by Larry Eder
Here’s an observation: all World Champ and Olympic races are wars of attrition. To get one’s body into world leading shape is one thing, to keep it there is entirely another matter. Asafa has run 76 sub 10 second 100 meters races in his career. He felt a twinge in Budapest, and then withdrew from London, and he has not recovered.
The 100 meter and 200 meter fields have been decimated, but still, they will be deadly fields. The women’s 10,000m field is looking more and more like a good place for Shalane Flanagan to get a medal.
Asafa Powell, 2011 Lausanne, photo by PhotoRun.net
POWELL NOT RUNNING THE 100 M
DAEGU (KOR): World leader Asafa Powell
decided today not to run the 100 m at the World Championships due to his
continuing injury problems. He hopes he will be able to compete in
relay. In Jamaican team he will be replaced by another sub 10 runner and
2005 world 100 m medalist Michael Frater. That was confirmed by his
agent Paul Doyle. “Asafa has officially withdrawn from the 100m event in
Daegu citing a continued groin strain. Powell suffered a groin strain
in Budapest on July 30th and has had reoccurring tightness and pain ever
since. After Budapest, Asafa missed 8 days of training before he could
attempt to sprint again. When he returned to the track he was able to
sprint but it caused the groin to flare up. He has received all sorts of
treatments over the past 2 weeks in hopes to be prepared to run the
100m here in Daegu but today Asafa made the final decision not to run.
He feels he would not be at 100 percent, and may have trouble coming
back after each round. Asafa is very disappointed to say the least. He
was really hoping to be able to run in what was going to be one of the
most anticipated races of the championships. He is still optimistic to
be able to run the relay,” says Doyle in his statement.
HEIDLER TO VILLAGE EARLIER
GERMANY:
Hammer world record holder Betty Heidler changed her plans and will
travel already on Friday (four days earlier) than planned from German
Team Camp at Jenju Island to Daegu. She said the reasons were not good
conditions for hammer training and weight-lifting room there. Also
Kathrin Klaas and their coach Michael Deyhle will come earlier to
Athletes Village in Daegu.
QUALIFICATION STANDARDS
STANDARDS:
Qualification standards were set for technical events. Men events are
having 231 in high jump, 570 in pole vault, 815 long jump, 17.10 triple
jump, 20.60 shot put, 65.50 discus, 77.00 hammer and 82.50 javelin. In
women events 195 – 460 – 675 – 14.45 – 18.65 – 62.00 – 71.00 – 61.00. In
men events improved standards compared to Berlin 2009 are HJ, PV, SP,
DT, JT and on the women side SP and DT. The same are men´s LJ and all
women jumps. Lower standards than Berlin 2009 are men´s TJ and HT and
women´s HT and JT.
ELECTIONS: FREDERICKS NEW COUNCIL MEMBER
Individual council members elected at 48th IAAF Congress are as new
member Ahmad Al Kamali of United Arab Emirates, former sprint world
champion Frankie Fredericks and French Bernard Amsalem. Also elected
were previous members Helmut Digel, Alberto Juantorena, Jung Ki Park,
Jose Maria Odriozola, Katsuyuki Tanaka and Isaiah Kiplagat. Female
council members are Anna Riccardi, Sylvia Barlag, Nawal El Mouatawakel,
Abby Hoffman and Pauline Davis-Thompson with Irena Szewinska. Valentin
Balakhnichev was elected IAAF Treasurer over Jose Maria Odriozola
(100:93). Claire Chehab of Lebanon is the new chair of women´s
committee, Jorge Salcedo remains the head of technical committee, race
walking will continue to be led by Maurizio Damilano, new cross country
committee chairman is Kenyan David Okeyo. Masters committee leader is as
before by Cesar Moreno Bravo from Mexico.
WORLD PLAN TO END IN 2012
WORLD
PLAN: The IAAF Athletics’ World Plan was launched by the IAAF President
Lamine Diack in 2003 at the 44th IAAF Congress in Paris, France. The
Plan aims to provide guidance for all those working to further develop
and grow the sport of Athletics. Since 2003, many great results have
been achieved by the Plan and its various implementation teams. As the
Plan in this current form comes to an end in 2012, the 48th IAAF
Congress in Daegu was the last opportunity for the President Diack to
report to all IAAF Member Federations on its progress. To celebrate the
“final lap” of the Athletics’ World Plan 2003-2012 and report on the
Plan’s achievements, the President Diack was joined on stage at the
Congress by some of Athletics greatest stars, including Meseret Defar,
Allyson Felix, Fabiana Murer, Steven Hooker, Koji Murofushi, and Andreas
Thorkildsen.
BUBKA’S COMMENT
BUBKA:
Sergey Bubka, NOC of Ukraine President and re-elected IAAF
Vice-president, commented on the voting at the first day of 48th IAAF
Congress: “It was a long day. Electronic voting system has become the
top-story of the day. Nobody noticed the miscalculation at first. But
the elections of the Honorary Treasurer showed a total of 210 votes
instead of 199 eligible, the results differed massively between two
rounds. Even more strangely, votes for vice-president position were cast
by 201 and a half (!) delegate according to the machine. The system’s
problems were clear. There was common embarrassment about the whole
situation as the credibility of the voting procedure was lost. The logic
consequence was a simple ballot-voting necessary to also protect the
authority of our congress. After a long night, I am very pleased and
honored to continue serving for the good of the IAAF together with my
colleagues and friends.” Bubka than added that he is in a good mood
despite a hard day. This is because his native Ukraine celebrates a
great holiday on Wednesday (August 24) – the 20th anniversary of
Independence. Informs Ukrainian NOC website.
