Off Topic World Athletics Championships

Never mind the drug controversies over Mo Farah or Gatlin v Bolt: for me it's all about the multi-eventers. I'll be setting my alarm for just before 2am (or staying up) to see Katarina Johnson-Thompson and Jess Ennis-Hill set off on their two-day heptathlon ordeal with the 100m hurdles.

They're probably second and third favourites going in, but a gold-silver haul is a possibility. Tomorrow's forecast is good, but it's going to piss it down in Beijing on Sunday, so anything could happen.

Both great athletes, both very personable and both fairly easy on the eye. If I fall asleep at the Valley tomorrow, you'll know why.

 

They should televise the drug tests, be compulsive viewing.

Not happy with all these women athletes going double barrelled, know your place.

Regards Chazz Rheinhold-Galante

 

The favourite is Brianne Theisen-Eaton, who married Olympic decathlon champ Ashton Eaton last year. There's great anticipation in athletics circles of a fully double-barrelled podium on Sunday.

 

What about Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce in the 100?? She could do the relay by herself.

 

PB for KJT in the hurdles.

 

Not so good for JEH.

 

Jess did her standard high jump height, but many of her rivals posted disappointing heights, notably Theisen-Eaton.

The GB girls have a nice little lead over Theisen-Eaton now. Jess should lead overnight.

Shot put at 11..30am BST, 200m at 1.15pm.

The Dutch lass Visser is quite tasty.

 

Iva Double-Barrel is in the lead.

 

Not sure if our heptathlon lasses are very good pals, seemed a bit frosty the interview with them after the hurdles. Great gold for Farah today

 

KJT triple no-jumps away her chance of gold (last one by millimetres!)

 

Poor lass, not a nice way to go out after all that preparation

 

So close, but rules is rules.

If her jump (which was measured at 6.82m) had been legal, she'd be starting the 800m 11 points behind Jess, which is about 0.7 sec. Would have been a fantastic climax...

 

Bolt still won the semi but christ he was slow out the blocks.

 

Gatlin just ran 9.77 in the other semi, slowing down.
Going to really damage Athletics if he beats Bolt in the Final.

 

Agree, if Gatlin wins it will be a hollow victory for Athletics, as people will feel it was not deserved.

 

I think it's Bolt v Rodgers for second/third. The cheat will be 1.5m up the road.

 

Well done jess a true champion. Disgraceful sulking from Johnson Thompson.

 

Do you mean the interview? It's understandable.

If you're talking about her jogging the 800, that's not sulking - she has to prepare for the long jump on Thursday. She's good enough to contend in it, if she sorts her run-up out.

 

So if she had been in contention she would have said no i need to conserve my energy for the long jump!!
Did Jess need to win that race? No. Psychologically that was a message to all.

 

Well done to Jessica a true World Champion! Hope Gatlin falls over to be honest in the final but it's not looking a good day for sport when the athletics main event is going to be won by a cheat