Olympic Track & Field

[Lavabe]

Aside from Shannon Rowbury (who has her own thread in the EK Forum), here's the thread for track & field.

First up: men's 100m. Is Gay healed? Who wins this big matchup: Powell, Bolt, or Gay?

Ato Boldon doing commentary? He seems fine, but I was sort of hoping for him to wear his trademark sunglasses.;)

[YmoBeThere]

It seems like yesterday to me when Bolden was running. Hard for me to believe that it was Atlanta 1996 and 2000. Maybe I am in denial that Michael Johnson still isn't setting records. The shelf life of a sprinter is so short. Really they have maybe a five year window in most cases.

[dukie8]

our female 800m runners are disgraceful. not one got out of the first round and i think teter dnf'ed in the first 100m. did you see that some woman ran 2:30 and it was a pb? the 10,000 is on at 10:45am est today. there should be foreign sites that are showing this live.

here's the site with the results:

http://www.iaaf.org/oly08/results/eventCode=3659/racedate=08-15-2008/bydate.html

[Lavabe]

our female 800m runners are disgraceful. not one got out of the first round and i think teter dnf'ed in the first 100m. did you see that some woman ran 2:30 and it was a pb? the 10,000 is on at 10:45am est today. there should be foreign sites that are showing this live.

here's the site with the results:

http://www.iaaf.org/oly08/results/eventCode=3659/racedate=08-15-2008/bydate.html

I CANNOT figure out what happened with the US 800m women.

Bostondevil: 800m is a whole lot shorter than a marathon. With all the talk about 2535/EJam diving in 2012, think you could try the 800m? Sounds like the Maldives is looking for someone who can run faster than 2:30 for 800 m.

Cheers,
Lavabe

[YmoBeThere]

Has the 800m been a strong suit for the American women in recent years? I honestly don't know as I focus on the men's sprints and long distance, the field events(men and women) and the women's sprints. Just haven't ever gotten into anything over 400m for the women.(Ahh, the caveat, I have seen Shannon run...)

[Lavabe]

Has the 800m been a strong suit for the American women in recent years? I honestly don't know as I focus on the men's sprints and long distance, the field events(men and women) and the women's sprints. Just haven't ever gotten into anything over 400m for the women.(Ahh, the caveat, I have seen Shannon run...)

I am wondering if the Maldives woman came up injured or something. That might explain the time.

Maria Mutola is still running for Mozambique. Kind of hard not to pull for her.

American women 800m: I think the big name would be Jearl Miles-Clark.

[dukie8]

I am wondering if the Maldives woman came up injured or something. That might explain the time.

Maria Mutola is still running for Mozambique. Kind of hard not to pull for her.

American women 800m: I think the big name would be Jearl Miles-Clark.

no. that was her fastest ever! the rules are that each country gets at least 1 athlete in track even if nobody has hit the B standard. the maldives must not have any legit runners so they hooked her up with a free pass in the 800. you sometimes see a 4 hour marathon or some really slow 100s (which take less than 15 seconds) from these freebies.

i knew that our w800 was very weak and the only event on the track that we didn't have a medal contender but not getting anyone out of the first heat is truly embarrassing. joetta clark is the other big name from the past.

btw, the m100 final is going to be absolutely smoking.

[Lavabe]

btw, the m100 final is going to be absolutely smoking.

The interviews I've seen with the track athletes have all been pointing to the fact that this track is lightning fast. I wonder how many records will be broken?

billybreen: where are you? Another venue-related plethora of world records may be in the offing.

Thanks for the explanation of the Maldives.

Cheers,
Lavabe

[blazindw]

Back to the discussion of the 100m--the signature event of the Olympics, in my mind--I think it will shape up to be a great race. I don't know who wins it between Gay, Powell and Bolt, but I think a 9.67 wins it.

