Report #9 From Outdoor World Championships

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BERLIN , GERMANY. - Just when you thought it couldn't get any better, it did.
 
There were some real highs, and some real lows.
 
Let's get rid of the negatives.
 
What was Asbel Kiprop thinking in the 1,500? The pace was real slow-Lagat, the fox, ran quickly through the first turn, then slowed down, and the 400 passed in 59.54. Were they going to run from 800 out, 700 out, 6oo out?
 
None of the above?
 
With 400 remaining after a 2:00.18-800, everyone was there, but Kiprop was next to last.
 
People were flying down the backstretch, and Kiprop had to go wide into the turn.
Meanwhile, another Kenyan, Kamil of Bahrein kicked strongly past Mekkonen of Ethiopia to take the gold, with Lagat getting the bronze. Kiprop was fourth.
 
Last lap-51.92.
 
The women's 100-hurdle final was a disaster for the USA, as Olympic champ Dawn Harper got a terrible start. It was still a Western Hemisphere sweep, as Jamaicans, led by Brigitte Foster-Hilton, went 1-3, and Priscilla Lopes-Schliep was second.
 
The 800 (women) was dominated by Caster Semenya, an 18-year old South African whose times have improved drastically this year.
 
After a 26+ first 200, she moved into the lead, passed 400 around 55.8, and just powered away from the field in the last 200, running 1:55.46.
 
But the big event tonight was the men's discus, and there was high drama.
 
I moved over to a section above where Track and Field News was sitting, right in front of the cage. Below were the blue-clad Estonians, in back was a Robert Harting Fan Club that was boisterous, and the Germans were loud throughout. They were at a fever pitch when Steffi Nerius moved in to sit with the Germans, right next to the T&F News section. They were hoping for a repeat.
 
Gerd Kanter was the favorite, the defending champ, and the Olympic champ, and he hadn't lost since July, 2008-28 straight.
 
Piotr Malachowski wasn't scared- he threw a monster 68.77 in the second throw of the competition, which got everyone's attention real fast.
 
Kanter hit 65.91, and Harting answered with a pb 68.25.
 
Old timer and twice Olympic champ Virgilius Alekna (Lithuania) started to make noise in round 2, and everyone moved up, with 5 over 65 meters after the first three throws. Included was Casey Malone of the USA.
 
Little changed in round 4, though Kanter moved to third with 66.88. It was just a matter of time before he uncorked the big one.
 
All the back finalists improved in round 5, and so did Alekna, but the order was still the same.
 
In the sixth round, everyone was pressing, with throws going way off line, or into the net (Alekna).
 
The Estonian contingent was very quiet, expecting the worst, and Kanter could only manage 65.45 on his last attempt.
 
Tow throwers left, and the crowd was going wild, with the horns going, drums beating, and the flags waving. 
 
And Harting delivered the ultimate big one , a 69.43 crusher that took the wind out of Malachowski's sails, as the place went wild again, equalling the noise after the heptathlon.
 
Harting ran over to the stands in front of us, literally ripped off his shirt, picked up the Games mascot, Berlino, carried him over his shoulder upside down, and got his flag, as the place went bonkers once again.
 
The decathlon is still going on, running way late, as the high jump tok forever. Many jumpers clearing 2 meters (6-6.75).
 
The crowd is not as big as on Sunday, but they were treated to great competition again tonight, and the local fans are happy.
 
There will be some partying tonight.
 
GK

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