Weekend Action

First topic message reminder :

Samson Oni cleared 2:31 in mens HJ.

Asha Philips ran 60m in 7.24, beating Jodie Williams twice in the process.

More details on Athletics Weekly or Athletics Stargate forums.

Heres hoping its confirmed as correct, DC seemed to have been threatining a big sub 10 run for a few seasons now, would be great if he final achieved it!

Thanks fopr the regular updates guys...

I do believe that Chambers had clocked a 9.99 a couple of years back...9.97 at 34 would indeed be remarkable, and better than I would've expected...

And Rutherford too - he's doign very well...

This home-games-Olympic-year thing seems to be raising the bar...

It is now or never I suspect for many...including also for Mo farah, Idowu, some of the 800m girls etc etc

From yesterday's Jamaica's International Invitation;

Tiffany Ofilli-Porter; 100H 3rd - 12.65s

Christine Ohorugu; 400m 3rd - 50.93s

Well done to both. Tiffany continuing her great form and progress from last year. But specifically, extremely well done to Christine...50.93 is a fantastic time, and at this stage of the season, is remarkable - and some way ahead of the next British athletes [ Nicola Saunders 52.63 outdoors - Shana Cox Indoors 52.13s ]. This, for me, is the breakthrough in terms of her come back...fingers crossed she remains injury-free...

Should add;

Bolt wins in the 100m out there in 9.82s [ +1.8 m/s ]
Yohan Blake takes the 200m event in 19.91s
Jeter wins in the womens 100m in 10.81s

SJ

Things now getting interesting at the Multistars event in Desenzano, Italy. Performances affected yesterday by a thunderstorm.

John Lane had a great first day, and Ashley Bryant still in the mix in the decathlon. Both battling for a possible B qualification for London.

Katarina Johnson-Thompson doing very well in the heptathlon with several PBs and a chance for an A qualification for London 2012.

Strawberry Jam wrote:From yesterday's Jamaica's International Invitation;

Tiffany Ofilli-Porter; 100H 3rd - 12.65s

Christine Ohorugu; 400m 3rd - 50.93s

Well done to both. Tiffany continuing her great form and progress from last year. But specifically, extremely well done to Christine...50.93 is a fantastic time, and at this stage of the season, is remarkable - and some way ahead of the next British athletes [ Nicola Saunders 52.63 outdoors - Shana Cox Indoors 52.13s ]. This, for me, is the breakthrough in terms of her come back...fingers crossed she remains injury-free...

Should add;

Bolt wins in the 100m out there in 9.82s [ +1.8 m/s ]
Yohan Blake takes the 200m event in 19.91s
Jeter wins in the womens 100m in 10.81s

SJ

Great to see Christine back in form. Great early season run by Tiffany as well.

I think both can improve significantly as the season starts to pick-up pace.

Great to see Christine back in form. Great early season run by Tiffany as well.

I think both can improve significantly as the season starts to pick-up pace.

Agree. Feel if Tiffany can get into the Olympic final, she can go low 12.4s - which is the minimum standard that would be required for a bronze...[ i.e. weather permitting, final will be won in c.12.2s - 2nd perhaps in the 12.3s etc ]

Ohorugu's 50.93 is an awesome return to form. Yes - she has her work cut out regarding her retaining her title - very, very, very unlikely - but at this point, she'll be looking to make sure she get's herself into fitness and form so she has at least a chance of her defneding her title by getting into the final...would be a travesty if she wasn't in that final...

Lot's to discuss, debate and look forward to over the course of the next few weeks and months..

The 400m at the Jamaica Interntional Invitation in which Ohorugu features;

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XoqWOYdS2UQ&feature=relmfu

Jessica Judd 2.02.5 - Solo effort also.

djlovesyou wrote:Jessica Judd 2.02.5 - Solo effort also.

What a talent at (I believe) still only 17.

Also Jack Green 46.05 and 13.52 hdls heat win by Pozzi into the wind.

We are really blessed with tremendous young talent.

teassoc wrote:Things now getting interesting at the Multistars event in Desenzano, Italy. Performances affected yesterday by a thunderstorm.