[dukie8]

Back to the discussion of the 100m--the signature event of the Olympics, in my mind--I think it will shape up to be a great race. I don't know who wins it between Gay, Powell and Bolt, but I think a 9.67 wins it.

it's going to go in 9.6x with guys running sub 9.9 going home with no hardware. bolt just jogged a 9.92! jamaica's 4x1 is going to be flying.

i think the m100 is going to be the only race with a wr even though the track is fast. unlike swimming, track races in the olympics generally are tactical. there also are no rabbits and multiple rounds are tiring so it is very hard to set a wr there. there is an outside chance of a wr in the m200 and m400 but MJ's times are so out there it is going to be hard.

btw, drugged up ramzi just ran a 3:32 in the first round of the 1500, which just missed the OR. that's insane.

[dukie8]

i'm getting a live feed of the t&f on this european site:

http://www.aelling.lir.dk/public/tv-player-home.htm

hopefully it isn't blocked at 10:45 for the w10000.

[dukie8]

cantwell just got the silver in the shot. hoffa and nelson were shut out.

[billybreen]

The interviews I've seen with the track athletes have all been pointing to the fact that this track is lightning fast. I wonder how many records will be broken?

billybreen: where are you? Another venue-related plethora of world records may be in the offing.

Yeah, I heard about that yesterday. I formally retract my statement that swimming is weird because of the potential for venue impact.

[dukie8]

flanagan just nailed a bronze in the 10k.

[jma4life]

That was pretty ridiculous by Usain literally jogging a 9.92. Unless he gets a horrific start, the gold should be his.

[billybreen]

That was pretty ridiculous by Usain literally jogging a 9.92. Unless he gets a horrific start, the gold should be his.

If nothing else, he wins the gold for best name. Bolt is a super cool name for a sprinter. Gay isn't.

[dukie8]

great pic of flanagan asking the officials if she really came in 3rd:

http://www.flotrack.org/photos/view/165290/44193

[2535Miles]

great pic of flanagan asking the officials if she really came in 3rd:

http://www.flotrack.org/photos/view/165290/44193
Also a great picture of what happens when all you ever use are your legs.

[YmoBeThere]

I didn't see it but apparently Gay failed to qualify for the final. I think the hammie he hurt at the Olympic Trials is rearing its head.

[ArkieDukie]

I didn't see it but apparently Gay failed to qualify for the final. I think the hammie he hurt at the Olympic Trials is rearing its head.

He came in 2nd in his semifinal race and I believe is seeded 2nd. Bolt looked pretty phenomenal.

[YmoBeThere]

He came in 2nd in his semifinal race and I believe is seeded 2nd. Bolt looked pretty phenomenal.

Tyson Gay? This is the following that I found...

http://sports.yahoo.com/olympics/beijing/track_field/news;_ylt=ApBq49922OasnsaAWV.cbbs5nYcB?slug=ap-ath-trackandfield&prov=ap&type=lgns

[YmoBeThere]

First up: men's 100m. Is Gay healed? Who wins this big matchup: Powell, Bolt, or Gay?

Bolt will win over Powell. Dix may have a shot at bronze. Gay, according to everything I have read, is out.

[ArkieDukie]

Tyson Gay? This is the following that I found...

http://sports.yahoo.com/olympics/beijing/track_field/news;_ylt=ApBq49922OasnsaAWV.cbbs5nYcB?slug=ap-ath-trackandfield&prov=ap&type=lgns

Missed that one. I was thinking of the quarterfinals.

I've had a difficult time cheering for Tyson Gay because of his role in the recent NCAA sanctions against the AR track program. (Arkansas vacates track titles over NCAA violations (http://www.usatoday.com/sports/college/2007-10-25-arkansas-track-titles_N.htm).) However, in reading over this story, I'm not entirely sure he knew what was going on. His coach definitely did. What really galls me is that AR got a black eye because of something that happened at Barton County College.

[YmoBeThere]

Missed that one. I was thinking of the quarterfinals.

