t-and-f: Korzeniowski walks into Olympic history
On Thu, 28 Sep 2000 21:44:26 -0400, Paul V. Tucknott <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: >Poland's Robert Korzeniowski has won the arduous >50-kilometre walk at the Sydney 2000 Games to >become the first man in history to take out the >men's Olympic walk double. Korzeniowski's first >gold came in the 20km walk on >16 September the >first gold of the Games which was decided in >controversial circumstances. Korzeniowski finished >the race in second, but winner Bernardo Segura of >Mexico was later disqualified to give the Pole >the title. >But there was no controversy over the longer >distance. COMMENT: Natch. It would have been unfair to disqualify anyone because all of them were running. Well, at least the first ten, who were shown on tv here. The judges must have been blind not to see they were so obviously lifting. Finishers 8 and 10 were particularly blatant. Other sports such as fencing have used electronic judging for half a century, and it is used in track races at both the start and the finish. Why not to ensure that "walkers" are walking? Palle Lassen, then chairman of the IAAF Race Walking Committee, once admitted in an hour-long discussion that the IAAF had let the cheating get away from them and were powerless to stop it now. Note that within the last decade the time- honoured definition of walking - a progression of steps so taken that unbroken contact with the ground is maintained - has been nullified. P N Heidenstrom
FW: t-and-f: Talk about falling short: What about Burrell?
-- > From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] > Reply-To: [EMAIL PROTECTED] > Date: Fri, 29 Sep 2000 21:24:18 EDT > To: <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> > Cc: <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> > Subject: t-and-f: Talk about falling short: What about Burrell? > > Y ask Y: > > For all those instant track experts in the media ganging up on Marion for her > "atrocious form" and lost gold, consider this: > > Dawn Burrell, with a season best and PR of 22-10 3/4 (6.98), fell two feet > short in Sydney, going a pathetic 20-11 1/4 (6.38) after fouling her first two > attempts. By contrast, Marion came through with flying colors, jumping 6.92 > (not far off her 7.02 season best). > > Also consider Heike's achievement: She broke the W35 age-group WR of 6.90 > (22-7 3/4) by Russia's Vera Olenchenko. HD's performance "equates" to 7.52 on > the WAVA Age-Graded Tables -- 24-8 1/4. Interestingly, her PR is 7.48, making > the Age-Graded Tables look pretty good as a mechanism for comparing > performances of different ages. > > Also BTW, Reuters IDs the drug positive as Russia's European indoor 400 metres > champion Svetlana Pospelova. (tested positive for the banned steroid > stanozolol in an out-of-competition drug test). > > What a blast from the past. That's Ben Johnson's drug of choice. > > Ken Stone >
t-and-f: 1500 comments
Following up on Ed's comments, I agree that El Gerrouj seemed to make a serious tactical error in the 1500 final. When the Morroccan "rabbit" blew his job (and that 60-point second lap must have been a screw-up), the race had shifted from a burn-off to a tactical pace. But El G had no plan "B." He moved right to the front like it was a Grand Prix time trial or something. And from the couple of GP meets I saw this summer, El G did not seem to have the fire in his legs that was there last year. In each of those failed WR attempts, he looked like a guy who could get outkicked if someone could just hang with him through the first 1200. Ngeny and Lagat must have thought the same, as they looked really patient and relaxed the whole way. It's a shame for El G that he won't have quite the place in history his times seem to warrant, but then, that's why they run the race. And I wonder if he's on the downslope of his talent now, as Morceli was a few years ago. In other words, did we see in this Olympic final the next change at the top, with Ngeny finally supplanting El G? Obviously, we'll have to wait till next year to know for sure, but my impression is that El G won't recover the hunger he had after his fall Atlanta. - Jay U. PS I wonder how Jason Pyrah feels, having the season of his life and outperforming Jennings and Stember on the big stage, only to get virtually ignored by NBC. I suppose there's a lesson in this for up-and-comers: if you want the attention that will attract sponsorship, you need a "personality" a la the WWF. -- [EMAIL PROTECTED] is brought to you by the Stanford Alumni Association and Critical Path.
t-and-f: Capel's start
on Fri, 29 Sep 2000 10:47:28 -0700 Ed Grant <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: Netters: We saw some very incompetent officiating yesterday (Thursday) in two Olympic events, both of which affected the fgold medal. Firstm, the 200. When John Capel started to roll and then went = back, the proper call of the starter was "Stand up" It is a little more dificult for one starter to detect such a move when the runners are as spread out as they are in a 200 COMMENT: Mr Grant is right on all counts. Let's remember that all starts at Sydney were governed solely by IAAF rules. Other considerations have to be put aside. In this case the starter fired his gun before all the competitors were steady, which is contrary to rule 162.2. Therefore the start was not fair, and should have been recalled. If the starter had seen Capel's movement he should have called the field to stand up. If he failed to see it, as seems likely, it was because he was standing in the wrong place. I could not see the starter in the 200m final, but in earlier rounds he stood outside lane 8 behind the runners - the worst possible position because the angle of vision from lane 1 to lane 8 is at a maximum. The US management should have appealed after the 200m final, if not earlier, and would have had a strong case. IAAF rule 128 reads "Note: The starter should place himself so that the whole field of runners falls into a narrow visual angle." The Australian starter either had not studied this rule or had chosen to go against it, and should have been dismissed. The Strine officials were similarly unimpressive at the Melbourne Olympics in 1956 (making at least three major blunders), and working alongside a Sydney crew at the US-Empire meet soon after, I found they had a very limited understanding of international rules. P N Heidenstrom
t-and-f: Olympic racing
Scroll down only if you want to know what went on > It's a shame for El G that he won't have quite the place in history his times > seem to warrant, but then, that's why they run the race. That's what made this Olympics so fascinating - shocks in the men's 800, 1500 and 5000 (and almost in the 10). The Grand Prix circuit with its boring emphasis on records provides people like El G with two or three pacemakers and they don't get used to racing. At the Olympics they have to race (although that said El G, the Kenyans and Ethiopians seem prepared to sacrifice a finalist as a pacemaker) and the biggest names, all except HG, weren't up to it. It's time there was another debate on the use of pacemakers on the circuit. Clearly they've been there for too long to be outlawed completely, but perhaps we could insist that they finish the race, or something. Randall Northam
Re: t-and-f: 1500 comments
Jay Ulfelder wrote: > Following up on Ed's comments, I agree that El Gerrouj seemed to make a serious >tactical error in the 1500 final. When the Morroccan "rabbit" blew his job (and that >60-point second lap must have been a screw-up), the race had shifted from a burn-off >to a tactical pace. But El G had no plan "B." He moved right to the front like it was >a Grand Prix time trial or something. If you remember last year's WC 1500, Adil El Kaouche, El G's teammate, set the pace for him, going 54.31, 1:52.15. El G took the lead with 700m to go, just like yesterday. The difference was that he was much better last year and continued on to a monster 3:27.65. Ngeny, despite running 3:28.73, never was able to challenge. As has been clear in virtually all of Hicham's races this year, he isn't quite in last year's form. One could argue that it was a tactical error to try to run the same race as last year, knowing he wasn't in that condition. > It's a shame for El G that he won't have quite the place in history his times seem >to warrant, but then, that's why they run the race. And I wonder if he's on the >downslope of his talent now, as Morceli was a few years ago. He's only 26. I would expect that he will bounce back, and possibly improve some again. There are World Championships next year. Let's not forget that El G has two WC gold medals; it's not like Ron Clarke. Cheers, Alan Shank
t-and-f: USOC releases more drug test figures
http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/olympics/news/2000/09/30/us_tests/index.html SYDNEY (Reuters) -- Thirty-three American track and field athletes tested positive for banned drugs last year, according to U.S. Olympic Committee figures released on Saturday. Five of the cases involved anabolic (steroid) agents, 26 were for stimulants and two were for other substances. The figures show 923 tests were conducted, 769 in competition and 154 out of competition. In all sports 4,962 tests were conducted with 22 positives for anabolic agents. There is no record in the figures of which athletes were involved or what action was taken by the individual federations. USA Track and Field chief executive Craig Masback has been under increasing pressure over the past week to release the names of 15 track and field athletes who the International Amateur Athletic Federation (IAAF) says have tested positive and not been identified. International Olympic Committee (IOC) vice-president Dick Pound has accused the United States of being in a state of denial over its drugs problem and White House drugs chief General Barry McCaffrey urged Masback this week to release the names immediately. Masback told reporters last Wednesday he would not release the names until all the correct procedures had been followed but, in response to the pressure, announced on Friday he would set up an independent commission to review USA Track and Field's record on doping cases. At a news conference on Saturday Masback said the committee would examine all cases from January 1 last year. In reply to a questioner he said he resented the criticism. "Yes it has got under my skin," he said. "The allegations are untrue. Our team is, dare I say, the most tested team here. We have disciplined more people than any other team. "It's extremely unfair for the members of this team, none of whom have tested positive, to be cast under a cloud." Masback said he had discussed his proposal to hand over all testing to the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) informally with Pound on Friday evening. He said Pound had suggested other options such as WADA doing the testing in conjunction with the U.S. Anti-Doping Agency. Masback refused to comment on the doping case of world shot put champion C.J. Hunter, the husband of double Olympic sprint champion Marion Jones. Hunter has tested positive four times this year for the anabolic steroid nandrolone. Masback told reporters later he did not know how many outstanding positive cases involving U.S. athletes were still to be resolved. He said the real issue was that the Indianapolis IOC-accredited laboratory had not given its test results to the IAAF. He said of the outstanding cases half were for asthma medication, four had involved athletes whose second urine sample had not matched the first and half of the remaining cases were for cold medicine preparations.
Re: t-and-f: RE: [racewalking] Rules question . . .
