Report #5 From Outdoor World Championships

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BERLIN , GERMANY. - Going back into the stadium in a few minutes. Another big day last evening.
 
USA did nothing in women's 800. Vessey was bothered by nerves- ran 15 meters in back of the pack, which was only out in 61. Can't do that against good people.
 
Very apropos- the Poles dominated the women's pole vault. No more bad jokes here. End of Issy era. She had been beaten earlier this season, and is obviously not in top form.
 
No surprises in men's hammer. Primos Kozmus supreme early on. Showed why he's the Olympic champ.
 
Women's steeple strange- Galkina looked way off- she couldn't get away, and didn't even medal. Baringer way out of it early, got USA record, but never really in the race. She did come back, however, and that's important.
 
The Cubans ruled the women's TJ, and the Jamaicans went 1-2 in the women's 100, as Carmelita Jeter got a horrendous start.. She did well to get third.
 
USA qualified three for the 1,500 final, first time in major competition since 1968.
 
The 10,000 was great race, with even pace for first 5,000 (13:40.45).
 
They had run 1,000 meters in 2:44-2:46 range through 4,000, with some Qatar (Kenyan) athletes leading.
 
Bekele ran in 11th, Rupp shadowed him.
 
The pace actually started to pick up during the 4th K, but with short spurts which still made the pace seem even. Testing time for the pretenders. None of the contenders were buying the small surges.
 
When Tadese moved to the front, the Ethiopians suddenly came to life, running 2-3-4, followed by the Kenyans.
 
Tadese ran the 6thK in 2:38+, then the next one in 2:38+.
 
Rupp and Ritzenhein were the only two non-Africans to attempt to go with the pace. Rupp began to fall back from 5-6K. He was reported hurt last month, and Rupp struggled home. Ritz did well to hold on and actually catch a few in the last two laps.
 
Everyone dropped off as Tadese really cranked it out, looking to be sprinting in a deperate attempt to shake Bekele. The issue was sealed as Bekele looked to be jogging with five laps to go.
 
Last K was 2:31+, with last 400 in 56.2-unpressed. Last 5K was 13:04.66, with Bekele probably a few tenths faster.
 
The noise level was not as great as on Monday, but still looud during the 10,000. Dan Alexander reminds me that I told him that the noise in Seville was almost as loud as in Helsinki in 1983. He's right, especially when the Spaniards were doing something- Reyes Esteves, and the marathoners.
 
The noise packed into 30 minutes the other night was something I won't forget. First in the women's shot, then the hepatathlon, then the 100. And after the heptathlon, it was sustained cheering for a good 10 minutes, as Oeser, the heroine for the locals, fell, and rose again.
 
Then the hepathletes gathered on the track as a group, walked and jogged together around the stadium to wild cheering. The essence of good sport- compete hard, then everyone celebrate. 
 
GK

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