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IAAF WORLD INDOOR CHAMPIONSHIPS PORTLAND 2016 DELIVERS A GREAT SHOW
IAAF WORLD INDOOR CHAMPIONSHIPS PORTLAND 2016 DELIVERS A GREAT SHOW
Fittingly for the host nation, the IAAF World Indoor Championships Portland 2016 reached its conclusion with the USA taking gold in the final event.
Their victory in the men's 4x400m relay brought their medal tally to 23 medals, 13 of which were gold, meaning they took half of the titles that were on offer.
All four of the evening sessions at the Oregon Convention Center were sell-outs, with a combined attendance figure of nearly 40,000.
“During the past four days, we have experienced indoor athletics at its finest at the IAAF World Indoor Championships Portland 2016,” commented IAAF President Sebastian Coe.
“Top-class entertainment, innovatively presented with light and sound effects, from the introduction of athletes in the stadium to the medal ceremonies in the heart of city centre.
"We were thrilled by some outstanding performances. The four action-packed days produced 10 world-leading marks, with two championship, seven area and more than 40 national records set in the Oregon Convention Center.
“Indoor athletics offers an intimate experience for sports fans who are separated by no more than a few feet from the athletes in competition. The capacity crowds this week have shown that indoor athletics delivers a great show when well packaged.”
DAILY SUMMARIES
DAILY SUMMARIES
USA RUNNERS WIN FOUR MEDALS ON FINAL DAY OF IAAF WORLD INDOOR CHAMPIONSHIPS
**Centrowitz Claims First World Indoor 1500m Gold in American History**
By Chris Lotsbom, @ChrisLotsbom
(c) 2016 Race Results Weekly, all rights reserved
PORTLAND, ORE. (20-Mar) -- American distance running history was made on the final day of competition here at the IAAF World Indoor Championships, as the red, white, and blue took home a total of four medals over four events contested. Portland area resident and University of Oregon alum Matthew Centrowitz thrilled the capacity crowd with a scintillating come-from-behind win in the 1500m, while fellow Portlander Ryan Hill used the crowd's roar to propel himself to silver over 3000m. For the women, Ajee' Wilson and Shannon Rowbury were second and third in their respective events, giving the USA a record haul of medals over disciplines 800m and up.
The men's 1500m was the most anticipated match-up leading into the final day's competition, as Centrowitz squared off against Olympic medalist Nick Willis of New Zealand and reigning world indoor champion Ayanleh Souleiman of Djibouti. Jockeying for position, all contenders were in the mix through the opening kilometer. Souleiman seemed to have the advantage, while Ethiopians Aman Wote and Dawit Wolde threw their hats into the ring staying towards the front.
Out of nowhere, Willis stepped on the gas and transitioned to a full-out sprint with 400 meters to go. The 32-year-old Kiwi took much of the field by surprise.
"My wife [Sierra] and I said we do not, even if I finish third, we do not want the fastest part my race to be the last 100m. So often in my career I've saved it wondering 'what if.' Today there wasn't going to be a what if. It was going to be put it out there and if they pass me in the last 50 so be it," said Willis.
Over the bell lap, the Oregon Convention Center's volume reached record level, as 7,191 strong stood and willed Centrowitz --the Nike Oregon Project athlete who lives a mere 15 minutes away-- to the front. Rounding the final bend Centrowitz tracked down Willis and threw himself to the front. He'd cross the line first in 3:44.22, steps ahead of the Czech Republic's Jakub Holusa, who nipped Willis at the line 3:44.30 to 3:44.37.
"I knew it was going to be physical, but compared to the prelim I had two days ago, I wanted to put myself in a better position," Centrowitz said after becoming the first American man ever to win 1500m gold in meet history. "I figured with two or three laps to go no one goes by me [on the outside]... It kind of replayed like Millrose Games. You know, I just said to myself 'you've been in this position before, stay relaxed, Nick's going pretty hard, and just use the crowd to my advantage that last lap.'"
Completing the indoor season undefeated, Centrowitz reflected on the signature battle between him and Willis and what it means to claim another global medal, especially on home soil.
