Usain Bolt is faster.

Liu Xiang wondered recently whether Bolt is from another planet. “You do not belong to the earth,” he told him at a Shanghai Diamond League press conference in a comment which obviously lost very little in translation.

Tyson Gay is also faster and, going on their head-to-head record since the 2007 Osaka world championships, mentally tougher.

So how come we’re all talking about Asafa Powell again? Well, one obvious answer would be that, of the big three of sprinting, Powell is the only one going round at the minute.

Bolt started his season with a sizzling 19.56 200 metres in Kingston, won in Shanghai and then ran the second-fastest time ever over 300 metres in Ostrava late last month. Now he has a stiff and sore achilles tendon.

Gay broke 45 seconds for 400 metres in April, making him the first man to have a sub-10, a sub-20 and a sub-45 to his name, and then broke Tommie Smith’s world record for the straight 200 metres in a Manchester street race. He is out of the weekend’s New York Diamond League with soreness in his hamstring. According to his agent, who is also the meeting manager, told Reuters: “There’s a readiness needed to run the 100 metres and he does not have that.”

Not injured, just not ready, then. Result the same _ not running.

Meanwhile, Powell just keeps churning out fast 100-metre races like they were going outof style. On Thursday night at Rome’s Golden Gala meeting, he ran 9.82 seconds, nipping a hundredth of a second off the year’s best he set in Ostrava. This was despite dwelling in the blocks, his reaction time _ 0.214 seconds _ more akin to a 400 metres runner than a straight-line speedster.

It was Powell’s 63^rd wind-legal sub-10 and 70^th overall. Nice numbers those.

Powell might accumulate sub-10s like Steve Waugh used to accumulate Test runs for Australia, but he performs more like Steve’s more profligate twin brother, Mark.

Now Mark Waugh could bat, and on several notable occasions he put his head down and ground out big scores just like his flinty brother, but he could also give his wicket away with all the misplaced generosity of a drunk on a spree.

Asafa Powell runs like that. For all his prodigious talent, there are times when you wonder just what on earth he is doing. Like when he gave away the silver medal when Gay had him beaten in the Osaka 100 final, or when he faded to fifth in the Beijing Olympic final. Or, when he lost to Justin Gatlin at the Prefontaine Meeting in 2005 when even a cursory ‘dip’ at the finish line would have got him home the winner.

For the most part, Powell’s problems have come at major championships. When others step up, he seems to shrink. Kinder folk have suggested he consult the sports psychologist; harsher critics, many of whom would not run for a bus for fear of losing, go for the ‘choker’ term.

Whatever _ 2010 is not a major championship year and Powell is already shaping up for his best season since 2006, also a non-championship year.

Back then, Powell did win his only individual gold medal _ at the Commonwealth Games on the Melbourne Cricket Ground. He also compiled one of the most impressive seasons ever by a sprinter. After Gatlin sidelined himself with a positive drug test in April, Powell had no challenger (Gay was emerging, but not yet a major force; Bolt was still a junior prodigy struggling to overcome injuries).

Powell equalled the world record he shared with Gatlin (whose performance was subsequently annulled) with 9.77 in Gateshead in early June, and equalled it again in Zurich, ahead of Gay, just over two months later.

In between, he ran 9.85 in Paris and Rome, then 9.86 in Stockholm. He again ran 9.86 in Berlin at the start of September, and won at the World Athletic Final in Stuttgart a couple of weeks later.

This year, Powell again seems to be in that sort of form. He has reportedly lost weight by paying a bit more attention to his diet and appears more relaxed and happy _ though outwardly, it must be said, he gives the impression of being relaxed and happy most of the time.

Presumably, both Bolt and Gay will be back in mint physical condition soon. If they are, Powell will take some beating this year. If not, he is once again showing he is capable of carrying the show on his own.

Duncan Kibet Video Interview

© 2009 The Runner's Tribe, all rights reserved. Published Friday September 18, 2009

Brought to you by Edward Ovadia

By MATT DAWSON

I recall watching the Men's 1500 race at one of the televised Grand Prix Meets at the start of 2000. The race was won in a slow time of 3:42, in windy conditions. Commentator, Jane Flemming slated the performance of Australia's middle distance runners saying that in an Olympic year that the winning time of 3:42 wasn't up to scratch. She put it simply: "these guys [top guys] should be breaking 3:40 every time they step on the track"- harsh criticism, but essentially on the money.

2000-2004 was probably the lowest ebb of Australia's 1500m stocks. This point is demonstrated by Australia fielding just one runner at the Sydney Olympics (Nick Howarth with a personal best of 3:39) and none at the Athens Olympics in 2004.

The problem wasn't necessarily lack of talent or hard work, but rather depth. Abdi, Chisholm, Fountain, Mottram (focusing on the 5000m), Stevenson etc gave it a red hot crack. But the level of domestic competition just wasn't there.

Thankfully, there has been a slow resurgence since that period. Thankfully, we're in a now in a position to focus on getting runners into the low 3:30s and eventually breaking the 3:30 barrier. In 2000, we had four men under 3:40 (Abdi, Howarth, Mottram and Stevenson). By 2003, it was just one (Abdi).

By 2007, that number had reached nine (Abdi, Birmingham, Bromley, Chisholm, Fountain, Kealey, Riseley, Roff and Woods) with a plethora of runners in the 3:40-3:42 range.

At the Bejiing Games last year, Australia had two representatives in the 1500m, Mitchell Kealey and Jeff Riseley. Unfortunately, both were quite seriously ill at the time and unable to advantage beyond their respective heats. Nevertheless, their qualification has set a benchmark, from which Australia's 1500 metre men can strive to improve on in London 2012.

