Well, I thought those champs overall have been pretty good. I thought they would be a bit down beat after the Olympics, but there were some great performances.
Incidentally, Eurosport mentioned that Jen Stuhr set a new WR for the pole vault yesterday - 5.02 at the US Nationals. Strange I was thinking the event was in a bit of slump yesterday.
What went wrong for Perri Shakes Drayton at the Olympics? I remember the publicity about Holly Bleasdale but can't say the same about Perri.
Thee was talk afterwards about a hamstring injury but whilst I of course don't know 100% have always been a bit unsure about this. She ran very well in her heat & then ran a terrible race in the semi final. She was fit enough to run pretty well in the relay & ran quite well in some Damond League meets after as well. I suspect pressure got to her rather than anything physical.
Ah well - glad she's done it now. And she should have another Olympics, all being well.
For me her basic flat speed has never been in question but her hurdling is quite inconsistent so she still needs to nail that.
I really think she needs a good perfrmance at the Worlds this year either a medal or close to one otherwise I question if she will ever win medals at the highest level or if she should maybe consider concentrating on the flat 400m.
Well, I thought those champs overall have been pretty good. I thought they would be a bit down beat after the Olympics, but there were some great performances.
Incidentally, Eurosport mentioned that Jen Stuhr set a new WR for the pole vault yesterday - 5.02 at the US Nationals. Strange I was thinking the event was in a bit of slump yesterday.
Agreed - often the Euro Indoors can feel a bit flat but not so this year.
Not bad from Team GB but not many of them look like they can challenge for medals at World level. Maybe Perri can if she continues to improve but that's about it. I just don't see a champion when I look at Holly, I still think she's too mentally weak to be the best.
I was really disappointed by Robbie Grabarz, he did so well to win the Diamond League last year I hope he isn't going to regress this season because he looked like he was heading to the top.
Well, I thought those champs overall have been pretty good. I thought they would be a bit down beat after the Olympics, but there were some great performances.
Incidentally, Eurosport mentioned that Jen Stuhr set a new WR for the pole vault yesterday - 5.02 at the US Nationals. Strange I was thinking the event was in a bit of slump yesterday.
I love athletics but usually, indoor athletics interests me as much as non-olympic sailing does but this was a highly competitive and watchable championship. There were some top notch performances, lots of GB new guard seemed to be coming through, Perri and Holly were great (and both needed big championship wins) and it is frankly good to see anyone other than CVC at the head of things.
Agree about the pole vault. Great performance by Suhr. If Isinbaeva ever gets her mojo (or should that be "polo") back, we could be in for a terrific world champs. Also look out for some fireworks in the female high jump if Vlasic returns fit to challenge Chicherova.
Even liked the presenting. Edwards was a decent host, Jackson's bumbling days look behind him, Denise is getting more and more confident in expressing her opinion - only Paula seemed (understandably) a little overwhelmed but offerred enough trackside insight to show she's there on merit.
Having watched MOTD and one session of the champs straight after each other, I was once again struck by how much better the beebs athletic pundits are than their football pundits - I suppose there's more scope for commentary in athletics but still....
much better the beebs athletic pundits are than their football pundits - I suppose there's more scope for commentary in athletics but still....
Few more brain cells and ability to speak without cliches might help too.
Quite enjoyed watching athletes we don't know much about do well and interesting the guys who maybe didn't get to perform as well at the Olympics did a decent ojb this time...
Well, I thought those champs overall have been pretty good. I thought they would be a bit down beat after the Olympics, but there were some great performances.
Incidentally, Eurosport mentioned that Jen Stuhr set a new WR for the pole vault yesterday - 5.02 at the US Nationals. Strange I was thinking the event was in a bit of slump yesterday.
Yeah women's pole vault is looking healthy with Suhr, Silva the Cuban, Bleasdale and Isinbeyeva and the other Russians.
Can't believe we have so long to wait to the next meet.
There are some bits and pieces in between. World Cross Country champs 24th March. Then the Spring marathons. The first Diamond League event is 10 May, in Doha.
Can't believe we have so long to wait to the next meet.
A while until the next Track & Field meeting yes. But there is the World Cross Country Champs later this Month and then we are into the Spring Marathon season including London.
Am sure before we know it May will be here & the Diamond League starting up.
We haven't been talking about it here recently, but it seems that the drug testers having been cutting a swathe through Russian women's athletics in the last few months. The good news is that it seems to be the Russians themselves taking the initiative. There has obviously been an order from the Kremlin to clean things up prior to the Sochi Winter Olympics next year.
We haven't been talking about it here recently, but it seems that the drug testers having been cutting a swathe through Russian women's athletics in the last few months. The good news is that it seems to be the Russians themselves taking the initiative. There has obviously been an order from the Kremlin to clean things up prior to the Sochi Winter Olympics next year.
I thought the times were over where you could medal years after the competition. I feel for Jade Johnson.
