World Running Update: Bolt Wins Nationals, Berlin Loses Contenders
Believe it or not, other races went on outside of Eugene last weekend. Here’s what you may have missed.
With all the excitement around the USATF Outdoor Championships, some big news coming out of other parts of the world was overshadowed.
Bolt Wins Nationals
While Tyson Gay was running a 9.75w in windy Eugene, Ore., the current king of the 100m, Usain Bolt, ran the fastest wind-legal time of the year at the Jamaican Athletics Championships. Bolt’s time of 9.86 is .15 off his world record and it seems as though he may be slightly off his game. The world’s fastest man admitted to the Telegraph, “I’m a little bit tired because I am not really in the best shape of my life, but I’m okay.” No matter his fitness now, there is no doubt he will be ready for his showdown with Gay in Berlin at the World Championships.
For More: Usain Bolt laments lack of fitness ahead of World Championships
Contenders Bow Out Of World Championships
In Eugene we learned of multiple injuries that would keep contenders out of the World Championships including Olympic medalists Hyleas Fountain (heptathlon), Bryan Clay (decathlon) and David Oliver (110m hurdles). Chinese fans are still waiting to hear good news from 2004 Olympic 110m hurdle champion Liu Xiang. The AP reports he is officially out of the world championships, where he is defending champion, and is only beginning light workouts. For More: Coach: Liu Xiang’s return from foot injury on hold
British marathoner Mara Yamauchi will also miss the world championships, dashing the hopes of two medalists for the Brits in Berlin. After her stellar performance of 2:23:12 in London in April, it was conceivable that Mara might contend for a medal with world record holder and countrywoman Paula Radcliffe. As with Liu, Mara will miss Berlin due to a foot injury. For More: GB marathon runner Mara Yamauchi out of World Championships with foot injury
Paula Radcliffe may be one step closer to her world champinship with the news that Catherine Ndereba will be watching the race with Yamauchi. The defending world champion is afraid that she will not be in top form for Berlin and has decided to forgo the race. For More: World champion Ndereba won’t race in Berlin
Bislett Games To Host Major 5000m Showdown
The next stop on the ÅF Golden League is Oslo for the Bislett Games and a matchup for the ages is taking shape. Ethiopian record breaking machines Triunesh Dibaba (World Record 14:11.15) and Mereret Defar (#2 all-time 14:12.88) are ready to square off in the women’s 5000m. Also lined up for the race is the number three all-time performer, behind the Ethiopian duo, Kenyan Vivian Cheruiyot (14:22.51) and 10,000m African record holder Meselech Melkamu of Ethiopia, who recently lowered her 5000m PR to 14:33.83. Look for a serious assault on the world record and multiple PR/national records set. For More: Dibaba and Defar to duel over 5000m on their World record track in Bislett