>Rule 144 in the IAAF handbook states: > >Rule 144 > >Assistance to Athletes > >2. . . . Assistance is the conveying, by any means, of advice, information >or direct help and includes pacing in races by persons not participating in >the race, by runners or walkers lapped or about to be lapped or by any kind >of technical device. > > > >Is a heart rate monitor not considered a technical device??? > >Paul! I think it clearly is a "technical device," but I guess I'd read that rule as referring to "outside" assistance (since the other two examples given both refer to other people besides the athlete). In that case, the rule against technical devices could refer to a flashing billboard saying "he's 24 meters behind you" or an earpiece through which the coach could communicate tactical advice to the athlete. My personal feeling (and it seems consistent with this rule) is that a heart rate monitor (like a watch) is a technical device of the athlete's that helps them gauge their effort in a race, just like a clock on the infield or Jumbotron. Bryan [EMAIL PROTECTED]
t-and-f: Mens' 1500m - Coe's View
Electronic Telegraph Saturday 30 September 2000 El Guerrouj lets biggest prize of all slip through his fingers By Sebastian Coe THE unthinkable happened yesterday. On the biggest stage of them all and in the cruellest of ways Hicham El Guerrouj found out that the Olympic Games do not respect reputation. He walked forlornly from a stadium that had promised less than two weeks ago to be the venue for his anointment as the greatest 1,500 metres runner of them all. After four years of domination at the distance he had only a silver medal and a sackful of world records. Back in July, I stood in the infield at Crystal Palace barely four paces away from El Guerrouj, who was on his way to a sublime 3min 45sec mile. He went past me with only one lap to go and I swear that I could not hear a breath from the Moroccan as he entered the last lap. Noah Ngeny, from Kenya, who finished in silver medal position and in the wake of El Guerrouj at the World Championships in Seville last year, was chasing but knew even at this point that the game was up. One lap later and 15 metres clear, El Guerrouj crossed the line even less stressed than he was 54 seconds earlier. Ngeny and the rest of the field walked from the track knowing that El Guerrouj was at his imperious best and that there was little chance that they would be chasing anything more than the silver medal in Sydney. I followed El Guerrouj's progress to Berlin, where the record books will show in years to come that he won his last race before the Olympics in a creditable 3min 30sec. What the record books will not show that night was that he looked listless and heavy legged. I presented him with the medal and in my broken French gently suggested that he looked a little tired. There had been talk too of a virus about the time of a sub-standard performance in Brussels a week earlier. "I will be OK in Sydney," he said. "I need a few weeks to relax in Australia." The heat and semi-final here in Sydney showed nothing other than his assured passage into the final. Adil El Kaouch, his team mate, training partner and pace-maker in the World Championship final in Seville last year, did not make it past the opening round. It was to Youssef Baba, who did qualify, that the back-room team turned when planning El Guerrouj's strategy for the final. In reality, he probably had no greater say in this complicity than Kaouch in Seville or than Ben Jipcho in Mexico in 1968 who did the same job for Kip Keino when ending Jim Ryun's 'American Dream.' In cycling they call them Domestiques. On the Grand Prix circuit they call them Pace Makers. In Morocco they call them King Makers. With little more than half the first lap completed Baba shouldered his divine duties. Less than 400 metres further down the track he stepped aside, leaving El Guerrouj a little under 900 metres to be spoken of in the same breath as Herb Elliott. Ngeny followed in his footsteps. It was the same path he had trodden so many times before in the past two years, waiting for the imperceptible and strength-sapping surges to the tape. With one lap to go, Ngeny was still there and, more worryingly for El Guerrouj, there were others there, too. So sure was I of his supremacy, I presumed he had decided to go for glory from 300 metres out. A touch of the accelerator shortly afterwards gave comfort to my view. I waited for the next injection of pace but with 200 metres to go and with Ngeny still looking menacingly comfortable, El Guerrouj glanced nervously up to the big screen. It must have dawned on him that his coveted Olympic title was in danger and that the title was in danger of taking an easterly direction to Nairobi. Ngeny hit the front with 80 metres to go and El Guerrouj again glanced up at the screen, this time not for the inboard computer to assess co-ordinates for gold but the likelihood of securing silver as Ngeny's countryman Bernard Lagat challenged. Ngeny crossed the line to reassert Kenyan dominance in middle-distance running. El Guerrouj was left in a state of shock. Just 30 seconds later he was being comforted by his Kenyan assassins, who were part of one of the biggest upsets of the modern Games. The experts in their commentary points sat crouched behind their television monitors and screeched their incredulity. Olympians like Steve Cram, Brendan Foster and Spaniard Jose Abascal looked on beside them. Their faces were a picture of disbelief and a pained sorrow. Eamonn Condon WWW.RunnersGoal.com
Re: t-and-f: Liquori's comments
In a message dated 9/29/00 11:13:22 PM, [EMAIL PROTECTED] writes: << i loved Marty L's comments with about 250m to go in the Men's 1500m. "It's going to come down to the last 100 meters.'" Oh, come on Marty. How would you have known that unless you had already seen the tape." Make it a little less contrived. >> John, Sorry to spoil your attempt to have fun at someone else's expense (again!), but that was a live call by Marty. In fact, when the race was over, he said, "People won't believe that was a live call". And you wonder why some of us get upset at some of your drug-related posts. Your intentions may be pure, but you don't have all the answers. Walt Murphy
t-and-f: Campbell accepts relay blow
Electronic Telegraph Saturday 30 September 2000 Tom Knight DARREN CAMPBELL has refused to blame any of his team-mates for the relay debacle which ruined his chances of a return to Stadium Australia. Campbell did not get to bed until 5.30am after winning a silver medal in the 200 metres the night before, and was still asleep when Britain's 4x100m team, favoured to challenge the Americans, crashed out. The Belgrave Harrier did not discover what had happened until lunchtime when he went for a celebratory meal with his coach, Linford Christie. "The relay boys are out is the first thing Linford said to me," Campbell said. It was Campbell's replacement on the opening leg, Allyn Condon, who was involved in the episode which effectively ruined Britain's chances. It was his changeover to Jason Gardener which saw Britain fall behind. Their fate was sealed when Dwain Chambers ran out of his changeover zone when receiving the baton from Marlon Devonish for the anchor leg and Britain were disqualified. This was the second consecutive Games in which Britain's relay chances had ended in disappointment. In Atlanta, four years ago, it had, ironically, been Campbell who was involved. It was his changeover to Darren Braithwaite which ended the team's chances and brought a premature end to Christie's Olympic career. Campbell said: "I feel like a man who has won one silver but lost another. We expected to get at least a silver medal and we were going for the gold. "But no one's to blame. We are a team and we support each other. We've had three good years without any mistakes. It's just unfortunate that this happened on the biggest stage of all." The disappointment will be long forgotten, however, if the women's 4x400m team can produce a medal today. Helen Frost, Donna Fraser, Allison Curbishley and Katharine Merry qualified for the final with an accomplished run in the semis. Curbishley said: "I've never been in a team like this before. We think we can definitely get a medal." The competition will be tough with Nigeria, Russia and an American quartet, anchored by Marion Jones, among the favourites. The Russians came through as fastest losers but will introduce Olga Kotlyarova, a finalist in the individual event, and Irina Privalova, the gold medallist in the 400m hurdles, for the final. Britain's medal prospects on the last full day of competition also include Paula Radcliffe in the 10,000m and Kelly Holmes in the 1500m. Reuben Kosgei's victory in the steeplechase was the event's slowest winning time since 1972 but, with Kosgei finishing just ahead of Wilson Boit Kipketer, it gave Kenya their fourth one-two finish in a row at the Olympics. Despite the absence of Jeff Hartwig, the world No 1, who failed to make it through the US trials, the Americans, Nick Hysong and Lawrence Johnson, took the top two medals in the pole vault. Both men failed at 5.96m but Hysong, a vaulter not even ranked in the world's top 10, won gold with 5.90m. Johnson cleared the same height but had to be content with the silver on countback. Robert Korzeniowski, of Poland, added the 50km walk title to the 20km crown he won last weekend, but the crowd saved their biggest cheer for Britain's Chris Maddocks, who entered the stadium an hour later after suffering with a hamstring injury. Maddocks, who was competing in a record fifth Olympics, said: "That was the most painful 50km I've ever done but the Games are the biggest thing in sport. It was the most emotional finish I've ever experienced in walking." Eamonn Condon WWW.RunnersGoal.com
t-and-f: Will To win and Chris Huffins
For those of you that are critical of Huffins' "will", "arrogance", and "choke artist" tendencies you obviously don't know anything about the following... 1 The Decathlon. 2 Chris Huffins. To make it to the Olympics in the Decathlon, you have to have more "will" than want. Huffins just ran the fastest 1500M of his life...a PR by 13 seconds. How many athletes do you know that have PRed by 13 seconds in the 1500M? Albeit, his previous PR was slow, but it was still the fastest time that he had ever been able to "will" himself to, in his life. Look at his marks... 10.48 (100M), 25' 3 1/2" (LJ), 50' 3/4" (SP), 6'10 1/4" (HJ), 48.31 (400M), 13.91 (110HH), 162' 6" (DT), 15' 5" (PV), 185' 7" (JT), 4:38.71 (1500M). I don't care who you are...you cant make those marks in an Olympic competition without the "will" to train and win. The places that I believe he could have done better are the Shot Put and Javelin. But those are not "will" events, they are technique events. I know Chris, and he has the "will" or he would be doing something other than the Decathlon with his life. About Chris's lack of arrogance...again you don't even know him, and cant make a judgment based on TV interviews. Actually one of Chris's early downfalls was his arrogance. He used believe that he could beat you with 9 events, and therefore used to run a terrible 1500M. He used to piss off allot of the VISA Decathlon Team members with his arrogance, but Chris has matured a lot and now is confident with his abilities and doesn't need to run his mouth. Now he can let his athletic ability do the talking, not just spout some useless babble. What is a "choke artist"? Is it someone that lets the pressure of big meets get to them, and therefore they mess up? If that is the case then that is not Chris Huffins. His problem in the past was that he often let other people beat him, because of his lack of 1500M ability. I believe it was a mental thing that he was going through, because he really believed he couldn't run the 1500. And I believe that if you turned the events of the Decathlon around and started with the 1500M and ended with the LJ and 100M, then people would say that he was a great finisher, because he would gain allot of points in those events. Therefore, you have to look at all ten events, and people will have strengths and weaknesses, but you are not a "choke artist" if you stink at the 1500m...you just stink at the 1500M, and you better have a huge lead on people going into that event. Now, as for his interview...I can tell by the emails expressing that he is a nice guy and should have been mad about finishing with the bronze and not elated and gracious like he was, that you people (writing those emails) have never had the "will" or guts to attempt and/or finish a Decathlon. The feeling that you get when you finish a Decathlon fills your entire body and mind with a great sense of achievement and pride. And that is just a backyard, no name meet Decathlon. Imagine that feeling times 1000. That is what it feels like to finish the Olympic Decathlon. And imagine finishing the Olympic Decathlon with a 13 second PR in the 1500M, then you can multiply that feeling by 1500 times (instead of 1000). Now, my theory (and I speak from experience) is that Chris will come down from the high of the Olympic Decathlon competition, a 13 second PR in the 1500m, and an Olympic Bronze medal and he will analyze the numbers and wish he could have just thrown 52' 7 1/4" in the shot, or 195' 11" in the jav. Either of these, which are easily within his everyday abilities, would have given him the Gold medal. He will have these reflections, but not until the hoopla quiets down. I personally think that Chris was a class act during his interview and believe that he has a lot to be proud of. I hope that he keeps on competing, because my level of respect for him as a Decathlete just jumped by leaps and bounds. Just my 10 cents... Rob Muzzio 5th place, 1992 Olympic Decathlon...no medal but proud to have the opportunity to represent the U.S.A. in the Games of the XXV Olympiad! Visit our web site for training equipment to help you achieve your best... http://www.speed-fitness.com
t-and-f: Women's hammer report
Electronic Telegraph Saturday 30 September 2000 Tom Knight. KAMILA SKOLIMOWSKA became the youngest winner of an Olympic throwing event since Romanian javelin thrower Mihaela Penes in 1964 when she claimed the inaugural women's hammer title. Skolimowska, 17, said she was inspired as she was warming up for the competition by hearing the Polish national anthem at the medal ceremony for the 50km walk. Robert Korzeniowski added the 50km title to the 20km crown he won last weekend. She also thanked officials for eliminating Mihaela Melinte, the pre-event favourite from Romania, before the qualifying competition after Melinte tested positive for nandrolone. "When Melinte was disqualified, we all thought our chances of getting a medal had improved," Skolimowska said. She set a national record of 71.16 metres, the fifth best of all time, and a world junior record. Next month she will return to action in Chile for the World Junior Championships. "I hope I can win - it would be embarrassing for the Olympic champion to lose there," she said. Eamonn Condon WWW.RunnersGoal.com
t-and-f: Masback and Drugs
Come on, folks. Who is really in charge here?? I think all of us with half a brain know there is a cover up taking place. What Masback knows is anyone's guess, but he knows something, to be sure. And why all of this back-peddling?? Why can't someone be honest?? I sat in the stands at two early meets this year and watched athletes being carted off the field by the drug testing folks. You are going to tell me that Masback does not and did not have the results of these tests perhaps a few weeks after the fact?? I simply do not believe it. The Baron
t-and-f: Crash landing for Jones record
Electronic Telegraph Saturday 30 September 2000 Sue Mott THIS was the slow boat to a broken dream. Marion Jones is used to her fate being decided in the lightning flash of explosive speed. But in the Olympic long jump final her destiny took nearly two hours of intrigue to unravel, and when it was over she was left clutching a bronze medal and shattered ambition, thwarted by one last act of Olympian endeavour from an all-time great. "I think the most positive thing I can take out of this experience," Jones said, "is that I can tell my grandchildren that I competed against one of the best long jumpers in history." Heike Drechsler, the 1992 Olympic gold medallist, who won her first world championship 17 years ago as a 19-year-old competing for the old East Germany, won this event with a leap 15 cm shorter than the one by which she triumphed eight years ago. An acknowledged former Stasi agent, accused of steroid intake during her sporting life behind the Berlin Wall, she can now be embraced as one of the most accomplished athletes united Germany has ever produced. "I don't feel like East or West," she said. "We are a team and I feel really good in this team." Well may she. Jones was chasing five gold medals. Drechsler, in her last Olympics at the age of 35, was chasing one last re-run of Olympic glory. But she hadn't counted on it. "I'm really lucky. I don't recognise me winning the gold medal. It's fantastic. I know I am not that young any more and when I was injured a week before the world championships in Seville last year, I really wanted to stop. But four weeks later, I looked at my spikes and said: 'Oh, I try again'. The Olympics give me great motivation. And to be standing in first place. I can't say what I feel, I have so much emotion." She spoke through genuine broad-beaming smiles as Jones leaned politely listening, her chin resting on her fist. The bridesmaid's bouquet is no use to this woman. "Fun is winning," Jones admitted. And winning is familiar to the fastest woman on the planet, but not this time. She was beaten by an expert and a delighted silver-medallist, the Slough-born Italian Fiona May. The long jump was always going to be the potential nemesis in Jones' attempt to outrun the four-gold-per-Games performances of her fellow-Americans, Jesse Owens and Carl Lewis. Only the Flying Finn, Paavo Nurmi, in 1924, succeeded in winning five golds in one Games. His record is safe. Now - with the two relay berths on the American teams awaiting her - she can only win four. Only . . . While Drechsler was an iron-nerved technician, Jones was a steel-willed sandbag. She may have soared down the runway like a Tornado jet but she landed, knees akimbo, like a sack. She only managed two legal jumps out of six altogether and on the final jump, with Drechsler already leading with her third leap of 6.99 metres, Jones, with a best jump of 6.92m, needed the conversion of sheer violent speed into distance to keep her ambitions alive. She bent double, fluttered her fingers as though tingling with handbrake-held energy, then poured down the runway, hitting the board and leaping - it appeared - on or beyond the seven-metre line. But she turned to see the immediate hoisting of the red flag. Her foot had been well over the board. Game over. "I knew on my last jump I'd got to lay it all on the line. I was very aggressive. Very fast, very fast. I took off well, but unfortunately saw the red flag. It kinda dashed my hopes." Those hopes had been pretty vaunting in fact. Jones talks about her own greatness as though it is a tangible asset, to be coined into titles and championships at will. But now she was having to talk about her own humility and disappointment, ironically reined back by a woman who was not the product of individual belief, but a system. Drechsler did not talk about her past under the Eastern Bloc regime, during which she was forced to become a Stasi informer and submit a written request to have a baby. Following the collapse of the Berlin Wall, she sued for libel the publishers of a book which documented her annual dose of steroids. She lost the libel case, was convicted of perjury and was forced to issue a public apology. "Of course, there were problems, but I feel comfortable with my life now," she would only say. Her son is now 11 and prefers football to long jump. She did not say it, but the implication was that he was gloriously free to choose. Perhaps Jones, a woman not untainted by drug problems herself in the 320lb shape of her tested-positive husband, had too much choice by contrast. Presented with the opportunity to go for a fistful of gold at these Olympics, a combination of her ego and evident sprint supremacy made her feel the need to try. Having failed, she admitted to the let-down. Clutching a small American flag and a fair imitation of defiance, she said: "I'm disappointed. That's the word to describe it, but I had a good shot at it. It just didn't pan out. I know people
RE: t-and-f: Newspaper editorials RE: Oly Games, track and/or Doping?
