Doha, 11/05/2012

Men's results

100 Metres - Men                                              Wind: +0.4 m/s

    1 Gatlin , Justin                  USA       9.87
    2 Powell , Asafa                   JAM       9.88
    3 Clarke , Lerone                  JAM       9.99
    4 Rodgers , Mike                   USA      10.00
    5 Carter , Nesta                   JAM      10.05
    6 Patton , Darvis                  USA      10.11
    7 Harvey , Jacques                 JAM      10.14
    8 Vicaut , Jimmy                   FRA      10.28

200 Metres - Men                                              Wind: -0.5 m/s
                                                            Pts
    1 Dix , Walter                     USA      20.02          4        
    2 Martina , Churandy               NED      20.26          2        
    3 Saidy Ndure , Jaysuma            NOR      20.34          1        
    4 Anderson , Marvin                JAM      20.42                   
    5 Forsythe , Mario                 JAM      20.53                   
    6 Dwyer , Rasheed                  JAM      20.60                   
    7 Ouhadi , Aziz                    MAR      20.70                   
      Salaam , Rakieem                 USA        DNF                  

400 Metres - Men                                              
                                                            Pts
    1 Merritt , LaShawn                USA      44.19          4        
    2 Santos , Luguelín                DOM      44.88          2        
    3 Taylor , Angelo                  USA      44.97          1        
    4 Rooney , Martyn                  GBR      44.99                   
    5 Henry , Tabarie                  ISV      45.20                   
    6 Yousif , Rabah                   SUD      45.42                   
    7 Smith , Calvin                   USA      45.62                   
    8 Schneider , Thomas               GER      47.12                  

800 Metres - Men Race 1                                      

    1 Bosse , Pierre-Ambroise          FRA    1:45.69
    2 El Manaoui , Amine               MAR    1:45.70
    3 Moradi , Sajad                   IRI    1:45.98
    4 Mohammed , Mukhtar               GBR    1:46.41
    5 Yego , Alfred Kirwa              KEN    1:46.46
    6 Manseur , Nadjim                 ALG    1:47.98
    7 Lastennet , Jeff                 FRA    1:48.60
    8 Layachi , Mohamed Amine          ALG    1:51.19
      Al-Quraini , Obaid Abdullah      OMA        DNF                   
      Ali , Belal Mansoor              BRN        DNS                  

800 Metres - Men Race 2                                      

    1 Rudisha , David Lekuta           KEN    1:43.10
    2 Kinyor , Job Koech               KEN    1:43.76
    3 Osagie , Andrew                  GBR    1:44.64
    4 Reina , Antonio Manuel           ESP    1:44.65
    5 Mutua , David Mutinda            KEN    1:44.66
    6 Rimmer , Michael                 GBR    1:44.86
    7 Bube , Andreas                   DEN    1:44.99
    8 Holuša , Jakub                   CZE    1:45.12
    9 Balla , Musaeb Abdulrahman       QAT    1:45.19
   10 Madi , Nabil                     ALG    1:50.46
      Kosgei , Silah Kipkoech          KEN        DNF                  

1500 Metres - Men                                             
                                                            Pts
    1 Kiplagat , Silas                 KEN    3:29.63          4        
    2 Kiprop , Asbel                   KEN    3:29.78          2        
    3 Birgen , Bethwell                KEN    3:31.17          1        
    4 Chepseba , Nixon Kiplimo         KEN    3:31.32                   
    5 Cheboi , Collins                 KEN    3:32.64                   
    6 Özbilen , Ilham Tanui            TUR    3:33.32                   
    7 Gebremedhin , Mekonnen           ETH    3:33.38                   
    8 Komen , Daniel Kipchirchir       KEN    3:33.43                   
    9 Driouch , Hamza                  QAT    3:33.69                   
   10 Kiptoo , Eliah                   KEN    3:33.81                   
   11 Gregson , Ryan                   AUS    3:33.92                   
   12 Brown , Russell                  USA    3:34.11                   
   13 Kaki , Abubaker                  SUD    3:34.34
   14 Boukensa , Tarek                 ALG    3:42.88
      Kipchirchir , Victor             KEN        DNF                   
      Polonet , Vickson Naran          KEN        DNF                   
      Keitany , Haron                  KEN        DNS                  

