Report #15 From Outdoor World Championships

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BERLIN , GERMANY. - Oops!!!!
 
You in the states probably knew it before I did, but we heard it at the hotel this morning at breakfast. USA 4x100 dq'd. British filed a protest against the USA, and despite an appeal, the USA will not be in the final.
 
International rules are clear that the exchange begins on conact, and that the entire exchange must be within the zone. And so it goes on.
 
The Jamaicans did qualify, but it's unsure whether Asafa Powell will compete in the final.
 
We saw another very good night of track, despite the rain and cold-must have been under 60. Fortunately, the rain stopped after 8 p.m., and the meet continued.
 
Another judge's decision- Bram Som (Netherlands) and Marcin Lewandowski (Poland) wee advanced to the 800 final, following an incident where they oth fell.- 10 man final. The semis were brutal, as I mentioned last night- a lot of pushing, stumbling, and falls.
 
Some big names got knocked out-Kiprop, Rudisha, Kaki, Mulaudzi, Gary Reed.
 
Borzakovskiy said that he was not satisfied with his race, even though he qualified, and added that ''he can't run good if there is weather like this.''
 
Allyson Felix won her third World 200 title by simply running away from Veronica Campbell-Brown on the straightaway, and LaShawn Merritt did the same thing to Jeremy Wariner in the 400. Wariner has 3 Olympic golds, but Merritt is much faster at 100 and 200, and a couple of years younger- go with the younger, stronger, faster guy from now on.
 
Wariner was gracious, making no excuses, and saying that Merritt is a great competitor.
 
High jump was exciting, with Yaroslav Rybakov of Russia clearing around 7-7-25, with a Kyriakos Ioannou (Cyprus) taking second, and Bednarek (Poland) and Spank (Germany) tying for third.
 
The discus was a disaster for the USA. Olympic champ Sephanie Brown-Trafton, who barely qualified, saying, ''I'm not a morning person,'' had little better luck at night, finishing last in the 10-woman field. Dani Samuels of Australia, and in third was Nicoleta Grasu, the wife of Costel Grasu, who was a Romanian Olympian at Barcelona.
 
Russian won the 50K walk, which I saw a part of.
 
Most of the big names advanced in the javelin, but not Sergei Makarov of Russia, who missed by one place- a great thrwer, but now 36 years old. Eriks Rags of Latvia also did not qualify, but Sean Furey (79.28) did. Three Finns qualified- they've been almost invisible at the stadium- their female thrower, Mikaela Ingberg, is way past her prime, and there are no distance runners to speak of, though they did get an 8th in the steeple. Old Europe is in a bit of trouble in TF, as the sport becomes more global. I'll talk about that more in my wrapup.
 
Brittney Reese and Brianna Glenn qualified for LJ final, but Funmi Jimoh, the best of the USA, did not. Conditions were not conducive to good jumping.
 
Three USA women qualified for the 1,500 final, which had two nerve-wracking semis, featuring pushing, shoving, and a lot of fast finishes. Olympic champ Nancy Langat did not make the final. Evidently, there's a strained relationship between Shannon Rowbury and Anna Willard, two who did make the final, and the relationship wasn't helped when Rowbury elbowed Willard with a lap to go. They don't speak, just go their separate ways.
 
Two US women in hammer final tonight, and Derek Miles in PV final. Steve Hooker, the Olympic champ from Australia, made the final, but is hurt. He says he only has one or two jumps in him.
 
The women's 5,000 has 9 Afircan runners, and American Jen Rhines, among the 15 finalists. Four Ethiopians vs. three Kenyans. Enough said.

Yesterday was Bolt's birthday, and the victory ceremony for the 200, which was classic. The usual hamming it up, and then they gave him te $100,000. check for the world record. He proceeded to smile, shove his face in the camera, etc., and after the ceremony, the crowd sang Happy Birthday to him. He pretended to weep, and then smiled.
 
The only time he was serious was when his national anthem was played, and then he was all business. The same as on the track. Once the race starts, he gets VERY serious.
 
GK

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