John Lane had a great first day, and Ashley Bryant still in the mix in the decathlon. Both battling for a possible B qualification for London.

Katarina Johnson-Thompson doing very well in the heptathlon with several PBs and a chance for an A qualification for London 2012.

KJT broke Jess Ennis's UK U20 Rec by 97pts with an Olympic B of 6007. Bad conditions apparently so she's going to try again for the A standard somewhere else soon.

None of the men got close to Olympic qualification.

Is jack green the 400 hurdler? Also any confirmation on the chambers time?

djlovesyou wrote:Jessica Judd 2.02.5 - Solo effort also.

What a talent at (I believe) still only 17.

2:02.50 and still only 17?! Blooming heck - that's talent...

lfc91 wrote:Is jack green the 400 hurdler? Also any confirmation on the chambers time?

Yes, that Jack Green.

No confirmation on Chambers time. Seems to be a false report.

Pozzi has just run 13:35 in unfavorable conditions. That's the sixth fastest of all time for UK runners.

Thats incredible! Knew he was talented but thought this might have been a season to early for him. Thanks for all the info teassoc, and everyone else.:-).

Should also have mentioned Lawrence Clark who ran 13.5 yesterday. With Andy Turner running 13.52 in Jamaica on Saturday we now have 4 qualifiers at the A standard in this event.

that's great to see from Pozzi. I was impressed with his indoor form, and he seems to be carrying on where he left off. Superb talent, 13.3s is around the sort of time that will get you in contention for an Olympic final, so to be running those times this early is excellent news.

Thanks for the updates guys...

Have to admit, until mroe recent times, hadnt; muich of Pozzi. Like others though, had seen in the 2012 indoor season - and was much impressed. I think very shortly Pozzi will become the dominant sprint in British athletics.

His chief rival, Andy Turner, has been steadily improving in recent years. He's been working hard to be able to compete yo there with the best. And has the definitie potential to go sub13.2 - but have seen what I believe to be him struggling with confidence when he's been drawn in lanes alongside the best out there. To go sub13.2, he has to be able to handle that kind of pressure. But I could be that I'm being too harsh on Turner...

Just seems that Pozzi might be less prone to buckling under pressure...

But of course, still early days in the season and in terms of Pozzi's career. [ still only 19! ]..

Anyway, good luck to 'em both

We have three events this weekend;

Samsung Diamond League - Shanghai
http://www.diamondleague.com/en/Event-Calendar/
19th may

BUPA Great City Games, Manchester, England.
http://www.greatcitygames.org/
19th May

IAAF World Challenge Meetings: Grande Premio Brasil Caixa de Atletismo, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.
http://www.iaaf.org/mini/iwc12/Results/Calendar.aspx
20th May

[ Note: having checked, not sure all the details I've posted here are correct LOL ]

Whilst watching the Shanghai Daimond League [ BBC Sport Live Stream ], whilst commentating on the 5000m there, he mentions that last night [ Friday 18th May ], in the US, Mo Farah ran 1500m and 5000m races in one night....

For the 1500 - Mo ran a very credible 3:34mins

And then went on to run 13:12 for the 5000m

Would be quite remarkable if he has...[ no formal confirmation as yet ]...

Remarkable performance indeed for Mo
(I heard the same on Eurosport)

Pity it was so wet in Shanghai. Rather spoiled some events.

Idowu had a handy series in the conditions to win the TJ.

Remarkable performance indeed for Mo Shocked
(I heard the same on Eurosport)

Pity it was so wet in Shanghai. Rather spoiled some events.

Idowu had a handy series in the conditions to win the TJ.

Weather in Shanghai atrocious. It's a brave man prepared to run at pelt, trying to hit the board in the triple jump in those conditions, in my view. But yes - well done to Idowu, really good serious of jumps and showed his class and form. Performance of the day though, Liu Xinag in 110m hurdles - could've been very, very clsoe to a world record on another day with much better conditions...

Agreed , SJ.

