Helsinki 2005 – Highlights, Day 6

Day Six of the 10th IAAF World Championships in Athletics saw the third full house of noisy enthusiastic spectators since it began last Saturday (6).

The evening also brought more success for the Americans; Justin Gatlin won the sprint double, only the second time this has been done in the history of the Championships, Michelle Perry won the women’s 100m Hurdles, and Walter Davis won the Triple Jump. The US team now has nine golds, with more to come, and it’s looking reminiscent of their domination of the sport when these championships were inaugurated in 1983.

Gatlin secures sprint titles at the double

Gatlin emulated his feat in the US Championships when he added the 200 metres to the 100 gold he won last weekend. His US ‘double’ was the first time in 20 years. This one was the first and only one since Maurice Greene in 1999.  Last night’s race was dominated by the US quartet, Gatlin winning in 20.03, and being followed home by Wallace Spearmon in 20.20, defending champion John Capel in 20.31, and Tyson Gay in 20.41.

As it was for Greene, when he did it in Seville, it was further confirmation for Gatlin of his status as the great sprint competitor of the era. There remains the little matter of the World 100 metres record, which was taken by Asafa Powell of Jamaica, with his 9.77 three months ago. Thus far, Powell has failed to figure in the major championships, being disqualified for a false start in the Paris World Championships two-years ago, then finishing fifth in the Olympics, when he was considered favourite. A groin injury prevented him competing here, but when he is fit and well, hopefully before the end of the season, the Golden League circuit promises some fierce sprint clashes.

Pole Vault – a Netherlands first

So, nine golds so far for the US team, and it looked like ten, when Brad Walker cleared 5.75 metres in the Pole Vault. But we had reckoned without Rens Blom of the Netherlands. He cleared 5.75 at his second attempt, and then went over 5.80 at his first. Walker could not respond, and the Netherlands had its first ever world champion.

Delight and Disaster – 100m Hurdles

There was delight and disaster in equal measure for the Americans in the women’s high hurdles. Former heptathlete, and fastest of the year, Michelle Perry had built up a marginal advantage towards the end of the race, but Olympic champion, Joanna Hayes overstretched herself in trying to get on terms. She clipped the penultimate hurdle, crashed into the final one, and carried it almost to the line, which she collapsed across in tears. Perry won in 12.66, with the Jamaicans, Delloreen Ennis-London and Brigitte Foster-Hylton second and third in the same time, 12.76.

Edwards’ prediction

Walter Davis’ best performance in these championships was fifth in Edmonton 2001, but World record holder, Jonathon Edwards always reckoned that Davis was one of the men he feared. That estimation was borne out when Davis leapt out to 17.57 metres in round three of the Triple Jump. Yoandri Bezantzos of Cuba responded with 17.42 in round four, and repeated in round six.  That confirmed his silver, with Romanian Marian Oprea’s last ditch effort of 17.40m in round six was only good enough for bronze.

Dietzch’s two decades of consistency pays off

Franka Dietzch’s victory in the women’s Discus Throw was a triumph for tenacity.  The German has been at the top since she won silver at the World Junior Championships in 1986. During the past 20 years, she has competed in all sorts of conditions, and that experience proved a boon last night. The wind and rain mattered little to Dietzch, proof of which was that four of her throws, with her best at 66.56 metres, were better than the 64.33 metres which won silver for Olympic champion Natalya Sadova of Russia. Vera Pospisilova-Cechlova of the Czech Republic won bronze with 63.19 metres.

Pat Butcher for the IAAF

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Written coverage of the

10th IAAF World Championships in Athletics,
Helsinki, Finland (6 – 14 August)

on the IAAF Website:

‘Event by Event’ PREVIEWS and REPORTS
provided by the
Helsinki 2005 local organizing committee media team

FEATURES - Gold medal winners

As in Paris 2003, the IAAF's own team of writers will be producing a feature story/interview with every individual gold medallist crowned in Helsinki 2005. These stories will be published as soon as possible after each final in the main NEWS section

Daily Highlights - Preview and Wrap

A concise preview at the start and a wrap of the main highlights of the competition will also be a daily aspect of the IAAF website's coverage of the World Championships.

Dunaway's 'Helsinki Herald'

And our regular major championship columnist Jim Dunaway will again give his own unique view of some of the more bizarre or quirky aspects surrounding events at Helsinki 2005.

We hope you will enjoy our coverage.

Chris Turner
IAAF Editorial Manager