Felix lands sprint hat-trick in tremendous style

SO THE Americans finally got their first sprint title at these World Championships, and it couldn’t have come in a more graceful, impressive and convincing fashion than Allyson Felix. The two-time defending champion, still only 23, made it three 200 metres titles in succession, after producing a beautifully executed race to win in 22.02 seconds.

For once the Jamaicans found themselves leading the chasing pack, with Veronica Campbell-Brown, the two-time Olympic champion, only second best on this occasion, winning silver in 22.35. Debbie Ferguson-McKenzie of the Bahamas out-gunned the other American Muna Lee for the bronze, 22.41 to 22.48.

There was simply no denying Felix on the night, who has fast built herself a reputation as one of the fitness models of America, in more ways than one. She was recently appointed to President Barrack Obama’s Physical Fitness and Sports Council, and will likely attract quite a few new admirers there as well.

There was high drama earlier in the night in the semi-finals of the 800 metres, which given the cut-throat nature of qualification, is difficult enough to survive – even when staying on your feet. Abubaker Kaki of Sudan, fastest in the world this year with his 1:43.09, couldn’t do either after being clipped by the Dutch runner Bram Som when leading, and came crashing to the track.

Out he went, and having failed to progress at the Beijing Olympics last summer, Kaki must now be wondering if he’ll get the major title he looks so capable of winning. The American Nick Symmonds went on to win, but predicting the outcome of tomorrow’s final is near impossible. But Yusuf Saad Kamel of Bahrain looks capable off pulling an 800-1,500 metres double – and in the process winning the event his father Billy Konchellah won twice before for Kenya.

There weren’t too many people thankful for the thunder and lightening storm that hit Berlin yesterday, but those who definitely were lined up for the men’s 50km walk. There is no more physically or mentally demanding event at these championships, and conditions can play a pivotal role. You only had to be down at the finish area at the Brandenburg Gate to realise that.

Just like the Berlin Wall 20 years ago, Sergey Kirdyapkin of Russia collapsed in quite startling circumstances, although like the Germans in 1989, he too was soon celebrating. He had won the gruelling race by almost three minutes to complete a unique walking treble for Russia at these championships, although had this event being run in the brutal heat and sunshine of the past few days then things would have been a whole lot uglier. This is the area that was the old fortified death strip that ran just west of the gate, and for a brief moment it seemed as if Kirdyapkin had actually been shot, which he would have been 20 years ago had he walked through the gate.

At least he made it that far. Ireland’s two entrants, Jamie Costin and Colin Griffin, both experienced enormous physical difficulties out on the course which eventually forced them to drop out. Costin made it to around 42km, but spent the rest of the day on a drip such was the severe level of dehydration experienced, while Griffin only made it to around 34km before his body gave out, in more ways than one.

“Since Friday I was getting migraine headaches,” he said. “I had a kind of numbness on my left side. I had the same problem a couple of months ago and it just came back at the weekend. I was okay up to 30k and I had no problem with the judges, but suddenty I got sick at 34 kilometres.”

Kirdyapkin’s win in 3:38.35 left him well clear of Trond Nymark, while Jesus Angel Gardai from Spain took the bronze.

Never before in the World Championships or Olympics had one country produced the winners of all three walks. In fact they’ve come from the same city under the same coach, Viktor Chegin – as all three gold medallists – Valeriy Borchin (men’s 20km), Olga Kaniskina (women’s 20km) and now Kirdyapkin – are coached by Chegin in Saransk.