The official Athletics in Beijing thread (track and field)

[The_Jazz]

On the advice of a very smart Australian member, I'm starting a thread for those few of us interested in the marquis sport at the Olympics - athletics, or track and field to those of you not in the know.

It's been an exciting season already this year, with a new men's 100M record and some pretty gutty performances in the distances. Bolt has 3 of the top 4 performances in the men's 100M, but Tyson Gay might make it interesting.

Here are my picks for gold:

Men
100M - Bolt (hard to vote against the new WR holder)
200M - Gay
400M - Wariner
800M - Rudisha
1500M - Kipchirchir (yes I know he may not even make the Kenyan team, but he's got a devastating kick that I'm in love with)
5000M - Bekele
10000M - Bekele (and I like the Ethopian sweep. All kinds of awesome there)
110M Hurdles - Trammell (pick the guy you know)
400M Hurdles - Clement
3000M Steeplechase - one of the Kenyans. Who knows?
High Jump - Jonas (apparently the guy can actually float)
Pole Vault - Lukanyenko
Long Jump - Al Khuwalidi (8.37 INTO A HEADWIND!)
Triple Jump - Girat
Shot Put - Hoffa (consistency wins)
Discus - Kanter
Hammer - no idea
Javelin - Thorkildsen
Decathlon - no idea

Women
100M - Edwards
200M - Campbell-Brown (yes, I get the irony here)
400M - Richards
800M - Jelimo (duh)
1500M - Burka
5000M - insert Etheopian here
10000M - Smith (who should have won last month)
100M Hurdles - Cherry
400M Hurdles - Huang
3000M Steeplechase - Jepkorir (hard to not pick a Kenyan in a steeple)
High Jump - Vlasic (easiest choice for the women)
Pole Vault - Stokke (anyone still reading?)
Long Jump - Reese
Triple Jump - no clue
Shot Put - Vili
Discus - Pishchalnikova
Hammer - Moreno
Javelin - Spotakova
Heptathlon - no idea

So, what do other folks think?

[highthief]

Not sure I can name enough track athletes in the various disciplines to dispute your picks, other than the men's 100 is shaping up nicely. Bolt, Powell, Gay - that'll be tight, maybe another WR.

Warriner is a lock at 400.

The Chinese hurdler Liu Xiang will want to win the 110 in his home nation.

The women's heptathlon is open with Kluft not there - Kelly Sotherton to hopefully take the gold.

[niniandcat]

I have found many interesting articles on this site. Thanks to the admin and staff for being here. Thanks for having me here as well.

[highthief]

Originally Posted by niniandcat

I have found many interesting articles on this site. Thanks to the admin and staff for being here. Thanks for having me here as well.

Glad to have you here!

[dlish]

i dont really have the time to post all my thoughts on this right now.

i am glad that jazz has started this thread though.

jazz not sure if you heard but gay has run a 9.68 with a 4.1 wind assisted 100m at the US trials

Gay also was felled from a leg cramp during the 200m and wont be competing in the 200m! now THATS news!

[The_Jazz]

I heard about Gay. Trust me, I heard a LOT about Gay's 100M run. I got an email (along with about 20 others) from a friend who was there within 5 minutes of it being run.

Looks like I might have mixed up the 100M and 200M.

[Willravel]

Originally Posted by The_Jazz

200M - Gay

I don't think it's gay, I always liked the 200. I remember when Michael Johnson ran it in like 19 seconds (which is insane).

But seriously, the prelims were really interesting to watch this year. I saw Al Khuwalidi, and he's really impressive. In the back of my mind, I keep wondering if the Bush Administration will accuse him of using nuclear performance enhancers.

Here's Usain Bold setting the 100M record:

Totally awesome.

[fresnelly]

Originally Posted by The_Jazz

I heard about Gay. Trust me, I heard a LOT about Gay's 100M run. I got an email (along with about 20 others) from a friend who was there within 5 minutes of it being run.

Looks like I might have mixed up the 100M and 200M.

Gay had a hamstring injury a couple of days later and may be out for Beijing.