Was a super run from Liu. Maybe he will get the Gold that seemed to be his to take four years ago , this year in London?

Watched the Mo Farah 5000. He was only in the race to pace Ritzenhein to a A-Standard, but he got so far and decided to carry on.

He won both races incidently.

Also, in Halle today. Lawrence Okoye 68.24 NR in the discus. Great throwing.

Watched the Mo Farah 5000. He was only in the race to pace Ritzenhein to a A-Standard, but he got so far and decided to carry on.

He won both races incidently.

Also, in Halle today. Lawrence Okoye 68.24 NR in the discus. Great throwing.

From the Manchester City games;

Mens 110 hurdles; Andy Turner struggled. He has the talent. He is close. He's developed such that he's able to keep up with the best for the first 3 - 5 hurdles - after which it's a battles of nerves as the hurdlers put pressure on each other. Here, it's the battle of minds - can Turner develop the mental strength to hold out?! If he can, then there's a c.13.15 sec run waiting for him perhaps....

Womens 100m. Joyce Maduaka; 11.68 at the age of 38, in cold [ though surprising not raining ], Manchester - not bad. However, fourth in a four person race.

Mens 100m; good run from Malcolm. Not great conditions so can;t tell much from the performance. Beating MLF would've been useful - beating Vicaut even more handy.

Women's 100m Hurdles; Jess Ennis - well done! 12.75 into a -0.7m headwind!! Would've been even better if they'd included the last hurdle. Shame.

Mens 200m - James Ellington...ok...

Men 200m Hurdles; better performance here from Andy Turner - 22.54. [ did they say he ran it in 22.10 in the same event last year?! ]. He has the flat speed. He has a solid hurdling technique. But it's all about the pressure and how you handle it in competition circumstances.

Women's 150m; Montell Douglas - not sure; she's never lived up to her British Record, which in turn seems more and more an anomoly...[ Brit Record was under a +2.0m tailwind ].

Mens 150m; Dwain started well - but was always going to struggle over the 150m. Difficult to tell where he is in his trainng right now [ though feel that he's still probably in some heavy training given the wait for the decision ]. God run from Devonish. Naturally, also a good run from Spearman...

Great idea the Manchester Games - but they're never, ever going to get good weather!

Not a bad run by DC, spearmon was always going to win though! Like that format, quite good for athletics.

Some other great performances at the weekend;

Mens Discus; Lawrence Okoye with a new British Record of 68.24! [ Awesome indeed ]

Womens 200m; Abi Oyepitan with a windy 22.57 [ +2.1 ]
She also ran 11.37 for the 100m [ and a windy 11.21 at the same meet ].

Regarding Abi's 200m time - it was only 0.1metre per sec over the allowable limit. Only she herself and Kathy Cook, who remains the British record holder, have run faster. Another one to watch for the 200m [ and 100m too ] is Jodie Williams. Phenomenal talent. Average start to the season. Let's see if she can get it going.

Finally, again regarding 200m; Emily Freeman - anyone know of what's happened with her?! She had to two great seasons [ 2008 and 2009 ] and then was injured. No times posted on Powerof10.info. Both Emily and Abi fit, along with Jodie, would mean our best women's 200m line up in some time...

Strawberry Jam wrote:Some other great performances at the weekend;

Mens Discus; Lawrence Okoye with a new British Record of 68.24! [ Awesome indeed ]

...

That was against a world class field similar to the sort of standards he'll be facing in London. The other discuss guys are under-performing.

Ostarava 51st Golden Spike Event

Mens 100m;

Bolt wins in 10. 04 [ terrible Start and into a headwind ].

Chambers 5th in 10.28. He got possibly an even worse start than Bolt! That's saying something LOL. But interestingly for me, he was coming back at the other athletes towards the end [ not including Bolt of course ]. In the previous seasons, he would lose gorund at the end, after a good start. He's now clearly working on the 100m stratgey rather than eggs in the 60m basket. Anyway, analysing his perfromance at Ostrava - bad start, headwind and likely tailoring his training around certain key events - so alot of positives for me with regards Chambers.