3000 Metres - Men                                             
                                                            Pts
    1 Choge , Augustine Kiprono        KEN    7:30.42          4        
    2 Kipchoge , Eliud                 KEN    7:31.40          2        
    3 Kipsiro , Moses Ndiema           UGA    7:31.88          1        
    4 Koech , Isiah Kiplangat          KEN    7:32.43                   
    5 Longosiwa , Thomas Pkemei        KEN    7:33.68                   
    6 Soi , Edwin Cheruiyot            KEN    7:38.45                   
    7 Bekele , Kenenisa                ETH    7:40.00                   
    8 Kuma , Abera                     ETH    7:40.85                   
    9 Souleiman , Ayanleh              DJI    7:42.22                   
   10 Arikan , Polat Kemboi            TUR    7:42.31                   
   11 Rotich , Lucas Kimeli            KEN    7:49.48                   
   12 C'Kurui , James Kwalia           QAT    7:51.36                   
   13 Zerguelaine , Anter              ALG    8:21.95
      Boulahfane , Kamal               ALG        DNF                   
      Ndiwa , Remmy Limo               KEN        DNF                   
      Simotwo , Suleiman Kipses        KEN        DNF                  

3000 Metres Steeplechase - Men                                
                                                            Pts
    1 Koech , Paul Kipsiele            KEN    7:56.58          4        
    2 Mateelong , Richard Kipkemboi    KEN    7:56.81          2        
    3 Gari , Roba                      ETH    8:06.16          1        
    4 Kipchoge , Jairus Birech         KEN    8:06.72                   
    5 Kipruto , Conseslus              KEN    8:08.92                   
    6 Nganga , Bernard Mbugua          KEN    8:11.00                   
    7 Kirui , Gilbert Kiplangat        KEN    8:11.27                   
    8 Kipterege , Elijah Chelimo       KEN    8:12.84                   
    9 Ndiku , Jonathan Muia            KEN    8:20.96                   
   10 Kiplagat , Benjamin              UGA    8:22.94                   
   11 Ramolefi , Ruben                 RSA    8:24.28                   
   12 Kipruto , Brimin Kiprop          KEN    8:26.59                   
   13 Ayeko , Simon                    UGA    8:27.13
   14 Mesfin , Nahom                   ETH    8:32.97
   15 Taher , Tareq Mubarak            BRN    8:41.42
   16 Akdag , Tarik Langat             TUR    8:42.36
      Kipkosgei , Nelson               KEN        DNF                   
      Kipkoech , Robert                KEN        DNF                  

High Jump - Men                                               
                                                            Pts
    1 Chondrokoúkis , Dimítrios        GRE       2.32          4        
    2 Williams , Jesse                 USA       2.30          2        
    3 Hanany , Mickael                 FRA       2.30          1        
    4 Oni , Samson                     GBR       2.27                   
    5 Barry , Trevor                   BAH       2.27                   
    5 Thomas , Donald                  BAH       2.27                   
    7 Zhang , Guowei                   CHN       2.27                   
    8 Bába , Jaroslav                  CZE       2.24                   
    9 Kgosiemang , Kabelo              BOT       2.24
   10 Dmitrik , Aleksey                RUS       2.20
   11 Barsham , Muamer Aissa           QAT       2.20
   12 Al-Mannai , Rashid Ahmed         QAT       2.20