I was at the trials on the Tuesday and saw the men's 800m final where Oregon guys took all three top spots and the crowd went nuts.

That's the race I'll be watching because of the human interest story.

[dlish]

Men
100M - Bolt, but a three way battle with gay and powell. (i remember a time when anything under 10seconds was cosidered a good run. those days are over) gay with a injury niggle may not take this out. hes also a slow starter but finishes well, but so does Bolt. Bolt also annihilated gay at the reebok meet when he ran his world record. powell is good but got beat to third at the WC's. Bolt is my fav. this is going to be interesting.

200M - Bolt - its his favourite event, but he says he has to compete in the 100m now that he owns the WR. Great finisher, slow out of the blocks. well suited to 200m. WR could be in jeopardy

400M - Wariner - has run 3 or 4 times under the 44sec mark this past year. the only person to do that once is merrit who only just scraped in. wariner to win.
800M - mulaudzi, but toss up between abubaker, mulaudzi and rudisha.

1500M - Korir for me, although ive always cheered on thenth africa runners from morocco and algeria over the years. Saeed Aouita i a living legend.. u really think Kipchirchir is in with a chance? hes up against 5 countrymen. any one of them is capable of taking out the crown.

5000M - Bekele too. though ill be cheering mottram on. hes in with a medal chance at least.

10000M - Bekele to take the 5K and 10K sweep
110M Hurdles - dunno

400M Hurdles - Clement. a class above consistantly.

3000M Steeplechase - not sure but im with jazz on this one

High Jump - Rybakov
Pole Vault - not sure these days
Long Jump - Howe. when did Khuwalidi do the 8.37 into a headwind?
Triple Jump - Idowu
Shot Put - dont know
Discus - dont know
Hammer - dont know
Javelin - dont know
Decathlon - dont know
marathon? is haile G running the marathon this olympics? hes my bet.

[Strange Famous]

All I know is that I dont want drug cheats Dwayne Chambers and Christine Ohuruogu representing my country.

Our medal hopes:

Phillips Idowu
Paula Radcliffe (if fit)
Mens 4*100
Mens 4*400
Mo Farah
Martin Rooney
Nicola Saunders
Jenny Meadows
kelly Sotherton
Andy Badderley

EDIT

The Jazz - Isinbayeva can only beat herself for the Gold in ladies pole vault, surely? Im not that keen a follower of athletics, but I thought Stokke was only famed for her looks: you seriously think she can beat someone who has more world records in one event than she has fingers and toes? Maybe you know something I dont....

[The_Jazz]

SF - good catch. By that point in my list I was getting a little bored and wondering if anyone would bother to read my list. On top of that, I had just had an underwriter in my office who spent 2003-05 as a dancer for the Chicago Bulls (they're called LuvaBulls) who is insanely hot.

Isinbayeva is a mortal lock to win gold. Except for the gold in my pants. That belongs to Alison Stokke.

edit: I will have more to say about doping when I can devote some time to it. I need to get all my thoughts in order.

[highthief]

Originally Posted by Strange Famous

All I know is that I dont want drug cheats Dwayne Chambers and Christine Ohuruogu representing my country.

Although even making the Olympic final would be an achievement for Chambers and he does not have a real hope of beating Bolt/Gay/Powell, I hope he gets to go. The rules governing UK athletes, drugs and the Olympics are utterly retarded in comparison to the rest of the world, which is why, if his case is heard in time by the courts, I think he'll get to go (presuming he finishes top two tomorrow).

[Strange Famous]

I dont think Dwayne could win gold, but he's probably good enough to get into the final if he goes. And the reason he's good enough is cos he took a lot of steroids. Even if he isnt taken them now, he is still benefitting from the extra strength they gave hom when he did.