Men's 110m hurdles; Dexter Faulk wins in 13.13. Veyr good run form Pozzi 13.36 [ just outside his PB! ] - think he's possibly already emerged as the British number 1. Turner even behind Lawrence Clarke [ leaving him 3rd amonghst Britsin that race ]. Pozzi will go under 13.3 this season, easily. May be even sub13.2. That would be world class.

Women's 100m hurdles; Tiffany porter a very good 12.65. She'll be in there fighting for a medal in London [ Silver / Bronze?! - Gold looks like its Pearsons - could take WR ].

Women's 400m; Sanya Richards-Ross 50.65. An excellent 2nd for Ohorugu in 51.19. Conditions didn't look good. So that comparable to her 50.93 a few weeks back. This is good form in my books - looking forward to seeing how she progresses.

Men's 3000m; Andy Baddely 3rd in PB of 7:39.86. [ Winner Isiah Kiplangat Koech (KEN) 7:37.14 ]. Very good performance actually. Seems to raising his game this season...

Women's 400m hurdles; Peri Shakes-Drayton 3rd in 55.82 - some way of the Bulgarian winner, but I'm sure a lot more to come...

Men's Pole vault; Steve Lewis in 3rd with 5.72. Good performance. Equals his best outdoors this season.

Women's 800m; 5th in Okoro 2:01.70. Jelimo well ahead in 1:58.49 - over 2 secs ahead of 2nd placed Semanya [ 2:00.80 ].

Lots of food for thought, with the season building nicely

Good summary SJ. Just finished watching it as a recording.

I did however get the feeling there was a degree of shadow boxing. I thought this particularly true of Ohurugu who was probably quite happy finishing behind Richards.

Not sure about Pozzi. The olympics are coming a little early for him. He probably has a 13.2 something in him this year but not yet quick enough to challenge for a medal. A small improvement for Clarke. Turner doesn't look good at the moment.

Good run by Osagie. On another day he may actually beat the Pole.

Good run also by Badley. An over-distance run for him with a very encouraging late run for the line.

Better pace judgement by Okoro.

Good also see Steve Lewis attempting 5:83 which could get him amongst the medals.

Cannot disagree with anything there teassoc! Also, I neglected to mention Osagie in the 800m as well...I really like his determination

Ennis had a good day in Gotzis. Only the HJ where she let herself down a bit. Seemed be a technical issue as she was clearing the bar quite well but knocking the bar off (at 1:89) with her ankles.

She needs a good LJ to start tomorrow, and of course a reasonable JT to keep the lead. Could be a very tight finish though if Chernova performs well.

teassoc wrote:Ennis had a good day in Gotzis. Only the HJ where she let herself down a bit. Seemed be a technical issue as she was clearing the bar quite well but knocking the bar off (at 1:89) with her ankles.

She needs a good LJ to start tomorrow, and of course a reasonable JT to keep the lead. Could be a very tight finish though if Chernova performs well.

Thanks for posting. Did get the back end of the day's performances. Good stuff over the hurdles - I think 12.81 Didn't get a chance to see Ennis in the high jump. If at the Olympics she can get close to her PB, then would help her build a more substantial position to take into Day 2.

Didnl't get to see the Shot either - but a 14.51 is very good [ near her best ], and she'd be happy with that at the Olympics. Ennis finished the day with a scintiliating 22.88 in the 200m. This I did get to see. An excellent PB! And places her - a multi-eventer - at No.1 in the UK [ 2012 ] for 200m outright [ according to legal times ]. Very few British women have ever gone faster.

Ennis's flat speed is phenomenal. Which is why I'm always surprised by her long jump. Her flat speed should get her 6.65m and more. We know she can jump - she's a 1.95m high jumper [ joint British high jump record holder! ]. Her flat speed coupled with her jumping ability would seem on paper to give her the potential to do something special over Long Jump. May be one day she'll perfect a LJ technique that'll see her further beat down the opposition.