"I just thought of how bad I really wanted it. Didn't want to disappoint everyone here, all of the American fans and my family and friends. It was awesome," he said. "I'm just going to [let this] sink in, add this to my collection, and now I have one of every color [gold at world indoors, silver and bronze at world outdoors]. Now it's just time to go get an Olympic medal."
Closing very hard in the last lap was American teammate Robby Andrews, who wound up fourth in 3:44.77. Souleiman, the reigning champion, wound up last in the race in 3:53.69. He was wheeled through the mixed zone on a stretcher.
"Dang, I wish I had been closer to the front," said a smiling Andrews. "I think if I had been a little closer, yeah [I'd be in medal contention]. I don't know. Never mind."
He added: "I'm so happy for [Matthew]. I mean, you want to see USA on the top of the podium for sure. He's clearly the best in the world right now, and I'm really happy for him. We're one team right now, in a couple months it's a different story. But right now I'm really happy for him."
TEEN KEJELCHA SECURES FIRST WORLD GOLD AS HILL SPRINTS FOR 3000M SILVER
From start to finish, the men's 3000m was a chess match, or better yet an aggressive cat and mouse battle. In particular, the final two kilometers were a battle royal.
With frantic frequency, surges where thrown like sucker punches by the might of East Africa: Isiah Koech led, then Augustine Choge, and Caleb Ndiku responded with a burst of energy, going from the tail end of the pack to the head.
Yet it was the youngest athlete in the field, Ethiopia's Yomif Kejelcha, throwing down the gauntlet with 400 meters to go. Proving himself a potent racer last outdoor season, Kejelcha ran with the confidence of a seasoned veteran; he'd swiftly take the lead and not cease control.
Down the stretch, Kejelcha was out in front by three steps and crossed the line first in 7:57.21. Yet all eyes were on the hard-charging American Ryan Hill, who went from fifth at the bell lap to the silver medal, passing Kenya's Choge in the final meters. Hill's final time was 7:57.39. Had the race been ten meters longer, he could have nabbed gold.
"Before this race, my best world finish was seven, so to come back with a second, it's really hard to complain about," said Hill, who before the meet thought a top-five performance would be acceptable.
Kejelcha, whose official age is only 18, gave Ethiopia the first of two gold medals on the day. "I didn't know I could do this well indoors. I was just following my rivals throughout the race. And I'm very happy I could win."
In the mixed zone, Hill second-guessed himself for not going to his sprint earlier. He thought coach Jerry Schumacher would chastise him for the mistake.
"I knew exactly what was happening, I just wasn't good enough to --mentally good enough or physically good enough-- to cover all those moves. I had to settle for sitting back," he said. "I never stepped out of lane one so I had plenty of kick left. And that's basically how I got second, three of those four guys died... It probably shows that I had the wheels to win, just need a little more confidence if I get in that situation again."
Giving commentary in the NBC Sports Network television booth, double Olympic gold medalist Mo Farah was impressed by Hill's race.
"Congratulations to Hill, that really is a great race for him to get second," Farah said, shaking his head with conviction. Behind Hill, Choge took home the bronze in 7:57.43. American Paul Chelimo was seventh in 8:00.76.
IN SECOND INDOOR RACE EVER, NIYONSABA HOLDS OFF AMERICAN WILSON FOR 800M CROWN
Yesterday, Francine Niyonsaba ran the first indoor 800m race of her career. Today, in her second, she was crowned world indoor champion.
American Ajee' Wilson went to the front in her usual style and split 200 meters in 29.23 seconds with towering Kenyan Margaret Wambui hot on her heels. Wambui, whose stride is twice the length of Wilson's, moved up to the pole to split 400m in 60.56.
A second later, though, Niyonsaba took control with a bold and decisive move that could have come back to bite her in the final circuit. Inexperienced on the indoor oval, the 22-year-old from Burundi had not faced the burning sensation that the indoor oval tends to give half milers.
Niyonsaba began to slow her tempo ever so slightly on the backstretch and out of the final turn, just as Wilson began her sprint for home. Wilson got by Wambui for second place, though simply ran out of real estate tracking down Niyonsaba. In a world leading 2:00.01, the gold went to Niyonsaba.