[dlish]

jazz.. i did stop reading the womens.. why do i find mens athletics more intersting? im not so sure...

but now that you mention stokke... my lord. she literally burst onto the scene a few months ago when the media got a handle on her and she has been my wallpaper ever since.

ill be barracking for stokke too... looks like she'll be getting two golds..one from me and one from you jazz.

im with strange on the chambers issue.

although if i were him the stigma of being labelled a cheat and being seen as a cheat would be enough to force me into early retirement.

scenario: dwayne chambers wins gold at the olympics in beijing. who in their right mind would think he won fairly and squarly? the whole athletics world would see him with nothing but suspicion, and any win by him is already tainted.

[highthief]

Originally Posted by dlish

scenario: dwayne chambers wins gold at the olympics in beijing. who in their right mind would think he won fairly and squarly? the whole athletics world would see him with nothing but suspicion, and any win by him is already tainted.

Given that other than Donovan Bailey and Mo Greene, every 100 metre men's champ since 1984 has tested positive at some juncture, I think whoever wins the 100 there will be suspicion.

Chambers just won the British trials in 10.01, despite not having a great start.

Let's see what the courts say.

[Strange Famous]

Yeah, Dwayne looked pretty comfortable I thought - but I guess everyone knew he was the quickest man in Britain before the race, so it doesnt prove anything new.

I can see his point that its unfair, because in any other country (other than Norway) he could compete after serving his ban, but to me - legally - the UK Athletics authority should be free to pick their team on any criteria they want (as long as there's no criminal - ie race, religious, etc - discrimination)

And I just dont want him representing my country.

But it does show the talent he had, he's spent half the year trying to play Rugby League and he is still capable of outclassing the rest of the British sprinters by some margin... its just a shame he decided to cheat and take short cuts by taking the juice.

Rounded down to 10 flat, legal wind...

[highthief]

Originally Posted by Strange Famous

I can see his point that its unfair, because in any other country (other than Norway) he could compete after serving his ban, but to me - legally - the UK Athletics authority should be free to pick their team on any criteria they want (as long as there's no criminal - ie race, religious, etc - discrimination)

I disagree - just as your employer cannot impose ridiculous rules upon you, nor can UK Athletics impose rules and sanctions that are overly harsh.

The powers organizations such as UK Athletics has are conferred upon them by higher powers - and those higher powers (in this case, the court) can rescind those powers or overturn their decisions.

At any rate, this is all a side show - he'll likely go out in the semis of Beijing if he goes. All the Americans are effortlessly going under 10 flat, as are the two Jamaicans, never mind what any other runners (Nigerians, Bahamians, etc) may be doing.

The Bolt/Gay/Powell showdown is the big news.

[Strange Famous]

But he doesnt work for UK Athletics, he doesnt have a contract of employment with them and thus employment rights... as far as I understand. If he does go he will have to pay his own hotel and flights etc as well I think.

I dont think that anyone thinks that Chambers is a major threat to win gold medal... but its a bit deal in the UK.

I also am not that happy about the inclusion of Christine Ohuruogu being in our team - I am very doubtful that she is clean.

At the end of the day, if the UK Athletics board does not want to select drug cheats to represent our nation, I think that that is admirable.

The real point is that whatever ban is given, when someone takes steroids for a long period of time their WHOLE career will benefit from the increased muscle strength they have gained... Dwayne Chambers is benefitting from what he took today and he will be in a years time, his whole career he is cheating the athlete's who are clean...

Why is that fair?

Why should Marlon Devonish (for example) have to race against a guy for a spot in the Olympics who has the advantage of two years of illegal drugs?

__

And on the 100M in general, does the Portuguese fella have a chance? I dont follow athletics closely, but in the past he was always a threat in big championships and seemed to be someone who brought his A game to the big races (unlike someone like Asafa Powell who is known for struggling under pressure)

[highthief]

Originally Posted by Strange Famous

But he doesnt work for UK Athletics, he doesnt have a contract of employment with them and thus employment rights... as far as I understand. If he does go he will have to pay his own hotel and flights etc as well I think.

But in controlling Olympic selections, they effectively can end his career. Thus they control his job. It's restraint of trade over and above any such restrictions that exist elsewhere in the EU.

[Strange Famous]

These rules were in place and and well known to him when Chambers decided to take steroids. He made his choices then.