Thought I'd list Ennis' PB's;

100mh 12.79 secs
High jump 1.95 m
Shot put 14.67 m
200m 22.88
Long jump 6.51 m
Javelin 46.71 m
800 metres 2:07.81

According to her PB' s and her 'regular performances, she would be able to complete for Greeat Brtiain over a number of events [ 200m 100mh; High Jump; even the Long Jump; ]. In terms of what is needed at global level standards, in order to take Worlds and Olymmpic titles, the events that Ennis might particularly worry Ennis are the Long Jump and the Javelin. Also, if she's not having a great day, then the High Jump too [ this is hardest to predict and hardest event of all in Multi-eventing ]. According to her PB's - she could and should be more confident of her chances if she is able to get close to each one of them over the two days.

Looking at her PB's and her performances already this weekend, she is a phenomenal athlete. Nothing but gold at the Olympics wil be good enough for her - by her own standards and expectations. We will see a defining set of performances from Ennis at London, I believe!

Good luck to her

Jess Ennis has just equalled per PB in the Long Jump!!!

That's an excellent start to the day. Opened with a 6.23, Then no-jumped. But 6.51 on her third attempt [ not sure about wind ]. Superb! The Long Jump is a really awkward event. Theoretically, you run as hard as you can and then jump - but quite obviously, a great deal more to it than that; you can end up trying too hard and not get it right at all...

Now just the Javelin to navigate...[ Ennis's 800m is fantastic ]...

Super start to the day and helps consolidate her position. That jump ensures that the UK record is under real threat!

Strawberry Jam wrote:Jess Ennis has just equalled per PB in the Long Jump!!!

That's an excellent start to the day. Opened with a 6.23, Then no-jumped. But 6.51 on her third attempt [ not sure about wind ]. Superb! The Long Jump is a really awkward event. Theoretically, you run as hard as you can and then jump - but quite obviously, a great deal more to it than that; you can end up trying too hard and not get it right at all...

Now just the Javelin to navigate...[ Ennis's 800m is fantastic ]...

Super start to the day and helps consolidate her position. That jump ensures that the UK record is under real threat!

Thanks SJ. Apparently the second jump was huge!

She is now about the same position she was in in Daegu re Chernova. A good throw by Jessica would virtually seal it although Chernova is also good at the 800m.

You have to feel really sorry for Dobrynska right now. Must have been a huge loss. Hope she does well in London.

On another note men are battling for olympic B qualifications in the decathlon. Both Bryant and Awde are doing well and still in with a good chance to make it.

Big meeting this evening in Hengelo starting around 5pm UK time.

Thanks SJ. Apparently the second jump was huge!

Great that she's beginning to attack the Long Jump. In past years, she's sometimes not done so great in the Long Jump - indeed, High Jump too [ by her own standards ]. But none of the jumps are easy.

At this level, when you're a genuine contender for a global title, you can't afford to have a weak event - as we have seen in the past with so many heptathletes, including, sadly, Ennis and Sotherton...

What is the likelihood of a number of PB's over individul events in London?!

Conditions permitting of course - my thoughts are;

100mh [ Real Possibility - 12.72s?! ]
200m [ 22.75s?! ]
Long Jump [ 6.63m?! ]
Javelin [ 48.50m?! ]
800m [ 2:06.50?! ]
Shot [ Dare 1 say it?! 15m?! ]

High Jump [ Highly Unlikely a PB - but 1.92?! ]

Score: 7160

[ Score calculation via the below website - though not sure how reliable the site and calculator are - so take with a slight pinch of salt - no offence intended to Cheshire County Athletic Association either ]

http://cheshireaa.com/statistics/CEscoring.htm

We can only Dream

More seriously, I do believe that Ennis has a chance of PB's in a number of events, if the conditions aren't prohibitive. She is showing a great deal strength and character at the moment - a level of application and maturity beyond her years; and crucially, she is approaching a peak in terms of age and conditioning - and add some experience and you got quite an awesome athlete!

Hope I haven't given Ennis the Kiss of Death

Excellent !

So barring a jav disaster ... No I won't tempt fate

Just hope she can nail the LJ again in London.

