1st day WC Osaka 2007
Day 1 in the stands of the Nagai stadium.
The early start of the day, the men’s marathon, I followed on the television. It’s strange to see these men as an opening for the WC’s. Already at 3 km you could see wet shirts. Humidity was high and temperature rising. Nothing really exciting happened but people just dropped of from the back. The podium was a surprise, to me at last ;) I did not expect that de Qatari – a first medal for Qatar in the marathon on WC stage- could repeat his Paris run and de Swiss guy was one I could have picked for my toto but dropped him in the end. My favorite Kiplagat was not in a medal position after 35k anymore. With 5, 6,7and 13 place Japan won the team’s event by a very big margin of more than 15 minutes.
At the end of the long day it was the ten kilometers for the woman on the track.
When once again four Ethiopians assumed the lead after two kilometres, it looked as if on old scenario like in the many men’s races. But suddenly just after 6000m, the 21-year-old Dibaba and colleague Mestawet Tufa were involved in a fall. At that moment I was just talking with Charles about the consequences of the 200m in the heptathlon.
When Dibaba was suddenly metres behind and rubbing her stomach. This is the favorite I told C. Dibaba didn’t panic, and it took over a kilometre to get back in touch with the large group, before challenging for the lead again. She waited to the last lap to take the front position and to win in a supreme style. A remarkable race: two athletes had to put on a shoe again and the winner coming back after a fall! Conditions were similar to Tokio when Liz McColgan won, I heard later in the metro back home when British journalist were talking to C.
During the day our focus was, of course (as two former national combined event coaches) on the girls in Hep. We expected a close call for the bronze medal where six girls can claim that spot. One of them Karin Ruckstuhl. But with her ankle problem it was clear in the high jump she is out of the contender group. The two Brits are close and the German Oesner and of course Skuiyte.
Keizer is doing a very good job and only dropped points in the shot (were warm up throws were easy way over 14/15m.). Wisse is close to pb level. Tomorrow the long jump will be the decision maker!
In the sprint the Qatari and new Asian record holder Francis was out with injury so it looked together with a false starting Obikwelu.
The 400 meter hurdles was a shock for Japan. Tamesue out and for me: van Zijl out!
The Dutch only medal hope Rutger Smith looked in fine form in the qualifying and we expected a silver or bronze. But the two Americans were better and then in the second round Michnevich surprised with 21.27. Rutger seemed to be trying to hard to overtake him. He had a fine series but again, like last year, a fourth place.
A long and hot day in the stadium (with a nice break in the airconditioned room of the IAAF tv commentators....). Athletics from start to finish with only the opening ceremony in between.
For Dutch athletics this first day was a disappointing one. For Qatar a good one.
The early start of the day, the men’s marathon, I followed on the television. It’s strange to see these men as an opening for the WC’s. Already at 3 km you could see wet shirts. Humidity was high and temperature rising. Nothing really exciting happened but people just dropped of from the back. The podium was a surprise, to me at last ;) I did not expect that de Qatari – a first medal for Qatar in the marathon on WC stage- could repeat his Paris run and de Swiss guy was one I could have picked for my toto but dropped him in the end. My favorite Kiplagat was not in a medal position after 35k anymore. With 5, 6,7and 13 place Japan won the team’s event by a very big margin of more than 15 minutes.
At the end of the long day it was the ten kilometers for the woman on the track.
When once again four Ethiopians assumed the lead after two kilometres, it looked as if on old scenario like in the many men’s races. But suddenly just after 6000m, the 21-year-old Dibaba and colleague Mestawet Tufa were involved in a fall. At that moment I was just talking with Charles about the consequences of the 200m in the heptathlon.
When Dibaba was suddenly metres behind and rubbing her stomach. This is the favorite I told C. Dibaba didn’t panic, and it took over a kilometre to get back in touch with the large group, before challenging for the lead again. She waited to the last lap to take the front position and to win in a supreme style. A remarkable race: two athletes had to put on a shoe again and the winner coming back after a fall! Conditions were similar to Tokio when Liz McColgan won, I heard later in the metro back home when British journalist were talking to C.
During the day our focus was, of course (as two former national combined event coaches) on the girls in Hep. We expected a close call for the bronze medal where six girls can claim that spot. One of them Karin Ruckstuhl. But with her ankle problem it was clear in the high jump she is out of the contender group. The two Brits are close and the German Oesner and of course Skuiyte.
Keizer is doing a very good job and only dropped points in the shot (were warm up throws were easy way over 14/15m.). Wisse is close to pb level. Tomorrow the long jump will be the decision maker!
In the sprint the Qatari and new Asian record holder Francis was out with injury so it looked together with a false starting Obikwelu.
The 400 meter hurdles was a shock for Japan. Tamesue out and for me: van Zijl out!
The Dutch only medal hope Rutger Smith looked in fine form in the qualifying and we expected a silver or bronze. But the two Americans were better and then in the second round Michnevich surprised with 21.27. Rutger seemed to be trying to hard to overtake him. He had a fine series but again, like last year, a fourth place.
A long and hot day in the stadium (with a nice break in the airconditioned room of the IAAF tv commentators....). Athletics from start to finish with only the opening ceremony in between.
For Dutch athletics this first day was a disappointing one. For Qatar a good one.
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