Long Jump - Men                                               
                                                            Pts               Wind
    1 Menkov , Aleksandr               RUS       8.22          4              +1.6
    2 Mokoena , Godfrey Khotso         RSA       8.10          2              +0.9
    3 Badji , Ndiss Kaba               SEN       8.04          1              +0.9
    4 Rutherford , Greg                GBR       7.98                         +1.0
    5 Evilä , Tommi                    FIN       7.92                         +0.9
    6 Sdiri , Salim                    FRA       7.79                         +0.6
    7 Smith , Tyrone                   BER       7.69                         +1.5
    8 Howe , Andrew                    ITA       7.16                         +0.8
      Tomlinson , Christopher          GBR         NM                  

Discus Throw - Men                                            
                                                            Pts
    1 Malachowski , Piotr              POL      67.53          4        
    2 Hadadi , Ehsan                   IRI      66.32          2        
    3 Kövágó , Zoltán                  HUN      65.77          1        
    4 Kanter , Gerd                    EST      65.57                   
    5 Harradine , Benn                 AUS      64.29                   
    6 Gowda , Vikas                    IND      64.10                   
    7 Alekna , Virgilijus              LTU      63.99                   
    8 Israel , Märt                    EST      62.82                   
    9 Olgundeniz , Ercüment            TUR      61.84
   10 Casañas , Yennifer Frank         ESP      61.55
   11 Gudžius , Andrius                LTU      60.27

Women's results

100 Metres - Women                                            Wind: +0.7 m/s
                                                            Pts
    1 Felix , Allyson                  USA      10.92          4        
    2 Campbell-Brown , Veronica        JAM      10.94          2        
    3 Fraser-Pryce , Shelly-Ann        JAM      11.00          1        
    4 Okagbare , Blessing              NGR      11.01                   
    5 Moore , LaShauntea               USA      11.13                   
    6 Barber , Mikele                  USA      11.13                   
    7 Stewart , Kerron                 JAM      11.16                   
    8 Simpson , Sherone                JAM      11.22                  

800 Metres - Women                                            
                                                            Pts
    1 Jelimo , Pamela                  KEN    1:56.94          4        
    2 Magiso , Fantu                   ETH    1:57.90          2        
    3 Busienei , Janeth Jepkosgei      KEN    1:58.50          1        
    4 Santiusty , Yuneisy              CUB    1:59.26                   
    5 Jackson , Emma                   GBR    1:59.37                   
    6 Beckwith , Molly                 USA    1:59.51                   
    7 Sum , Eunice Jepkoech            KEN    1:59.94                   
    8 Luka , Tintu                     IND    2:01.09                   
    9 Koech , Cherono                  KEN    2:01.20
   10 Manou , Tamsyn                   AUS    2:02.75
      Kupina , Yekaterina              RUS        DNF                  

3000 Metres - Women                                           
                                                            Pts
    1 Cheruiyot , Vivian Jepkemoi      KEN    8:46.44          4        
    2 Defar , Meseret                  ETH    8:46.49          2        
    3 Kibet , Sylvia Jebiwott          KEN    8:47.49          1        
    4 Burka , Gelete                   ETH    8:48.92                   
    5 Cherono , Priscah Jepleting      KEN    8:50.04                   
    6 Kibiwot , Viola Jelagat          KEN    8:50.63                   
    7 Kisa , Janeth                    KEN    8:51.63                   
    8 Korikwiang , Pauline Chemning    KEN    8:52.04                   
    9 Jamal , Maryam Yusuf             BRN    8:54.51                   
   10 Chepkwemoi , Nancy               KEN    8:56.52                   
   11 Muriuki , Margaret Wangari       KEN    8:57.43                   
   12 Gebreslase , Gotytom             ETH    9:00.97                   
   13 Twell , Stephanie                GBR    9:01.64
   14 Måkestad Bovim , Ingvill         NOR    9:10.45
   15 Weldu , Nazret                   ERI    9:11.32
      Luchkina , Anna                  RUS        DNF                   
      Feyisa , Bertukan                ETH        DNS                   
      Desalegn , Betlhem               UAE        DNS                   
      Mohammed , Alia Saeed            UAE        DNS                  

