I've just caught up with Zurich highlights. Bit flat but a few dramatic endings to races, both 400mH were tight, the 5000 was funny (could Jaegar actually pull off the unthinkable in 2017) and that 1500.... Laura Muir almost did it again... but this time Rowbury not only beat Simpson but won the race as well.

The 800 was tedious in it's predicability except for one thing - was it me or were all the runners apart from the pacemaker wearing the same shoes..... has to be some kind of co-ordinated sponsorship surely...?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yomPIeJ2cR8

BTW have Wambui and Niyonsaba ever been subject to gender testing? I know there are rumours but I can't find anything more than that.


Uh-oh


Lucky bugger.

Those priority sales windows certainly came in handy.

UKA are interested in bidding for the 2022 ECh and lodged an 'expression of interest', as have 11 other (!) federations.

It's not ever been officially confirmed but I have read a couple of 'athletics insiders', apart from other athletes like Lynsey, (but I can't remember who now) speak about them as hyperandrogenic/intersex in a way that sounds as if they've seen the said athletes' test results or had their suspicions confirmed. I doubt they'd risk libel if it was just conjecture.

All 3 athletes were also asked about it at the Rio post-race press conference and, instead of denying it, they batted the question away with, "Let's concentrate on today's performance" responses. See QT #3 about halfway down this report - http://www.letsrun.com/news/2016/08/...an-record-4th/

It's more or less confirmed when you do some digging out there through Google. I seem to remember an article showing that when the testosterone reduction procedure was still in place (when Semenya was running 2:00 times) Niyonsaba also dropped from 1:57 to 2:01 or something similar during the time it was introduced. And suddenly she has reappeared since the ban has been lifted. Wambui's is a little less confirmed/obvious although her physical appearance and voice suggest otherwise. There are articles stating she is intersex although I'm not sure what the "proof" is.

I do feel bad for Semenya, she gets all the heat and attention for this incident when there are two other women supposedly with the same condition as her who are also involved. I really hate when social issues conflict with sporting issues, it's not fair on anyone imo but it's a really difficult one to work around, for both sides of athletes.

I only got the Saturday and Sunday mornings of the first weekend so no medal events. It's a little disappointing but I will try to get some more when the main window opens.

Know we are gonna be talking miracles but would anyone happen to have a spare for London 2017 100m/200m final night and willing to swap for 4x100m relay final night

Despite reading about the record sales, I forgot I'd actually put myself in to the lottery free for all. It's been a long week...

I wasn't deemed worthy to see the anointed one run in the 100m final (again )... But I did get Sunday evening, so at least I can get to watch KJT lope slowly round in the 800m having failed miserably again in the heptathlon. There's also the chance to see Big Daf tie up just before the line and get silver, while Elaine wins gold in the 100m final. Just a wild prediction.

I also got Thursday evening, not quite sure why I booked that one, but I get to see the mens 200m final and will probably see Eilidh Doyle get spanked in the 400m hurdles final as well.

Here's a summary of tonight's activities in Berlin.

Laura Muir so close to denying Simpson a record 5th win in the Fifth Avenue Mile - 2nd in 4:18.4, one-tenth behind Simpson. Laura did pick up the $1,000 bonus for leading at half-way though. McColgan 12th, Leonard 14th.

O'Hare 6th in the men's race, Wightman 16th.

Bit late now, but Tom Walsh won the Diamond Race in style by producing a 22.20m AR to win the DL meet in Zürich; Ryan Crouser threw 22m dead in that comp.

Both competitors also participated in Zagreb's World Challenge meet a few days later, in which Crouser won with a 22.28m meeting record and Walsh added a centimetre to his own AR. Can't remember the last time someone threw 22m+ in three straight comps.

Gorge yourself on track and field tonight! As well as the Zagreb meeting (live from 5.20pm on Eversport.tv), there's the Rovereto meeting which also has a few Brits competing including Desiree Henry, some decent fields and a WR attempt by Genzebe in the Mile (Hassan is also in the race).

Watchathletics.com are promising a streaming link for Rovereto.
Entry lists here - http://www.fidal.it/risultati/2016/C...STBYEVENT1.htm

Bump for Brussels tomorrow night.

Here's a preview of the main DL battlegrounds

http://www.diamondleague.com/news/si...d-race-update/

And here's the timetable.

http://brussels.diamondleague.com/en...ults_brussels/

And here's the timetable for the Newcastle Great City Games on Saturday.

http://www.greatcitygames.org/newcastle

If Brussels Zaventam airport goes on strike, there'll just be schoolkids racing in Newcastle though.

Overjoyed that we managed to get tickets for 2 sessions, never seen Mo or Usain in the flesh before. I know its unlikely Usain is doing the 200m next year just keeping everything crossed his coach can talk him round! But would obviously love to see Adam win that one!


Thurs evening - 10 August to include


5000 metres W Round 1 

400 metres W Medal Ceremony 

800 metres W Round 1 

Triple jump M Final 

1500 metres M Round 1 

200 metres W Semi Final 

400 metres hurdles W Final 

200 metres M Final


Saturday Evening - 12 August - to include


200 metres W Medal Ceremony 

High jump W Final 

100 metres hurdles W Final 

Javelin throw M Final 

5000 metres M Final 

Decathlon - 1500 metres M 

100 metres hurdles W Medal Ceremony 

4 x 100 metres relay W Final 

5000 metres M Medal Ceremony 

4 x 100 metres relay M Final 

The Brussels women's shot was held last night in the Grand' Place, right in the centre of town. Michelle Carter won, but Val Adams took away the overall, as usual.

http://www.diamondleague.com/news/si...iamond-trophy/

Strange the article says it's Queen Val's 3rd overall win, Val says it's her 5th. Anyway back home for a New Zealand summer, it must be a hard life.

There's some ambiguity about all Val's doped rivals, I'm sure.

Too much sport, really have to think about giving up my job and living off cornflakes for the rest of my life. Here we go in Brussels.

Doesn't look good for Eilidh, only 5th....and she finishes second.

Bit late to the party tonight... Sadly, when I saw the line up for the women's 400 hurdles I thought Mrs. Doyle would be put firmly back in her place.

Seems to have been the case.

Forgot that the mascots in Brussels are Smurfs, pure class.

Desiree Henry gets 3rd in the 100m overall with only 12 points, nice little bonus for the winter there.

Phew. Elaine thumped the field there.

Initially, I thought we were in for something special there time wise, but on reflection the quality of the field did flatter her a tad.

Semenya goes in the 400m....wins it. Her beautician needs to do a bit of work on her sideburns, though. People will talk. Unless she's planning to put in some work as an Elvis impersonator over the winter though.

Seems only the Smurf wanted to shake hands with her.

not content with ruining the 800 now caster is setting her sights on the 400

I just knew she was in with a chance at 200m to go. That strength down the home straight.

If Caster devotes more time to the event, things could get even more amusing next year.

I didn't know the Smurfs were a Belgian export.

Next up - the men's 100mH. Don't think this post-Olympic meet will have a hurdles WR this time (remember Merritt's 12.80?!)

[Obviously meant 110mH!]