I've had a difficult time cheering for Tyson Gay because of his role in the recent NCAA sanctions against the AR track program. (Arkansas vacates track titles over NCAA violations (http://www.usatoday.com/sports/college/2007-10-25-arkansas-track-titles_N.htm).) However, in reading over this story, I'm not entirely sure he knew what was going on. His coach definitely did. What really galls me is that AR got a black eye because of something that happened at Barton County College.

Ahhh, Barton County College the athletic powerhouse...

[dukie8]

bolt 9.69.

[dukie8]

He came in 2nd in his semifinal race and I believe is seeded 2nd. Bolt looked pretty phenomenal.

gay was 5th in his semi heat and did not advance to the final (top 4 advanced).

[YmoBeThere]

Was it on live? I have been watching the HD Basketball only channel so may have missed...

[dukie8]

Was it on live? I have been watching the HD Basketball only channel so may have missed...

no. in one of the most asinine decisions imaginable, nbc isn't putting any track on live. you have to watch track online on a foreign website if you want to see it.

[YmoBeThere]

Perhaps I can mention it when the corporate uppers have a townhall in this area...

[A-Tex Devil]

Any place on the net with the Bolt 9.69 yet? Don't want to wait until tonight to see it.

[dukie8]

Any place on the net with the Bolt 9.69 yet? Don't want to wait until tonight to see it.

i've been watching all the races live here:

http://www.aelling.lir.dk/public/

considering that they were replaying tennis this morning on one of their stations, i think that you probably can catch the glamor race of the olympics that produced a wr throughout the day on their stations.

something seems very fishy with him. the same fishiness when flojo, marion jones and ben johnson were smoking their competitors.

[YmoBeThere]

Innocent until proven guilty, agree it is suspicious but...

"It was, after all, the first Olympic 100 in which six men finished in under 10 seconds."

Right on first and third, wrong on second. Though my 3rd place pick wasn't exactly a solid "he will finish third".

Bolt will win over Powell. Dix may have a shot at bronze. Gay, according to everything I have read, is out.

[CameronBornAndBred]

Is that guy the Phelps of steeplechase? He was so far out in front, it was hard to tell if he let up at the end or just didn't have it. I know he only needed 3rd to continue..but 3rd is pushing it.

[dukie8]

Is that guy the Phelps of steeplechase? He was so far out in front, it was hard to tell if he let up at the end or just didn't have it. I know he only needed 3rd to continue..but 3rd is pushing it.

fam is not the phelps of the steeple. he's america's best steepler but the kenyans are at a completely different level. i read an interview with him and he said that he felt that that race could have been his last steeple ever, he got tripped and fell in athens and he therefore decided to go for it. 8:17 was a pr for him.

he's from ny and has trained a lot in manhattan. 3 years ago, i was running on a sunday night in central park at probably around 5:50 pace. just as i was about to pass a male and female runner the guy took off like a rocket. i passed the woman but then she caught back up to me a minute later. i asked her who that was and she told me it was her then boyfriend, fam. he wound up turning around and running with us. he told me he didn't like to get passed. i've never had someone drop a 4:30 mile on me in the middle of the park!

[CameronBornAndBred]

LOL..That's a great story Dukie8, and thanks for the background on him.

[billybreen]

Bolt's finish was insane. I never would have thought someone would have time to taunt while running the 100M. Best in game celebration since Desmond Howard broke out the Heisman?

[Duvall]

Bolt's finish was insane. I never would have thought someone would have time to taunt while running the 100M. Best in game celebration since Desmond Howard broke out the Heisman?

That was nuts. He ran away from the fastest men in the world like they were Duke cornerbacks.

[throatybeard]

Track & field is one of the events you want to believe in, but can't.

I particularly dispute the idea of the men's 100m being a signature event. We're talking about a ten-second event in which guys with time .20 faster were disgraced in steroid scandals. Bah humbug.

[billybreen]

Track & field is one of the events you want to believe in, but can't.

I particularly dispute the idea of the men's 100m being a signature event. We're talking about a ten-second event in which guys with time .20 faster were disgraced in steroid scandals. Bah humbug.

