October 2003 Issue----World Championships!

WC Overview: Laying It On The Line

by Garry Hill

Paris, France, August 23-31--Simply put, the finish line was where it was at during World Championships IX. On the surface, that's a simplistic-sounding statement, because no race is truly decided until somebody has crossed the line, but in many competitions, the outcome is no longer in doubt much earlier than that.

WC-IX abounded in doubt. And that's good! Because excitement goes hand-in-hand with doubt and there was absolutely no shortage of excitement in Paris (in the suburb of St.-Denis, to be precise), most of it coming at that little stripe of white paint that distinguishes winners from losers...

All that was forgotten at the line on a memorable last afternoon: an 800 by 0.03, then a 4x1 by 0.02, a 1500 by 0.52, a 5K by 0.04, a 4x4 by 0.28 and finally a 4x4 by 0.08. Six golds decided by 0.97 seconds total. Wow!

(for more, read the October Issue of Track & Field News)

WC Men's Track Events

100: The Darkhorse In Lane 1

by Sieg Lindstrom

The men's 100 was one wild, wacky ride. The sprinters who had been suggested as favorites going in had names like Chambers, Greene, Montgomery and Williams; the men who ultimately won the medals went by Collins, Brown and Campbell...

200: Capel & Patton Go 1-2

by Jonathan Berenbom

The surprise last-minute withdrawal of reigning Olympic/World/European champion Konstadínos Kedéris--citing a hamstring injury--left the race wide open. Into the void came the Americans (see feature), with John Capel and Darvis Patton providing the first U.S. 1-2 in the Worlds since '83, and J.J. Johnson's 6th marking the first time three Americans have ever made the WC final...

400: U.S. 1-2 Here As Well

by Scott Davis

Tyree Washington was a strong favorite to become the first man ever to win the Worlds both indoors and out but a strong second 200 by resurging Jerome Young ended that dream...

800: Three At The Line

by Jim Dunaway

The dive-across-the-line finishes for Djabir Saïd-Guerni, Yuriy Borzakovskiy and Mbulaeni Mulaudzi produced time differentials--1:44.81, 1:44.84, 1:44.90--that were as close as many sprint races. As always in the 800, how they got there was half the fun...

1500/5000: An Audacious Double

by Sieg Lindstrom

Hicham El Guerrouj felt he had something to prove by attempting to double back in the 5000 after picking up the 1500 gold, and though he just missed pulling it off, the Moroccan mile star earned accolades from his critics...

10,000: Bekele!!

by Cordner Nelson

When a glorious past clashes with a dazzling future the present can be quite exciting. Haile Gebrselassie--representing the very best of the past--ran one of the most remarkable distance races of all time only to be outkicked 26:49.57-26:50.77 by Kenenisa Bekele, the very best of the future.

Steeplechase: Waiting For Cherono

by Dan Lilot

It's unlikely that Stephen Cherono is familiar with the works of Jean-Paul Sartre. But the Kenyan-cum-Qatari could--bear with me--serve as an interesting study in existentialism. This movement, made famous by the French philosopher, centers on the plight of the individual, who, in an unfathomable universe, must assume ultimate responsibility for his acts of free will without any certain knowledge of what is right or wrong...

(for more, read the October Issue of Track & Field News)

WC Men's Road Events

Marathon: Gharib From Out Of The Pack

by Sean Hartnett

Adorned with his marathon gold unheralded Jaouad Gharib observed, "The World Championships is not a commercial type of marathon and all runners have the same opportunity to win and the same hopes for gold."...

20K Walk: Pérez 1:17:21 World Record

by Elliott Denman

When Jefferson Pérez took the Olympic gold in '96, it was his nation's first-ever at the Games. Any sport, any event, making him a certified hero-for-life. Here--after a brief fling with post-Atlanta retirement--he roared back. Spain's Francisco Fernández came to Paris as the fastest 20K man ever, with his 1:17:22. But he left town with visions of Pérez leaving him in the dust.

50K Walk: Korzeniowski 3:36:03 World Record

by Elliott Denman

Who's the greatest racewalker of them all? If Robert Korzeniowski hadn't already clinched the honor with his unprecedented and daunting Sydney 20K/50K double-on top of his Atlanta 50K gold and his 50K WR 3:36:39 at the '02 European Champs-the 35-year-old Pole put an end to any debate with his 3:36:03 stroll through a just-awakening St.-Denis neighborhood...