See USA Today's Friday edition - they have clips of various US newspapers ed. sections that addressed the issue. R. Kent Kurfman, MS,PT,MTC [EMAIL PROTECTED] > -Original Message- > From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] > [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]]On Behalf Of Bob Ramsak > Sent: Friday, September 29, 2000 15:18 > To: tf list > Subject: t-and-f: Newspaper editorials RE: Oly Games, track and/or > Doping? > > > Hi All, > > I'd like to know if any daily newspapers anywhere in the US (or > elsewhere) have > commented on their editorial page about the the Olympics, about > track and/or > about doping over the past several months (particularly over the > past several > days). If you've come across anything, please contact me off list. > > Thanks in advance. > > > --- > | Bob Ramsak > | OHIO Track & Running Report > | http://www.trackprofile.com > | Cleveland, Ohio USA > | [EMAIL PROTECTED] >
Re: t-and-f: Olympic racing
Randall Northam wrote: > Scroll down only if you want to know what went on > > > It's a shame for El G that he won't have quite the place in history his times > > seem to warrant, but then, that's why they run the race. > > That's what made this Olympics so fascinating - shocks in the men's 800, > 1500 and 5000 (and almost in the 10). The Grand Prix circuit with its boring > emphasis on records provides people like El G with two or three pacemakers > and they don't get used to racing. At the Olympics they have to race > (although that said El G, the Kenyans and Ethiopians seem prepared to > sacrifice a finalist as a pacemaker) and the biggest names, all except HG, > weren't up to it. Well, Kipketer and El G have both won gold medals in majors, so I don't think you can attribute their losses to not being able to "race." > It's time there was another debate on the use of pacemakers on the circuit. > Clearly they've been there for too long to be outlawed completely, but > perhaps we could insist that they finish the race, or something. If a runner gets used to having pacemakers and can't hack it in a championship race without one, that his/her problem, isn't it? Cheers, Alan Shank
t-and-f: Moroccan cracks under the pressure
Electronic Telegraph Saturday 30 September 2000 Tom Knight HICHAM El Guerrouj, who cried on being beaten to the gold medal in the 1,500 metres, had been telephoned by the King of Morocco before his semi-final. "I knew that the weight of expectations of the people of Morocco and of the King were on me to win the Olympic title," El Guerrouj said. "So much so that when I arrived here today I was crying and my coach had to calm me down. "I am obviously disappointed but I have no excuse. I was stressed right from the outset." El Guerrouj said he planned to step up to 5,000m for next year's World Championships in Canada and hoped to compete in the longer event at the 2004 Athens Olympics. "I am still young at 26. I can wait four years," he said. It was an uncharacteristically tame performance from the man many thought unbeatable. But the winner, Noah Ngeny, one of 50 Kenyans who spent part of their year living on the banks of the Thames at Teddington under the supervision of their English manager, Kim McDonald, showed little concern for his rival's distress. Ngeny said: "This is my dream come true. Everyone was thinking about El Guerrouj winning but I knew I had a surprise in store for him. Now I am Olympic champion for the next four years." El Guerrouj has dominated the 1,500 metres for more than four years but his dream of winning the Olympic title ended in tears for the second Games in succession. In another big upset in Stadium Australia, Ngeny's time of 3min 32.07sec erased Sebastian Coe's Olympic record of 1984. El Guerrouj came to Sydney desperate to erase the memories of Atlanta, where he tripped and fell going into the final lap of the race won by Algeria's Noureddine Morceli. The tears he shed that night are captured in a framed photograph which has hung in his dormitory at the Moroccan Institute of Athletics. The image motivated him to break world records at the mile and 1,500m and win two world titles. But the Olympic gold medal remained his obsession. So much so that El Guerrouj made sure the photograph was hanging in his room in the athletes' village here. The 26-year-old even took it to Stadium Australia so that he could tear it up once the 1,500m title was finally his. But now there is a new photograph to haunt El Guerrouj. It shows him sitting on the track with tears streaming down his face after having his dream shattered for a second time. The nightmare scenario came courtesy of an inspired run by Ngeny, the 21-year-old who paced the Moroccan to one of his world records and pushed him to another. He stuck to El Guerrouj throughout and when the Moroccan's famed burst of acceleration never came, Ngeny snatched victory in the last few strides. Britain's John Mayock seems certain to seek a new career over a longer distance after finishing ninth. That was two places higher than in Atlanta, but the Yorkshireman's time was a disappointing 3-39.41. Even when the pace slowed after a fast first lap of 54.14, Mayock was never in contention. At the bell he was eighth and he made no impression over the final lap. Mayock said: "I thought I might have got eighth but the Spaniard (Juan Carlos Higuero) tracked me right around the final lap and slipped past." Eamonn Condon WWW.RunnersGoal.com
t-and-f: Mens' 1500m - Cram's View
Electronic Telegraph Saturday 30 September 2000 Slow track to nowhere By Steve Cram HICHAM EL GUERROUJ will be sitting somewhere now wondering what happened. Along with Marion Jones and Maurice Greene, the great miler from Morocco was seen as practically unbeatable at 1,500 metres and his incredible undefeated run over the last four years was set to continue at these Olympic Games. When El Guerrouj lined up in Sydney yesterday he knew that this was different to the countless grand prix races he has won. Different even to the two World Championships in which he has reigned supreme. Now he could rely only on himself. And that is where his problems start. For an athlete who has dominated so totally for so long, he lacks confidence. He is nervous of slow-run races and the danger held therein. He fell just before the bell in the final of the 1,500m in Atlanta four years ago. He got up to finish last, and that has been a constant reminder to him to keep out of trouble. The easiest way to do that is to run fast the whole way to stretch the field. He also doubts his own ability to win from a slow-paced race. I told him earlier this summer he was good enough to win no matter what the tactics and that he did not need to make the race fast from the start. He smiled and politely accepted my suggestion and then said: "Maybe, but it will be fast. I prefer it this way." It was obvious that he still believed himself to be vulnerable in a slower race. Hence as yesterday's race got under way his compatriot, Youssef Baba, immediately went to the front. His job was to sacrifice himself for El Guerrouj and set a fast early pace. The problem was he could not maintain the quick tempo for long enough and so his master was left in front too early and with the pace too slow. Exposed in the Olympic cauldron in front of 110,000 people and with the weight of history on his shoulders, El Guerrouj wilted. All of the self-doubts came home to roost and the normally inexhaustible supply of power ran dry before he was able to break the field. The man who was blessed with greatness was reduced to mediocrity. A last lap of over 54 seconds would not have held off a surging Fermin Cacho or Sebastian Coe. Yesterday, it could not hold off Noah Ngeny, of Kenya. El Guerrouj is not a loser or a failure. He is just a great athlete who was beaten by the Olympics themselves. As he tries to work it out, someone should mention the list of names who have also failed to add Olympic gold to their illustrious careers. He is in good company. Where El Guerrouj contrived his own downfall, others have been the victim of circumstance. Before examining the possible reasons behind this latest failure it may be worth noting some of the others. Sydney Wooderson broke a bone in a foot before the Berlin Games in 1936 and was not fit enough to do himself justice. In the next few years he became the world record holder and world No 1. Unfortunately, war in Europe meant two Olympiads went by without competition and Wooderson's chance of Olympic glory was gone. In 1952, in Helsinki, Roger Bannister, yet to break the four-minute barrier, was nonetheless favoured to take gold. He trained for the customary heat and final but a large entry meant an extra round was included and he was not able to perform on the day of the final and his Olympic chance was over. Melbourne in 1956 was meant to be the perfect stage for Bannister's long-time rival, John Landy, of Australia. He was upstaged by a relatively unfancied Irishman, Ron Delany. Move forward to 1968 and the rarefied air of Mexico City. Jim Ryun, of the United States, still only 21, had taken the 1,500m and mile records to new heights and was assumed to be the man to beat. His coach insisted that the altitude would not enable the milers to run hard the whole way. So when Ben Jipcho and Kip Keino, of Kenya, set off at breakneck pace he sat back. When it was too late he tried to catch Keino but his efforts were in vain. Poor tactics again. In 1976 Filbert Bayi, of Tanzania, was denied the chance to take on John Walker, of New Zealand, due to the African boycott of those Games. Then there was Steve Ovett. Seemingly untouchable, he was never to win an Olympic 1,500m title. There was another British guy in the Eighties, whose name escapes me, who thought he was good enough. So why does it go wrong? There is no single answer but the Games themselves are a huge factor. To know for four years the date and time of your moment of history is a burden in itself. To dominate in the intervening years is irrelevant. The beauty of the Olympics is that anything can happen and often does. Eamonn Condon WWW.RunnersGoal.com
t-and-f@lists.uoregon.edu
Just finished watching perhaps the finest coverage of a track meet I have ever seen. CBC show virtually all of the running events plus continual coverage of the womens HJ. The last time I can remember so much of distance races was the 1983 WC on (remember this) NBC. Over this Olympics they have showed every running final and followed many of the field events showing not just winning throws but following the event. Yesterday, during a break we had at a school inservice, I was watching the CBC broadcast on a VCR at school. We were watching the Womens Long jump. I saw we because there was around 10 or so of us. They showed Marion jumping then after the measurement moved to the next jumper. Several people immediately asked if this was the winner. I said no it is the next jumper. They asked is the girl in first. I said no it is the next jumper. They said they didn't understand. I had to explain that this was taped "live" and they were showing ALL the jumpers every round not just the high-lites. I pointed out when it was the jumpers turn, CBC showed there current place and ALL there previous efforts. Most the people had never seen a track meet presented like this. There were so impressed when it was time for lunch they ALL stayed and watched and let all the others get in line to eat. US TV has everyone so accustomed to the way they show track that nobody knows what goes on during a meet. If track is a dying sport, why do 112,000 come out and watch everynight? I salute CBC for a job well done. phil weishaar
t-and-f: Marion
After watching the womens 4 x 400, the best womens race of the Olympics might have been Freeman, Perec, and Jones in the open 400. BTW, if you get a chance check out the 3 page picture in this weeks SI showing Marion on the far end of page 3 and the rest of the field in the 100 finals at the beginning of page 1. I think I might frame it. phil weishaar
t-and-f: Here's how it should be done Mr Ebersol
Electronic Telegraph Saturday 30 September 2000 Paul Fox FOR the past 15 days, television viewers in this country (Great Britain) have been privileged to see the best possible coverage of Sydney 2000. Thank you BBC Sport. If I'm fulsome in praise of the BBC's achievements there is a reason: in the United States NBC have been vilified for their delayed and packaged pictures of the Games. In Australia, as we read here on Wednesday, Channel 7 is a touch one-eyed. In Continental Europe, I have seen examples of poor presentation and inadequate production values. So it could have gone horribly wrong; instead it was, quite simply, wonderful. Since the Olympic Games happen only every four years, the BBC quite rightly brought together a big team and a lot of resources to bring the Games back to Britain more or less round the clock. The time difference with Sydney was always going to make life difficult, but for those able to plan their morning and night-time viewing, the rewards were great. Athletics remains the focus sport of the Games and the four hours on Monday morning, when we were in Stadium Australia, were perfect. This was the morning of Jonathan Edwards, Michael Johnson and Cathy Freeman, the morning when the action never seemed to stop, the morning that followed Denise Lewis's gold medal in the heptathlon. The pictures coming by satellite over more than 10,000 miles, were sparkling, the coverage was always thoughtful, the viewer was at the heart of the action with sufficient information available on the screen, the sound was clear and 95 per cent of the commentary was excellent. Above all, it was not at any stage overly chauvinistic. David Coleman, at what will be his last Olympic Games, was in good voice and underlined why his views are so respected by the athletes. Steve Cram, in his first Olympics for the BBC, showed himself to be a knowledgeable race-reader and the others, Stuart Storey, Paul Dickenson and especially Brendan Foster were at their best: informative, never flummoxed and adding to the pictures. Once or twice there was an "I wonder what he is thinking now" and many a "he must be disappointed", but since coming under pressure was a constant theme, it is worth remembering that the commentators were under pressure too, pressure coming through their earphones to deliver. The trackside interviews had one or two bright moments, but there were too many questions of "how do you feel?". There were two memorable moments with Jonathan Edwards and Denise Lewis. Dickenson, or rather his producer, had the bright idea of asking Denise to pick up an ear-piece and talk to Dame Mary Peters, who won the gold medal in the pentathlon at the Munich Games in 1972. What has made the athletics coverage so satisfying is that the BBC were responsible for sending it around the world. Under producer Martin Webster a team of 23 cameramen and 18 engineering, sound and production staff provided the main coverage from inside Stadium Australia. The new development one saw occasionally racing along the perimeter was the curved tracking system that was able to follow the runners around the bend. To see that in slow motion was to offer viewers at home far more than the best seat in the stand. And what a pleasure to see a stadium without a single advertisement. Thank you IOC. Not everything worked perfectly. The virtual reality studio, designed by the BBC, was planned to bring us at home the famous view of Sydney Harbour Bridge, the Opera House and the Botanic Gardens. To embrace all this in a wide shot made the presenters look uncomfortable. This is not to detract from the many hours of excellent work put in by those who guided us from one event to another, Steve Rider, Sue Barker, John Inverdale, Clare Balding and Hazel Irvine. Behind the screen, two widely experienced old hands from BBC Sport, Martin Hopkins and Dave Gordon, ensured that nothing was missed. This is one occasion when the BBC can feature the minority sports that seldom get a showing, from archery to canoeing, from hockey to weightlifting, and even such strange sports as synchronised diving and taekwondo. The memories of Sydney, of Steve Redgrave and his fellow oarsmen, of a British gold medal on day one thanks to Jason Queally and of the Australian walker Jane Saville disqualified as she was about to enter the stadium ahead of the field, will remain locked in one's minds. So were these the best games seen on television? Rome 1960 had the distinction of being the first to be televised, Mexico 1968 were the first in colour, Los Angeles in 1984 was all glitz and showbusiness, Barcelona 1988 was majestic - but Sydney 2000 had that extra magic which Australia offers: a friendly welcome that makes one feel at home. Eamonn Condon WWW.RunnersGoal.com
