[Mandark]

Originally Posted by SSReporters

Wind-aided 12.87 though, otherwise it would've tied the world record set by Robles.

Really think Xiang and Sally Pearson on the women's side can break their respective hurdles records.

That men's world 110mH final last year was so unfair on Xiang I thought it should have been rerun.

[Mandark]

WTF?!! British 18 year old sprinter runs legal 10.08!!

British teenager Adam Gemili powered to 100m victory in Germany and beat the "Olympic A standard" qualifying time.
The 18-year-old Londoner ran the second fastest time by a European athlete this year - 10.08 seconds - easily inside the qualification mark of 10.18.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/athletics/18309111

He's getting the sports journos excited!!
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/oly...t-Germany.html

[Makosi's pants]

Another sterling night of athletics, added to the events that take place the day before. The pot is stirring nicely. Don't really know how to intepret Bekele's run. Not going to make it or coming back just in time? Hmmmm. Because of his sheer class, I'm going for the latter.

And what has happened to the Brit thrower/jumpers all of a sudden? Idowu dropped form a bit but the others have come on (ahem) leaps and bounds The Olympics can't come soon enough for many of our field athletes....

[Ads]

I see Sandra Richards-Ross ran 49.39 last night. Christine has her work cut out to retain her Olympic crown.

[Mandark]

Originally Posted by Ads

I see Sandra Richards-Ross ran 49.39 last night. Christine has her work cut out to retain her Olympic crown.

Yeah. I blame Christine's coach since Beijing for her general lack of form. Michael Johnson said that she needed to run the circuit and get used to running against the top girls regularly to stay ahead. She's the only top runner who didn't do it and now has fallen behind Sanya, Montsho, Novlene-Williams and the Russians.

[Mandark]

Originally Posted by Makosi's pants

.
And what has happened to the Brit thrower/jumpers all of a sudden? Idowu dropped form a bit but the others have come on (ahem) leaps and bounds The Olympics can't come soon enough for many of our field athletes....

Yep, you worry that they've all peaked too soon.

[Ads]

Originally Posted by Mandark

Yeah. I blame Christine's coach since Beijing for her general lack of form. Michael Johnson said that she needed to run the circuit and get used to running against the top girls regularly to stay ahead. She's the only top runner who didn't do it and now has fallen behind Sanya, Montsho, Novlene-Williams and the Russians.

True, we hardly ever see her run in Diamond League events. Is it also right that she has only ever ran under 50 seconds twice, on the two occasions she has won gold? I severely doubt her current pb will be enough to get her gold come the Olympics.

Like you I really am not sure about her current strategy. Whilst her rivals are all getting practise in big meets and putting in good times, there is no sign of Christine running anywhere this weekend.

[Mandark]

Originally Posted by Ads

True, we hardly ever see her run in Diamond League events. Is it also right that she has only ever ran under 50 seconds twice, on the two occasions she has won gold? I severely doubt her current pb will be enough to get her gold come the Olympics.

Like you I really am not sure about her current strategy. Whilst her rivals are all getting practise in big meets and putting in good times, there is no sign of Christine running anywhere this weekend.

Yep, she's only gone sub 50 twice. Both times came from behind but seemed to be packing a lot in reserve. I recall a discussion on the old 606 athletics forum about whether Christine could run sub 49. Some said that her 200m time was too slow to be able to do it compared to people like Sanya, Cath Freeman and Perec. But I recall Michael Johnson saying she had it in her. I guess to be able to do it, you need a very fast start then you've got to hold a fair pace right to the finish. Christine may not be able to start as quick as Sanya but I think she can hold her pace. I wonder if in training they get her to go out hard and see how long she lasts. But yes, she seems destined for a minor medal at best but that would still be good.

[Tiger Rose]

Not sure where all the negativity about Christine is coming from. She has been injured for much of the time since Beijing which is why she hasn't really done anything much.

There are a lot of positive signs about er form this year starting from her great leg in the 4x4 relay in the World Indoors. She has run a couple of races outdoors this year and has already run under 51secs the fastest she has ever run at this time of year.

I have a good feeling about her this year & I definitely think she'll win a medal of some colour. I'd back Sanya to beat her in a one off race every single time but in a championship things even out more.

[Mandark]

Gemili video. Had a terrible start and was just about last out but he looks like the real deal. Really strong finisher a bit like Le Maitre. No fluke. 10.11 in semi and then 10.08 in final. The German guys in second and third looked useful too.
http://www.athleticsweekly.com/news/...ic-a-standard/

[Mandark]

Originally Posted by Tiger Rose

Not sure where all the negativity about Christine is coming from. She has been injured for much of the time since Beijing which is why she hasn't really done anything much.

There are a lot of positive signs about er form this year starting from her great leg in the 4x4 relay in the World Indoors. She has run a couple of races outdoors this year and has already run under 51secs the fastest she has ever run at this time of year.

I have a good feeling about her this year & I definitely think she'll win a medal of some colour. I'd back Sanya to beat her in a one off race every single time but in a championship things even out more.

I think the issue is that even when she won her world titles in 2007-2008, she never really seemed dominant in the event. It seems only this season she's started running the circuit a bit. That world indoor relay run was the best I've seen her since 2008.