WC Men's Hurdle Events

110H: No. 4 For Johnson

by Jon Hendershott

Allen Johnson became the seventh man to win a WC event at least four times as he commanded the 110H throughout. A 13.12 clocking comfortably secured yet another gold for the 32-year-old American...

400H: Sánchez Confirms Status

by Jon Hendershott

Heading to Paris as one of the meet's heaviest favorites, Felix Sánchez responded in the dominating fashion which has been his trademark since winning his first world crown two years ago. This time, the Dominican Republic star powered to a PR 47.25 to easily defend his title and improve his hold on No. 6 performer all-time--all just a day before his 26th birthday...

WC Men's Relay Events

4 x 100: U.S. Brings In "Rookies"

by Walt Murphy

Three of the mainstays of the U.S. relay corps--Tim Montgomery, Maurice Greene, Jon Drummond--were not available, for various reasons. So the decision was made to go with a team heavy on 200 credentials--but not lacking in 4x1 experience--for all three rounds. Former Florida teammates John Capel (24) and Bernard Williams (25) would be joined by Texans Doc Patton (25) and J.J. Johnson (27)...

4 x 400: France Scares U.S.

by Dave Johnson

Barely holding off the home-country favorites, the U.S. won in 2:58.88, turning back France (2:58.96) and Jamaica (2:59.60). The Americans had been strong favorites coming into the meet, improving to odds-on No. 1 choices after going 1-2-6 in the 400 final. But a funny thing happened on the way to the podium, as the Americans looked at every stage as if they were trying to give the race to anyone willing to take it...

WC Men’s Jumping Events

High Jump: Freitag Flies Highest

by Brian Russell

Concerned that others don’t think much of his technique, Jacques Freitag said, “The Swedish guy thinks that he's technically very good, and his runup is perfect. But I’m a diamond in the rough and I’m going to get better.”…

Pole Vault: Giuseppe Who?

by Garry Hill

In preparing the pre-Paris formchart, no event gave T&FN staffers more difficulty than the men’s pole vault. There simply wasn’t a clear No. 1. And among the unclear choices, 24-year-old Italian Giuseppe Gibilisco was near the bottom of the heap. Maybe he didn’t even belong there: his three preceding meets had produced an 11th at Zürich, 10th in Berlin and 10th in Madrid…

Long Jump: Just Jumpin’ In The Rain

by Jonathan Berenbom

Cool, rainy weather (64º, 77% humidity) helped to keep distances to a minimum, with the winning mark the lowest in meet history. Nevertheless, 25-year-old Dwight Phillips was a most-deserving champion, as he added this title to the World Indoor gold he had picked up in March…

Triple Jump: Olsson Ends It Very Early

by Garry Hill

The TJ was essentially over as soon as favored Christian Olsson hit sand for the first time in the final. Already the year’s only 58-footer, he bounded out to 58-13/4, signaling lights out. No. 2 on the yearly list, Marian Oprea, hadn’t made it out of qualifying, and No. 3, WR holder Jonathan Edwards, came to town injured and announcing his retirement. It wasn’t a pretty way to go for the 37-year-old Brit…

WC Men's Throwing Events

Shot: What's A Mikhnevich?

by Garry Hill

With four entries, including the world leader, golds in the last four Worlds and 7 of the last 12 medals awarded, the U.S. figured to mine metal early in the meet's first field-event final. Didn't quite work out that way...

Discus: Alekna The Minimalist

by Ed Gordon

If it was '01 runner-up Virgilijus Alekna's intention to put in a short day at the office, he certainly achieved his goal. Twice. The lumbering Lithuanian entered the ring for the first time in the qualifying round and unleashed the best prelim in meet history, 224-0. Then--as the fifth overall thrower in the final--he stepped in and heaved a season-best 228-7. End of story, end of event...

Hammer: Tikhon Takes Over Early

by Jon Hendershott

In round 2, though, Ivan Tikhon whirled the ball and chain out to 264-8 to grab a lead he never would surrender. He extended his margin to 268-3 in the third frame and ended the competition with his longest, 272-5. "My first-round throw was nearly perfect. It's a shame I fouled," said Tikhon...

Javelin: Makarov Another Early Winner

by Ed Gordon

Interestingly, each of the first seven throws produced an event leader, with the eventual gold medalist, Sergey Makarov, having the seventh position in the order and coming away with a 280-4 opener which held up as the best of the day...