t-and-f: WARNING! NOT-YET-TELEVISED RESULTS DISCUSSED
PAGE DOWN W 10K Radcliffe took the bull by the horns, setting a low-30: pace, but couldn't shed enough runners to get a medal. 3:01.7, 6:02.1 (3:00.4), 9:02.0 (2:59.6), 12:03.1 (3:01.1), 15:05.7 (3:02.6) 18:11.4 (3:05.7), 21:17.1 (3:05.7), 24:21.3 (3:04.2) (Wami), 27:29.4 (3:08.1) (Radcliffe again) - last kilo 2:48.1 Tulu was Oly champ in '92, outkicking Elana Meyer, who finished 8th here in 31:14.70, a seasonal best. O'Sullivan set a PB and NR in 30:53.37 in 6th. Six under 31, 18 under 32! Sally Barsosio, World Champ in '9x ?, was 17th in 31:57.41, a seasonal best. Li Ji, one of the only Chinese entered, was 7th in a PR 31:06.94. M 5K What a crawl!!! 2:45.4, 5:39.6 (2:54.2), 8:21.8 (2:42.2), 11:09.9 (2:48.1) (compare to 10:55.5 at 4K in the 10K race). Last kilo 2:25.6! ETH ALG MAR ETH KEN ETH UKR (how did he get in there?) GER (likewise) KEN KEN ALG Goucher was 13th, 13:43.20, so about a 2:33, if he was with the leaders at 4K. 1.68 s between 1st and 6th. W JT Hattestad won it on 1st throw, 68.91 (226' 3/4"), which was farther than anyone except her has ever thrown with this javelin, IINM. Competition over! W HJ A miss at 1.96 cost Cloete, as Yelesina was clean up to 2.01, which they both cleared on 2nd try. Interesting battle for bronze: Bergqvist and Pantelimon were even after 1.99. They both missed at 2.01. Bergqvist passed to 2.03, trying to win the gold, while Pantelimon missed two more times at 2.01. Bergqvist then missed twice at 2.03, so they tied for 3rd. W 1500 Runyan led at 400, but at 70.6. Suzy led at 800 in 2:16 (65.4). I read that Suzy was leading at the bell, but Sacramento is listed as the leader at 1200, 3:17.9 (61.9 third 400!!). I read that Tullett and Suzy both fell with ~100 to go, and Szabo had to hurdle both of them. She ended up 3rd, .17 back of Merah-Benida. Szekely and Szabo got silver and bronze. Marla was 8th, 4:08.30. I also read that Suzy, who finished in 4:23.50, collapsed again after the race and was being treated for dehydration. The last 700 was at a 2:04.7 800 pace. Sacramento faded to 10th, 4:11.15. W 4X1 Have to see this one. In any case, Marion must have had quite a bit to make up, as Bahamas won by .25 over US, with JAM 2nd. Bahamas ran Fynes, Sturrup, Davis-Thompson and Debbie Ferguson, who didn't run in prelims. Merlene Ottey anchored Jamaica, so she got a silver medal. Marion now has 2 gold, 2 bronze. M 4X1 37.61, not to shabby. Brazil 37.90, Cuba 38.04. All 8 broke 39.0. W 4X4 Marion runs the 3rd leg, and USA pulls it off, 3:22.62. Jamaica had Sandie Richards, Scott, Hemmings and Graham; don't know why they couldn't do better than 3:23. Russia 3rd, with Privalova anchoring, Nazarova not running. 2nd through 5th all in 3:23+ Marion - 3 golds, 2 bronze. I'd say she did damn well; too bad she couldn't get a silver to complete the set. M 4X4 No contest. 2:56.35 - Pettigrew gets another gold medal. Alvin, Pettrigrew, Calvin and the "other MJ." Nigeria and Jamaica in the 2:58s get 2nd, 3rd. Cheers, Alan Shank
t-and-f: TV alert - M 5K W 10K late night
According to NBCOlympics.com, no track on the afternoon session today. Most finals on the evening (7-12 PDT) session. Men's 5 K and women's 10K on the late-night session. I don't trust those b-s, so I'm taping it all! The Web site also says the M marathon will be on the evening session tomorrow. Again, I'm taping it all, just in case. Cheers, Alan Shank
t-and-f: men's Olympic Marathon question
Everyone: How is the Men's Marathon being ran this time, is it starting a few hours before the closing ceremonies? Or is it going in the morning like Atlanta did it? When should we make a point to watch NBC for coverage? I hope they cover it at least as much as they did the women's. Thanks for your help, Sydney is Here, Tim Willis
t-and-f: Too Clever by Half
It took me two laps of the 1500 to tell the Kenyans from Morrocans because their uniforms were one color in front and another in back. In the first camera shot the guys in the red shirts are second and third following the guys in the green shirts. Then in the next shot I saw the two guys in the red shirts are first and second with the green shirts in second and third then in the next shot I see they are second and third and I never saw anyone pass anyone! It seemed like a magic trick until the camera stayed on the runners for a curve and I saw the shirt color change before my eyes! Chamelons they weren't. I used to design apparel for Nike and later for Reebok and can appreciate clever designs but please a little clarity for the fans and allow the team uniforms to be uniform, front and back. Let's leave the clever cleaving for the fashion shows. Tom Derderian who can't tell them coming or going Greater Boston Track Club
Re: t-and-f: Capel's start
In a message dated 9/30/00 4:25:10 AM Pacific Daylight Time, [EMAIL PROTECTED] writes: << I could not see the starter in the 200m final, but in earlier rounds he stood outside lane 8 behind the runners - the worst possible position because the angle of vision from lane 1 to lane 8 is at a maximum. The US management should have appealed after the 200m final, if not earlier, and would have had a strong case. IAAF rule 128 reads "Note: The starter should place himself so that the whole field of runners falls into a narrow visual angle." The Australian starter either had not studied this rule or had chosen to go against it, and should have been dismissed. >> this positioning has been the same for all 'curved' events in the past 3 olympics..at least. It is an agreed to position by the olympic sports director of track and field, the auto timing contractor and the officials...in order to accomodate all the things that are coming into play on the infield...and approved by the IAAF representative in charge of the competition. the theory is that the starter and the assistants are providing enough eyesand as you and i know very wellthe system doesn't always work as planned. bob podkaminer
Re: t-and-f: Too Clever by Half
Not to mention the fact that on the USA uniforms, the Nike Swoosh is pratically bigger than the USA logo. Go Nike . . . er . . I meant USA. Matt Stohl >From: "Tom Derderian" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> >Reply-To: "Tom Derderian" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> >To: [EMAIL PROTECTED] >Subject: t-and-f: Too Clever by Half >Date: Sat, 30 Sep 2000 14:23:01 -0400 > > >It took me two laps of the 1500 to tell the Kenyans from Morrocans because >their uniforms were one color in front and another in back. In the first >camera shot the guys in the red shirts are second and third following the >guys in the green shirts. Then in the next shot I saw the two guys in the >red shirts are first and second with the green shirts in second and third >then in the next shot I see they are second and third and I never saw >anyone >pass anyone! It seemed like a magic trick until the camera stayed on the >runners for a curve and I saw the shirt color change before my eyes! >Chamelons they weren't. > >I used to design apparel for Nike and later for Reebok and can appreciate >clever designs but please a little clarity for the fans and allow the team >uniforms to be uniform, front and back. Let's leave the clever cleaving for >the fashion shows. > >Tom Derderian who can't tell them coming or going >Greater Boston Track Club _ Get Your Private, Free E-mail from MSN Hotmail at http://www.hotmail.com. Share information about yourself, create your own public profile at http://profiles.msn.com.
Re: t-and-f: Korzeniowski walks into Olympic history
The reason that electronic judging is not used is that they have not yet come close to a satisfactory device. As for cheating I would say that the majority of the walkers were NOT cheating ie( knowingly breaking the rules for the purpose of gaining an advantage). It is a very fine line between breaking contact and not breaking contact. A number of people have done studies into removing the contact rule and are proposing that as a solution. Norway seem to be the leaders in this approach. Any body out there know anymore about that??? - Original Message - From: P. N. Heidenstrom <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> To: T&F List <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Sent: Friday, September 29, 2000 6:22 PM Subject: t-and-f: Korzeniowski walks into Olympic history On Thu, 28 Sep 2000 21:44:26 -0400, Paul V. Tucknott <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: >Poland's Robert Korzeniowski has won the arduous >50-kilometre walk at the Sydney 2000 Games to >become the first man in history to take out the >men's Olympic walk double. Korzeniowski's first >gold came in the 20km walk on >16 September - the >first gold of the Games - which was decided in >controversial circumstances. Korzeniowski finished >the race in second, but winner Bernardo Segura of >Mexico was later disqualified to give the Pole >the title. >But there was no controversy over the longer >distance. COMMENT: Natch. It would have been unfair to disqualify anyone because all of them were running. Well, at least the first ten, who were shown on tv here. The judges must have been blind not to see they were so obviously lifting. Finishers 8 and 10 were particularly blatant. Other sports such as fencing have used electronic judging for half a century, and it is used in track races at both the start and the finish. Why not to ensure that "walkers" are walking? Palle Lassen, then chairman of the IAAF Race Walking Committee, once admitted in an hour-long discussion that the IAAF had let the cheating get away from them and were powerless to stop it now. Note that within the last decade the time- honoured definition of walking - a progression of steps so taken that unbroken contact with the ground is maintained - has been nullified. P N Heidenstrom
Re: t-and-f: Capel's start
All true, BUT HOW can Capel or the US complain as it was HIS transgression which was alowwed pass??? HIS fault alone MIke - Original Message - From: P. N. Heidenstrom <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> To: T&F List <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Sent: Saturday, September 30, 2000 12:11 AM Subject: t-and-f: Capel's start > on Fri, 29 Sep 2000 10:47:28 -0700 > Ed Grant <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: > > Netters: > We saw some very incompetent officiating > yesterday (Thursday) in two Olympic events, both of > which affected the fgold medal. > > Firstm, the 200. When John Capel started to roll and > then went = > back, the proper call of the starter was "Stand up" > > It is a little more dificult for one starter > to detect such a move when the runners are as spread > out as they are in a 200 > > COMMENT: > > Mr Grant is right on all counts. Let's remember > that all starts at Sydney were governed solely by > IAAF rules. Other considerations have to be put > aside. In this case the starter fired his gun > before all the competitors were steady, which is > contrary to rule 162.2. Therefore the start was not > fair, and should have been recalled. > > If the starter had seen Capel's movement he should > have called the field to stand up. If he failed to > see it, as seems likely, it was because he was > standing in the wrong place. > > I could not see the starter in the 200m final, but > in earlier rounds he stood outside lane 8 behind > the runners - the worst possible position because > the angle of vision from lane 1 to lane 8 is at a > maximum. > > The US management should have appealed after the > 200m final, if not earlier, and would have had a > strong case. IAAF rule 128 reads "Note: The starter > should place himself so that the whole field of > runners falls into a narrow visual angle." The > Australian starter either had not studied this > rule or had chosen to go against it, and should > have been dismissed. > > The Strine officials were similarly unimpressive > at the Melbourne Olympics in 1956 (making at least > three major blunders), and working alongside a > Sydney crew at the US-Empire meet soon after, I > found they had a very limited understanding of > international rules. > > P N Heidenstrom
Re: t-and-f: 1500 comments
On Sat, 30 September 2000, Alan Shank wrote: > > It's a shame for El G that he won't have quite the place in history his times seem >to warrant, but then, that's why they run the race. And I wonder if he's on the >downslope of his talent now, as Morceli was a few years ago. > > He's only 26. I would expect that he will bounce back, and possibly improve some >again. There are World Championships next year. Let me clarify: I think El G was definitely a bit stale by August and September this year, but I don't doubt he still has the wheels in him to run at the top. More important, though, I suspect he may be mentally fried from the pressure of the past four years, and failing to decisively chuck it in Sydney. The whole thing with the picture from Atlanta suggests someone who saw only one way out of the box, and that was to win in Australia. Now that it didn't happen, I would think he'd have a really tough time staying motivated at that level for another four years, and if he doesn't think he has a shot at the gold in Athens, I figure it will be tough to keep it cranked up for the plain ol' pro circuit, or even the World Champs. The talk about a move to 5000m sounds a lot like an alternative route out of the box. - Jay U. -- [EMAIL PROTECTED] is brought to you by the Stanford Alumni Association and Critical Path.