[Tiger Rose]

Originally Posted by Mandark

I think the issue is that even when she won her world titles in 2007-2008, she never really seemed dominant in the event. It seems only this season she's started running the circuit a bit. That world indoor relay run was the best I've seen her since 2008.

Better to win the big ones than on the circuit though.

[Jo09]

Originally Posted by Tiger Rose

Better to win the big ones than on the circuit though.

Agreed.

Hope Gemili is definitely included on team GB and they are not saving him for the future.

[Ads]

Originally Posted by Jo09

Agreed.

Hope Gemili is definitely included on team GB and they are not saving him for the future.

Seems silly to save him for the future, when on current form, he is the only one who actually is getting close to 10 seconds flat

http://www.thepowerof10.info/ranking...ex=M&year=2012

[Mandark]

Originally Posted by Jo09

Agreed.

Hope Gemili is definitely included on team GB and they are not saving him for the future.

Originally Posted by Ads

Seems silly to save him for the future, when on current form, he is the only one who actually is getting close to 10 seconds flat

http://www.thepowerof10.info/ranking...ex=M&year=2012

Tricky one!! He's already getting massive praise on Twitter and it won't be long before the media turn their full spotlight on him and hype him up as the future of British sprinting. Worth taking him though.

[grassmarket]

Originally Posted by Jo09

Agreed.

Hope Gemili is definitely included on team GB and they are not saving him for the future.

We keep forgetting that there is a European champs this month. Wonder if they'll send him. He could easily win it.

[Jo09]

Originally Posted by grassmarket

We keep forgetting that there is a European champs this month. Wonder if they'll send him. He could easily win it.

Anyone know the strategy behind who goes to the European Champs? Will athletes do both (Olympics & Euro Champs) or one or the other?

[Tiger Rose]

From the selection documents on their wbesite UKA have said they won't select track athletes for Europeans who qualify for the Olympics at the trials as it's not conducive to run rounds in trials, Euros & then Olympics. Not clear on field athletes but I hope most of them go especially the likes of Okoye, Grabarz & Bleasdale as it could prove to be valuable experience for them. I imagine the sprint relays will go too as race practice is invaluable in that event also.

[Tiger Rose]

Seems Gemili & his coach are in 2 minds as to what to do now.

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/oly...pionships.html

Personally I think he would be mad to pass up the opportunity. MLF missed the 2000 Olympics to do World Juniors & it didn't especially enhance his long term prospects. Also whilst it's fine to have an eye to the future you can't be solely driven by it. What if he gets injured? This might be his only chance at the Olympics. I don't think he'd lose sleep in the future if he missed World Juniors but missing out on a home Olympics could be something he will deeply regret for the rest of his life.

Hopefully UKA will let him miss the Junior trials. If he does senior trials & bombs out finishing 5th or 6th then we know that this level is too soon for him & the World Juniors is a good plan B to have. If he does well & qualifies at the trials then great. They can then look at whether it's advisable for him to do World Juniors as well as Olympics.

It's interesting to contrast the caution around Gemili to Katarina Johnson-Thompson. She hasn't qualified yet but listening to her on 5 Live the other week she seemed determined to do so & it was very much her number 1 aim ahead of World Juniors.

[Mandark]

Very interesting Tiger Rose. I don't see the point in him doing Junior trials as he's obviously streaks ahead of the rest. Better to let him face the more competitive senior trials and see how he does against the likes of Chambers, Harry AA and MLF. But yes let him go to a home Olympics. He'd certainly have a shot at making the semis.

[Tiger Rose]

Also his presence at the Olympic trials may provide a kick up the a*** that the rest of our sprinters need though why they should require this in Olympic year is beyond me.

[grassmarket]

Originally Posted by Tiger Rose

Also his presence at the Olympic trials may provide a kick up the a*** that the rest of our sprinters need though why they should require this in Olympic year is beyond me.

I think it's too late for them. They have gone all-in on having big muscely physiques at a time when Bolt and Lemaitre have shown that gangly gawky blokes are fastest.

[Mandark]

Originally Posted by grassmarket

I think it's too late for them. They have gone all-in on having big muscely physiques at a time when Bolt and Lemaitre have shown that gangly gawky blokes are fastest.

Apart from Gemili, I've said before that there's only two other sprinters that I think can have an impact on the world scene. That's Harry AA who has not progressed for some reason, muscle, mentality, who knows and Simeon Williamson who seems to be plagued by injury. But those guys have the ability to challenge LeMaitre for Europe's fastest man. The French also have Jimmy Vicaut who's ran 10.0 times. But Gemili may bring out the best in the others.

[Ads]

Originally Posted by Mandark

Apart from Gemili, I've said before that there's only two other sprinters that I think can have an impact on the world scene. That's Harry AA who has not progressed for some reason, muscle, mentality, who knows and Simeon Williamson who seems to be plagued by injury. But those guys have the ability to challenge LeMaitre for Europe's fastest man. The French also have Jimmy Vicaut who's ran 10.0 times. But Gemili may bring out the best in the others.

All you need to know about Harry AA is that he got his PB in 2008 when he was 19! WTF! Whatever he is doing in training and physique wise its not working, that lack of progression is ridiculous. This season he has been in woeful form so far.

[Mark F]

Looks like the athletes are being told to learn the national athem for if they get onto the top of the podium...

They won'ty pick up any tips from watching the England football team!

Rugby guys will be signing though.