IAAF World Champs Day 1- WOW!
What a day in itself at Day 1 of World Champs. I took in the evening
session and look forward to the next nine days even more. My bags
arrived a date late, about 5:30. I quickly changed clothes, threw
several jackets into my pack and walked the 15 minutes to the stadium.
The Stadium:
Intimate setting. It seats around 40,000, so not
overwhelming large. Unlike some stadiums (including Atlanta in 1996),
the stands are right on the track. The bleachers are wooden. It's an
old stadium as you walk underneath it, it's kind of a throw back to
something from the 60's.
Nelson finally wins gold!
I'm moving to Finland after this meet! They make the meet. Loud, flag waving, appreciative, fun loving. Today was field event central with discus qualifying, shot final, and high jump qualifying. Anytime a Finnish athlete came up, loud, loud rhythmic clapping and artificial noisemakes, to a feverish pitch and loud roars on made or good attemps. Finnish flags everywhere. Unfortunately, the Finnish athletes didn't fare well. They understand and appreciate the field events. There was loud applause for an interview with former Finish javelin thrower Seppo Ratte that was on the board. I am sorry that I could not find a ticket for Wednesday, which has been sold out for a year. The javelin final is that night and that event is the event of the Finns.
They appreciate track and field though. All good races and performers were greeted with the same rhythmic clapping and cheering. I can't tell you how loud it gets at times- LOUD! Music is played during all dead time. We did five minutes of the wave during the 10,000.
After the final event, there was 45 minutes or so before they did the parade of athletes. It was cold, around 55 degrees and raining. No one left, they just waited without batting an eye.
The Events:
Shot Put: Adam Nelson put it away early and won the crowd over with his usual walk of pysch that he does. I was sitting near several 60 year old Finnish gentlemen, who just got the biggest kick out of his whole deal. The fans really got behind Nelson and again were appreciative of a great competition.
Ethiopians dominate the 10k
Race Walk: Not a big walk fan, but impressed by how fast those guys can move.
High Jump: Berquist looks really good, clearing bars with great distance. Two Americans in- Howard and Acuff.
Discus: The usual characters made it through the qualifying rounds, Waltz and Rome made it too.
100m quarterfinal: Windy, very windy.
1500m: Webb was in first heat, led the first three laps in a hard, hard pace. His heat was by far, the fastest group of the day. All three Americans made it through. Lukezic has some serious wheels.
Heptathlon: Only saw the 200m, but watched most of it on Eurosport. A nice little battle between Kluft and Barber. Kluft had a pr in the shot today. Fun to watch her, she has so much energy and excitement. She went crazy after her pr throw, just jumping around and screaming before it was even measured.
Tomorrow the heptathlon finishes up, discus final, 100 meter final and women's triple jump final.