[highthief]

Originally Posted by Strange Famous

These rules were in place and and well known to him when Chambers decided to take steroids. He made his choices then.

That doesn't neccessarily matter - if the penalties are deemed to be too harsh too begin with, which is probably the basis upon which he will challenge in the courts.

Basically, if UK Athletics said "all drug cheats will have their left nut amputated" it would be a no brainer that the punishment is too harsh and beyond the scope of UK Athletics to impose. One of the principle questions the courts will seek to answer (if Dwain's lawyer has half a brain) is does UK Athletics have the right to effectively end Dwain's career by banning him from the Olympics?

Truth is, UK Athletics is treating this like a vendetta, which it is.

1) Dwain is a high profile athlete who tested positive

2) He made statements to the effect that if you medal in the Olympics or World Championships, you are likely on drugs, which put a lot of noses out of joint

3) UK Athletics dropped the ball on testing Dwain. They assumed he had retired, but he never had - consequently, he went through a long period without being tested (including during that NFL Europe stint, IIRC). UK Athletics looked pretty stupid over that one

4) I don't think racism is an overt factor, but I do wonder if it was Paula Radcliffe, Kelly Sotherton or other sweet little white girl would the reaction be the same? Or would they get a break that big, bad Dwain Chambers won't be afforded?

[dlish]

on the topic of T&F in olympics, name your top 5 olympic moments in T&F

1) 1988 100m mens olympic final - for me as a 10 year old i remember watching the 100m final in 1988 and although i wasnt really into athletics then, i knew i had witnessed history. of course it went on to be arguably the most infamous moment in olympic history. as it turned out its was probably the most drug laden race ever run.

2) Hicham El guerrouj winning the 1500m at the Athens Olypics. after the collsion which saw Morcelli win the previous the previous olympics, Hichams dream finally came true where he won the olympic gold medal. he had been at the top of his distance for so long without having won gold. his 1.46 in the last 800m was amazing and his come back in the last 100m after being passed by bekele was unbelievable. i was moved to tears watching his emotions after the race - a sidenote would be El guerrouj winning the 1500/500m double at athens

3) Michael Johnson winning the 200m/400m Double at the 1996 Atlanta Olympics in golden shoes.

4) Jesse Owens winning 4 gold medals in all places but Berlin in 1936

5) Bob Beamon jumping 8.90m at the 1968 Olympics in a freakish jump beating his closest competitor by almost a metre. His olympic record still stands till today, bettered only by mike powell in his long jump duel with carl lewis in the 1991 world championships in tokyo.

[Strange Famous]

just personally...

1 - Derek Redmond finishing the 400 Metres semi with a torn hamstring... I remember watching it at the time, and everytime I watched it since it always gets me when you see his dad - this short tubby guy in an ill fitting tee shirt - come charging onto the track with a couple of security guards chasing after him, because the only thing he thought of was helping his son finish.

2 - Michael Johnson winning 200 and 400 in 2000

3 - El Guerrouj in 2004 winning the 1500 Metres as well. I remember his reaction at the end when he just collapsed on the floor as was weeping with joy.

4 - Linford Christie in 1992. At the time anyway.. Shame it wasnt clean.

5 - Kelly Holmes - Athens 2005 800M/1500M - the single performance by a British female athlete I ever remember seeing

__

oh, and I guess Dwain ain't going to the Olympics... in a way its sad because even taking the sport half seriously he is better than anyone else GB have and it shows what a talent has been wasted, but I think its the right thing.

and best of all (and not track or field I guess)

Men's coxless 4's rowing - Sydney 2000. Just remember really wanting Steve Redgrave to win it, and it was such a close race with the Italians coming back at them all the while in the finishing straight, and they just hung on by a couple of feet to win it.

[dlish]

Originally Posted by Strange Famous

just personally...

1 - Derek Redmond finishing the 400 Metres semi with a torn hamstring... I remember watching it at the time, and everytime I watched it since it always gets me when you see his dad - this short tubby guy in an ill fitting tee shirt - come charging onto the track with a couple of security guards chasing after him, because the only thing he thought of was helping his son finish.