I agree. I think the whole "Fasted Man" moniker is weird.

The Steeplechase is rad though. Human horses ftw!

[YmoBeThere]

Do you guys drive four-bangers? The 100m is about power and who can harness it. Its the 0-60 time for the human world. Its the "when you are both running from the bear", he's the one getting away scenario.

I agree with you BB, the whole "World's Fasted Man" is kind of weird. Who cares about who doesn't eat when they have food available?

[willywoody]

the 100m performance by bolt was one of the most amazing sports events i've ever seen. if you haven't seen it

http://www.nbcolympics.com/video/player.html?assetid=0816_hd_atm_hl_l0686&channelcode=sportat

[blazindw]

That race was utter insanity. The only performance better than Bolt's was Michael Johnson in the 200 in '96, in my mind. Usain Bolt really is lightning.

[dukie8]

the past 24-48 hours has to be one of the worst 24-48 hours in usa t&f history.

*gold medal contender lagat cannot make it to the finals with our other 2 1500 runners each coming in last in their semi heats.
*jamaica sweeps the w100.
*medal contender deena kastor breaks her foot 3 miles into the marathon and dnfs.
*2-time olympic silver medalist trammel doesn't make it out of the first round of the 110hh.
*medal contender gay doesn't make the final in the 100m.
*after much talk of a sweep in the the men's shot, we walk away with just the silver.
*nobody in the men's long jump final, men's high jump final, women's triple jump final, women's hammer final or men's discus final.

hopefully flanagan recovers well for the 5000, rowbury gets it together in the 1500 and hall medals in the marathon.

[DevilAlumna]

Is it just me, or were Bolt's antics after the race just flat-out disappointingly disgusting? :(

[hc5duke]

Is it just me, or were Bolt's antics after the race just flat-out disappointingly disgusting? :(

On a related note Shelly-Ann Fraser's celebration reminded me of Ivory Latta. I was going to post a pic of Ivory, but then I found an even better one:
http://www.theaustralian.news.com.au/common/imagedata/0,,6202785,00.jpghttp://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/f/fa/718smiley.png/150px-718smiley.png

[YmoBeThere]

Yep, it has been a bad few days for T&F...

[Lavabe]

On a related note Shelly-Ann Fraser's celebration reminded me of Ivory Latta. I was going to post a pic of Ivory, but then I found an even better one:

I differ a little. I felt a little like that until they interviewed her. She seemed genuine; IIRC, she's very young. And she had a set of dental braces that really came out in HD TV.

Cheers,
Lavabe

[Lavabe]

Yep, it has been a bad few days for T&F...

The computer had to be dismantled in lightning speed Saturday morning. Now that we made it to the hotel, I suddenly realized that I missed 48 hours of Olympics. So what happened in the T&F that I need to youtube?

Thanks,
Lavabe

[Lavabe]

So, no American made it through the semis. Lopez ran wide in the rear the whole race, and finished last. Lagat missed by 2/100s of a second. I felt his race, however, was just insanely physical. 1500m races can get that way, but if this was a horse race, there would have been a steward's inquiry if he had actually qualified.

Then again, the physical nature of the 1500m is part of the draw of the race ... I guess.
Cheers,
Lavabe

[Lavabe]

Well, the Chinese gold medal winner from Athens pulled out with an Achilles. Horrible situation. ANy other big bame withdrawals in the last two days?

What's the men's marathon shaping up to be, now that we have a marathon and several long distance cycling events done? What's the word on pollution effects on performance?

Cheers,
Lavabe

[blazindw]

I particularly dispute the idea of the men's 100m being a signature event. We're talking about a ten-second event in which guys with time .20 faster were disgraced in steroid scandals. Bah humbug.

Hey TB, which event, if not the 100m, do you think is a signature event, out of curiosity?

And after Bolt's performance, in just his first year running the 100, he can celebrate however he wants. That was just a dominating performance, in my mind. Same with Fraser...that girl is just a child, and she's the Olympic champion. Her celebration did not remind me of Latta at all, because unlike Latta, she actually won a title.

