Athletics Thread

[Karabiner]

To be honest I don't see what all the fuss is about. I've got nothing but admiration for guys like Lance Armstrong. He won SEVEN Tour De France's whilst ripped of his tits on drugs. I cycled home once from my mates house after dropping some E's and hit a dog and fell into a canal. It's not as easy as it looks.

Top quality post sir, have you thought about offering Jeeves employment?

[kinboshi]

The fastest men ever:

1   Usain Bolt
2   Tyson Gay - failed drugs test
3   Yohan Blake - failed drugs test
4   Asafa Powell - failed drugs test
5   Nesta Carter
6   Maurice Greene
7   Justin Gatlin - failed drugs test
8   Steve Mullings - failed drugs test

Is there any point?

Had no idea until today that Blake had tested positive for drugs.

Why was there such a furore about Gaitlin competing at the London Olympics, but not a word (that I heard) against Blake?

Blake got 3 months - tested positive for something not on the list, but similar to another substance on the list (I think).

Not sure how the severity is judged (for a 'first' offence) for different drugs.

Our chances of winning a medal in the 4x100m relay at the worlds is getting better by the minute.  Even with the drugs cheat Dwayne Chambers in the team.

[kinboshi]

Sad athletics news today.  For the older members on here many will remember Todd Bennett who ran the 400m for GB.  Sadly he died from cancer today aged only 51.

RIP Todd

[kinboshi]

In other news, Gemili hasn't been selected for the 100m, and as Alverton suggested he's just running the 200m (and probably the 4x100m as well I'd guess).

TEAM GB SQUAD:

MEN:

100m: Harry Aikines Aryeetey, Dwain Chambers, James Dasaolu. 200m: James Ellington, Adam Gemili, Delano Williams. 400m: Nigel Levine. 800m: Andrew Osagie, Michael Rimmer, 1500m: Chris O'Hare. 5000m: Mo Farah. 10,000m: Mo Farah. 110m Hurdles: William Sharman. 400m Hurdles: Dai Greene, Sebastian Rodger, Rhys Williams. 3000m Steeplechase: James Wilkinson. Long Jump: TBA. High Jump: Robbie Grabarz. Pole Vault: Steve Lewis. Discus Throw: Brett Morse. Decathlon: Ashley Bryant. 4x100m: Aikines Aryeetey, Chambers, Dasaolu, Ellington, Gemili, Richard Kilty, Andrew Robertso, Deji Tobais. 4x400m: Michael Bingham, Jamie Bowie, Luke Lennon Ford, Levine, Martyn Rooney, Conrad Williams, Delano Williams.

WOMEN:

100m: Asha Philip. 200m: Anyika Onuora, Jodie Williams. 400m: Christine Ohuruogu. 800m: Jessica Judd. Laura Muir, Marilyn Okoro. 1500m: Hannah England, Laura Weightman. 100m Hurdles: Tiffany Porter. 400m Hurdles: Meghan Beesley, Eilidh Child, Perri Shakes Drayton. 3000m Steeplechase: Eilish McColgan. Long Jump: Shara Proctor, Lorraine Ugen. Hammer Throw: Sophie Hitchon. Heptathlon: Jessica Ennis-Hill, Katarina Johnson-Thompson. Marathon: Sonia Samuels, Susan Partridge. 4x100m: Philip, Hayley Jones, Annabelle Lewis, Ashleigh Nelson, Bianca Williams, Dina Asher Smith, Williams. 4x400m: Margaret Adeoye, Child, Shana Cox, Kirsten McAslan, Kelly Massey, Christine Ohuruogu, Victoria Ohuruogu, Onuora, Shakes Drayton.

[MintTrav]

"and Ohuruogu hands on to Ohuruogu........"

Just rolls off the tongue.

[kinboshi]

"and Ohuruogu hands on to Ohuruogu........"

Just rolls off the tongue.

"...Aikines Aryeetey to Dasaolu" isn't an easy one either!

[Tal]

So Blake pulls out of the world champs.

How many more before we think we can get a GB medal?

[Alverton]

They have a knack of fitting people in even though its not Athletes desired event.  I think Gemili gets the nod in the 4x100m as well as Ellington if he has a good 200m.  Not sure about long jump.  If Rutherford says he's fit, he'll go. I don't think he'll lie and stall like the Idowu debacle last year.  A lot of variance in the long jump anyways where Tomlinson could've quite easily pulled a winning jump last year.

[kinboshi]

They have a knack of fitting people in even though its not Athletes desired event.  I think Gemili gets the nod in the 4x100m as well as Ellington if he has a good 200m.  Not sure about long jump.  If Rutherford says he's fit, he'll go. I don't think he'll lie and stall like the Idowu debacle last year.  A lot of variance in the long jump anyways where Tomlinson could've quite easily pulled a winning jump last year.

It's a shame that only one of Rutherford and Tomlinson can go. The setting of the A-standard was ridiculously high (should that be long?) and there aren't many who've managed it this year.  But each country is only allowed to select one athlete for any event who only has the B-standard (think they can also include existing world champs as an additional entry, but this doesn't extend to Olympic champs). 

[kinboshi]

So Blake pulls out of the world champs.

How many more before we think we can get a GB medal?

Dasaolu has to be in with a definite shout for a medal now.  Also bodes well for the 4x100m team, as long as we can get the baton round...

[Alverton]

They have a knack of fitting people in even though its not Athletes desired event.  I think Gemili gets the nod in the 4x100m as well as Ellington if he has a good 200m.  Not sure about long jump.  If Rutherford says he's fit, he'll go. I don't think he'll lie and stall like the Idowu debacle last year.  A lot of variance in the long jump anyways where Tomlinson could've quite easily pulled a winning jump last year.

It's a shame that only one of Rutherford and Tomlinson can go. The setting of the A-standard was ridiculously high (should that be long?) and there aren't many who've managed it this year.  But each country is only allowed to select one athlete for any event who only has the B-standard (think they can also include existing world champs as an additional entry, but this doesn't extend to Olympic champs). 

The A standard was silly high and should've been lower.  The 'A' mark, (although should be longer), could be the gold winning jump come Russia.  The overall standard in the world isn't great, and you have 20+ guys who can get their technique right for one jump and win gold yet struggle to break 8metres for the rest of the year.  Its okay to set high standards and only have potential medal winners but the jumps are so high in variance that a little leeway should be given on the standards.  My two cents anyway.

[kinboshi]

1900-2030   British Eurosport 2   
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[The Camel]

"3000m Steeplechase: Eilish McColgan."

Scary how old I'm getting.

[redarmi]

Am I the only one that thinks there may be more to Blakes withdrawal than a hamstring injury?

[Alverton]

Am I the only one that thinks there may be more to Blakes withdrawal than a hamstring injury?

Nah me too, far to convenient timing.  It has been effecting him all season, but maybe it was a cover knowing the impending blow-up.  Not sure how it works, but does he get tested when 'injured'?