¶2012 OG: wJT-Barbora Špotáková repeats 228-2 (69.55) WL

[dj]

T&FN Formchart advancers to final

1. Barbora Špotáková (Czech Rep)
2. Sunette Viljoen (South Africa)
3. Mariya Abakumova (Russia)
4. Christina Obergföll (Germany)
5. Vira Rebryk (Ukraine)
6. Goldie Sayers (Great Britain)
7. Linda Stahl (Germany)
8. Huihui Lu (China)
9. Lingwei Li (China)
10. Katharina Molitor (Germany)

Rebryk fouled her last throw, about 64.90 (would have been #4 Q)

[gh]

Another one without a lot of certitude at the top, unless it's the "certainty" that any of the first 4 (and only the first 4?) might win.

[Athletics]

Another one without a lot of certitude at the top, unless it's the "certainty" that any of the first 4 (and only the first 4?) might win.

I'd actually put Rebryk (the EC champ) ahead of Obergföll. I'd be supprised if Obergföll won, she's the definition of ''always second''.

[j-a-m]

Spotakova and Obergfoell qualify easily with 66+ in first attempt.

[j-a-m]

#6 Sayers is out.

[croflash]

Rebryk out as well.

[j-a-m]

Rebryk out as well.

last attempt was a foul, just overstepped, otherwise would've been far enough.

[j-a-m]

#9 Li Lingwei is out as well.

[j-a-m]

Relatively good qualifying, though, with nine automatic qualifyers.

[aaronk]

While not quite qualifying for the final, seems Brittany Borman has elevated herself as top female American.
Quite a year for this relative newcomer!!

[bruce3404]

While not quite qualifying for the final, seems Brittany Borman has elevated herself as top female American.
Quite a year for this relative newcomer!!

I, too, was impressed by her performance. Only a few feet short of her PR. BTW, in case anyone is wondering about Patterson's poor performance, apparently she tore her ACL at Trials. I hope Yurkovich continues her European training regime; after a few sluggish years, she seems to have picked it up a bit this year, though her performance today was merely so-so for her.

[lionelp1]

Sayers admitted she was not fit to compete well before this mornings competition. Somewhat puzzled why she wanted to throw in front of a big crowd with a crocked arm.

[bruce3404]

Sayers admitted she was not fit to compete well before this mornings competition. Somewhat puzzled why she wanted to throw in front of a big crowd with a crocked arm.

She mentioned in a BBC interview after the event that she "gave it a go" yesterday and it felt pretty good. Also possibly her last Olympic opportunity and she wasn't taking anyone's place away, so why not?

[Powell]

Has anyone else noticed the weird scheduling of the final of this event? It'll take place tonight when virtually all other action in the stadium will have ended (except the decathlon 1500, but that will be over when the JTers are only halfway through the competition). How many people will even stay in the stadium to watch the conclusion of the final?

[bruce3404]

Has anyone else noticed the weird scheduling of the final of this event? It'll take place tonight when virtually all other action in the stadium will have ended (except the decathlon 1500, but that will be over when the JTers are only halfway through the competition). How many people will even stay in the stadium to watch the conclusion of the final?

Yesterday's men's qualification was a bit of a disaster when they were trying to run the Deca 400s; lots of stops and starts. Given the insane cost and difficult availability of tickets for the Olympics, I expect that most folks will stay around to watch the JT, though without Goldie Sayers, perhaps not as many.

[j-a-m]

How many people will even stay in the stadium to watch the conclusion of the final?

Most of them. And they'll be able focus more on the JT than they'd be with running events going on at the same time.

[steveu]

I disagree, j-a-m. I think it's poor scheduling to allow a field event to continue after the final running event, with the exception of PV and HJ, where you have escalating drama.

Maybe a couple of medal ceremonies will help keep folks there.

How many people will even stay in the stadium to watch the conclusion of the final?

Most of them. And they'll be able focus more on the JT than they'd be with running events going on at the same time.

[j-a-m]

Spotakova in the lead after the first attempt with 66.90

[j-a-m]

Abakumova doesn't make top 8

[Vault-emort]

Why does the Chinese coach have a loudhailer/megaphone?

[lapsus]

Why does Abakumova have a blue tongue?

[j-a-m]

Spotakova extends her lead, 69.55, seems to be WL

[Gabriella]

Germany 2 and 3 at the moment with Stahl overtaking Viljoen. The RSA athlete has one more attempt to get in the medals. If anyone can, she can.

(on the camera close up Spotakova's face looks like she has heat rash..)

[j-a-m]

Germany 2 and 3 at the moment with Stahl overtaking Viljoen. The RSA athlete has one more attempt to get in the medals. If anyone can, she can.

Remains that way, Spotakova wins ahead of Obergfoell and Stahl.

