Athletics Weekly

Montano fascinates me - how does someone run such crazy first laps and still post a sub-1.58? Even after doing the same in 2 previous rounds? I see her like the American version of Maz, but stronger. I've never seen her run a sit and kick race, but Maz certainly doesn't seem to do as well as you mi...

That makes perfect sense and I am clearly an idiot!

Wonderful, wonderful race. One weird thing from his post-race interview - "the American came up and was trying to overtake me". We're not stupid Mo, we know he's your training partner and we know he was helping to create a barrier, Brendan Foster already told the nation!

I find it difficult to root for Russian females in the middle distances (burned too many times in the past) but I really like Savinova and was pleased with her win. Jelimo was frustrating - no one commentating picked up on her throwing away a medal just because Savinova had gone past - it seemed lik...

I agree with Mump - we won't know whether Perri can make up 20m on a much faster athlete unless she takes the baton 20m behind a faster runner. We won't know whether Christine can make up 30m to snatch a medal unless she has the chance to try... the girls were pumped for it, the crowds were on a Gre...

Let's not forget that he was only ever in a position to make it Okoro vs Sharp because of a crazy series of events (Jackson's last minute injury, Meadows' failure to recover, Simpson's not progressing fast enough, Sharp's medal)... to say he'd decided at the trials is a bit over zealous, but when p...

Let's not forget that he was only ever in a position to make it Okoro vs Sharp because of a crazy series of events (Jackson's last minute injury, Meadows' failure to recover, Simpson's not progressing fast enough, Sharp's medal)... to say he'd decided at the trials is a bit over zealous, but when p...

Let's not forget that he was only ever in a position to make it Okoro vs Sharp because of a crazy series of events (Jackson's last minute injury, Meadows' failure to recover, Simpson's not progressing fast enough, Sharp's medal)... to say he'd decided at the trials is a bit over zealous, but when pr...

Furthermore I wasn't specifically referring to Maz, but as you are referring to her nightmare run I firmly believe that it will never happen again. I think we will see a very different athlete next season. With regards to the final there is no doubt that Samenya is a championship athlete so if an a...

I love the way Micheal Johnson looks at denise and colin like they are talking complete nonesense. This has been the highlight of my games, and why I have not used the red button. MJ is outstanding. Tonight CJ and DL were happy to go along with the notion that 'blacks' beeing superior genetically, ...

Although Sharp's performance was disappointing, we can't kid ourselves that we had anyone capable of challenging this year in what is a very strong event. An athlete of Montano's class only being fourth best in a semi shows how tough it is. Only a fit and race-practised Meadows belongs in that comp...

Seems there won't be a Lane 1, so I meant Lane 2!!! Just checked as TBO being in 7 didn't tie in with the above mathematics of the draws (she was the fastest non-winner)... she's in the equivalent of Lane 6 (still no help with the others both inside her)...

Oh dear. If she's going to do this, she'll be doing it the hard way! Looking for a positive, due to the talent fighting for those spots, second place in TBO's heat will stand a good chance of being the fastest non-winner and thus get a central lane in the final? I just hope she's going to be one of ...

Christine wont get lane 1 or 8, and I dont think it really matters who she meets in the semi's. She is going to have to meet all the contenders at some stage. (obviously). If she is back to her best she will comfortably make the final. Good point - though winning the final from outside of lanes 3-6...

Actually, Sanya and Amantle are the slowest and fastest winners respectively! Seems likely they'll be drawn in the same semi?

Thanks for that Jjimbojames - so, in theory, TBO could have won her heat and be fastest qualifier, but meet Sanya or Amantle in the semi anyway unless they were also Top 3 Fastest Winners? Lots of 'ifs and buts', so I'll take off my statistical hat and simply cross my fingers! As stupid as her slowi...

Putting my statistics head on, does this mean - 12 central lane draws in the semis = 7 winners + 5 fastest others TBO is the fastest 'other' so far, so she should be guaranteed a central lane draw? But the chances of her meeting either Sanya or Amantle in the semis are now much higher (though Sanya ...

TBH, these 50-50 quotes have been twisted completely. What CVC actually said was she'd been like this for the last x years. I expect Paula to line up for the race, but a medal - no way. Though if There was a choice between Paula getting a medal and no-one else winning one, and winning 10 medals, I ...

One other thing about today's coverage - despite fast-forwarding through the talking heads as much as possible, I chuckled to myself at both of the following remarks - (following Denise Lewis saying she felt the selection of Sharp wasn't correct) Inverdale: You told Charles this? Denise: I did. It d...

Thank you MysteryBrick, you've summed up my thoughts in a much more cohesive way than I could - I'm not watching the Olympics as some objective 'outsider', I have an emotional investment in the athletes and I want to see them perform as well as they possibly can. I was also very excited by TBO today...

As it is , I do NOT consider that Sharp will qual from the opening round unless she is lucky, gets a slow heat and a good position in the last 50 metres. The point I have made, and others too, is that LS deserved to be selected and not the others. The whole Okoro sh*t is too absurd for any further ...

...maybe even someone completely off the radar, dare i say it..........Paula Radcliffe. DON'T SAY IT! I think I speak for every athletics fan when I say that deep in my heart I pray that such a thing could occur. However, we all know that we must never voice this possibility or a great curse will f...

As an athletics fan (whose possible favourite event at the moment is the women's 800m), I was looking forward to the recent pattern of 3 semi-finals, each with a British athlete in them, and three times the excitement that a British athlete might make the final. To be blunt (and selfish), I feel a b...

2:00.88 and the run from the Euros wont cut it at the olympics You are correct it won't cut it at the Olympics. Anyone who does well at the 800m UK Champs has got a good chance in the Euros and this year even more so. The step up to the Olympics is in a different Universe. I have no great expectati...

Sorry, I meant Roger Black in 1997 (the year he wasn't picked and promptly retired?) Yes ktf you were right first time. Roger Black retired in 1998 after his non-selection for the Europeans. In 1997 he actually ran in the WC 4x400 in Athens. Thank you - I went and checked (when I realised that it's...

Sorry, I meant Roger Black in 1997 (the year he wasn't picked and promptly retired?)

Edit: Seems I was right the first time! Duh!

Jenny Meadows not going to appeal against her non selection. but others have already written appeal !! Are Okoro and/or Jackson appealing? When they win the appeal (which they surely will), they'll have a lot of pressure to perform well to support their fight. Maybe that was CVC's aim all along? Th...

The decision to select only Sharp seems a political one. Van Commenee has an axe to grind with Okoro, suspects that Meadows has no chance of being fit (borne out by her decision not to appeal) and saw that Simpson was not in great shape. Jackson is fit again now (she ran the Midland League for her ...

Anyone who thinks the w800m final is going to be a slow race should not be in charge of picking a team. There are at least 4 or 5 ladies who will be in London who consider 1:57 to be on the slow side. It is going to be very sad for us. And it could have been so interesting. 100% agree (I took too l...

That said I can't agree with the 800m decision. I see where they're coming from - they're only interested in medals and they think the only chance is with the big kicker in a slow race and she's the one whose shown tactical competence and to be in good physical shape. But I can't see Sharp getting ...