"I have a good coach, I have a good team. Much motivated, that is why I won," said Niyonsaba, who gave Burundi their second 800m medal of the meet (Antoine Gakeme won silver in the men's 800m on Saturday). "I think Burundian people remember this night."
Wilson was pleased with second place, though wanted to add another gold to America's medal tally.
"I wasn't prepared for Francine to come up when she did, I just didn't react fast enough and I kind of waited too late to make my charge. Silver is what I get for that," she said. "I'm really happy about that. I find myself in a weird position: in 2013 outdoors just making the final I was happy to be there. And then now silver is great, but I wish I would have been able to walk away with gold."
DIBABA RUNS AWAY WITH 3000M GOLD; ROWBURY CHARGES LATE FOR BRONZE
As many fans expected, Ethiopian starlet Genzebe Dibaba ran away with the women's 3000m, clocking a time of 8:47.43 to win the third world indoor title of her career. Aware of her competition, Dibaba made a calculated move to surge from last to first midway through the race, giving herself a sizable lead.
"I'm very happy with this performance. I ran a lot of it alone, I was feeling very strong," said Dibaba. "I am a little disappointed that I was unable to double with the 1500 meters because the 3000 meters ended up being a straight final, and I would have liked to have tried both. I did run alone after the first kilometer, and it was easy and I felt very comfortable and I'm very happy."
Behind Dibaba, the race for second would be up for grabs. Fellow Ethiopian Meseret Defar battled with American Shannon Rowbury and Dutchwoman Maureen Koster. Despite closing hard within the last circuit, it was Defar --in her first major championships since giving birth to daughter Gabriella-- holding off Rowbury for silver, 8:54.26 to 8:55.55.
"It's been since 2009 that I've gotten a medal. I've had some good performances, most recently setting the American record in Monaco last year. Championships don't come around very often, and to be able to bring home a medal at home was something I was really striving for, and I'm proud I accomplished it," said Rowbury, who also lives in Portland.
Knowing the results of the earlier competition gave Rowbury an extra dose of adrenaline needed to power through the final laps.
"I’ve become so used to competing far away for a foreign crowd, so this is the first time in my career that I’ve gotten to compete at home [for a world title]. The crowd support and fan support was palpable, and leading up to this race, ever since the first day of the championships America’s been bringing home medals," she said. "Right before I came out here I watched the men’s 3000m and we got silver, the women’s 800 we got silver, and I knew my teammate was up next so I wanted to keep that momentum going. I felt very confident that I could be on the podium and bring home a medal for the US."
Rowbury's teammate, Abbey D'Agostino, closed hard to finish fifth in her first IAAF World Indoor Championships in 8:58.40.
On home soil, America topped the medal count with a championships record 23 medals, 13 of them gold (also a record). Distance events counted for six of the total medals, with two gold, two silver, and two bronze.
-----
The four day total attendance for these championships was 39,283. The next IAAF World Indoor Championships will be held in Birmingham, England, in 2017
REPORT: MEN'S HEPTATHLON 1000M – IAAF WORLD INDOOR CHAMPIONSHIPS PORTLAND 2016
REPORT: MEN'S HEPTATHLON 1000M – IAAF WORLD INDOOR CHAMPIONSHIPS PORTLAND 2016
If there was a danger that success was becoming all too easy for Ashton Eaton, then all one needed to do was see the look on his face during the final event of the heptathlon on Saturday night, as he grimaced, grinded and battled his way to a time of 2:35.22, which gave him overall victory by almost 300 points.
“It’s kind of hard to psych yourself up in that situation,” said Eaton. “You just have to tell yourself to still run hard. I really wanted to set another world record and give everyone here a little treat, but hopefully they still got something out of this.”
His overall tally was 6470 points, a mark which only fellow American Dan O’Brien – and Eaton himself, who holds the world record at 6645 – have bettered.
With the gold medal secured, and Eaton needing an absurdly fast time of 2:20.48 to break his world record, the only true conundrum awaiting resolution in the final event was to see who took the minor medals.