[billybreen]

Well, the Chinese gold medal winner from Athens pulled out with an Achilles.

Who are you, Brent Musburger?

[dukie8]

order was somewhat restored today:

(1) sweep in the m400 hurdles;
(2) silver in the women's pole vault (the winner set a wr) and
(3) gold in the women's discus.

[Bluedog]

Usain Bolt has done it again! :eek: Destroying the competition in the 200m by more than half a sec, he broke Michael Johnson's 12-year mark of 19.32 and finished in 19.30. Just incredible! I think this guy can get even better as he's just 21...his technique can certainly improve. Especially impressive considering he ran the 100m (which required 4 prelim heats) and had 3 heats for the 200m. Even he himself didn't think he was going to break it because he's just been in too many races.

[jma4life]

And Bolt was running into wind.

[Bluedog]

And Bolt was running into wind.

It's amazing the 200 m best times in history. Bolt and Johnson truly had historic races. Those two are so much better than the rest, it's not even funny.

19.30 secs Usain Bolt (Jam) Beijing August 20 2008

19.32 Michael Johnson (USA) Atlanta August 1 1996

19.62 Tyson Gay (USA) Indianaolis June 24 2007

19.63 Xavier Cater (USA) Lausanne July 11 2006

19.65 Wallace Spearmon Daegu Sept 28 2006

19.67 Usain Bolt (Jam) Athens July 13 2008

19.68 Frankie Fredericks (Nam) Atlanta August 1 1996

19.69 Walter Dix (USA) Gainesville May 26 2007

19.72 Pietro Mennea (USA) Mexico City Sept 12 1979

19.73 Mike Marsh (USA) Barcelona August 5 1992

19.75 Carl Lewis (USA) Indianapolis June 19 1893

[Tom B.]

19.75 Carl Lewis (USA) Indianapolis June 19 1893

Wow, I knew that Carl Lewis had a long career, but I had no idea it was that long. :)

Michael Johnson actually should have another time on that list. He ran 19.66 at the U.S. Olympic trials in 1996, then broke his own record by running 19.32 in the Olympic final in Atlanta.

[Bluedog]

Wow, I knew that Carl Lewis had a long career, but I had no idea it was that long. :)

Michael Johnson actually should have another time on that list. He ran 19.66 at the U.S. Olympic trials in 1996, then broke his own record by running 19.32 in the Olympic final in Atlanta.

haha, my bad. I actually just copied and pasted these records from this article:

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/othersports/olympics/2591230/Usain-Bolt-breaks-Michael-Johnsons-world-record-for-200m-gold---Beijing-Olympics.html

I should have linked it in original post. So it's their fault, not mine! :) They also misspelled Indianapolis. I thought the Telegraph was a dependable publication.

[YmoBeThere]

Not sure if I will get to see the 200M Men's Final...hoping I can time my TV watching to catch it.

[blazindw]

Re: 200 Final

WOW! 19.30, broke the record that I felt would be unattainable for a very long time, that of my favorite track athlete, Michael Johnson. Bolt is crazy fast!

[mapei]

I love watching Bolt - that has to be the most exciting 20 seconds in sports. Wow.

[wiscodevil]

http://www.beijing2008.zideo.nl/index.php?option=com_podfeed&zideo=6c4971596e413d3d&playzideo=6c3453526d31773d

[DevilAlumna]

<cynicism spawned by too many track & field scandals>
Is it too early to start speculating about possible doping?
</cynicism>

[YmoBeThere]

<cynicism spawned by too many track & field scandals>
Is it too early to start speculating about possible doping?
</cynicism>

Nope, that started shortly before the 100M Final.

[roywhite]

http://www.theage.com.au/news/drugs-in-sports/drug-testers-warned-about-jamaicans/2008/08/19/1218911718313.html

What does Victor Conte (he of the Balco scandals) know?

[roywhite]

Arrgghh....