2 - Michael Johnson winning 200 and 400 in 2000

3 - El Guerrouj in 2004 winning the 1500 Metres as well. I remember his reaction at the end when he just collapsed on the floor as was weeping with joy.

4 - Linford Christie in 1992. At the time anyway.. Shame it wasnt clean.

5 - Kelly Holmes - Athens 2005 800M/1500M - the single performance by a British female athlete I ever remember seeing

__

oh, and I guess Dwain ain't going to the Olympics... in a way its sad because even taking the sport half seriously he is better than anyone else GB have and it shows what a talent has been wasted, but I think its the right thing.

and best of all (and not track or field I guess)

Men's coxless 4's rowing - Sydney 2000. Just remember really wanting Steve Redgrave to win it, and it was such a close race with the Italians coming back at them all the while in the finishing straight, and they just hung on by a couple of feet to win it.

i forgot..the marathon runner who was delirious ..1988 maybe? i cant recall now. memories live forever.

as for linford.. i met him once when he was in sydney. what an obnoxious prick! as a teenager my life was running and swimming. i admired linford. he was one of my idols along with carl cheating lewis. he was sitting with some guy along Manly beach and i asked for an autograph and he just shooed be away like i was a fly. i musta been about 13.

i dont recall what he and the guy were talking about but it wasnt business. i lost respect for him after that.

[kutulu]

I'm looking forward to the pole vault. I did that in high school and my first year of college. A really fun sport to play. My best was just a hair under 15 feet. Team USA has a legit condenter this year in Brad Walker. He set a new US record in June with a jump of 6.04 meters.

[dlish]

looks like this thread deserves a BUMP!

a big one actually!

as predicted - Bolt has won the 100m mens final in T&F in a WORLD RECORD time of 9.69 secs.

who says its only the swimmers who are breaking the world records!

this guy can go even faster! with a big legal tailwind and 9.50 looks reachable!

dlish 1
jazz 1

[Strange Famous]

cant quite believe what Usain Bolt did today... he cantered the last 10 metres and decimated the field AND the WR record. This is someone who is doing something on a different level to anyone before and I suspect anyone for quite some time after.

As Michael Johnson said "Michael Phelps, Michael who?"

__

And a slight thread jack but since there is no propper Olympic thread here... awesome day for Team GB - great wins in the cycling, an olympic field and a WR destroyed by Dame Addlington... and what a great win for the coxless fours... watched it before going to work this morning, and was feeling negative as the pairs had only got a bronze and Ben Ainslie hadnt got a chance to go for his 3rd gold... at 1000 metres they looked like they were going backwards... but a great great comeback - dont know where the last 250 metres possibly could have came from cos they were dead, but it was incredible, the commentator losing his voice and the other guy just screaming over and over "The British are coming, the British are coming"... the Aussies had a great day in the rowing but these boys were defending world champions, and a true champion doesnt give up the title without one hell of a fight!

_

Dont know why people are down about these Olympics at all. We've had the wonderful performances of Phelps, the greatest swim relay race of all time, and now a man travelling faster than any human being has ever travelled under their own power in all known history... and SHOWBOATING HOME THE LAST 10 METRES!

[highthief]

We're watching history with Bolt - a guy who comes along maybe once in a lifetime who has hit the ultimate genetic lottery. If he stays healthy and motivated, I don't see anyone beating him.

[djtestudo]

Bolt would have broken 9.5 second EASY had he run straight through the line.

I still can't believe I saw him do what he did. And right after Michael Phelps? What a NIGHT!

[The_Jazz]

Under 9.5? Probably not. He for sure would have been low 9.6, maybe under. This cat is going to be fun to watch for the next 4 years, assuming he wants to be watched.

[highthief]

And Jamaica makes it a clean sweep in the women's 100 - going 1-2-3!. First time that has ever happened! If they don't drop the sticks, Jamaica should win both the men's and women's 4 x 100.