I don't know if anyone saw her interview after the Javelin? Anyway she acknowledged that the UK record was a possibility for today. So far she is on course to beat it.

Javelin on now BTW.

As a comparison - I thought I'd post Denise Lewis' PB's alonsgide Jessica Ennis's - Denise Lewis;

100 m hurdles - 13.13 [ Ennis - 12.79 ]
200 m - 24.10 [ [ Ennis - 22.88 ]
800 m - 2 min 12.20 [ Ennis 2:07.81
High jump - 1.87 m [ Ennis 1.95m ]
Long jump - 6.69 m [ Ennis 6.51 m ]
Shot put - 16.12 m [ Ennis 14.67 m ]
Javelin - 51.48 m [ Ennis 46.71 m ]

teassoc wrote:I don't know if anyone saw her interview after the Javelin? Anyway she acknowledged that the UK record was a possibility for today. So far she is on course to beat it.

Javelin on now BTW.

She's having a solid javelin! In the effort to close in on UK record, at this stage of the comp, case of how she would do over the Javelin, as the 800m is a very strong event for her...

What score could she finish on?! 6950?!

Come on Jess

Probably not 6950 today - Ennis would need to run 2:06 for the 800m...

Heptathlon; 2:09.4 or better in the 800m gets Ennis 6, 900 of better

Incidentally, if Ennis had jumped a 1.91m high jump, and was to run the 800m better than 2:08mins - then she'd have beaten 7, 000pts

Yes - I am sad and a geek

Save the 7000 for London

Reckon she will be happy with what she's done this weekend.

When is the 800 ?

alfie wrote:Save the 7000 for London

Reckon she will be happy with what she's done this weekend.

When is the 800 ?

800m has just happened. Ennis finished 2nd in the 800m [ behind Chernova - by a few hundredths] in 2:09.00 - giving her a grand total of 6906 points - a new British Record!

Well done Jess

Thanks for that update SJ.

Make that very happy with her weekend's work !

How many points behind was Chernova ? Going to be a terrific competition in London ...

alfie wrote:Thanks for that update SJ.

Make that very happy with her weekend's work !

How many points behind was Chernova ? Going to be a terrific competition in London ...

There was a ttoal of 132 points gap between Chernova and Ennis...

Soon after the closing 800m event, Ennis was interviewed, where she stated that it would take a big score to take the Olympic title - implying bigger than her just set mark of 6906. There are some great heptathletes coming through - it won't be a two-horse race; Ennis, Chernova, Schippers, Dobrynska etc etc - making it a very tough event, tougher than it's been possibly for some years!

SJ, I agree she'll now be looking to beat 7000. Could do it with slightly better performances in the LJ, SP and 800, and a 1.90 HJ.

In Hengelo some good performances already:

Ross Murray 3:34.76 PB 9th in 1500m ('A' standard for London)
Pozzi 13:39 2nd in 110hm
Hannah England winning the 1,500 in 4:04.05
Laura Weightman behind Hannah in 4:04.88 ('A' standard for London
Rooney 44:97 2nd in 400m

Disappointing run by Rimmer though.

teassoc wrote:SJ, I agree she'll now be looking to beat 7000. Could do it with slightly better performances in the LJ, SP and 800, and a 1.90 HJ.

In Hengelo some good performances already:

Ross Murray 3:34.76 PB 9th in 1500m ('A' standard for London)
Pozzi 13:39 2nd in 110hm
Hannah England winning the 1,500 in 4:04.05
Laura Weightman behind Hannah in 4:04.88 ('A' standard for London
Rooney 44:97 2nd in 400m

Disappointing run by Rimmer though.

Thanks for posting teassoc. Some great performances there

Regarding Ennis and Heptathlon - absolutely agree she will be looking to better 7, 000; but I wonder if the Olympic winning mark will be nearer to 7, 100 than 7, 000?! The event is tougher than it's been in years, with some very, very capable athletes - whoever wins it, will have deserved title of Olympic champion

[ Note: do all excuse my over-enthusiasm! Do get ahead of myself sometimes ]