Men and women USA 4x100m relay teams dropped the baton in the prelims!

No matchup with Jamaica in the finals now.

[JasonEvans]

http://www.nytimes.com/2008/08/22/sports/olympics/22longman.html

An interesting NYTimes article with an author who says he simply cannot trust Bolt and the other track stars. He's been fooled too many times before.

--Jason "I hope Bolt is clean, but his numbers are hard to believe and Jamaica does not have its own drug testing agency" Evans

[JasonEvans]

By the way, Team USA's track success got a real boost from the men's 400 today. All 3!

[roywhite]

By the way, Team USA's track success got a real boost from the men's 400 today. All 3!

Thank goodness for our 400 meter runners, both hurdlers and flat.

It may be that all of our men's gold medals in track come in the 400m hurdles, 400m run, and 4x400 relay. There are some additional events left, and the decathlon looks promising, but this has been a majorly down Olympic year for our men's track program.

[Mal]

I'd like to believe Renaldo Nehemiah's thoughts from the article Jason linked above, that Bolt was so exceptional as a 14- or 15-year-old that his current accomplishments are all perfectly predictable. But it's hard to believe, I guess, given how jaded we've become of track and field accomplishments generally. I mean, Jamaica, a nation of what, a couple million? has destroyed everyone in these Olympics in sprinting. They've been gaining on the U.S. for awhile, of course, and the U.S. team has underperformed a decent bit, what with baton drops and hitting hurdles and the like, but still. I guess I'll believe it's happening naturally until proven otherwise, but it is hard to believe.

That said, it's hard not to love the fact that Jamaica, the most laid back place in the western hemisphere, the island that was known heretofore primarily for Bob Marley, dreadlocks and ganja, is home to the fastest people on the planet. The two reputations are hard to square with one another.

Also, I think it's a safe bet that if he wanted to, Bolt could be the only man ever (I assume, but I don't know track history well at all) to hold the world record in the 100, 200 and 400 at some point in their career. And he could hold all three at the same time.

[YmoBeThere]

Looks like Wariner shouldn't have switched coaches...

[mapei]

it's hard not to love the fact that Jamaica, the most laid back place in the western hemisphere, the island that was known heretofore primarily for Bob Marley, dreadlocks and ganja, is home to the fastest people on the planet.[/I].

I couldn't agree more. I love it when small/poor countries kick the rich guys' and girls' butts. Go Jamaica!

[hc5duke]

http://www.beijing2008.zideo.nl/index.php?option=com_podfeed&zideo=6c4971596e413d3d&playzideo=6c3453526d31773d

Summary? All I get is:

Deze video staat achter ons famillie filter. Het famillie filter is aan of uit te zetten voor geregistreerde gebruikers.

Looks like some sort of a family filter, are you trying to link a home sex tape or something? :D

[Lavabe]

Okay, so NBC gives us a decent color announcer in Ato Boldon. The BBC gets Michael Johnson.

Why didn't NBC get Michael Johnson?

Cheers,
Lavabe

[Lavabe]

<cynicism spawned by too many track & field scandals>
Is it too early to start speculating about possible doping?
</cynicism>

It is never too early to speculate, especially in track, cycling, swimming, and weightlifting (see the "All Drug Olympics" weightlifting sketch with Phil Hartman on SNL).

Any idea how many athletes have been caught so far at these Olympics?

[YmoBeThere]

Okay, so NBC gives us a decent color announcer in Ato Boldon. The BBC gets Michael Johnson.

Why didn't NBC get Michael Johnson?

Cheers,
Lavabe

The golden shoes? I haven't heard MJ commentate so don't know who got the better deal.

I have been glad to see the USA getting some medals in T&F(I love to see the Men's 400M sweep as that was the event I was forced to run) but overall it has been a little disappointing.

[DukieInKansas]

It is never too early to speculate, especially in track, cycling, swimming, and weightlifting (see the "All Drug Olympics" weightlifting sketch with Phil Hartman on SNL).