t-and-f: Talk about falling short: What about Burrell? - Errata
Not true on the stanozolol. Ben Johnson didn't like it and hadn't used it in years. It made him too tight. In addition, as crystals of pure stanozolol were found in his urine sample after the race, the only way they could have got there would have been by insertion by someone else into the sample while in the "safekeeping" of the IOC, as it is physically impossible for crystals to pass through the human body intact. i.e. his urine sample was blatantly and crudely (and criminally) "spiked". In addition, stanozolol, like most steroids, is a training drug, allowing harder workouts and quicker recoveries. Why, therefore, would Ben Johnson want to take it during a COMPETITION, where it would do him absolutely no good whatsoever? And remember too that this argument about the stanozolol, advocated in the hearing by Canadian chef de mission Richard Pound, now the VP of the IOC, was ACCEPTED by the IOC. Whereupon the late Dr. Manfred Donike grandly proclaimed that Ben had an aberrant endocrine profile, IN HIS SOLE OPINION, and that was that. A contemporaneous urine sample from Ben was tested in a US lab within days, and TESTED CLEAN by the criteria of the day. Ben Johnson was the ONLY (publicly announced) track and field positive from the Seoul Olympics - according to the IOC and Donike. Those are the facts, Ken..again. Tony Craddock _ At 09:24 PM 9/29/00 -0400, you wrote: Y ask Y: For all those instant track experts in the media ganging up on Marion for her "atrocious form" and lost gold, consider this: Dawn Burrell, with a season best and PR of 22-10 3/4 (6.98), fell two feet short in Sydney, going a pathetic 20-11 1/4 (6.38) after fouling her first two attempts. By contrast, Marion came through with flying colors, jumping 6.92 (not far off her 7.02 season best). Also consider Heike's achievement: She broke the W35 age-group WR of 6.90 (22-7 3/4) by Russia's Vera Olenchenko. HD's performance "equates" to 7.52 on the WAVA Age-Graded Tables -- 24-8 1/4. Interestingly, her PR is 7.48, making the Age-Graded Tables look pretty good as a mechanism for comparing performances of different ages. Also BTW, Reuters IDs the drug positive as Russia's European indoor 400 metres champion Svetlana Pospelova. (tested positive for the banned steroid stanozolol in an out-of-competition drug test). What a blast from the past. That's Ben Johnson's drug of choice. Ken Stone
t-and-f: Relay selection, etc.
Netters: I was told this morning, whiule officiating at a CC meet, that the reason Miki Barber did not run the trial round of the 4x400 relay was tjhat she had lost a time trial to the runner who replaced her by one-tenth of a second If true, this is an atrocity. It was perfectly in line to run a time trial to confirm the condition of thr runners, but to use it to make a change in the lineup which put the 6th place finisher in the trials ahead of the 5th place finisher is simply not fair, anyway you look at it. Certainly not with so slim a margin between the two. There were additional considerations favoring Barber. She had to be the relay runner of the year at the 4x400 distance among American collegians. Dhe is, after all, the anchor of the NCAA champions and had a long history of success this year indoors and out carrying the baton. I hope those who made the selection---if again, the story I was told is true---can sleep at night. Further thoughts on the 1500: It was obvious from earlier races in Europe this year that the Kenyans were a real danger to the Moroccan star. How best to cmbat it? The tactics chosen were, as I said in a previous post, poorly carried out--the pace was too fast on the first lap which led to that fatal 60second following lap. But the tactics themselves may not have been the best. The best way for a runner with an inferior kick to take the sting from his rivals is to run a negative split race with a big push somewhere in the middle---the kind of thing Murray Halberg used to such effect in the 5K at Rome. A fast first lap will hardly ever do it of and by itself---a fast 2nd or 3rd lap (or intermediate lap) is much more effective. As far as Marty's comment goes, I was sure, even before Walt Murphy's post, that it was live. The only way to get the kind of "live" feel NBC requires is to do it that way. To add the comment on later would be obviously artificial in the running events---it might and does work only with the field events which are stop and go affairs anyway. (That, I guess, is how we learned the U.S. 4x100 team had qualified for the finals long before the event was televised, even if we carefully avoided getting that knowledge in another manner.) But I can forgive those who suspcted a voice-over technique, for NBC has been insulting out intelligence so regularly in its coverage (as with the way the LJ and PV were shown last night) that we suspect everything they do. Still another matter. Any suggestion that John Capel would now have been a factor in the 200 even had he not flubbed the start is obviously ridiculous, given his performance in the three preliminary rounds. Fortunately, he is young enough to learn from his error and will be at his prime for 1004, not to mention the two upcoming World meets. He will be a force in this event for years to come. I talked this morning with a man who is both the chief HS official in NJ and our most repescted starter. I asked him what he would have done in the situation and he said, immediately, "called the runners up." The fact that the Australian starter was positioned behind the runners was enough to call for a re-run---as well as to get another starter who knows where to stand for this event. It is one of the assistant starters who should be behind the runners, another ahead, each with four lanes in good view Ed Grant.
Re: t-and-f: Too Clever by Half
In a message dated 9/30/00 1:41:23 PM, [EMAIL PROTECTED] writes: << It took me two laps of the 1500 to tell the Kenyans from Morrocans because their uniforms were one color in front and another in back. In the first camera shot the guys in the red shirts are second and third following the guys in the green shirts. Then in the next shot I saw the two guys in the red shirts are first and second with the green shirts in second and third then in the next shot I see they are second and third and I never saw anyone pass anyone! It seemed like a magic trick until the camera stayed on the runners for a curve and I saw the shirt color change before my eyes! Chamelons they weren't. >> How do you think all of the TV commentators/spotters felt? The uniforms may have looked great, but it's tough enough to identify runners from a distance without having to deal with fancy color combinations. Walt Murphy
t-and-f: Preview: Men's marathon
The Irish Times Saturday, September 30, 2000 Peter Byrne It could be one of the biggest homecomings of the 27th Olympic Games but for all their fierce loyalty, few Australians are betting on it. At 38, Steve Monegheti is getting ready to toe the line tomorrow in the last race of this excellent festival of sport, the men's marathon championship. And if he wins, it will provide the type of exit line, script writers labour to produce. In his time, Monegheti's qualities of endurance have fascinated crowds around the world. Incredibly, however, he has never run a marathon in his own country. Now in his farewell appearance in international competition, he aspires to redress that omission with the biggest win of all. "I dream of getting across the line first and hearing the cheers of fellow Australians," he said. "That is the thought which has driven me for the last year but I'm realistic enough to know that to succeed, I'm going to have to run out of my skin." On the evidence of his last big race in the world championships in Seville 12 months ago when he was back in 29th place, the resilient Australian has little chance of getting on to the podium. Yet, in a year in which form has fluctuated wildly, experts agree that any one of eight athletes could win the title over an undulating course which claimed many casualties in the women's championship last Sunday. Antonio Pinto's time of two hours six minutes 36 seconds in winning the London Marathon in April, rates as the fastest of the year but there have been many times in the past when the talented Portuguese athlete, didn't deliver in major championships. Japhet Kosgel and Simon Biwott lead the Kenyan challenge which reinforced by the Moroccan, Abdelkader El Mouaziz, is likely to ensure a heavy African presence when the race reaches its crucial stages. Yet if Pinto gets it right on the day and the Spanish pair, Alberto Juzdado and Martin Fiz grow big on the challenge, Europe could still have a major role to play in determining the new champion. A track and field athlete has failed an out-of-competition doping test at the Sydney Games, Olympic medical commission chief Alexandre de Merode said yesterday. After a meeting of the International Olympic Committee's medical commission, de Merode said the athlete - who had already left the Games - had failed a random test taken a few days after finishing competing. De Merode declined to give the name of the athlete, the nationality or the event but the case is believed to involve a sportswoman who did not make a major impact at the Games. Eamonn Condon WWW.RunnersGoal.com
t-and-f: U.S. 4X100-Not on NBC yet
According to a report on Sportscenter just now the US relay team was clowning and joking around during the national anthem and also did some excessive showboating during the victory lap. Not much detail but they did say that Greene and Drummond had apologized for their actions. Guess will have to see tonight if it was that bad. John
t-and-f: RE: USA Men's 4x400 Final Line-up
Uh, what do I say? Oops? I know, I know, a few of you were sitting around at your big "Final Track Day" parties and using my information on the USA's relay order - okay, maybe not. I can only say that I am sorry to have "misled" you. Thank goodness that there is "no controlling legal authority" for me to be liable for damages. On swapping the Harrisons, the TV commentators here said (in the heats) that "we wouldn't know if Calvin ran for Alvin and vice versa". Bob Bettwy [EMAIL PROTECTED] Director - Program Control Washington Group SRS Technologies (703) 351-7266 > -Original Message- > From: Bettwy, Bob > Sent: Saturday, September 30, 2000 12:01 AM > To: Track List (E-mail) > Subject: USA Men's 4x400 Final Line-up > > It will be Calvin Harrison to Antonio Pettigrew to Alvin Harrison to MJ. > The TV commentator here said that "they will have to drop the baton on > every exchange to be beaten." Of course, baton was pronounced "BAT-uhn". > > Bob Bettwy > [EMAIL PROTECTED] > Director - Program Control > Washington Group > SRS Technologies > (703) 351-7266 > >
t-and-f: An anti-Jamaica bias?
