Spikes28 Aug 2015


Beijing Wrap VII

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Beijing Day 7

In what has become a theme of events in Beijing, Day 7 of the World Championships once again produced a host of scintillating performances and no shortage of drama. Here is our take on another outstanding day of athletics in the Bird’s Nest Stadium.

March of the Volunteers

 
Hong Liu 

An army of orange t-shirt-wearing friendly youngsters (and the odd oldster) have helped these championships to run as smooth as Christian Taylor's winning triple jump, but today’s first item is not about them.

China won their first gold medal when Hong Liu pipped Xiuzhi Lu to take the win in the women’s 20km race walk first thing this morning. It ensured a rapturous start to events in the Bird’s Nest, which was just what we needed to blow the cobwebs out. It meant we could enjoy a first round of the Chinese national anthem – title: March of the Volunteers – later on in the day when the medals were doled out.

Das fashion

 
Rico Freimuth

Germans have never been known for their style, and Rico Freimuth isn’t doing much to take down the stereotype. The old half-in-half-out might look like a horror show, but at least it didn’t translate in the decathlete’s performance. His 15.50m throw was the best of all the superhumans in the shot put. Can’t argue with results.

Ashton you beauty

 
Ashton Eaton

Another decathlete, another interesting clothing choice; but you really can’t argue with results when it comes to Ashton Eaton.

The world record holding world and Olympic champion started his title defence in fine style with a world championship best in the 100m (10.23) and the fastest 400m time ever run by a decathlete (45.00), which he celebrated in suitably enthusiastic style.

Whisper it, but after five events he is on course for the world record.

Hurdle horror

 
100m Hurdles

More horror shows in the women’s hurdles. Not in the fashion department this time, but in the US camp.

They had four high quality athletes in the 100m hurdles semis, all medal hopefuls. Dawn Harper Nelson (2008 Olympic champion) crashed out and Kendra Harrison (NCAA champion) false started, leaving two in the final. When there, Sharika Nelvis (world leader) never got going while Brianna Rollins (defending world champion) was run out of a medal on the line. That none of them finished on the podium could well go down as the shock of the championships.

None of that will matter to Danielle Williams. The Jamaican kept her head while all around her were losing theirs to take the gold for Jamaica.

Dafne fantastico

 
Dafne Schippers

You can't call Dafne Schippers’ 200m win a shock. You can call it jaw dropping.

The 100m silver medallist looked so, so strong through the rounds and in the final she moved it up another gear. She stopped the clock in 21.63 – a championship record that makes the sometime multi-eventer the third fastest in history over the half-lap distance. Simply incredible.

The Special One

 
Aries Merritt

Also incredible is Aries Merritt. The 110m hurdles world record holder won bronze in a season’s best 13.04, two years on from being told he had kidney disease and might never run again.

On Tuesday he will undergo a kidney transplant back home in America. We would like to send our respect, thoughts and love to a genuinely special person.