fall, but won't!
Wednesday, August 8
LJ (27-9.50) SP (71-2)
DT (225-11) 10000 (30:01.09)
Dec (8811)
Can Kevin Mayer get this MR without serious competition?
DT could go, but it will be close!
LJ SHOULD go, but highly doubtful!
That Women's 10K MR is held by Paula Radcliffe!!
Thursday, August 9
400H (47.48) PV (15-9.25)
JT (294-4) 100H (12.38)
200 (19.85)
3000SC (8:07.87)
Karsten Warholm is set to double in the 400H and 400!
But even an all-out chase in the hurdles race might NOT produce a MR!
Without Samba to chase....!!
Without the Africans, the SC MR is pretty safe!
All the top Germans are present in the JT, so expect to see this MR crushed!
Despite no Americans--or Eliza McCartney--the Women's PV should still be one of the best events!
But can Stefanidi win?
Give that MR 70-30 odds!
Unless Alina Talay proves her earlier 12.41 wasn't a fluke, expect that MR to remain!
Men's 200 MR is possible, but iffy!
Friday, August 10
400 (44.52) HJ (6-8)
110H (13.02) TJ (49-8.50)
1500 (3:35.27) Hept (6823)
JT (221-4)
400H (52.92)
800 (1:55.41)
The Men's 400 MR LOOKS easy---until you consider that Europeans have yet to produce a sub-44---and mid-44's are few and far between!
Sergey Shubenkov should get the 110H MR!
I'm giving the 1500 MR 90-10 odds---as I believe the Ingebrigtsen Three won't allow for a slow pace!
Family rivalry, and all that!!
One of THE highlights of the YEAR---let alone the Euros!!
Will the Italian (Elena Vallortigara) give Mariya Lasitskene reason to worry?
Nafi Thiam is capable of another 7000 points score, but all by herself??
Nonetheless, give that MR 80-20 odds!
JT MR should fall, but not by much!
The Women's 800 won't have "those 3", but this MR is safe!
Will Anita Hinriksdottir FINALLY go sub-2??
Saturday, August 11
20K Walk (1:18:37) 20K Walk (1:26:42)
HJ (7-8.75) LJ (23-11.50)
800 (1:43.84) 400 (48.16)
5000 (13:10.15) DT (234-1)
4X400 R (2:58.22) 200 (21.71)
4X400 R (3:16.87)
While the Women's LJ is a HOT event, the MR will survive!
Sandra Perkovic would have to REALLY shoot one out there for the DT MR!
The Men's 5000 MR SHOULD fall, but again, MoBot likely to rear its ugly head!!
That Men's 4X400 R could be a RACE!!
And give the MR 60-40 odds!
NOT so the Women's 4X400!!
That 800 MR gets 70-30 odds!
Without Mutaz Barshim or Danil Lysenko, the Men's HJ tank is---EMPTY!!
Sunday, August 12
Mar (2:10:31) Mar (2:25:14)
PV (19-8.25) HT (258-5)
TJ (59-0.25) 1500 (3:56.91)
4X100 R (37.79) 5000 (14:52.20)
3000SC (9:17.57)
4X100 R (41.68)
The Marathons are tough to predict!
One thing--they're NOT using THE Berlin Marathon course!
This one has several turns and is a loop course!
Nonetheless, the MR's (for both sexes!) are possible!
Maybe THE match-up of the entire meet is in the Men's PV---Renaud vs Mondo!!
Let's hope BOTH are on FIRE!!
Will the REAL Anita Wlodarczyk please stand up??
Will the 2-time loser (to Americans!!) be present, or the WR holder we all know and love??
I'd say something inbetween!
Give the MR 75-25 odds, but nowhere near her WR!!
Will Laura Muir go for time in the 1500?
Doubtful!
Meraf Bahta remains entered in the 5000, despite some problems with drug-related issues!
But if she medals, or sets records, watch for future adjustments to same!!
Konstanze Klosterhalfen is entered in the 1500 AND the 5000!
Doubtful she'll run both, as they're just minutes apart!!
Will Gesa Krause please her home crowd---with a win AND the MR?
Yes, sez me!
Both of the Sprint Relays MR's are possible!