Decathlon: Pappas Avoids Mistakes

by Ben Hall

Fresh from his PR-filled USATF victory, Tom Pappas was set to challenge World Record holder Roman Sebrle of the Czech Republic. The two went toe-to-toe, with Kazakhstan’s unheralded Dmitriy Karpov joining the fray to add upstart blood to the 10 rounds. And like most major decathlons there were too many twists and turns to count…

(for more Paris men’s coverage, read the October Issue of Track & Field News)

WC Women's Track Events

by Bob Hersh

For the first time since the '96 Olympics, the women's sprints at the biggest international were missing Marion Jones. Kelli White took full advantage of the situation, capturing both golds and establishing herself as a legitimate contender for top honors at next year's Olympics, with or without Jones [story written from historical perspective]...

400: Guevara In Class Alone

by Jeff Hollobaugh

Ana Guevara knew she bore the favorite's mantle. It didn't seem to burden her at all. Undefeated in 21 straight finals, the Mexican star had little difficulty in capturing the 400 gold with the fastest performance of her career, 48.89. Not in the last seven years had anyone run faster. But anyone who saw this race would say that Guevara will...

800: Mutola Remains Undefeated

by Jim Dunaway

Defending champion Maria Mutola was a strong favorite. The Mozambican had been world ranked No. 1 in the 800 for the last five years; she was undefeated in 2003; she had the 3 fastest times of the year, and 5 of the top 7; and her five Golden League victories put her into position to win the League's $1 million jackpot with a win at Brussels September 5. Only one question: could she focus on the present and forget about the million dollars for two minutes or so? She could, and she did...

1500: Tomahashova Stuns Ayhan

by Dan Lilot

Süreyya Ayhan performed as if the hopes of Turkey weighed heavily on her shoulders (see sidebar): the overwhelming favorite was run down in the final straight by Tatyana Tomashova, whom she had destroyed just two weeks earlier in her huge 3:55.60 race...

5000: Youngster Kicks Best

by Dan Lilot

In perhaps the least surprising development in a bizarre event, 18-year-old Tirunesh Dibaba outsprinted 9 others over the final lap of the 5000 to take gold in 14:51.72. It was only her second track victory outside of Ethiopia, but she had proved her chops with a Junior World Cross win. The weirdness began in the qualifying round four days earlier...

10,000: Adere In Deepest Race Ever

by Tom Jordan

The greatest women's 10K ever began differently than one would expect a Paula Radcliffe-less race would start: A respectable 72.5 pace with the lead shared by several, and no one dropped--25 runners, all bunched together for the first 2000m. "It looks like a mosh-pit doing the polka," observed one wag...

WC Women’s Road Events

Marathon: Ndereba Gets Biggest Win

by Sean Hartnett

In the past three years Catherine Ndereba has produced three of history’s seven sub-2:20 clockings, but the magnitude of these achievements had been lost in the long shadow of WR setter Paula Radcliffe. With the great Briton sidelined, the smooth-striding 31-year-old broke from the pack at 30km and into the spotlight as she ended the Kenyan drought in winning her country’s first gold here (2:23:55).…

20K Walk: Nikolayeva Fills Collection

by Elliott Denman

Yelena Nikolayeva is one busy woman. She and husband/coach Anatoliy are the parents of a preteen daughter. At 37, she’s a member of state parliament back home in Cheboksary, some 200M east of Moscow. And, oh yes, the Olympic gold and silver medalist may be the finest her event has ever produced, despite never having won at the World Championships, until now the only gap in her dossier.

WC Women's Hurdle Events

100H: Felicien A Big Surprise

by Jon Hendershott

A sentimental favorite in pursuit of her fourth global title, Gail Devers cracked the fifth hurdle while leading her semi, ended up 3rd and was edged out of the final as the fastest non-qualifier on time. But the winner of that semi, NCAA champ Perdita Felicien of Illinois, surged to a PR 12.68 victory and ran even faster in the final to clock a Canadian Record 12.53...

400H: WR Holder Pechonkina Upset

by Jon Hendershott

As setter of a World Record 52.34 in early August, Yuliya Pechonkina came to Paris as the favorite. And for eight-plus hurdles last year's No. 1 ranker looked to be on her way to the expected gold. But a tremendous early pace caught up with the 25-year-old Russian after barrier No. 8 and she was collared by both the youngest and oldest hurdlers in the race...

WC Women's Relay Events

4 x 100: Black And Not White

by Walt Murphy

...and then it happened. Just hours before the final was scheduled to take place, Kelli White's positive test was announced by the IAAF, which decided to let her compete pending determination of any penalties. The IAAF position left the U.S. staff in a quandary. Let White run and take the potential risk of the team losing whatever medals (and prize money) they might win, or replace her in the final?...