So far in 2009, there have been five runners under 3:40, Riseley 3.32, Roff 3.34, Birmingham 3.35, Gregson 3.37, and Huffer 3.39. Riseley's performance at the World Champs in the Berlin, in finishing 10th in his Semi-Final was the first time an Aussie male has advanced beyond the heat of a World Championship or Olympics since Craig Mottram did so at the 2001 World Champs. This was a very promising performance from Riseley, who will be looking to improve on both his PB of 3:32 and his ability to run competitively in major championship races, in the lead up to London 2012.

But the list of challengers on the injured or out of form list makes the event look very competitive in the lead-up to the London Olympics in 2012. The likes of Mottram 3.33, Fountain 3.33, Abdi 3.36, Kealey 3.36, Woods 3.37, Chisholm 3.37, Hoffman 3.39 and Bromley 3.39 returning to form or from injury will make for great races over the coming domestic seasons.

Australia's recent improvement over middle and long distance track events has been matched in other Anglo-Saxon countries, with traditions of producing distance stars. Great Britain, New Zealand and United States have all seen vast improvements in their distance runners. The bronze medals of Craig Mottram (5km) at the 2005 Worlds in Helsinki and Nick Willis (1500m) in the Beijing Olympics last year has proven that Anglo-Saxon runners, can not only run fast times, but also compete with the Africans for medals at major championships.

The likes of Coe, Ovett, Cram (GB), Doyle, Scammell and Hillardt (Aust) and Walker (NZ) not so long ago showed us that there is no reason why runners from Anglo-Saxon countries can't stick it to the Africans over 1500 metres.

My prediction? Simon Doyle's Australian record will be long gone by the 2012 Games. And an Australian under 3.30? Who knows, but there is no better time to do it than with the 1500 metre crop we have right now!

 

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'My prediction? Simon Doyle's Australian record will be long gone by the 2012 Games'
Matt Dawson

Age: 17
Coach: Kevin Wills
Achievements: National U20 1500m and 5000m Champion, U16 and U18 National Cross Country Champion, 2nd at Youth Olympics 3000m.
800m - 1:52.90
1500m - 3:48
3000m - 8:05
5000m - 14:37
 

"I have a strong passion for running and have been running since the U6s in Little Athletics. I have been involved in sports all my life. I look forward to improving each year and running some fast times in the future. I also love surfing and the ocean which is where I do recovery and cross training including swimming. When I'm not training I'm usually surfing. I'm currently doing my HSC year 12 and have not decided what I'm doing when I leave school - apart from running!

My short term goals are to make World Junior 1500m and 5000m next year and medal at National Cross Country. I don't really have any long term goals because I don't want to put a barrier on what my limits are, but I definitely want to make a World Championship or Olympic final in probably the 5000m. I hope to get support through Runner's Tribe with gear, and ongoing support and opportunities that may open up down the line."

'My short term goals are to make World Junior 1500m and 5000m next year and medal at National Cross Country'
Cameron Page

2008 Women's 800m indoor world champs

By Mark Tucker

'Skimpies' - a word not usually associated with a running race but on one weekend in June, in the remote mining town of Leonora, the two collide and 2008 did not disappoint! Leonora is located just over an hours flight away from Perth inland and is built on mining. It has a couple of pubs and service stations but not a whole lot else - until the golden gift weekend rolls around. This year, I made a last minute decision to race in the mens elite mile - a decision based on the combination of having a few guys missing and the big money on offer! However, if it wasn't for 'Scrivo's (my coach: Bruce Scriven's) encouragement, I would have not gone - a recent marathon and change of focus was a dangerous combination for taking on an elite mile race.

Anyway, on the Friday night I made my way into Perth and was met by my host, Courtney Carter - a young local runner on the way up. This was the start of a memorable weekend. Saturday morning saw us arrive into Leonora on our small chartered plane and then hit our accommodation. The Horse racing is always popular on the Saturday, with the majority of the runners ending up at the race track for a small flutter on the horses and to experience all that a small country race meet has to offer. I decided against going to the races this year and instead wasted away time with some of the other runners, staring into the distance and chatting about important topics such as how tough it would be to live in Leonora without work!

That night, the heats were run in front of an enthusiastic crowd - although the promise of Kate Ceberano singing later on could have contributed somewhat to the numbers! Most of the expected guys and girls got through to the final unharmed, although my host - Courtney Carter - found himself in the slow heat and was the main casualty of the night.

Sunday morning started with the traditional breakfast at the Hoover ranch -a gold coin donation with a nice view and spread of food and beverages. After this it was focus time - 6000 dollars and a gold nugget were on the line and it was going to take a mighty effort to take it down. The Womens race was a real crowd pleaser - Nicky Molan and Emma Rilen diving for the line with Emma winning by the barest of margins. The Mens race was always going to be tough - 7 guys all with a shot at the title. In the end Craig Huffer showed he was one to watch for the future with a good win.. unfortunately at my expense - bastard! The plan was to go from about 450 out, just before the 2nd last turn and then hold the lead all the way to the line. The first part was carried out but Huffer's change of pace to go past me down the back-straight left me in his wake and another 2nd place was added to my previous 2nd and 3rd placings at Leonora. Nevertheless, 4000 dollars helped cope with the loss!

After the races had ended the real fun began - the 'skimpies', scantily clad women who serve beverages at the local pubs (very politically correct!), were the central focus of our attention - or more specifically, one of the skimpies, who decided to give us a good laugh with her crazy antics; Craig Huffer will never be the same! Leonora golden gift weekend is definitely a unique experience!