100 Metres Hurdles - Women                                    Wind: +0.1 m/s
                                                            Pts
    1 Foster-Hylton , Brigitte         JAM      12.60          4        
    2 Wells , Kellie                   USA      12.72          2        
    3 George , Phylicia                CAN      12.79          1        
    4 Ali , Nia                        USA      12.93                   
    5 Felicien , Perdita               CAN      12.95                   
    6 Lopes-Schliep , Priscilla        CAN      12.95                   
    7 Lewis , Yvette                   USA      13.08                   
    8 Holder , Nikkita                 CAN      20.81                  

400 Metres Hurdles - Women                                    
                                                            Pts
    1 Walker , Melaine                 JAM      54.62          4        
    2 Spencer , Kaliese                JAM      54.99          2        
    3 Shakes-Drayton , Perri           GBR      55.25          1        
    4 Boden , Lauren                   AUS      55.75                   
    5 Lambarki , Hayat                 MAR      56.29                   
    6 Chaney , Jasmine                 USA      56.55                   
    7 Jesien , Anna                    POL      56.89                   
    8 McPherson , Stephanie            JAM      58.61                  

Pole Vault - Women                                            
                                                            Pts
    1 Savchenko , Anastasia            RUS       4.57          4        
    2 Spiegelburg , Silke              GER       4.57          2        
    3 Kiriakopoúlou , Nikoléta         GRE       4.50          1        
    4 Boslak , Vanessa                 FRA       4.50                   
    4 Dennison , Kate                  GBR       4.50                   
    6 Janson , Lacy                    USA       4.40                   
    7 Golubchikova , Yuliya            RUS       4.30                   
    8 Saxer , Mary                     USA       4.30                   
    9 Peake , Sally                    GBR       4.20
    9 Kiryashova , Aleksandra          RUS       4.20
   11 Parnov , Vicky                   AUS       4.00
   11 Larsåsen , Cathrine              NOR       4.00
      Pyrek , Monika                   POL         NM                  

Triple Jump - Women                                           
                                                            Pts               Wind
    1 Rypakova , Olga                  KAZ      14.33          4              +0.5
    2 Costa , Keila                    BRA      14.31          2              +0.5
    3 Mbango Etone , Françoise         FRA      14.09          1              +0.3
    4 Veldáková , Dana                 SVK  &n

Usually within a week of the finish of a major championships, Zurich brings together champions wanting to cash in on their gold medal with an outstanding performance (at an appearance fee upwardly revised, perhaps) and would-be champions wanting to show the world that their non-performance was all just a fluke.

Other years, the timing is just too tight. This year, by all appearances, may have been one such occasion. The world championships finished in Daegu just last Sunday. And, if the athletes who fronted up in Zurich on Thursday were feeling anything like I did that same night, it’s no wonder the performances were off a touch in most events.

The Diamond League has thrown another element into the mix. Of the original Golden Four meetings (which morphed into the Golden League, which, in turn, morphed into the Diamond League), Oslo, Zurich and Brussels signed up with the League, Berlin did not.

Of course, all these meetings were big enough to survive on their own. The carrot for Zurich and Brussels was that they became the Diamond League finals. All events are contested in the League, the finals are in Zurich and Brussels, each meeting hosting half of the events.

And, as with the superseded Golden League and the old, stand-alone Grand Prix final, athletes have to compete in the final to take their money out of the pot. So – even if it’s Zurich - there’s always athletes who have already won but have to turn up to tick the final box before taking their pay home.

Of course, not all athletes fit neatly into these boxes. Yohan Blake is one. The newly-crowned 100 metres world champion he may have been, but the Daegu final was as notable for those who did not run – Tyson Gay, injured before, Asafa Powell, injured before, and Usain Bolt, disqualified - as those who did.

