So, we’re coming up for day 7 of the World Athletics Champs in Eugene in the USA, and what a Champs it has turned out to be. I’ve seen various colleagues, friends and other fans of track and field on social media talking about goosebumps, and getting emotional, as they’ve watched the action live – even when it required staying up till the early hours of the morning to catch the action live. – BY SEAN FALCONER
There is a nine-hour time difference between SA and Eugene, Oregon, on the West Coast of the USA, so the evening sessions of the World Champs generally start around 2am our time, and continue till 5am or 6am, so I reckon there are a few rather sleep-deprived athletics fans this side of the Atlantic after a week of action.
Yes, there were a few issues with some athletes not able to get to the USA due to VISA issues, but in general, this has been a terrific meet. I’m not even going to try to list all the top performances here, as there have been so many, but I would like to mention some personal highlights that I particularly enjoyed.
- I take my hat off to Akani Simbine for reaching yet another global 100m final. I know he will be bitterly disappointed to have finished fifth, having also narrowly missed out on a medal at the 2017 World Champs (fifth), 2016 Olympics (fifth), 2019 World Champs (fourth) and 2021 Olympics (fourth), but it shows just how much he has done to raise the bar of men’s sprinting in this country. It wasn’t so long ago that we still didn’t have any sub-10-second runners in this country, and the prospects of a South African making a World Champs or Olympic 100m final was so beyond our wildest dreams. Akani has been a genuine medal contender at every big meet since 2017, and for that alone he deserves huge praise.
- Staying with the sprints, it has been phenomenal to see the rapid emergence of Luxolo Adams as a world class sprinter this year. He’s been bubbling just under the top level until now, but found his best form just before the World Champs, with his scintillating 19.82 in the Diamond League meet in Paris. Now he is in the men’s 200m final at the World Champs! I don’t think anybody would have predicted that if asked just a few months ago.
- And of course, at the risk of repeating myself, hasn’t it been fantastic to see Wayde van Niekerk fit and racing again? And even better, back in a global final, where he belongs! That freak knee injury a few years back – in a charitable touch rugby game, of all places – looked like it may have wrecked his career, and many of us wondered if he would ever get back to the shape that saw him win the 2016 Olympic and 2017 World 400m titles, and set that amazing World Record of 43.03 seconds. Even if he doesn’t quite get to that same level as 2016 again – after all, he is six years older now – it remains a privilege to watch him running what is often referred to as the most brutal event on the track.
Anyhoo, enough rambling from me for one blog, let’s look ahead to see what’s coming up next.
Day 7 (21 July) – Afternoon Session
SA Time US Time Event Round
02:05 17:05 Men’s Javelin Throw Qualification – Group A
02:10 17:10 Women’s 800m Heats
03:10 18:10 Men’s 5000m Heats
03:20 18:20 Men’s Triple Jump Qualification
03:35 18:35 Men’s Javelin Throw Qualification – Group B
04:00 19:00 Men’s 800m Semi-Final
04:35 19:35 Women’s 200m Final
04:50 19:50 Men’s 200m Final
Day 8 (22 July) – Morning Session
SA Time US Time Event Round
15:15 06:15 Women’s 35km Race Walk Final
Day 8 (22 July) – Afternoon Session
SA Time US Time Event Round
02:05 17:05 Men’s Pole Vault Qualification
02:40 17:40 Women’s 4x100m Relay Heats
03:05 18:05 Men’s 4x100m Relay Heats
03:20 18:20 Women’s Javelin Throw Final
03:35 18:35 Women’s 800m Semi-Final
04:15 19:15 Women’s 400m Final
04:35 19:35 Men’s 400m Final
04:50 19:50 Women’s 400m Hurdles Final
SOUTH AFRICANS IN ACTION…
Watch for our local heroes in the following events:
Day 7 – Afternoon Session
Men’s Javelin Qualifiers
Group A – Johan Grobler
Women’s 800m Qualifiers
Heat 5 – Prudence Sekgodiso
Men’s 5000m Qualifiers
Heat 1 – Adriaan Wildschutt
Heat 2 – Precious Mashele
Men’s 200m Final
Luxolo Adams
Day 8 – Afternoon Session
Men’s 400m Final
Wayde van Niekerk
Enjoy the viewing, and chat later again.
(Image: courtesy World Athletics)