posted Jun 21, 2009

The next quickest 200m runner this season is Chambers. I am still unclear whether Devonish is fit as he is the obvious replacement as he was for Fifton on the 3rd leg of the relay. Benjamin is quicker than Edgar over 200m this year and Edgar has never run a particularly good 200m. I'm not saying that Benjamin should run the 200m, he has the 4x400, and probably the coaches will wait to see whose fit and healthy. I would pick Chambers.

add comment | complain about this comment

posted Jun 21, 2009

Lets really spice things up in the 'boring'
distance races.

How about putting an alligator in the 'chase
water jump and award bonus points to anyone
who loses a limb.

The cage could be removed from round the
hammer circle and the throwers encouraged
to aim for the track just as the distance
boys and girls pass by. If the ball and
chain missed the runners in might possibly bounce into the spectators or even hit the BBC
commentary box (sorry chaps)

I would also just once during the pole vault
competition remove the landing mat while one
of the valters was in mid flight.

To be serious what the sport needs is better presentation on
the day and more global superstars
to grab the non athletic fans attention.

But hey isn't it great to have eight hours
live action on terrestial TV this weekend
even if the BBC regard T&F as very much
second fiddle to it's over hyped F1 coverage.

add comment | complain about this comment

posted Jun 21, 2009

Just watched the 3,000.
People pushing into each other, tactics out of the window, sprinting when you should be consolidating your race... Why don't we just have a phone vote and evict our least favourite?

add comment | complain about this comment

posted Jun 21, 2009

"But hey isn't it great to have eight hours live action on terrestial TV this weekend even if the BBC regard T&F as very much second fiddle to it's over hyped F1 coverage."

I don't think its the BBC letting T&F down. Look at the pathetic attendance in that stadium compared to the hundreds of thousands at Silverstone this weekend.

It doesn't help when the authorities try to glam up events then make a foul-up of it with silly rules like 'Devil takes the hindmost'.

add comment | complain about this comment

posted Jun 21, 2009

Fantastic comments by tootingmick and CrashDavis. Made me laugh out loud!

add comment | complain about this comment

posted Jun 21, 2009

3rd for the team, despite multiple injuries before the games, and the mens 4*100m guys pulling up with a hamstring DURING the race! Well done guys!

add comment | complain about this comment

posted Jun 22, 2009

Have to say I got bored with the bbc coverage at the start yesterday and switched to Eurosport, who were showing all of the men’s triple jump rather than highlights of the track events from the day before.

Didn't much like the rule changes in the high jump and pole vault. But did quite like them in the horizontal jumps. Would've like to see something similar but with 6 attempts.

Was good to see the British team dong well on the track despite injuries. Seemed to be some serious weakness in the field though.

Overall it was a good early season event, but was lacking in truly world class competition. I can only think of three, and that’s the Men’s Vault, TJ and women’s HJ. Still a long way to go before Berlin.

add comment | complain about this comment

posted Jun 22, 2009

Despite some serious problems with the devil take the hindmost races, it did stir the race up and after the first elimination in each event it was a true test of endurance for the remainder of the field rather than a last lap blast with still 8 or 9 athletes in contention to produce a mediocre time. Whether it was a more interesting spectacle or better type of race is another debate but I think it is easy to judge the idea too harshly as a quality athlete should be able to manage this type of race.

add comment | complain about this comment

posted Jun 22, 2009

I think the outcome of a race should be decided over its designated distance whether the race (for that's what it is, not a time trial) be slow or fast. The Spanish athlete showed "devil take the hindmost" for what it was, a contrivance which does not allow the best athlete to run in the way which suits them best.
I'm over 40 and so perhaps, more resistant to change than some. But the reason I like athletics is because it's the purest form of sport there is. Please don't mess with it.
If you want a spectacle, how about the athletes run the first lap forwards, the second backwards and so on? That should do it.

add comment | complain about this comment