[dlish]

bekele as predicted took out the 10K. cant wait for the 5K!

dlish 2
jazz 2

[kutulu]

I'm loving the Summer Games this time around. With the exception of the overkill of boxing and volleyball it has been great.

The 100 was crazy. Bolt dominated.

[CinnamonGirl]

Did you see the women't 100 m hurdles? I cried a little. Damn.

Congrats to Harper, though...

[highthief]

Usain Bolt = greatest sprinter of all time.

No one has ever won both the 100 and 200 while setting world records in both at the same competition. It is an outstanding accomplishment and the only person I can see matching it is Bolt himself in 2012.

What has happened to US track, BTW? Yeah, Jamaica has come on strong and Bolt is unstoppable but really - I've never seen the US so weak. They need to win the relays to save some face.

[highthief]

Does it get any better for Jamaica and Bolt? Another gold, another world record in the 4 x 100.

Amazing!

[dlish]

Originally Posted by highthief

Does it get any better for Jamaica and Bolt? Another gold, another world record in the 4 x 100.

Amazing!

of all time??

hes only a newbie!

mike tyson was once the greatest of all time too

anyone see the aussie pole vaulter?? first aussie gold in mens T&F in 60 years!

[Strange Famous]

Cant believe what the Lightening Bolt did in the 200 - didnt think Michael Johnson's WR was ready to go - but he took it into a 0.9 headwind!!!

The BBC commentator was just raving on about what Bolt had done at the end of the race, and ou could hear he was slightly in shock - and then (obviously with the producer in his earpiece) he pauses and goes "... Im sorry, Im not sure who finished second and third" and I realised then I had no idea either, because they werent even in the same shot.

what he has done in the 100 & 200 is just unbelievable... he's something different to anything that's come before. Its LITERALLY like a 13 year old kids sports day, with the boys running a race, and then a grown man turns up to run against them...

People have said he celebrates too much, but I think its balls - he isnt taunting people, it just a impetuous display of joy and celebration of his great powers. He isnt just clipping something of WR's - he is smashing them - 3 of them in one meet (with a bit of help from Asafa & the boys in the relay I think)... I cant imagine what it must have felt like, as he came into the second stage of that 100 and he really put his foot down and the realisation that no one could live with him, that he was moving faster under his own power than any human being has ever done in history...

_

And I was really happy to see the relay gold for Jamaica. A talent as great as Asafa Powell deserves a gold and it would have been awful for him always to be known as a bottler, but he has his gold now too... and those boys must have a great team spirit. Even though Asafa was a gold hope in the 100 and Bolt beat him so comprehensively, the determination on his face in the final straight to get the third WR for Usain when the gold was already certain was incredible... he had a big lead but he was going away from them, and even the Lightening Bolt took a while to catch him up to celebrate!

[highthief]

Originally Posted by dlish

of all time??

hes only a newbie!

mike tyson was once the greatest of all time too

Yeah, he's probably just gone to number one. Boxing is different - you're judged on your last fight. Racing doesn't work that way - you get judged on the medals you win and the records you set and Bolt's achievements, in one Olympics, eclipse all that has gone before.

[Strange Famous]

Tyson is still one of the best - even if he is done now.

George Foreman is one of the best too.. but I dont want to see him fighting now.

I think what Bolt did will live on... Im not saying I know the history of track back to front, all I can say is that in 30 years of being alive and watching every Olympics since 1988, that's the first time a 100 metre race has made me stand out my chair and left me shaking all over...

Of course Ive got excited watching races, for example some of the mens coxless 4's, but watching what the lightening bolt did to that field wasnt just excitement it was shock and awe.... to go under 9.7, to win an Olympic Gold by at least 3 metres more than Ben Johnson (and dance down the last 10 metres laughing),and then turn up a few days later and knock off Michael Johnsons 200 record into a 0.9 headwind... its just out of this world. Two other guys went under 20 seconds in that 200 (I think) - and they were NOWHERE, just NOWHERE. Its ridiculous... and when he's done, he just has a little dance!