So, Blake still had a point to prove.  Powell, on the other hand, needed to run to take the money. A last-minute withdrawal from the world championships, the former world record holder led the DL 100 standings. But to be shown the money, Powell had to run Zurich.

Naturally, he copped a bit of cynical press. How bad could his injury have been if he was running in Zurich? Well, for one thing, Zurich was 11 days after the individual 100 metres final in Daegu, which is a significant amount of added rehabilitation time. For another, running a single race is far less demanding than three in 24 hours, as Powell would have been required to do at the worlds.

Finally, in a professional world in which he is no longer the record holder for 100 metres, Powell possibly cannot afford to pass up the US$40,000 on offer to the Diamond League winner. Bolt probably can, at his earnings peak maybe Powell could, too, but he is not at that peak right now.

Both men came away from Zurich then with goals accomplished. Blake ran a personal best 9.82, which Powell may not have been able to match at his best this year. Powell was second in 9.95 and walked away with the big loot.

Dayron Robles, too, had a point to prove after his disqualification from the 110 metres hurdles final in Daegu. Robles couldn’t change that result, but he did all he could in Zurich, taking the race in 13.01, his fastest for the year, and defeating the surprise world championships gold medallist, Jason Richardson.

Another point-maker was Christina Obergfoll, who went from fourth in the final in Daegu to winning the women’s javelin in 69.57 metres, ahead of gold, silver and bronze medallists Maria Abakumova (third), Barbora Spotakova (fourth) and Sunette Viljoen (second).

Nixon Chepseba was making points left, right and centre in the men’s 1500. Left out of the Kenyan team for Daegu, he beat this year’s world’s fastest, Silas Kiplagat, and the newly-crowned world champion, Asbel Kiprop.

Proving himself a worthy world champion was Grenada’s precocious teen, Kirani James. Not only did James again beat LaShawn Merritt over 400, but this time he ran a personal best and enjoyed a clear margin of victory. In Daegu it was 44.60 to 44.63, but in Zurich James pulled away from the American up the straight to win by three metres, 44.36 to 44.67.

Sally Pearson had only one point to make. “I want to be ready for every single race on the track,” she said of her first race as 100 metres world champion.

And she was. Pearson won in 12.52, not as quick as her gold medal 12.28 performance, but giving her a lop-sided margin of victory over Daegu silver medallist Dawn Harper, who clocked 12.81.

Pearson is, I believe, the first Australian to win at the Zurich Weltklasse meeting, performing a feat which has defied Olympic gold medallists Cathy Freeman and Debbie Flintoff-King, Craig Mottram, Dmitri Markov and many other outstanding Australian competitors over the years.

Not so fortunate was Australia’s other in-stadium medallist from Daegu. Mitchell Watt couldn’t even go seven metres in the long jump, much less the 8.01 that would have been required to beat Ngonidzashe Makusha.

At least Watt had the DL money already in his pocket and he did not fare that much worse than four-time world champion Dwight Phillips. The Daegu gold medallist came fourth in a competition which had an air of ‘we’ve had enough’ about it.

Now Pearson turns her focus to Rieti on Sunday when she hopes to break Melinda Gainsford-Taylor’s national record 11.12 for the flat 100. Going on her hurdles’ improvement, she should get it, too, given reasonable conditions and a smooth transition from the hurdles rhythm to that required for an all-out sprint.

Rieti will also bring an attack on the 800 metres world record by David Rudisha. If he succeeds, he should also be the first man ever under 1:41, as his current mark stands at a tantalising 1:41.01.

Current world lead Mitchell Watt will headline the men’s long jump at the Samsung Diamond League in Stockholm (SWE) this Friday night, with the IAAF world championship bronze medallist set to lead an Australian start list of eight.

His first competitive hit-out since injuring his heel last month, Watt is sure his cautious recovery will bode well as he maintains his focus on winning gold at the IAAF world championships in Daegu.