[j-a-m]

Spotakova had four best attempts of overall competition.

[Gabriella]

Spotakova clearly the best today with all four valid throws longer that Obergfol's best.

Stahl showed once again she can rise to the occasion.

Let's not forget Obergfol has been winning medals since her 2005 silver too; she's had a great few years, if never quite getting that big one.

[Gabriella]

JT start time outrageous. Stadium half empty at best. Not fair on the girls

[croflash]

A bit lackluster due to the circumstances, Powell was right. Obergföll is the eternal bridesmaid, doesn't seem to matter when, where and which competition it is.

[Alan Shank]

They had to wait for the deca 1500 guys at times, then when Spotakova was about to take her throw (4th or 5th, I think), they stopped her for another goddamn flag ceremony; she pleaded to be allowed to throw, but was refused. Did I read somewhere that in Moscow they're going to have the medal ceremonies somewhere else, not mixed in the with events? Maybe that was some other event. I would applaud that gratefully, and I'll bet the athletes affected by these delays would, too.

Too bad about AbakUmova; she had that great comethrough performance last year.

The throwing was rather ordinary, aside from Spotakova; nothing like last year's classic in Daegu, or Beijing and Helsinki, for that matter. Well, they can't all be great competitions.

Spotakova three golds and two silvers, Obergfoll three silvers and a bronze, plus a 4th and 5th (both including today).
Cheers,
Alan Shank

[pakillo]

They had to wait for the deca 1500 guys at times, then when Spotakova was about to take her throw (4th or 5th, I think), they stopped her for another goddamn flag ceremony; she pleaded to be allowed to throw, but was refused. Did I read somewhere that in Moscow they're going to have the medal ceremonies somewhere else, not mixed in the with events? Maybe that was some other event. I would applaud that gratefully, and I'll bet the athletes affected by these delays would, too.

Too bad about AbakUmova; she had that great comethrough performance last year.

The throwing was rather ordinary, aside from Spotakova; nothing like last year's classic in Daegu, or Beijing and Helsinki, for that matter. Well, they can't all be great competitions.

Spotakova three golds and two silvers, Obergfoll three silvers and a bronze, plus a 4th and 5th (both including today).
Cheers,
Alan Shank

According to Moscow time table medal ceremonies will be in the stadium. At this year's Euro they had ceremonies in the event park near the stadium right after the evening session was finished though timetable was pretty stretched (probably best in history for TV viewers).

[Per Andersen]

Spotakova clearly the best today with all four valid throws longer that Obergfol's best.

When it counts I would always go with Spotakova. She's the best there is. Her technique does not break down + she has Jan in her corner What happpened with Abakumova?. She was clearly rattled. Was she not well?

[Powell]

It's interesting that in what's been an excellent year in depth for women's javelin (no. 10 on the world list is the best ever), the Olympic final was so poor. 65.16 really shouldn't win silver on the biggest stage in the world.
Kudos to Spotakova, though. She was the only one of the favorites in this event to perform at her best, even when she didn't need to. Her first throw would have easily been enough to win, but she still managed to improve by over 2.5 meters.
Abakumova's performance was the shocker of the final. She looked all right in qualifying, so WTF Rebryk's elimination was another And Viljoen was a bit lackluster, especially given she had a much longer throw in qualifying.

[26mi235]

The dominance here is the greatest in any event (e.g., Deca, Hept, 100, 800). The difference is that in the 800 we had 7 PBs (including 3 NR, and WR) and one SB and the best marks for place for 1-8, whereas the JT is mediocre beyond first place.

[Alan Shank]

According to Moscow time table medal ceremonies will be in the stadium. At this year's Euro they had ceremonies in the event park near the stadium right after the evening session was finished though timetable was pretty stretched (probably best in history for TV viewers).

OK, that's what I was "remembering" in my age- and drug-addled brain. Too bad about Moscow. I really hate flag ceremonies, and I would be so happy to be able to skip them by simply not going to the park after the evening session. The fact that they interrupt field-event competition is even worse.
Cheers,
Alan Shank

[Netwalker]

Spotakova clearly the best today with all four valid throws longer that Obergfol's best.

When it counts I would always go with Spotakova. She's the best there is. Her technique does not break down + she has Jan in her corner What happpened with Abakumova?. She was clearly rattled. Was she not well?

She was well, but clearly lacking physical fitness that time, not pumped up as usual. The throw sequence is not stable at all, the throws of the top three germans put too much pressure and regarding her height 178cm with 85kg clearly not shaped enough. Was a pleasure to watch the taller, lighter and younger Palameika throwing more than a meter ahead of her. Guess Abakumova won't ret urn in the top three europeans for a certain time. Have seen two from Ukrainian university than can throw better and even relegate one of the top names...