4 x 400: U.S. Surprises At End

by Dave Johnson

U.S. relay experience carried the day as the Americans ran 3:22.63 to hold off favored Russia (3:22.91) and fast-anchored Jamaica (3:22.92). After trailing for most of the race, they won it thanks greatly to a pair of exceptional final passes and savvy last-leg running by rookie Sanya Richards. The outcome was in stark contrast to that of two years ago...

WC Women's Jumping Events

High Jump: Cloete Attempts World Record

by Kevin Saylors

In a year of unprecedented high jumping--14 broke the 2m/6-61/4 barrier before Paris--Hestrie Cloete returned to the city of her first ever 2m clearance and produced the best jumping of her life. The 25-year-old South African, she of the windmilling-arms approach, had the kind of day that jumpers dream about...

Pole Vault: Feofanova Hot, Really

by Cordner Nelson

Svetlana Feofanova lost a thrilling duel with Stacy Dragila in '01, but this time, in the fight of her life against all of history's 4.60 (15-1) vaulters, she proved herself to be what she wanted so much--world champion, indoors and out. Even Russians expected Feofanova to lose...

Long Jump: Barber Draws A Crowd

by Scott Davis

With 22-foot jumps suddenly becoming an endangered species, this may not have been one of the great long jumps from a statistical point of view, but as a crowd-pleasing barnburner, it has had few equals. Eunice Barber, who didn't even have the best LJ mark in the heptathlon competition...

Triple Jump: Lebedeva Bounces Back

by Sieg Lindstrom

Tatyana Lebedeva, returned from a maternity leave in '02, defended her title over a markedly improved version of Edmonton runner-up Françoise Mbango...

WC Women's Throwing Events

Shot: Krivelyova's Fourth Medal

by Dan Lilot

Svetlana Krivelyova finally added a World Champs title to the Olympic gold she had won way back in '92.

The 34-year-old veteran--who earned WC silver in '93 and bronzes in '91 and '99 before falling to 9th in Edmonton--took the lead on the competition's third throw and extended her margin on her next three...

Discus: Yatchenko Ends It Early

by Ed Gordon

As it turned out, the platter gold was decided after a resounding first-round effort by Belarus's Irina Yatchenko left the remaining competitors the unenviable task of having to play catch-up. Even though the next three finishers also recorded seasonal bests, they fell just short in the tightest medal competition in meet history, just 7 inches separating gold from silver and just another 16 back to bronze...

Hammer: Moreno Rare Repeater

by Jonathan Berenbom

In one of the deepest competitions in the short history of the women's hammer, Yipsi Moreno became the only thrower in Paris--man or woman--to successfully repeat as world champion. The young Cuban took the lead early in the competition...

Javelin: Standards Dip Drastically

by Ed Gordon

Miréla Manjani of Greece, the '99 gold medalist while competing under her former name of Tzelíli, opened with 211-9 and immediately set the standard for the rest of the field in a fading event where a 200-foot throw is now world-class. That result alone would have been sufficient for the win, but the Albanian-born Manjani...

Heptathlon: How Swede It Is

by Ben Hall

Last summer at the European Championships, and this winter at the World Indoor, Sweden's Carolina Klüft--Carro to her fans--won the hearts of everyone watching with her joyous exuberance for competition and undeniable athleticism. She also won a pair of golds... convincingly. Here, facing one of France's medal favorites, the competition hardened in more than one way as she had not only to beat Eunice Barber but also to win over the crowd. It seemed a tall order, but Klüft (7001) managed the feat and became only the third woman ever to break the 7000-point barrier...

(for more Paris women's coverage, read the October Issue of Track & Field News)

What Jon Drummond's Blocks Really Said

A look at the readout from the pressure-sensitive blocks tells us he didn't false start...

New Look Ends GP Season

Monaco hosts 2-day Grand Prix Final; El Guerrouj and Cloete named year's top athletes by IAAF...

From The Editor

Paris--more proof that the U.S. Trials meets need to be moved later. Almost nobody on the U.S. team scored a seasonal best at the World Championships...

(for the full opinion, read the October Issue of Track & Field News)

And in the November issue...

It's our big High School Annual edition. Check out all the choices for the Prep All-American team, read about the HS Athletes Of The Year and check out those deep lists.

And how about those road records by Paula Radcliffe and Paul Tergat?!