“The doctor said about ten days ago that it was fine to jump on, and I haven’t had any pain for about two weeks,” Watt said.

“But with the world championships as my main goal my coach Gary Bourne and I have decided to take it slow, avoid jump sessions and give it as much time as possible.

“All of my training has been going better than ever and I’m sure it will be fine, I’m just keen to test it and hopefully get something big out in the process.”

Watt arrived at Athletics Australia’s Cologne base as the best in the world this year after twice leaping 8.44m, at the Australian Athletics Championships and Round 2 of the Diamond League in Shanghai (CHN), before soaring 8.20m (w: +3.0) at the Bad Langensalza Long Jump Meet in Germany last month.

“My build up over here has been good, Cologne seems to be a bit quieter than I remember in 2009 but I think that’s because the world champs were in Berlin that year,” Watt continued.

“Personally it’s very different though because leading into the last world champs I wasn’t expected to do as well as I did whereas this year I came to Europe as the world leader, will hopefully head to Daegu in the same fashion and I want to return home as the world champion.

“After that I can assess my build-up to London and there is no better way to head into an Olympic year than as the best in the world. I think we all know that theselection trials will be here before we know it and I want to make sure that I am on my game both in Daegu and as the Australian season fast approaches.”

Joining Watt on the runway is Olympic champion Irving Saladino (PAN) and fellow AustralianRobbie Crowther. Saladino in Paris two weeks ago jumped 8.40m (w: +0.2) to win and challenge for the number one spot, while Crowther will make his Diamond League debut.

Watt continued: “Saladino’s jump in Paris was massive so I am hoping to try and beat him, but for the most part I am treating it as a rehearsal for the world champs

"I want to get something big out early so I know my heel is right and from there we’ll see what happens

“It’s great to Robbie on the start list too, he has been jumping consistently at 8.00m and I’d be rapt to see him PB as a starting point but maybe even get the qualifier to push for selection.”

Also competing in the field is national record holder and Commonwealth discus champion Benn Harradine, who at the Paris Diamond League heaved 64.98m for 5th. Olympic and world champions Gerd Kanter (EST) and Virgilijus Alekna (LTU) will challenge him in the circle.

Harradine has enjoyed an impressive European campaign to date including five podium finishes and a season best performance of 66.07m, just 38 centimetres shy of his personal best.

On the track, Australian record holder Ryan Gregson and world championships bound Jeff Riseleywill join Olympic champion Asbel Kiprop (KEN) in the men’s 1500m, while Lachlan Renshaw andTamsyn Manou will compete in the men’s and women’s 800m events respectively.

Tristan Thomas rounds out the Australians in action in the men’s 400m alongside world indoor champion Jamaal Torrance (USA), with the Australian Institute of Sport scholarship holder racing after two top-three performances at the Spitzen Leichathletik (46.53) and the Pergine Valsugana Meeting Internazionale (47.24).

To view and download start lists from the DN Galan, please click here.

IAAF Diamond League – Round 11

(DN Galan)

Stockholm (SWE)

Friday, July 29

4:30pm (12:30am Saturday, July 30 AEST)

800m: Lachlan Renshaw (NSW) (non-Diamond League event)

5:00pm (1:00am Saturday, July 30 AEST)

Discus throw: Benn Harradine (VIC)

6:15pm (2:15am Saturday, July 30 AEST)

400m: Tristan Thomas (ACT) (non-Diamond League event)

7:05pm (3:05am Saturday, July 30 AEST)

800m: Tamsyn Manou (VIC) (non-Diamond League event)

8:10pm (4:10am Saturday, July 30 AEST)

Long jump: Mitchell Watt (QLD), Robbie Crowther (ACT)

9:05pm (5:05am Saturday, July 30 AEST)

1500m: Ryan Gregson (NSW), Jeff Riseley (VIC)

ENDS

One of the consequences – intended or otherwise - of the IAAF’s shortening of the qualifying period for this year’s world championships is that some events have an alarmingly low number of qualified athletes.