Netters: Does NBC have some kind of bias against Jamaica? After ignoriong the Jamaica races in the relay first round, we, a few minutes ago, were treated to one of the worst calls of an athletic event in the history of TV---and that's saying a mouthful. This was, from the gun, strictly a race between the two Caribbean teams, Bahamas and Jamaica. But The camera and the announcers simply didn't pay any attention to Jamaica until forced to in the homestretch and the two island teams were so far ahead it would have taken Carl Lewis to catch them. Ed Grant
t-and-f: Suzy Suzy Suzy - RESULT IMPLICATION
Too bad about the misfortunes of Ms. Hamilton. She looked so good through 1350 meters. I was really cheering for her. Unfortunately and sadly, we were initially introduced to Ms. Hamilton in the 1986 NCAA meet where she (Wisconsin) nipped out Alisa Harvey (Tennessee) for the outdoor 1500 meter title. She fell across the line that day. That race was the first of four straight she would win and one of nine NCAA titles on her resume. Even more ironically, I am still catching up on old e-mails and just this morning (in Sydney) I read the piece about Nike pulling the "chainsaw" ad featuring SFH. Quoting from it: The ad begins with distance runner Suzy Favor Hamilton spotting a man in a hockey mask, much like the "Jason" character from the hugely popular "Friday the 13th" movies, preparing to attack her with a chainsaw. Hamilton runs off and keeps up such a strong pace the masked attacker collapses in wheezing exhaustion. The tag line at the end of the ad says: "Why sport? You'll live longer." I will leave it to you to figure out why she was instructed not to be on the victory stand! Ha Ha Ha, that was a JOKE. Only meant to poke a little fun at my friend, Mr. Craddock :) Cheers, Bob Bettwy [EMAIL PROTECTED] Director - Program Control Washington Group SRS Technologies (703) 351-7266
t-and-f: 4x100 Interview NBC
Netters, I have a household of family going nuts about the NBC interview with the 4x100 team. Forget about what Mo said and I'm sorry I don't exactly know who is who(Bernard or Brian), but one of the characters was posing behind Mo. This has to be the best moment of the games to date. Hands down this will be the image I remember. BTW, what Korzeniowski did by winning the 20 & 50k walks is by far the biggest accomplishment in the men's category of the year, especially when paired with his other strong performances. AOY's to Korzeniowski and Jones no close seconds. Allen YOU'RE PAYING TOO MUCH FOR THE INTERNET! Juno now offers FREE Internet Access! Try it today - there's no risk! For your FREE software, visit: http://dl.www.juno.com/get/tagj.
t-and-f: The ultimate TV Olympic story
Netters: As we await the final day of the Olympics, it might be well to repeat a story I believe I have told before on the list: It happened in 1984 on the final night in Los Angeles. While the closing ceremony was progressing in the Coliseum, there was a big party going on for Olympic VIPs, including all the volunteer officials. It was from one of those officials--a man of absolute probity--that I got this story. As had become customary on the final night, the athletes---who in elden days marched in somewhat as they did on the opening day and stood in the infield while the relatively (compared to today) brief ceremonies went on---mainly centering in the transferrence of Olympic symbols from the host city (and nation) of that year to the host city (and nation) of the next Olympiad--took over the show. While this was going on, ABC panjandrum Roone Arledge approached Olympic chaiurman Peter Uebberoth in a state of panic, telling him "we are losing the East Coast" (i.e, it was getting so late back here that people would soon be going to bed). The result was that the evening's formal program was cut short and the people who had paid big bucks (a lot to scalpers) to see it missed about a third of the scheduled events. TV rules, in other words. Ed Grant PS: I, for one, was deeply offended tonight when NBC, in its "Olympic Moment" segment used as a theme song John Lennon's deeply anti-religious song, "Imagine." I know I am probably in a minority these days feeling that way, but I just had to get it off my chest. PPS: I don't think a lot of Olympic champs of the past, including for two Eric Liddell and Madeleine Manning Jackson, would have appreciated it either.
Re: t-and-f: Will To win and Chris Huffins
AMEN BROTHER AMEN!!! -Mike (tired of armchair hacks and cynics on the list) Fanelli - Original Message - From: Rob Muzzio <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> To: t-and-f list server <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Sent: Saturday, September 30, 2000 9:14 AM Subject: t-and-f: Will To win and Chris Huffins > For those of you that are critical of Huffins' "will", "arrogance", and > "choke artist" tendencies you obviously don't know anything about the > following... > > 1 The Decathlon. > 2 Chris Huffins. > > To make it to the Olympics in the Decathlon, you have to have more "will" > than want. Huffins just ran the fastest 1500M of his life...a PR by 13 > seconds. How many athletes do you know that have PRed by 13 seconds in the > 1500M? Albeit, his previous PR was slow, but it was still the fastest time > that he had ever been able to "will" himself to, in his life. Look at his > marks... 10.48 (100M), 25' 3 1/2" (LJ), 50' 3/4" (SP), 6'10 1/4" (HJ), 48.31 > (400M), 13.91 (110HH), 162' 6" (DT), 15' 5" (PV), 185' 7" (JT), 4:38.71 > (1500M). I don't care who you are...you cant make those marks in an Olympic > competition without the "will" to train and win. The places that I believe > he could have done better are the Shot Put and Javelin. But those are not > "will" events, they are technique events. I know Chris, and he has the > "will" or he would be doing something other than the Decathlon with his > life. > > About Chris's lack of arrogance...again you don't even know him, and cant > make a judgment based on TV interviews. Actually one of Chris's early > downfalls was his arrogance. He used believe that he could beat you with 9 > events, and therefore used to run a terrible 1500M. He used to piss off > allot of the VISA Decathlon Team members with his arrogance, but Chris has > matured a lot and now is confident with his abilities and doesn't need to > run his mouth. Now he can let his athletic ability do the talking, not just > spout some useless babble. > > What is a "choke artist"? Is it someone that lets the pressure of big meets > get to them, and therefore they mess up? If that is the case then that is > not Chris Huffins. His problem in the past was that he often let other > people beat him, because of his lack of 1500M ability. I believe it was a > mental thing that he was going through, because he really believed he > couldn't run the 1500. And I believe that if you turned the events of the > Decathlon around and started with the 1500M and ended with the LJ and 100M, > then people would say that he was a great finisher, because he would gain > allot of points in those events. Therefore, you have to look at all ten > events, and people will have strengths and weaknesses, but you are not a > "choke artist" if you stink at the 1500m...you just stink at the 1500M, and > you better have a huge lead on people going into that event. > > Now, as for his interview...I can tell by the emails expressing that he is a > nice guy and should have been mad about finishing with the bronze and not > elated and gracious like he was, that you people (writing those emails) have > never had the "will" or guts to attempt and/or finish a Decathlon. The > feeling that you get when you finish a Decathlon fills your entire body and > mind with a great sense of achievement and pride. And that is just a > backyard, no name meet Decathlon. Imagine that feeling times 1000. That is > what it feels like to finish the Olympic Decathlon. And imagine finishing > the Olympic Decathlon with a 13 second PR in the 1500M, then you can > multiply that feeling by 1500 times (instead of 1000). Now, my theory (and > I speak from experience) is that Chris will come down from the high of the > Olympic Decathlon competition, a 13 second PR in the 1500m, and an Olympic > Bronze medal and he will analyze the numbers and wish he could have just > thrown 52' 7 1/4" in the shot, or 195' 11" in the jav. Either of these, > which are easily within his everyday abilities, would have given him the > Gold medal. He will have these reflections, but not until the hoopla quiets > down. > > I personally think that Chris was a class act during his interview and > believe that he has a lot to be proud of. I hope that he keeps on > competing, because my level of respect for him as a Decathlete just jumped > by leaps and bounds. > > Just my 10 cents... > > Rob Muzzio > 5th place, 1992 Olympic Decathlon...no medal but proud to have the > opportunity to represent the U.S.A. in the Games of the XXV Olympiad! > > Visit our web site for training equipment to help you achieve your best... > http://www.speed-fitness.com > > >
t-and-f: Re: Capel's start, Korzeniowski's walk
About Capel's start in the 200 final, Michael Casey wrote: > > All true, > BUT > HOW can Capel or the US complain as it was HIS transgression which was > alowwed pass??? > HIS fault alone > MIke > COMMENT: Rule 146 does not bar appeals from athletes who transgress. But did he transgress? The starter undoubtedly did. An appeal would have decided responsibility, and was therefore well worth making. Re Korzeniowski, Michael wrote: >The reason that electronic judging is not used >is that they have not yet come close to a >satisfactory device. As for cheating I would say >that the majority of the walkers were NOT cheating >ie( knowingly breaking the rules for the purpose >of gaining an advantage). It is a very fine line >between breaking contact and not breaking contact. >A number of people have done studies into removing >the contact rule and are proposing that as a >solution. Norway seem to be the leaders in this >approach. Any body out there know anymore about >that??? COMMENT: (a) That was not the reason given by the IAAF. And this is the 21st century; if no-one has designed a satisfactory device, then no-one's trying! (b) Walkers (at least in this country, which has had an Olympic champion) have always pressed for repeal of the traditional restrictions. So have long-jumpers with board problems, throwers who can't stay in the circle, and runners who don't want to keep to their own lanes . . . .
Re: t-and-f: Bob Costas's view of ALEXANDER KARELIN
No one mentioned it, but the guy who does the sports television column for USA Today (Rudy Martze?) gave his views as to best Olympic announcers, etc. and in the Commentator category he listed Carol second, and Dwight only fourth, both behind the swimming guy! Poor Dwight. Ed Koch -Original Message- From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> To: [EMAIL PROTECTED] <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>; [EMAIL PROTECTED] <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Date: Friday, September 29, 2000 2:04 PM Subject: Re: t-and-f: Bob Costas's view of ALEXANDER KARELIN >i'm so glad it was costas and not carol...or everyone (almost) on the list >would be posting and that wasn't his only mistake! louise
t-and-f: Funny Michael Johnson quote
Phil Sheridan, in Sydney covering track for The Philadelphia Inquirer, passed this one along to me via AOL-IM tonight: Michael Johnson: "When a guy I never heard of wins the 200 - and I'm a 200 runner - you know it's a strange Olympics." Roob = "This content in no way reflects the opinions, standards, or policy of the United States Air Force Academy or the United States government." __ Do You Yahoo!? Yahoo! Photos - 35mm Quality Prints, Now Get 15 Free! http://photos.yahoo.com/
RE: t-and-f: Funny Michael Johnson quote
Who's Michael Johnson? > -Original Message- > From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] > [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]]On Behalf Of Reuben Frank > Sent: Saturday, September 30, 2000 8:31 PM > To: [EMAIL PROTECTED] > Subject: t-and-f: Funny Michael Johnson quote > > > > Phil Sheridan, in Sydney covering track for The > Philadelphia Inquirer, passed this one along to me via > AOL-IM tonight: > > Michael Johnson: "When a guy I never heard of wins > the 200 - and I'm a 200 runner - you know it's a > strange Olympics." > > Roob > > = > > "This content in no way reflects the opinions, standards, or > policy of the United States Air Force Academy or the United > States government." > > > __ > Do You Yahoo!? > Yahoo! Photos - 35mm Quality Prints, Now Get 15 Free! > http://photos.yahoo.com/ >
t-and-f: Awesome Jones wipes away the taint from her medals
Electronic Telegraph Sunday 1 October 2000 Owen Slot THE MANY performances of Marion Jones came to a spectacular close in Sydney last night. After four events, four medals, six days in competition and countless questions about being married to a scowling, mobile pharmacy, she had to run a leg in the American 4x400 metre relay team. She had not run such a race since her second year at college, five years ago, and here she was up against the best in the world. Jones took the baton with Jamaica's Deon Hemmings on her heels. Hemmings had won silver in the 400m hurdles four days earlier, so she was in fairly sharp form herself. Yet, as they hit the back straight, Jones started to open up a lead and when she got to the bend, she still had a kick finish inside her. When Jones handed over the baton, the United States were 15 metres ahead. It is no surprise that they won, and left the British quartet finishing in a disappointing sixth position. But it is particularly surprising to consider, however, that the relay leg that Jones ran - without any pedigree in the event, remember - was as fast as that of Cathy Freeman, the Olympic 400m champion. The only conclusion here is that she could, any time she cared, add a 400m gold medal to her already bulging collection. She had also proved unquestionably that, despite the global backlash that followed the drugs scandal involving her husband C J Hunter, she was utterly unaffected when it came to attempting to fulfil her Olympic dream. "You can't break her," were the words of Trevor Graham, her coach. And he was right. After the race, she was once again asked whether the domestic crisis made her job on the track harder. Totally unabashed, she replied: "When I walk into the stadium, it seems that everything off the track remains off the track. I wasn't going to let one event ruin everything I'd worked so hard for." And though many will be wondering if Hunter's illegal habits are shared by his wife, there is no doubt that she goes away as the star performer on the track in these Games. No-one else won two individual golds or promised to win five and could be considered, in part, a failure because they failed to get them all. Prior to the 4x400m relay yesterday, Jones also ran in the 4x100m, gave Merlene Ottey and Debbie Ferguson an eight-metre head start in the final leg and almost chased them down. The final tally leaves her with three golds and two bronze which, a day before the end of the Games, was better than the whole of the Canadian team. No other woman has won five athletics medals in a single Olympics. So what was more impressive: the way she mastered that 400-metre relay leg, or the way she destroyed the opposition in the two sprints, or the fact that her husband's misdemeanour shared her every headline and yet her composure remained with her throughout? One of the four-gold greats of Olympic history, whose achievement Jones was hoping to surpass, is Fanny Blankers-Koen. Yet, by the time that Blankers-Koen had secured two of her golds in her Olympics 52 years ago, she lost her nerve and told her husband, Jan, that the pressure was too much and that she wanted to withdraw. Jan was at least on hand when required. One of the problems Jones has had to encounter is that since Hunter's drugs scandal broke, he has been suspended from the athlete's warm-up area. Two months ago, just days after giving the urine test that found him positive, Hunter gave a rare interview exclusively to The Telegraph. Outside of a relentless rant against the international media, there is one comment, about his relationship with Jones, that now stands out. "People from the outside are always trying to get in, and they can't," he said. Speculation about their marriage has, indeed, been rife but all we can be sure of is that Jones has long been looking for a strong male figure in her life after her father deserted the family when she was a child. But, with all the hurly-burly around her, she would not crack. On Wednesday at 11.09am, Jones appeared back on the track for the first time since the news broke and she was not helped by the fact that Hunter managed to get into the athletes' area and had to be asked to leave. But she put not a foot wrong. By the following night, she had won the 200 metres and was word perfect too. Asked in a press conference whether Hunter's positive test cast doubt on her own achievements, she asked her questioner to stand up so that she could look him in the eye. "People that know me," she replied, "know that I am a clean athlete." Such strength, such self-assurance. The enduring image of Jones at these Games should be her extraordinary flying leg in last night's 400m relay, but it is not. For what she passed here was less an examination of her athletic abilities and more a test of character. Eamonn Condon WWW.RunnersGoal.com
