Brian Gregan is through to the semi-finals of the 400m as third fastest loser at the World Athletics Championships in Moscow after finishing sixth in the second 400m heat of the day. Gregan’s time was 46.04; ahead of him the top five crossed the line in a blanket finish with the Brazilian Henriques running a PBof 45.13 to win. High class stuff. “I’m not really a morning person,” said Gregan after. He goes in the first of three semi-finals on Monday evening – that should suit him better.
In the evening session, Tori Pena failed to make it through the qualifying stages of the pole vault, failing three times at 4.45 after opening at 4.30.
Day 1
A disappointing day for the Irish at the World Track and Field Championships in Moscow; Paul Robinson ran 1:48.61 for 6th in the opening heat of the 800m; Mark English just missed out on a fastest loser place when he finished 4th in heat 4 in 1:47.08 and in the women’s marathon, Maria McCambridge dropped out at 8km.
The women’s marathon was held in the heat of the afternoon to suit Japanese TV schedules (start was 7pm – prime time in Japan); Japanese athletes finished third and fourth. Winner was the defending champion Edna Kiplagat of Kenya in 2:25.44, with 37-year-old Italian Valerie Straneo, who made the pace for the first 40km, holding on for a tremendous second in 2:25.58. A few statistics: of the 72 starters, only 46 finished; 23 dropped out including four Ethiopians. In fact, the only Ethiopian to finish was Kebede in 2: 38.01 – quite a bit slower than the 2:20 she ran in Berlin last September. Just one other Kenyan finished; in the top six were two Japanese and two Italians. Most important statistic: an air temperature of 30-37 degrees and suffocating humidity with no shade or shelter from the blinding heat at any point. McCambridge was put on a drip after dropping out and was then kept in hospital overnight for observation. Madness.
In the 800m heats, English, running in his first major senior championships, held back in his race and although he said after that he was “gutted”, he seemed remarkable sanguine after his race which, most observers would have thought, was hugely disappointing, even for a 20-year-old athlete only beginning his senior career. English did admit that his “race management” could do with improving.
Sunday August 10
World T-F Championships Day 2
Men – 400m heats: Ht2 – 6 Brian Gregan 46.04 (3rd fastest loser)
Women – Pole vault: Gp B: Tori Pena 4.30 (dnq).
Saturday August 9
World T-F Championships Day 1
Men – 800 heats: Ht 1, 6th , Paul Robinson 1:48.61. Ht 4, 4th, Mark English 1:47.08.
Women – 400m heats: 6th Jennifer Carey 52.62. Marathon: Maria McCambridge dnf.
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