Kirani James becomes the man David Rudisha is the boss

Today is a day off from the championships, giving a chance to catch up with last night’s action and preview the finals tomorrow night.

Thankfully there were no controversies last nights, there have already been enough talking points about classifies as interference and the one false start rule which has taken away from performances on the track rightly or wrongly.

The 400m hurdles kicked off the evening action and we aren’t any closer to a clear favourite in either race. Demus was very impressive in her semi final, but that’s not the race where to peak and has shown that she can crack under pressure. The Jamaican duo Walker and Spencer have championship pedigree didn’t perform to well, but they made the final and strange things happen in finals. Hejnová was very comfortable in her run and is a medal chance, not sure she can win it.

Superman Felix Sanchez just keeps on going ran an excellent race to make final. Kudos to the longevity of his career and one of the best ever at this event. Picking a winner in this will be difficult Angelo Taylor double Olympic champion is always thereabouts but never won a world title. Two South Africans in the field while LJ van Zyl is the more credentialed athlete can see him making mistakes in the final. Culson has big chances to win as well, it’s always good when someone from a smaller nation wins a gold medal.


Fabiana Murer

Fabiana Murer triumphed in the women’s pole vault which in general isn’t a bad event when it comes to eye candy. The one thing that is impressive in this newer event is that technically the ladies are good, it’s going to take time for that side to develop but the ladies are very good especially to the female steeplechasers more on that event later.

Murer was the best in 2010 but there were doubts as Isinbayeva had taken the year off and there weren’t major global titles for her to show her skills. The Russian ice maiden crashed at 4.75 and 4.80 to finish 6th, it’s too early to write her off as finished as the dominant pole vaulter it just makes London more interesting. Anna Rogowska wasn’t in form to defend her title, it’s good when there are more winners around. Svetlana Feofanova the very consistent Russian managed to get another medal, technically very sound but just lacks a little speed to go higher.



Yulia Zaripova

Yulia Zaripova was outstanding in her win at 3000m steeplechase. She took it out from the front which personally takes a lot of courage and better when it comes off. It’s always amazing that when there are athletes (not in this case) in the distance races they know they don’t have the finishing kick yet they won’t take it out or in the middle of the race break up the rhythm. Chewya was undefeated all season but with Zaripova taking it out at a fast pace to run the legs off the Kenyans, which worked a treat. As in all hurdling events the barriers are lower for the ladies, but the African women for their talent have absolutely rubbish hurdling techniques which would make things easier, they should learn from their brothers, even the worst one has better technique than the best African woman. Zaripova was hurdling with efficiency especially in the water jump which meant she was able to keep running at that rhythm for the race.

David Rudisha continued his dominance of the 800m and ran a brilliant tactical race. He made up for the mistake in Berlin where he failed to make the final. Usually Kaki goes out very hard, but he didn’t do it this time and Rudisha controlled the race the whole way. Went through in 51.33 had to save some energy with Borzakovskiy who has a big finishing kick and Kaki lurking. In the last 100m just had a look at them moved easily away winning 0.5 sec, Rudisha was the father owning the field who were like little children.


David Rudisha

Highlight of the night on a personal level was Kirani James winning the 400m in 44.60 as was predicted in this blog (link). There should be a public holiday in Grenada as it’s the first ever gold medal for the island. James turns 19 tomorrow he ran a brilliant tactical race, knew exactly how he wanted to run and executed the plan perfectly. Merritt was the class of the field, but he needed some more of the penis enlargement stuff as he ran 44.63. It was the lack of racing that didn’t help Merritt at all, can do all the physical preparation in the world, but match racing is what counts.

Hopefully Kirani James has partied hard celebrating his gold medal as he should, paid his respects to childhood coach and Alleyne Francique who paved the way for 400m runners in Grenada. It’s important for James to have the right people around him to keep him grounded so he can maximise the huge potential he possesses.