t-and-f: Johnson graceful to the last
Electronic Telegraph Sunday 1 October 2000 James Mossop IT WAS after midnight when Old Golden Shoes came meandering through the concrete maze of corridors that runs beneath Stadium Australia. For Michael Johnson, world record-holder at 200 metres and 400 metres, it was time to say farewell to the Olympic stage. He had run his last. He fingered the medal that matched his running shoes after bringing home the United States 4 x 400m relay team and adopted a stately stance. A few hours earlier, the sprint relay team had behaved like a quartet of twerps, posing, pulling faces and being generally obnoxious. Johnson, always graceful and now a mature 33-year-old, was in a mood to tell them to grow up. He said of Maurice Greene, Bernard Williams, Jonathan Drummond and Brian Lewis: "We have some good young talent coming through but they need to show some maturity. "These guys have to gain experience but to move on they need some maturity. These have been strange Olympics in many ways. For instance Marion Jones won the 100 metres by five yards but didn't break a record." Stranger still, perhaps, is Johnson's heavy hints that he is walking away from the sport that has brought him so much in multi-million Nike contracts, an invincible talent and continuing offers of huge sums just to turn up. He thought about all that as he said: "I just feel great to have finished the way I started, with a gold medal. I have been under a lot of pressure but I knew that these guys in the relay squad would not let me down. "I know I could go on. I have kept my body in shape for the 400 but the 200 would be too tough for me. At this point in my life, I have done everything I ever wanted to do. Why should I be greedy? "I will miss it but right now the risk is far greater than the reward. Nobody has been near me for 10 years but I do not want you to be writing 'Michael's lost it' or 'Michael's finished' because I don't want to read those things about myself. "I will sit down with my coach in a couple of months and we will decide how best to close it down." Johnson is truly one of the track's superstars with his upright running style and seemingly effortless flow. He did the 200m and 400m double in Atlanta after missing Barcelona in 1992 with food poisoning. He broke the world 200m record with 19.32 in the final and set the 400 mark in the world championships in 1999 when he smashed Butch Reynolds' 11-year record with 43.18. The golden shoes soon followed and now the American track team will be the poorer without him. He has not always been the fittest of athletes. Injuries have affected him and in 1998 when he had hamstring trouble it was discovered that he had an imbalance of his hips. As Johnson was saying his Olympic farewell, a 21-year-old British Midlander, Daniel Caines, was experiencing his first Games and loving every minute of it. He ran the second leg of the British quartet, who were a disappointing sixth behind the United States, Nigeria, Jamaica, Bahamas and France, but everyone was impressed with his run as he improved on the team's position after Jared Deacon's poor lead-off. Caines has the right pedigree. His mother, Blondelle Thompson, ran the 100m hurdles in the European Championships. His father, Joe, was a British junior champion and his uncles Garry and Keith Thompson played football for Aston Villa and Coventry. Showing much more maturity than the American sprinters, he said: "This has been a terrific learning curve. To be in the same event at Michael Johnson is just overwhelming." He has missed the first three weeks of his term studying law at Birmingham University so that the moment he steps off the flight back from Sydney he will have some serious catching up to do. As indeed will Deacon, Jamie Baulch and Iwan Thomas, who all looked far from their best as they trailed home in the last of the track and field events late last night. Eamonn Condon WWW.RunnersGoal.com
t-and-f: Women's 10,000m Report
Electronic Telegraph Sunday 1 October 2000 Mark Reason EVEN WHEN she is out for an afternoon jog around the foothills of the Pyrenees, Paula Radcliffe looks to be tormented by the punches of an invisible hand. But this time not only was the pain which had ravaged her body for the previous 10 minutes real, it had spread like a virus into her mind. Flat out on the track after the final of the women's 10,000 metres, Radcliffe could not cope with what had just happened. She had just taken 35 seconds off the Olympic record, set a national record, a personal best - and finished fourth. She had run half a lap quicker than any woman had previously managed at an Olympics and she had not even got a medal. It looked for a moment as if she was retching, but whether it was exhaustion or an exorcism was impossible to say. Sonia O'Sullivan recognised Radcliffe's distress. The Irish runner, who had just set a national record herself in finishing sixth, helped Radcliffe to her feet and put her arms around her. How Radcliffe wished O'Sullivan had been able to help her earlier. If O'Sullivan had been able to hang on to the cruel pace that Radcliffe beat out from the start, then the British woman would not have had to do all the work. The other runners in the leading group would have feared O'Sullivan's kick finish and been forced to help Radcliffe out. Instead she was as exposed as a naturist at the South Pole. In the lead after just 150 metres she churned out a succession of 72 and 73-second laps without anyone else to help out as an occasional front-running windbreak in the gusty conditions. Just under a third of the way through the race Radcliffe had shed 15 runners out of the field of 20. The worry was that the four who remained with her incorporated the world champion, the Olympic champion from Atlanta and the Olympic champion from Barcelona. Radcliffe had won nothing more significant than the European Cup and a Junior World Cross-Country Championship. At least that was the sum of her statistical achievement. But anyone who cares about distance running had been moved to admiration and sympathy by her performances at Atlanta where she finished fifth and at last year's World Championships in Seville where she won the silver medal. If there is any compensation for all the pain that Radcliffe puts herself through, then it is that she puts the rest of us through a fair bit of anguish as well. Watching Radcliffe running is a cruel mixture of hope and moral indignation. She is one of the few athletes in the world whom you truly believe to be free of drugs. Having split the field at 3,000m Radcliffe was distraught to discover that however hard she kept squeezing no one else was about to burst. Twenty minutes into the race she had hurt herself more that the others. She said afterwards: "I thought if I took it out at that pace there might be three of us left, but there were five. The last 10 minutes were really hard. When Gete Wami came through - with six laps to go - I was really struggling at that point. As I got tired I felt the wind more and because it was very dry out there the back of my throat was really sore." It looked as though the only person she was about to drop was herself, but fantastically she came again. And the roar of the crowd as Radcliffe moved back in front was a roar from the heart. Aussies love a fighter, but they don't often see one as gutsy as Radcliffe. They have claimed Ian Botham as one of their own and now they were adopting a British runner who will never be a larrikin as long as she lives. Radcliffe's second push finally broke Tegla Loroupe from Kenya, but there was left only the terrible realisation that three between four doesn't go. Someone wasn't going to win a medal. And that someone was going to be Paula Radcliffe. As they approached the bell Derartu Tulu of Ethiopia put in the golden kick to win in 30min 17.49sec, her team-mate, Wami, hung on for second and Fernanda Ribeiro, from Portugal, found a final injection of pace to finish third. It was an extraordinary performance from the first four, all running personal bests and all annihilating the previous Olympic record. Most extraordinary of all was Ribeiro, who has done very little of note for two years, but who, at the age of 31, had enough in the tank to beat her previous best by over 25 seconds. Radcliffe was inconsolable. Thirty minutes after the race the wrong question would still draw out the tears. She said: "I risked everything and went for the gold. I now don't have a medal to show for all the hard work I have done." O'Sullivan was as pleased with her race as she was disappointed for Radcliffe. She said: "There was no way I was going to be out there making up the numbers. I worked like I never had before over the opening five kilometres. A solid race here was a bonus. "Paula truly deserves it, but that's championship racing. It's a lot harder than anything else." The winner, Tulu, who had originally trained to
t-and-f: Dirty tactics in women's 1500m
Electronic Telegraph Sunday 1 October 2000 Owen Slot WHICH WAS the best British performance in the athletics stadium last week? The thoughts in Jonathan Edwards's head spun momentarily as he contemplated the question, but they did not take long to settle. Kelly Holmes, he said, no doubt about it. If Holmes hadn't produced one of the shocks of the Olympics by taking bronze in the 800 metres last Monday, then we might have been saying the same of her for simply making the 1500m final last night. To get there was impressive enough, but to survive to the finish line was another matter altogether. Holmes only came home seventh in the 1500m, but, after four years of incessant injury problems, it is worth remembering that a few weeks ago, when she was selected for the British team, there were people wondering whether the British Olympic Association wasn't simply wasting the airfare. On Monday night, however, she was celebrating being an Olympic medallist by buying a round of chips at the McDonald's in the Athletes Village. Then last night, she was lined up next to the great Gabriela Szabo and suddenly expectation was being thrust on her again. Even so, no one could have guessed at the sort of endurance contest in which she was about to take part. Holmes was to declare later that it was the roughest, dirtiest race she had ever run in, starring "some of the dirtiest runners I've ever been up against". The only way that Marla Runyan, the American, was going to survive the battle was by running at the front. Runyan is legally blind and has just become the first Paralympian ever to compete in an Olympics, but this was certainly not the race to suit her. In the midst of the elbowing, the pushing and the tripping, Holmes found an enormous compliment being paid to her. Some of the runners were actually targetting her for the rough treatment. This was proof that not only did Edwards, her other team-mates and the British media suddenly rate her again as an incredible performer, but it showed that her rivals rated her too. Lidia Chojecka, the Polish runner, particularly, singled her out for treatment, but there were others too. Holmes got a fairly feisty welcome from their elbows, she kept on having to check her stride; at one point, she found that they had boxed her in. "They obviously thought I was a threat," Holmes reflected smilingly afterwards. "Maybe if I'd kept concentrating, I would have been." It was at the halfway mark that Holmes let her concentration slip. This may have been fleetingly unprofessional of her, but it reflects nicely on her nevertheless and it sheds further light on the sort of race that she was in. In the bundle of bodies that were competing for space, Hayley Tullett, her Welsh team-mate, went tumbling to the ground. Tullett's foot appeared to have been caught on the backstride by that of Szabo's. Szabo herself was to pay the penalty for it, however, because in her effort to avoid Tullett's falling body, she lost considerable ground on the leaders. The point is that the 1500m is a race where there is no margin for error. Holmes is as capable as anyone of looking after herself when it gets rough, but in her concern for Tullett, she lost her concentration. Szabo lost crucial ground and was only able to come back into bronze-medal place. Suzy Favor-Hamilton, one of the pre-race favourites, herself fell to the ground, not through being tripped, but through dehydration and exhaustion. In the mess that followed, the race was to be won unexpectedly by Nouria Merah-Benida of Algeria. Tullett battled back but could not catch the pack and broke down in tears at the finish line. Everyone was confused by the fact that the pace was so slow, in fact it appeared the perfect race for Holmes to use her kick to run away to glory. Yet though Holmes finished nowhere near the medals, there was still no way that she was going to lose the bright smile that has stretched across her face all week. "I don't really care about my performance," she said. "I've reached two finals and got a medal. I'm still really happy." In fact, she went as far as promising us that there would be more of these sort of occasions to come. "That Polish girl really had it in for me," she said. "No worries. I'll get her back next year." Holmes's first concerns, though, were for Tullett. Like herself and so many others in the British team, Tullett has had a year of vast improvement. She was never going to win this race, yet afterwards she was inconsolable. "She'll be devastated," said Holmes. "She's done excellently this year. To get tripped in the final is the worst thing; you'll always be wondering: what if?" But if Holmes manages to get her ever-crumbling body through to next season in one piece, then she may find Tullett a regular rival. The prospect is hugely encouraging. Before then, however, we should simply celebrate that Holmes is back. We expected great things of her in 1996 and 1997 and injuries let her down. Most of
t-and-f: Women's 4x100m report