For those still unaware, the qualifying period for Daegu opened on 1 October last year, cutting nine months of the period athletes have to attain the entry standards. In effect, it was a whole season, as only the early part of the southern hemisphere season falls into the last three months of the year.

With many athletes spending a good part 2011 focused on the process of making their national teams, it leaves precious little time to actually post qualifying performances. The impact is more severely felt in middle and long-distance events where the tactics of getting in the first three can militate against achieving the time required to qualify.

Indeed, as the next phase of the Diamond League kicks in with meetings over the weekend in Paris and Birmingham, only a dozen men (on a three per nation basis) have so far achieved the A-standard of 3:35.00 in the 1500 metres.

The situation is not as stark in the 800. Nineteen athletes (again on the three per nation basis and assuming I didn’t go cross-eyed counting) have attained the A-mark of 1:45.40.

Of course, one athlete per nation can be entered with a B-standard, but it is an alarming thought that just over a month before entries close, the world championships 1500 could be run as a straight final if it were restricted to A-qualifiers.

As noted, the 800 is better, but there are still not enough A-qualifiers to fill the three semi-finals so mysteriously beloved of championships organisers these days.

The state of the women’s 1500 is not much healthier, in terms of A-qualifiers. Only 16 women (three per nation) have run 4:05.90 or faster. Around 20 have bettered the 800 standard of 1:59.80.

The US championships had close and exciting racing in the distances, but no US man has an A-standard in the 1500. No British runner is qualified and no Australian either. We expect that to change, of course, but the time constraints leave little margin for error.

What’s even more disturbing, is the paucity of qualifying races. Outside the Diamond League and a couple of other meetings, very few men’s 1500s are won in 3:35.00 or better. Yet in the orchestrated races of the League, almost anyone can qualify. Eighth place in Doha and seventh in Shanghai ran under 3:35.00.

Admittedly, these were Kenyan runners who won’t count on a three per nation basis, but is eighth in Doha any more worthy of a run in the world championships right now than the winner of highly competitive races in the Australian or US titles (neither of whom is yet qualified).

 I’ve written before about the paucity of 10,000 metres races around the world which produce qualifying times. A 3:35 standard appears to be pushing the 1500 the same way.

There are hidden ‘kickers’ in other changes announced for this year. The cost to fans of the decision to make the first round of the 100 metres a ‘qualifying round’, with a small number going through to join the qualified athletes in what used to be the quarter-final round, has already been noted. No longer is it possible to buy a ticket for the first session of athletics at a world championships or Olympics and see all the best sprinters.

But there will be a nasty surprise awaiting athletes, too, if the change means a more savage pruning from the new ‘first round’ to the semi-finals. Sprinters who used to be able to count on at least two races, with a third, in the semis, if they ran their socks off, will now find themselves getting just one. Lucky these blokes will be safely off the track when they find out they won’t be coming back the next day!

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Regardless of the qualifying standards, it’s been a good week for Australian distance runners, with Jeff Riseley and Kaila McKnight added to the Daegu team after achieving the standards in the men’s 800 and women’s 1500, respectively.

With Craig Mottram and Collis Birmingham racing over 5000 metres in the Birmingham DL on Sunday and Riseley, Tamsyn Manou (nee Lewis) running the 800, and Ryan Gregson and Jeremy Roff among those chasing the 1500 qualifier over the coming weeks, let’s hope several more join them in the team for Daegu.

Footnote: Matt Centrowitz, Leonel Manzano and Andrew Wheating, the US Daegu men's 1500 selections (Bernard Lagat, second in the trial, ceded his place to Wheating), all got the world championships A-standard at the Paris DL. Rather proving the point about DL races, trials winner Centrowitz finished 11th (3:34.69), Manzano sixth (3:33.66) and Wheating ninth (3:34.39).