But give each just 35-65 odds!
I have a few marks to report---some at least a week old---
Daniel Stahl threw the Discus 226-9.
Ce'Aira Brown PR'ed again in the 800--to 1:58.01.
She moves from 24th A-T US to 18th!
Andreas Kramer took the Karlstad 800 in 1:45.03, but Boris Berian ran just 1:49.33 in 7th!
Mondo Duplantis cleared 19-0.25 in the PV!
Angelika Bengtsson's 15-6.25 breaks her own National Record of Sweden!
The Greenville PV saw Sandi Morris clear 16-2.75---with Sam Kendricks going over 19-0.25---BUT there's SOME question as to the legality of the set-up!
(Although the IAAF is said to have OK'ed it!!)
But not so for Piotr Lisek's 19-5.75---which WOULD have been the Poland National Record but for the event's exhibition status!
The Sir Walter Raleigh Track Mile's saw some good results---
Lopez Lomong led 10 or more under 4 minutes with his 3:53.86!
Several ran 3:54's and 3:55's!!
Charlene Lipsey won the Women's race in 4:27 & change, beating Sara Vaughn and Cory McGee, who broke 4:29!
Enjoy the Euros meet, and will see you soon with the results!
But the closer it got, the more I questioned my intent!
Looking back in my archives, I saw I'd never done a full-on Preview of a Regional Championship---whether it be the Euros, the Pan Ams, or the Commonwealth Games!
So why now?
Regionals---however productive and "great"--is still limited to a "region"---or one group of Nations separated from all the others!
Believe me, it's NOT because there are no Americans here---Mondo Duplantis's national declaration notwithstanding!!
Although, as an American, I tend to make this blog US-centric--if only because most of the spring OUTdoor meets I cover are in this country!
One thing I discovered today is that the Euros allow 12 "Wild Cards" to pass on to the Semi's in events 400 meters or shorter!
But they don't name these WC's!!
So how can one predict who will do what if you have no idea who's running what??
(From today's results, missing were such as Karsten Warholm from the 400H, Jimmy Vicaut from the 100, plus 1 or 2 others I expected to see in the Heats!)
All that said, I'll present some basic data I'd gathered in preparation for my "Preview"!
The meet goes from today, the 6th, through the 12th!
It has all the standard events, including 50K Walks for both Men and Women, and the full Marathon!
(They ran the Half-Marathon in 2016's edition, and there were NO Walks---50 or 20K!!)
Following are the order of the Finals--by day--with the Meet Record given!
Commentary follows each day!
MEN WOMEN
Tuesday, August 7
50K Walk (WR & MR 3:32:33) 50K Walk (First time at the Euros!)
HT (WR & MR 284-7) 100 (10.73)
10000 (27:30.99)
SP (72-10.75)
100 (9.99)
Be nice if a Women's WR came in the 50K Walk!
Easiest MR's (besides the Women's 50K Walk!) should be the Men's 100 and 10000--though the latter is always held back by the MoBot disease!!
Men's SP COULD fall, but won't!
Wednesday, August 8
LJ (27-9.50) SP (71-2)
DT (225-11) 10000 (30:01.09)
Dec (8811)
Can Kevin Mayer get this MR without serious competition?
DT could go, but it will be close!
LJ SHOULD go, but highly doubtful!
That Women's 10K MR is held by Paula Radcliffe!!
Thursday, August 9
400H (47.48) PV (15-9.25)
JT (294-4) 100H (12.38)
200 (19.85)
3000SC (8:07.87)
Karsten Warholm is set to double in the 400H and 400!
But even an all-out chase in the hurdles race might NOT produce a MR!
Without Samba to chase....!!
Without the Africans, the SC MR is pretty safe!
All the top Germans are present in the JT, so expect to see this MR crushed!
Despite no Americans--or Eliza McCartney--the Women's PV should still be one of the best events!
But can Stefanidi win?
Give that MR 70-30 odds!
Unless Alina Talay proves her earlier 12.41 wasn't a fluke, expect that MR to remain!
Men's 200 MR is possible, but iffy!