IAAF policy now is to test automatically towards the end of the 8 year window allowed to ensurethat the most up to date testing science can be utilized. Will be interesting to see which positives will come up from London 2012 early in 2020.
Last week I saw a figure of 33 Russian athletes currently banned at present & with these 2 that's 35. Really needs to be something done about this by IAAF and/or WADA.
IAAF policy now is to test automatically towards the end of the 8 year window allowed to ensurethat the most up to date testing science can be utilized. Will be interesting to see which positives will come up from London 2012 early in 2020.
Last week I saw a figure of 33 Russian athletes currently banned at present & with these 2 that's 35. Really needs to be something done about this by IAAF and/or WADA.
To matters on the track or should I say Cross Country, just a reminder that the World Cross Country Champs are taking place in Poland this Sunday with coverage on BBC2 from midday.
Pietro Mannea has passed away. He was a very exciting sprinter and you never quite knew if he was beaten until the very end...if you know what I mean!!! Used to love his duels with Allan Wells.
Just goes to show how racial preconceptions have affected modern athletics. Nobody nowadays would believe that a white man could run 19.72 for the 200m, but he did, and set a world record that took 20 years to beat.
Comments
Incidentally, Eurosport mentioned that Jen Stuhr set a new WR for the pole vault yesterday - 5.02 at the US Nationals. Strange I was thinking the event was in a bit of slump yesterday.
Thee was talk afterwards about a hamstring injury but whilst I of course don't know 100% have always been a bit unsure about this. She ran very well in her heat & then ran a terrible race in the semi final. She was fit enough to run pretty well in the relay & ran quite well in some Damond League meets after as well. I suspect pressure got to her rather than anything physical.
Joint second?
For me her basic flat speed has never been in question but her hurdling is quite inconsistent so she still needs to nail that.
I really think she needs a good perfrmance at the Worlds this year either a medal or close to one otherwise I question if she will ever win medals at the highest level or if she should maybe consider concentrating on the flat 400m.
Agreed - often the Euro Indoors can feel a bit flat but not so this year.
I was really disappointed by Robbie Grabarz, he did so well to win the Diamond League last year I hope he isn't going to regress this season because he looked like he was heading to the top.
I love athletics but usually, indoor athletics interests me as much as non-olympic sailing does but this was a highly competitive and watchable championship. There were some top notch performances, lots of GB new guard seemed to be coming through, Perri and Holly were great (and both needed big championship wins) and it is frankly good to see anyone other than CVC at the head of things.
Agree about the pole vault. Great performance by Suhr. If Isinbaeva ever gets her mojo (or should that be "polo") back, we could be in for a terrific world champs. Also look out for some fireworks in the female high jump if Vlasic returns fit to challenge Chicherova.
Even liked the presenting. Edwards was a decent host, Jackson's bumbling days look behind him, Denise is getting more and more confident in expressing her opinion - only Paula seemed (understandably) a little overwhelmed but offerred enough trackside insight to show she's there on merit.
Having watched MOTD and one session of the champs straight after each other, I was once again struck by how much better the beebs athletic pundits are than their football pundits - I suppose there's more scope for commentary in athletics but still....
Few more brain cells and ability to speak without cliches might help too.
Quite enjoyed watching athletes we don't know much about do well and interesting the guys who maybe didn't get to perform as well at the Olympics did a decent ojb this time...
There are some bits and pieces in between. World Cross Country champs 24th March. Then the Spring marathons. The first Diamond League event is 10 May, in Doha.
A while until the next Track & Field meeting yes. But there is the World Cross Country Champs later this Month and then we are into the Spring Marathon season including London.
Am sure before we know it May will be here & the Diamond League starting up.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/athletics/21622949
And retests from the 2005 world champs throw up a few familiar names
http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/athletics/21712788
I thought the times were over where you could medal years after the competition. I feel for Jade Johnson.
IAAF policy now is to test automatically towards the end of the 8 year window allowed to ensurethat the most up to date testing science can be utilized. Will be interesting to see which positives will come up from London 2012 early in 2020.
Last week I saw a figure of 33 Russian athletes currently banned at present & with these 2 that's 35. Really needs to be something done about this by IAAF and/or WADA.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/athletics/21752713
http://uk.eurosport.yahoo.com/news/athletics-seventeen-athletes-face-bans-biological-passport-findings-152251371.html
http://uk.eurosport.yahoo.com/news/athletics-olympic-champion-pietro-mannea-dies-age-60-093930509.html
And more doping news - not confirmed yet by the IAAF but a number of other athletes have failed tests including Turkey's Olympic 1500m Champion Cakir.
http://www.athleticsweekly.com/news/london-2012-1500m-champ-cakir-alptekin-tests-positive-for-banned-substances
Interesting the 4th place athlete has also served a drugs ban!
Just goes to show how racial preconceptions have affected modern athletics. Nobody nowadays would believe that a white man could run 19.72 for the 200m, but he did, and set a world record that took 20 years to beat.