OTHER DAEGU NEWS
USAIN
BOLT: “I will be ready to run fast, but main goal is to win. I know Im
not in 9.5 shape, but still can produce good races. I want to be a
legend and titles from Daegu are very important for that aim.”
AUSTRALIA:
Australian record holder and long jump world leader Mitchell Watt says
that the pressure to win gold at the world championships in Daegu is an
added motivation. Watt continued: “I remember doing a thing with you
guys [the media] and just thinking there was talk of a medal and I
thought you guys were joking. I was honestly not expecting to get a
medal there and it’s definitely a lot different this time around. I’ve
said it a few times but I’ll be disappointed if I don’t end up with the
gold and that’s kind of put a bit of extra pressure on me saying that,
but it’s the truth. He’s (Irving Saladino – PAN) definitely got the
potential to jump big and also the two British guys (Chris Tomlinson and
Greg Rutherford). They’ve sort of been finishing top 1-2-3 in the
Diamond Leagues all year, pretty much. Then there’s Dwight Phillips, the
reigning champion, he hasn’t jumped since I think Shanghai, he’s just
been back home preparing, But I think as well that you can tell by the
Diamond League points, it’s so spread out, that everyone’s sort of
spread out the wins and the seconds and thirds. There could be another
new guy that comes up and breaks his personal best by a big way, so you
never know.”
ALLYSON
FELIX: On tougher event from 200 m and 400 m: “I’d say the 400m
because it’s new territory for me. I’ve never ran it at a championship
event. The competition is very fierce; it is in the 200m as well, but I
feel more experienced in that event.” (IAAF)
FABIANA
MURER: On what it will take to clinch a medal: “I think to get a medal
we have to jump 4.80m so that’s my goal.” Her primary competition: “I
think there are six girls who have a very good chance at a medal: Yelena
(Isinbayeva), Svetlana (Feofanova), Jennifer (Suhr), Anna (Rogowska),
and Silke Spiegelburg, and me.” (IAAF)
MESERET DEFAR:
” I feel very good. I ran a few races this year, then I went back to
Ethiopia to train and now I’m feeling very good. In Daegu there will be
many big competitors from Kenya and Ethiopia. It will be difficult
running both the 5000m and 10,000m again, but I’ve trained hard to try
to beat them and I will do my best.” (IAAF)
KOJI
MUROFUSHI: “Depends on the weather and the condition but a throw of 80
metres should be enough for a medal. I don’t know which one, but it
should be enough. I haven’t thrown that yet this year but I’ll try my
best to get that.” (IAAF)
DAVID RUDISHA:
“”I’ve trained hard, I’m ready. That is the only formula.. I have
prepared since for a different way of running, running from the front.
When you run from behind, that is when you can get problems fighting for
position.” (IAAF)
TRINIDAD:
National 400 metres hurdler champion Jehue Gordon will take his place in
the 400 metres hurdle at the IAAF World Championships in Daegu South
Korea. In a release from the NAAA, team manager Dexter Voisin said the
situation regarding Gordon’s entry has been resolved and he will
compete. Local media are informing.
USA: Website polevaultpower.com had on message board informations which are putting into doubt the participation of Jenny Suhr in the pole vault competition.
TYSON GAY:
American record holder Tyson Gay has picked Usain Bolt to win the men’s
100m, but believes the Jamaican who will defend his sprint double
titles, will get strong competition from compatriot Nick Ashmeade in the
200m. Gay, who said he is here in Daegu to support his teammates and
friends, told the Adidas media conference on Thursday, that his training
partner Ashmeade will be there in the 200m final. “In the 100m, I think
Bolt has to be the favourite, and in the 200m, Bolt and Ashmeade … it
will be a battle between those two,” he said. Informs TrackAlerts.
RUSSIA:
Rusathletics.com informs that two day before the World Championships
starts tv deal was done for Russian territory. The event will be
broadcasted by Russia 2 channel.
FRANCE: In the
new situation in the men´s 100 m European Champion Christophe Lemaitre
sees his chance to shine in the 100 m. Yet he sees himself as an
outsider in the 100 m and thinks the podium is closer for him in the 200
m. French media are informing.
GREAT
BRITAIN: Andrew Lemoncello has withdrawn from the men’s marathon
through injury reducing the squad size by one to 66. Dave Webb and Lee
Merrien will form the remainder of the team that will run on the final
day of the Championships.
OTHER NEWS
NEW
YORK (USA): Carl Lewis is at the centre of a row after a Republican
representative in the New Jersey Assembly resigned after his wife sent
an e-mail to the nine-time Olympic gold medalist that was allegedly
racist. Lewis, who is hoping to stand for the state Senate, received the
e-mail from Patrick Delany’s wife, Jennifer, who was also hoping to
stand. Informs insidethegames. In a statement issued shortly after the
story appeared on the website, Delany, who resigned earlier this month,
acknowledged the e-mail’s authenticity and said it was the reason he
resigned, not personal reasons as he originally claimed.
BUDAPEST
(HUN): Respected website All-Athletics.com offer currently during the
World Championships free access to very interesting sections.
All-Athletics.com is the most comprehensive worldwide database and with
the recently introduced new services and the on-going developments the
website intends to be the premier meeting point for all participants and
lovers of our sport. The Athlete Profiles have been re-structured and
now lots of free information and services are available.
ZAGREB (CRO):
The IAAF World Challenge Meet in Zagreb (Sep 13) recieved additional
funding from the Croatian Government worth of 500 000 kuna. This adds to
previous support of the city and different sponsors. Also a world
record sponsor is secured. The main star is Usain Bolt running for
second time at the meet after 2006. He will contest the 100 m.