Any idea how many athletes have been caught so far at these Olympics?

The number I have heard is 4 during but quite a few prior to the start of the games. Over 10 from one country prior to the games, I believe.

[Tom B.]

It is never too early to speculate, especially in track, cycling, swimming, and weightlifting (see the "All Drug Olympics" weightlifting sketch with Phil Hartman on SNL).


Link. (http://www.hulu.com/watch/4090/saturday-night-live-weekend-update-all-drug-olympics)

[sue71, esq]

Ok posted this in another thread...


Well it appears that the entire US track & field program is going to be up for review (http://sports.espn.go.com/oly/summer08/trackandfield/news/story?id=3548036).



And, I'm sorry if this is offending anyone, but it's just funny... Pat Forde called it Dropapalooza (http://sports.espn.go.com/oly/summer08/columns/story?columnist=forde_pat&id=3546603).

[dukie8]

It is never too early to speculate, especially in track, cycling, swimming, and weightlifting (see the "All Drug Olympics" weightlifting sketch with Phil Hartman on SNL).

Any idea how many athletes have been caught so far at these Olympics?

it's not going to be a lot because most athletes aren't stupid enough to show up with PEDs in their system. the testing during the games is more for pr than anything else. the real testing needs to be done in the off season when the athletes are busy doing massive workouts and need extra help with the recovery.

jamaica does not test its athletes (unlike the usa) so anything that you see done by their athletes in these games should be viewed with an extreme eye of skepticism. i'm sorry but 0.5 second drops in 100m and 200m times year-over-year by many athletes all from the same country with no testing has never been accomplished before without PEDs. is there any reason to think anything else here? when bolt and the rest of them volunteer to set aside their blood for future testing, i'll then become a believer. phelps and dara torres already do that and it basically eliminates any taint of PEDs.

[Lavabe]

Men's 100m
Men's 200m
Women's Pole Vault
Women's 3000m Steeplechase
AND...
1 more world record today (which I will not list, due to TV coverage delays).

Hmm... what was the over/under on the number of world records? I guess the athletes were correct when they said that the track is fast.

Cheers,
Lavabe

[dukie8]

Men's 100m
Men's 200m
Women's Pole Vault
Women's 3000m Steeplechase
AND...
1 more world record today (which I will not list, due to TV coverage delays).

Hmm... what was the over/under on the number of world records? I guess the athletes were correct when they said that the track is fast.

Cheers,
Lavabe

all of the wrs are from russia and jamaica. that should not be surprising.

[jma4life]

Well I can tell you that the Jamaicans have probably been tested more than any other athletes at the olympics so if they are using stuff and not getting caught, then one can assume that any other sprinter in the history of the sport may have been using the same stuff.

[Lavabe]

... just simply stink.

Perhaps I missed the one exception, but did NBC fail to show the finals competition, all jumps/throws, for at least one event. They usually show the last three throws/jumps for each American, as well as the top medalist (if not American). Each field event becomes a five minute segment of that event, sans pressure and drama of human athletic competition.

My rant is as a result of watching the men's pole vault last night, seeing it spliced to death. AWFUL!:mad:

[dukie8]

Well I can tell you that the Jamaicans have probably been tested more than any other athletes at the olympics so if they are using stuff and not getting caught, then one can assume that any other sprinter in the history of the sport may have been using the same stuff.

that logic makes no sense. testing at the olypmics is largely for show and won't catch anyone who knows what he/she is doing. it is the out of competition testing that was woefully lacking (unlike the usa, jamaica doesn't test its athletes). do you actually think that sprinters whip out big needles before races and race loaded up on PEDs? moreover, why would think that there is no progress in PEDs and that what ben johnson used 20 years is what athletes today use???

[jma4life]

that logic makes no sense. testing at the olypmics is largely for show and won't catch anyone who knows what he/she is doing. it is the out of competition testing that was woefully lacking (unlike the usa, jamaica doesn't test its athletes). do you actually think that sprinters whip out big needles before races and race loaded up on PEDs? moreover, why would think that there is no progress in PEDs and that what ben johnson used 20 years is what athletes today use???


