Kenya dominates, bye bye Steve Hooker and Geronimo Goeloe World Champs Day 1 Review

First day of the World Champs in Daegu were notable for two things. One, the failure of World and Olympic champion pole vaulter and all round good guy Steve Hooker not qualifying for the final. He did the equivalent of missing all penalties in a penalty shootout missing all heights at 5.50m.

It has been an injury plagued year for the “Ginger Ninja” has only recently been back in competition lacking competitive toughness, also he has changed the poles that he is using in order to attempt to break Serhii Bubka’s long standing world record. The new poles are less flexible and need time to adjust, this didn’t help Hooker. As befitting his reputation he handled the exit with class and didn’t whine, cry, bitch and moan making excuses ''There's no excuses for what happened today. Three run-throughs at 5.50 at world championships is just not on”.


Steve Hooker in better times

This negative experience will make him stronger and barring injuries he will be a contender for London. As captain of the Australian team, he will stick around the championships in this role.

In contrast to the poor form from Hooker. It was Kenya day especially women, taking gold, silver and bronze in the marathon with Kiplagat winning. They went even better in the 10 000m taking the first four places, over the years the Kenyan women have been beaten by the Ethiopians Defar, Dibaba and Tulu. This time Cheruiyot was able to get the title in a typical championship race which started out very cagey, then the Kenyans wound it up in the last few laps to take the kick out of Melkamu who couldn’t respond in the final lap and was done in the back straight. Kipyego hung on until the last 100m but Cheruiyot won in style.



Vivian Jepkemoi Cheruiyot after winning the 10000m

Heats of the 100m began today. The field before has been weakened by the loss of Tyson Gay and Asafa Powell to injury, both were considered threats to Usain Bolt in the event where he is vulnerable. It’s disappointing when the best athletes can’t make it to the major champs, though with Asafa Powell he never brings his best to finals. So many times he had fastest time of the year, but wore the pink dress when it came to the finals. Not sure how much time he has to write that wrong and if he does, then there will be no problem acknowledging the achievement.

In the morning session tomorrow before the big boys of the 100m dominate the evening one of the most anticipated races of the championships are the heats of the 110m hurdles. There are three big names in this Dayron Robles (aka Nerrrrrrrrrrrrrd Power) with the glasses who transforms into the super smooth and technically outstanding hurdler, world record holder and Olympic Champ. David Olivier the massive unit with plenty of strength and power, the third member of trio is Xiang Liu who came back strongly this year. All they'll be wanting to do is not make a mistake and get through the rounds, if they all make it through to the final. Robles is taking the gold.

There were no major surprises in the rounds all the usual suspects got through without any problems which is all they need to. They will need to bring it for the semi finals tomorrow, then the final. Sure, there were no major surprises, but there was a major disappointment in that the wonderfully named Geronimo Goeloe from Aruba didn’t make the semis. It doesn’t matter with a name like that he is the true star of the championships.



Geronimo Goeloe the Legend


Predictions for the final before the championships it was Bolt to win from his training partner Yohan Blake for 2nd as for 3rd it’s very open and would love another Caribbean athlete to take that spot. Richard Thompson broke the Trinidad record of the legendary Ato Boldon, he will need that form to finish 2nd in Bolt’s semi final.
Blake is favourite for the 1st semi, will go with Bledman or Bailey to take the automatic. In semi 2 Thompson to finish behind Bolt with Frater getting 3rd, in the last semi Nesta Carter, the second spot is very open.

The perfect 100m final would be every athlete from the Caribbean, well as they say dreams are free