Track And Field World Championships: A German Medal, A Kenyan Sweep and a Russian Diva

Finally I was able to watch two sessions of the World Championships in Osaka. They were showing some finals and some heat-races. A German guy won the silver medal in the Discus Throw competition, something the two commentators were very happy about. That guy absolutely went insane after he was sure the medal was his, ripping of his shirt in front of the spectators. Something you would expect from thiose crude German barbarians, right? But he had every right to be happy, leaving two times Olympic champion Virgilius Alekna of Lithuania behind him. The winner was Gerd Kanter from Estonia, in third came Rutger Smith from The Netherlands.
Then there was the awesome showing by young Kenyan runner Janeth Jepkosgei who was in front right from the start and delivered a great race. Oe of the great favourites, Maria Mutula from Mozambique collapsed only a few metres before the finish.
Just minutes before her three athletes from Kenya won all three medals in the men's 3000 m steelechase, something that had to be expected since Kenya has always been very dominant in this discipline.
The women's pole vault was won by Jelena Issinbajewa from Russia who is dominating all action. She is just playing the the rest of the pack only delivering two jumps when others are already struggling. The winning height was 4,80 m, but she also tried her luck with another shot at the world record (5,02 m). No wonder she is called the female Sergej Bubka.
Too bad I missed out on the final of the women's 100 m. Apparently from what I've read a lot of runners came in with the same time and it took long minutes to figure out who won this whole thing. Just look at the numbers:
1 Veronica Campbell (JAM) 11.01
2 Lauryn Williams (USA) 11.01
3 Carmelita Jeter (USA) 11.02
4 Torri Edwards (USA) 11.05
5 Kim Gevaert (BEL) 11.05
6 Christine Arron (FRA) 11.08
7 Kerron Stewart (JAM) 11.12
8 Oludamola Osayomi (NGR) 11.26
Heck, I didn't even know Christine Arron is still around...

Whatever results are achived at such competitions, since this summer German media are always anxious to point out that when an athlete improves rather rapidly there might be a chance that this is because of the use of performance-enhancing drugs. Although noone wishes to expose a lot of athletes the sudden rise of people like Janeth Jepkosgei always leaves room for some doubt. Interestingly enough comments on doping by athletes are rather rare. I read something about a British heptathlon competitor who was nagging about some of her opponents who had been doing drugs before and were banned for two years. But when the reporter started to ask questions about her teammates and trainers she suddenly bacme very quiet. Up until now I think there hasn't been a doping case during these World Championships but the threat is always looming over the whole event.

Track And Field World Championship in Osaka

The 11th Track & Field World Championships kicked off at Osaka, Japan this weekend and a few medals have already been won by some athletes. I was watching the 20 km men's walk last night when coming home slightly drunk. This is wonderful stuff to watch before you go to bed. There isn't happening anything, just a few guys walking through streets. But because the weather over there has been very hot and humid lately a few people weren't able to cope with the conditions. A German athlete was redirected by an official and had to turn around a few metres to get back on track. Some newspaper was guessing that he might have got himself a shock because he collapsed 200 metres before the finish line. The winner himself had cramps in his legs after crossing the finish line.
Later that day there was the final of the men's 100 metres competition which is always a huge fuzz. This year's favourites were world record holder Asafa Powell from Jamaica and Tyson Gay from the USA. Gay won, Powell came in 3rd but this final didn't have the flair and glamour like some finals of the past. Maybe it's because I didn't follow the 100 metres competition as closely as I did a few years back.

But the one thing I like about watching Track & Field is the commentators on German television. There is a station called Eurosport and the two guys doing the commentary there are Dirk Thiele and Siggi Heinrich. Those guys are on air for hours and hours and still they always give you the impression they are having the time of their lives. Even boring competitions become interesting when those two sit behind the microphone. They have a clear division on who is doing what, Thiele commenting on the long disctance running, Heinrich doing the sprint competitions. The same goes for throwing and jumping. They are hilarious at times but both experts on their respective fields. I love to listen to them and hope to do so over the next few days.