Electronic Telegraph Sunday 1 October 2000 Simon Hart THE BAHAMAS pulled off another giant-killing act to add to their world championship victory last year when they outpaced Marion Jones and her American colleagues to claim the gold in the women's 4x100m final. According to the American gameplan, the race was supposed to deliver the fourth of Jones's five gold medals but the double-sprint champion had too much to do in the final leg and could only manage a bronze to add to the one she won in the long jump the night before. The Bahamian quartet of Sevatheda Fynes, Chandra Sturrup, Pauline Davis-Thompson and Debbie Ferguson set a season's best time of 41.95sec, while Jamaica's Merlene Ottey, who has still not ruled out another year of competition at the age of 40, bowed out of her sixth Olympics in style by anchoring her team-mates to the silver. "We are the world champions and now the Olympic champions," said Davis-Thompson, the only one of the Bahamas four not to reach the final of the 100 metres. "Everyone said it was a fluke when we won before, but we showed them again. We showed the United States and the whole world how powerful the Bahamas are. Everyone thought that USA was unbeatable with Marion in the team, but we showed them tonight. We've earned respect." The United States had better fortune in the men's sprint relay final, weakened by the absence of the British four after their disastrous disqualification in the heats. Though they failed to break the world record, the Americans were never in trouble as 100m champion Maurice Greene saw them home to a comfortable victory over second-placed Brazil and Cuba. Ethiopian Millon Wolde went head to head with Algerian Ali Saidi-Sief in thrilling final two laps of the 5,000m but proved too strong in the run-in to make it a night of double celebration following the earlier victory for his compatriot, Derartu Tulu, in the women's 10,000m. Yelena Yelesina, competing in her first Olympics, won Russia's first ever gold in the women's high jump, though it could also be their last for a long time. She lives in Melbourne and plans to jump for Australia in 2002. The women's javelin competition proved the virtue of perseverance. Norway's Trine Hattestad, competing in her fifth Olympics at the age of 34, won her first gold medal with an opening throw of 68.91m. "It's important to finally take it," said the former world champion. "You get a taste for the gold medal when you have tried for so long." Eamonn Condon WWW.RunnersGoal.com
t-and-f: UST&F facing ban over drug testing
Electronic Telegraph Sunday 1 October 2000 Owen Slot THE UNITED States have been threatened with suspension from international athletics by Arne Ljungqvist, the senior vice-president of the IAAF, the parent body of the sport, because of their rules over drug-testing. Ljungqvist says the refusal of USA Track and Field to change their rules has reached a point where the ultimate sanction - suspension from the IAAF -would be considered. He hopes this will remain a threat, but insists that "we cannot have one regulation for the United States and another for the rest of the world". In the last few days, USATF has been exposed for having 10 unnamed drugs-positives still unresolved. Craig Masback, their chief executive, has declared none of the 10 are competing in Sydney, but Ljungqvist's contempt for the US system is such that he is not even prepared to take Masback at his word. "I have no clue if these athletes are here," he said. "How could I? Of course they could be here, it could be anyone. We cannot do anything, we do not know who they are. "These threats of suspension are well known to the USATF. They know they have to find a solution because they cannot live with this lack of credibility and suspicion and the general notion that they may be covering things up. They should be keen to put a procedure in place which takes this image away. I've told them that their procedures cast a doubt." Traditionally, the United States Olympic authorities have prided themselves on their clean image, but the finger is now being pointed at them. A case in point is that of C J Hunter, the shot-putter married to Marion Jones, who was found positive in four tests carried out by the IAAF's testing system. If Hunter's tests had been carried out by the American federation, says Ljungqvist, no one within the IAAF would have got to know about them and he could very well be competing here in the Olympics. "But because the tests were carried out by the IAAF, we had the primary information, so we would have taken any action to prevent him from competing." The problem lies with the strict confidentiality within which drug-testing in America is carried out. When urine tests are taken they are split into A and B samples; it is when an A-sample shows positive that the B-sample is tested. The IAAF rules state that a national federation should inform them when an athlete's A-sample tests positive. That way the IAAF can monitor the jurisdiction progress. "But with the US, we do have a problem because they keep their cases secret for a long time," Ljungqvist said. "They don't declare after the A or the B, or even after the full process is over if the athlete is exonerated. So we never come to know about it. How are we supposed to monitor and ensure that cases are treated in the same and fair way?" It was after USATF had exonerated Mary Slaney three years ago that the IAAF introduced the rule whereby they could step in and reconsider a case if it is deemed to have been wrongly handled. "But if we have no information, we can do nothing," said Ljungqvist. "This is what happens with the United States, they don't inform us. "The problem with the United States can only be solved by them changing their procedures. They claim they have a strict confidentiality to observe by law. This is impossible. I told them that if this is the correct interpretation of your law, then you will have to work on changing it. "They have to change. There is no other solution. These threats are not a nice way to try to find a solution. They have resisted the pressure up to now, but they have never been subjected to this pressure before." The early signs are that the pressure is beginning to pay off. In response to recent criticism, USATF announced on Friday a review of their anti-doping rules. If this doesn't work, says Ljungqvist, then he will go "to a higher authority". This is a reference to General Barry McCaffrey, referred to as the "US drugs tsar", a personal appointment by President Bill Clinton to clean up drugs in sport. "It is no secret that I got a message from the department of General McCaffrey," said Ljungqvist. "So USATF will be under pressure from many sides. I hope we do not clash, but we are in a sort of clash today." Ljungqvist has also provided further information about Hunter's four positive tests in the last four months. Hunter's nandrolone levels, he says, may in fact have exceeded the reported figure of 2,000 times over the acceptable threshold. "The figure may even have been 3,000 or 4,000 times over," he said. "That can easily happen if you take it by mouth and the urine sample is taken at the ideal time after the intake." Of the four tests, two were out-of-competition tests, the other two were taken after competing in the Bislett Games in Oslo in July and the Weltklasse meeting in Zurich in August. All four were positive, showing varying levels of nandrolone. "The varying levels of nandrolone reflect, from a scientific poin
t-and-f: A variety of subjects - just catching up...
--- Alan Shank <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: > W 100H semis & final What happened to Devers? One said she just stopped, > another said she pulled up lame. Surprisingly little talk about this. Certainly the least apparent injury I can recall seeing. Aren't the Olympics the "once in a lifetime, only comes every four years, only time in the public eye, lay it all on the line" event that people push to the edge of injury and sometimes beyond in an attempt to reach their dreams? At least, that's what I thought it was before this week. --- Alan Shank <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: > M 3000 SC - heats > Croghan 2nd-fastest non-qualifier at 8:25.88, Dobert 8:29.52 also dnq. > Slowest time qual is 8:25.35 What happened to the talk of 8:12-8:15 being needed just to make the final? For that matter, what happened to the talk of the climate being perfect for fast distance times? Hmm... --- Scott Fairbanks <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: > Was anyone else appalled at how NBC shamelessly villified > this man? (Karelin) The darth vader voice and the still pictures > that made him look like a child eating ogre? In reality he > was a cultured hard working athlete. Cultured and hard working > doesn't fit the Drago-underdog Rocky anglethey were trying > to frame. "Oh well, let's turn him into a monster" I was rather surprised by the voice. Anyone know what he actually sounds like? I'm curious if NBC would have showed that piece had he not been beaten. Build him up into more of a goliath for the general viewership so it's all the more impressive when he falls... Still, the monster presentation is not too far from my recollection of him going back to the early 90's, both from seeing him on tv, reading about him, and seeing pictures. This is a guy who truly was scary to look at. --- "A.J. Craddock" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: > In addition, stanozolol, like most steroids, is a training drug, > allowing harder workouts and quicker recoveries. > > Why, therefore, would Ben Johnson want to take it during a COMPETITION, > where it would do him absolutely no good whatsoever? Recovery between rounds? --- Rob Muzzio <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: > Huffins just ran the fastest 1500M of his life...a PR by 13 > seconds. How many athletes do you know that have PRed by 13 seconds in > the 1500M? Albeit, his previous PR was slow, I think you just answered your own question. My last two 1500m pr's were by 12 and 9 seconds, both season openers. However, I hardly consider them worth bragging about. > I don't care who you are...you cant make those marks in an > Olympic competition without the "will" to train and win. Why do the will to train and the will to win have to be the same? I see no connection between the two. > About Chris's lack of arrogance...again you don't even know him, and > cant make a judgment based on TV interviews. Actually one of Chris's > early downfalls was his arrogance. He used believe that he could beat > you with 9 events, and therefore used to run a terrible 1500M. And that's not a lack of competitive fire? Sounds like semantics to me. I could beat you, I just don't want to work hard enough to do it... > What is a "choke artist"? Is it someone that lets the pressure of big > meets get to them, and therefore they mess up? If that is the case then > that is not Chris Huffins. I may have missed a post, but I certainly said nothing about him being a choke artist, and I don't recall anyone else doing so. I think you're reading far too much into the criticisms. Again, let me say that I am in no way questioning Huffins' ability, only his desire to perform his absolute best. That is far from calling him a choker. > His problem in the past was that he often let other > people beat him, because of his lack of 1500M ability. I believe it was > a mental thing that he was going through, because he really believed he > couldn't run the 1500. And that's not a lack of competitive fire??? That's what being competitive is all about -- confidence. > Now, as for his interview...I can tell by the emails expressing that he > is a nice guy and should have been mad about finishing with the bronze > and not elated and gracious like he was, that you people (writing those > emails) have never had the "will" or guts to attempt and/or finish a > Decathlon. The feeling that you get when you finish a Decathlon fills > your entire body and mind with a great sense of achievement and pride. You know, the thing distance runners on the list are most often criticized of is thinking that their event(s) is so much harder than everyone else's. The funny thing is that each discipline seems to feel the same way... Hey, I've got plenty of will to compete in ten events. Of course, there's a few of them I couldn't clear the bar safely and I'd stink it up in at least half of them. Give me a non-hurdles running event only decathlon, say from 100m to 5k or 10k, and I'd probably hold my own. The point is that everyone does be
RE: t-and-f: UST&F facing ban over drug testing
> In the last few days, USATF has been exposed for having 10 unnamed > drugs-positives still unresolved. Craig Masback, their chief > executive, has > declared none of the 10 are competing in Sydney, but Ljungqvist's contempt > for the US system is such that he is not even prepared to take Masback at > his word. "I have no clue if these athletes are here," he said. "How could > I? Of course they could be here, it could be anyone. We cannot do > anything, > we do not know who they are. Nathan Thurm (Masback) at it again. What is reality and what is fiction? Emended by Listers: With all of the back-peddling from the USATF, CEO Craig Masback is sounding more and more like Martin Short's character Nathan Thurm, the defensive, nervous, chain-smoking lawyer who always confuses the issue. No matter what the facts are, he admits nothing and never bends. DAN BLATHER: Mr Masback, it's been reported that C J Hunter has tested positive to the steroids nandrolone and testosterone at the Bislett Games in Oslo on July 28. CRAIG MASBACK: I'm not going comment further on this matter. BLATHER: It's been alleged by Norwegian IOC member Johann Koss: "The general perception is that the International Amateur Athletic Federation and the US are covering up and have a special rule for American athletes." Would you comment? MASBACK: We have a long-standing policy of not commenting on issues involving doping. BLATHER: Since you don't want to discuss doping, can we move on to another one of your cases regarding the minkman schnoze and their defective whoopee cushions? MASBACK: That wasn't part of the agreement. Why are you changing the subject? I didn't change the subject. Why do you keep looking at me that way? BLATHER: OK, then...Is it good business for the USATF to hide positive drug tests? MASBACK: I never said. You said that. BLATHER: No, I was asking you the question. MASBACK: Why would you ask me a question that you already gave the answer to? You said that. I never said that. Why would I say that? You said that. (Takes puff of cigarette). BLATHER: No, no, listen to me. I'M asking YOU if there is a financial incentive to cover up positive drug tests. Don't positive drug tests hurt your ability to market the sport? MASBACK: Who tested positive for drugs? I didn't test positive for drugs. Did you test positive for drugs? You said that. I didn't say that. BLATHER: No, I didn't test positive for drugs and I never said YOU tested postive for drugs! I'm asking YOU if YOU covered up the fact that OTHER people tested positive for drugs! Listen to the question! MASBACK: How would I know what other people did? Ask them. Why are you asking me what other people did? How would I know. Ask them. Why are you asking me? BLATHER: NO! LISTEN TO ME, GODAMMIT! I'M ASKING YOU IF YOU COVERED UP THE FACT THAT OTHER PEOPLE TESTED POSITIVE TO AVOID BAD PUBLICITY FOR YOUR SPORT!! MASBACK: Why are you shouting? I'm not shouting. Why are you shouting at me? I'm not shouting at you. You don't have to shout. I'm just trying to answer your questions. You're the one shouting. I'm not shouting. BLATHER: OK, Mr. Masback, let me put it to you another way...you must admit... MASBACK: What? What are you looking at? BLATHER: Mr. Masback, why can't you just give a straight ans... MASBACK: Why do you keep looking at me that way? BLATHER: MASBACK: Do I look nervous? I'm not nervous. I don't feel nervous. Do I feel nervous to you? BLATHER: MASBACK: I've already said that it's our policy not to comment on these matters. BLATHER: MASBACK: I'm not nervous. You're the one who's nervous. BLATHER: Why are you being so defensive? MASBACK: I'm not being defensive, you're the one who's being defensive. BLATHER: MASBACK: Why is it always the other person? BLATHER: MASBACK: (Looking at the camera) It's him right? BLATHER: THAT'S IT! CUT! Get this freakin idiot outta here! MASBACK: It's over? Can I leave? I'm leaving this interview now. Quit looking at me that way.