Friday, August 10
400 (44.52) HJ (6-8)
110H (13.02) TJ (49-8.50)
1500 (3:35.27) Hept (6823)
JT (221-4)
400H (52.92)
800 (1:55.41)
The Men's 400 MR LOOKS easy---until you consider that Europeans have yet to produce a sub-44---and mid-44's are few and far between!
Sergey Shubenkov should get the 110H MR!
I'm giving the 1500 MR 90-10 odds---as I believe the Ingebrigtsen Three won't allow for a slow pace!
Family rivalry, and all that!!
One of THE highlights of the YEAR---let alone the Euros!!
Will the Italian (Elena Vallortigara) give Mariya Lasitskene reason to worry?
Nafi Thiam is capable of another 7000 points score, but all by herself??
Nonetheless, give that MR 80-20 odds!
JT MR should fall, but not by much!
The Women's 800 won't have "those 3", but this MR is safe!
Will Anita Hinriksdottir FINALLY go sub-2??
Saturday, August 11
20K Walk (1:18:37) 20K Walk (1:26:42)
HJ (7-8.75) LJ (23-11.50)
800 (1:43.84) 400 (48.16)
5000 (13:10.15) DT (234-1)
4X400 R (2:58.22) 200 (21.71)
4X400 R (3:16.87)
While the Women's LJ is a HOT event, the MR will survive!
Sandra Perkovic would have to REALLY shoot one out there for the DT MR!
The Men's 5000 MR SHOULD fall, but again, MoBot likely to rear its ugly head!!
That Men's 4X400 R could be a RACE!!
And give the MR 60-40 odds!
NOT so the Women's 4X400!!
That 800 MR gets 70-30 odds!
Without Mutaz Barshim or Danil Lysenko, the Men's HJ tank is---EMPTY!!
Sunday, August 12
Mar (2:10:31) Mar (2:25:14)
PV (19-8.25) HT (258-5)
TJ (59-0.25) 1500 (3:56.91)
4X100 R (37.79) 5000 (14:52.20)
3000SC (9:17.57)
4X100 R (41.68)
The Marathons are tough to predict!
One thing--they're NOT using THE Berlin Marathon course!
This one has several turns and is a loop course!
Nonetheless, the MR's (for both sexes!) are possible!
Maybe THE match-up of the entire meet is in the Men's PV---Renaud vs Mondo!!
Let's hope BOTH are on FIRE!!
Will the REAL Anita Wlodarczyk please stand up??
Will the 2-time loser (to Americans!!) be present, or the WR holder we all know and love??
I'd say something inbetween!
Give the MR 75-25 odds, but nowhere near her WR!!
Will Laura Muir go for time in the 1500?
Doubtful!
Meraf Bahta remains entered in the 5000, despite some problems with drug-related issues!
But if she medals, or sets records, watch for future adjustments to same!!
Konstanze Klosterhalfen is entered in the 1500 AND the 5000!
Doubtful she'll run both, as they're just minutes apart!!
Will Gesa Krause please her home crowd---with a win AND the MR?
Yes, sez me!
Both of the Sprint Relays MR's are possible!
But give each just 35-65 odds!
I have a few marks to report---some at least a week old---
Daniel Stahl threw the Discus 226-9.
Ce'Aira Brown PR'ed again in the 800--to 1:58.01.
She moves from 24th A-T US to 18th!
Andreas Kramer took the Karlstad 800 in 1:45.03, but Boris Berian ran just 1:49.33 in 7th!
Mondo Duplantis cleared 19-0.25 in the PV!
Angelika Bengtsson's 15-6.25 breaks her own National Record of Sweden!
The Greenville PV saw Sandi Morris clear 16-2.75---with Sam Kendricks going over 19-0.25---BUT there's SOME question as to the legality of the set-up!
(Although the IAAF is said to have OK'ed it!!)
But not so for Piotr Lisek's 19-5.75---which WOULD have been the Poland National Record but for the event's exhibition status!
The Sir Walter Raleigh Track Mile's saw some good results---
Lopez Lomong led 10 or more under 4 minutes with his 3:53.86!
Several ran 3:54's and 3:55's!!
Charlene Lipsey won the Women's race in 4:27 & change, beating Sara Vaughn and Cory McGee, who broke 4:29!
Enjoy the Euros meet, and will see you soon with the results!
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