IAAF WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP REVIEW

Well you noticed that I stopped after 2 posts during our preview. With the injuries it just made sense to simply wait. I cannot say we will not continue to post previews, but they will be few and far between. With that being said let us review the running and jumping events of the 2011 World Championships.

It goes without saying this was visually an average track meet at best. With such a strong regular season of full stadiums to have the meet at Daegu with so many empty seats was a disappointment. With the World Championships in town I expected more. What also hurt was the lack of big names in marquee events. However there was still plenty of great performances.


SPRINTS

Whether it is men or women the United States and Jamaica will always reign supreme. The venom will constantly spew and track fans will always get a performance.

Women

Carmelita Jeter returned the 100 meter gold to the United States for the first time since 2005. After twice being the bronze medalist she took control in the middle of the race and was able to hold off a charging Veronica Campbell-Brown of Jamaica.

Campbell-Brown was able to exact her revenge leading from start to finish in the women's 200 to hold Jeter and defending champion American Allyson Felix.

Felix announced early on in the season she was interested in trying to complete a double. Although rarely accomplished Felix attempted the double with less than stellar results. Finishing 3rd in the 200 and 2nd in the 400 to Amantle Montsho of Botswana. Sanya Richards-Ross also had a difficult meat finishing 7th in the 400, a definite disappointment for the defending champion.

Sally Pearson of Australia definitely proved that this season was no fluke. She has had the superior sprint speed and technique to drive home a win in the 100 meter hurdles clocking in at 12.28 to claim the world title over Danielle Carruthers and Dawn Harper of the United States.

Lashinda Demus finally broke through her Jamaican competitors claiming the title in the women's 400 meter hurdles with a time of 52.43 to claim an American record. It is not early to pencil Demus in for a spot on the podium in London.

Men

The 100 meters lost three major stars in this event. American Tyson Gay and Asafa Powell of Jamaica pulled out due to injury and Usain Bolt false started in the final. With those three athletes out the field was wide open. Youngster Yohan Blake of Jamaica will still represent his country well clocking in at 9.92 into a headwind of Walter Dix of the United States.

Dix was finish second again to a Jamaican in the 200 meters. Bolt now fresh from not running the 100 meters clocked a world leading 19.40 that ranks in the top 5 all time. Bolt already the world record holder is simply increasing his legacy.

The United States was lucky to have Lashawn Merritt eligible to compete after serving a 2 year drug suspension. Jeremy Wariner of the United States pulled out prior to the meet due to an injury. A defintite downer for team USA after Wariner finished last season as number 1 with a time of 44.13. Kirani James of Grenada would be the one to challenge Merritt and in the finals the teenager took gold with a time of 44.61. James the young talented phenom is definitely a bright spot for the future.

The 110 hurdles unfortunately ended with a bit of controversy. Dayron Robles won the event but was disqualified due a Chinese protest that he bumped Liu Xiang. This prompted Jason Richardson to the title and Liu Xiang to 2nd.

The 400 hurdles was expected to be a bright spot for the United States with four athletes in the field with personal bests under 48 seconds. However only two qualified to the final and neither were able to medal. Bershawn Jackson hit a hurdle early in the race taking him out rhythm and Angelo Taylor hit a hurdle late. David Greene of Great Britain claimed the title in a time of 48.26.


JUMPS

Men

It has been a long time since the United States Men has had such great performances coming from the field athletes. This year would prove to be a golden one.

Defending champion Dwight Phillips continued his dominance in the long jump. Phillips leaped to 8.45 meters to claim his 4th world title.

The Triple Jump has not been on America's radar in quite some time. That has now changed thanks to two youngsters Christian Taylor and Will Claye. Taylor has been one of the most dominant triple jumpers in NCAA history while competing for Florida. Taylor dethroned Phillips Idowu of Great Britian to take the world title with a leap of 17.96 meters. Taylor's win was totally unexpected but truly welcomed.

Jesse Williams continued that winning feeling by claiming the title in the High Jump. Williams title in the High Jump was America's first in twenty years. His leap of 2.35 meters was declared winner with fewer misses than Russian Alexsey Dmitrik.

Trey Hardee would round out America's gold rush. Hardee the defending champion had the best well rounded performance to score a total of 8,607 points over fellow American Ashton Eaton.

The Pole Vault would be the lone disappointment in the jumping events for the USA. The USA is generally a mainstay on the podium in this events, unfortunately none made it the podium this time around. Pawel Wojciechowski of Poland claimed the title with a mark of 5.90 meters.


DISTANCE

MEN & WOMEN HIGHLIGHTS

In the men's distance races Kenya continued their usual dominance winning the 800; 1,500; 3,000 meter steeplechase and the marathon. That was a total of 4 golds out of a possible six. David Rudisha continued his winning ways with a time of 1:43.91 to claim gold in the 800.

In the women's races Vivian Cheruiyot continued her country's success in distance racing completing a rare double by winning the 5,000 and 10,000 respectively.

In the 800 controversial star Caster Semenya of South Africa fell short of defending her title. Mariya Savinova took control of the race to claim the title in a time of 1:55.87 the current world leading time.

Jennifer Simpson of the United States provided a huge boost to American distance running in the 1,500 by winning the gold in a time of 4:05.41. Simpson a former college star at the University of Colorado is part of America's bright future in distance running.