Was it for show when Ben Johnson got stripped of the gold in 1988?

That said, I agree that testing usually won't catch anyone. Yet neither will the U.S. testing. Most people caught were caught from money trails, not from testing positive and those that did test positive were just stupid to be honest.

And in addition, Bolt has still been tested numerous times from track agencies themselves. I frankly find it naive to believe that the U.S. testing is the most reliable anyway.

Bolt on the testing himself. Note the comment on out of competition testing. Anyway, I don't doubt that Bolt is on something. But I find it just as likely that Walter Dix, and Tyson Gay and many U.S. sprinters were also on something.


"I've been tested four times [in China], before I even started running. These guys took urine tests and blood tests. After every event final, I've been tested," the Jamaican said Saturday, one of his three gold medals dangling from a red ribbon around his neck. "I've been tested out of competition so many times I lost track."

[billybreen]

... just simply stink.

Additionally, I think almost all of the commentary sucked. The dorks covering track and field were horrible, the whiny dude providing color for gymnastics made my ears bleed, and I'm pretty sure Nancy Grace was covering diving. Atrocious.

Basketball is the one exception. I like Collins.

[mapei]

I hate Nancy Grace, but I actually liked the woman commenting on diving. She was actually fair and not nearly as much of a homer as most NBC people, and she made an unexplainable event more explainable. But, god, why did we have to watch the same events - gymnastics, swimming/diving, volleyball every single night? Even the decathalon has been an afterthought.

The guy who does the post-race track interviews is awful, awful, awful.

Agree on Collins.

[A-Tex Devil]

[QUOTE=dukie8;180802]that logic makes no sense. testing at the olypmics is largely for show and won't catch anyone who knows what he/she is doing. QUOTE]


Is this true? I'm not saying it's tip top, but I've never gotten the impression Olympic testing is "largely for show." Link?

[Lavabe]

Ethiopia, Eritrea, Kenya, Kenya, Morocco.

Terribly humid out there at Mile 16.

PLEASE, NO nuts running onto the course this time, okay?

[billybreen]

Ethiopia, Eritrea, Kenya, Kenya, Morocco.

Terribly humid out there at Mile 16.

PLEASE, NO nuts running onto the course this time, okay?

Watching the marathon is vicariously painful. I can't do it.

[Lavabe]

Watching the marathon is vicariously painful. I can't do it.

Beats watching the political conventions.:rolleyes:

Down to Ethiopia, Kenya, and Morocco.

OOHHH.... Coach K's hip replacement commercial for depuyusa.:)

[YmoBeThere]

OOHHH.... Coach K's hip replacement commercial for depuyusa.:)

That thing has been getting so much air time you would think he is somehow involved in the Olympics. Oh wait, he is.

[mapei]

I felt bad for the Moroccan guy who ran out of gas with 400 meters still to go. That's sports, though.

[hc5duke]

I'm pretty sure Nancy Grace was covering diving.


I hate Nancy Grace, but I actually liked the woman commenting on diving.

It's Cynthia Potter (http://www.nbcolympics.com/video/player.html?assetid=0812_wdivrev_ja102&channelcode=sportdv) (via Yahoo (http://answers.yahoo.com/question/index?qid=20080817173740AAplNMp))

[billybreen]

It's Cynthia Potter (http://www.nbcolympics.com/video/player.html?assetid=0812_wdivrev_ja102&channelcode=sportdv) (via Yahoo (http://answers.yahoo.com/question/index?qid=20080817173740AAplNMp))

Wow. That Yahoo Answers person thinks like I think!

[Lavabe]

I felt bad for the Moroccan guy who ran out of gas with 400 meters still to go. That's sports, though.

Kenya takes its first Olympic marathon in a fast time. The Moroccan guy came in 2nd. You're referring to an Ethiopian runner who was passed by his compatriot for 3rd.

Cheers,
Lavabe