It came down to a battle between three men: USA's Curtis Beach, Ukraine’s Oleksiy Kasyanov and Germany’s Mathias Brugger. The standings made for a typically complex situation, with Beach – by far the best 1000m runner among them – needing to best Kasyanov by 16.02 seconds and Bruger by 5.62 seconds to take the silver medal.
He set off with exactly that intention, and was roared around the track in the Oregon Convention Center as he passed 200m in 29.93 and 400m in 59.77.
Leading the chase was Brugger, who was keen to keep Beach within shouting distance to maintain his medal position. Running just behind Brugger throughout was Eaton, who instead of coasting around on five laps of honour – as he would have been well entitled to – instead was intent to leave it all on the track.
Beach passed 800m in 1:58.54, and battled overwhelming fatigue over the final lap to come home in 2:29.04, the fastest time ever run over 1000m during a world indoor heptathlon. It gave him a tally of 6118 points.
Next in was Brugger, who ran a personal best of 2:34.10 to ensure he would stay ahead of Beach in the overall standings with a total of 6126 points. All the while, Kasyanov was powering his way towards the line, which he crossed in a season’s best of 2:39.64 to consolidate his silver medal position. His grand total: a season’s best of 6182.
“Coming into the last event, I calculated how many metres of a difference I was ahead of third place, and I decided to run as close as possible to my strongest pace and have a conservative start,” said Kasyanov. “It worked out really well.”
Bronze medallist Brugger was overjoyed with his first medal at a senior championship. “It was beautiful,” he said. “I can’t believe it. It’s a dream.”
Adam Helcelet of the Czech Republic ran 2:45.06 to take his total over 6000 points, his tally of 6003 enough for fifth place overall. Grenada’s Kurt Felix ran 2:44.23 to set a national indoor record of 5986 in sixth place.
20 MAR 2016 REPORT PORTLAND, USA
CLOSE CALLS, DOMINANT DISPLAYS HIGHLIGHT FINAL DAY IN PORTLAND
CLOSE CALLS, DOMINANT DISPLAYS HIGHLIGHT FINAL DAY IN PORTLAND
They saved the best for last.
On the final day of the IAAF World Indoor Championships Portland 2016, a sellout crowd once again filled the stands at the Oregon Convention Center, and witnessed a host of individual displays to remember, along with thrilling contests they’ll simply never forget.
CENTROWITZ TIMES IT RIGHT
CENTROWITZ TIMES IT RIGHT
He may have only led for 20 metres of the entire 1500m final, but for hometown hero Matt Centrowitz, that was all he needed, the 26-year-old timing his run to perfection to take gold in 3:44.22.
Less than a second separated the first seven athletes, a shining example of the fine – sometimes cruel – margins that separate success and failure at this level.
After a slow early pace – set by reigning champion Ayanleh Souleiman of Djibouti, who took the field through 800m in 2:07.88 – the race was always likely to boil down to an elongated sprint. Souleiman cranked up the pace at the front from four laps out, but only when Nick Willis of New Zealand swept to the front with 400 metres to run did everyone truly kick it into gear.
Centrowitz reacted immediately, shuffling past Ethiopia’s Dawit Wolde into second, taking pole position behind Willis for the final sprint to the line. Willis turned into the home straight with a one-metre advantage, but try as he might, he couldn’t hold off the smooth-striding Centrowitz, and the American took his first global title.
Having been a distant seventh at the bell, Czech Republic’s Jakub Holusa unleashed a kick for the ages to snatch second place right on the line from Willis.
“I wanted it very bad,” said Centrowitz. “I found the push from the crowd at the end. They got me through that last 50.”
MCLEOD MAGNIFICENT
MCLEOD MAGNIFICENT
While Centrowitz may have run the perfect race, 60m hurdles champion Omar McLeod said he wasn’t entirely satisfied with his performance, which made his near-flawless victory in a national record of 7.41 all the more impressive.
“It wasn’t a perfect race,” he said. “I hit a couple of hurdles, but I just wanted to stay tunnel-vision, feed off the energy, and maintain my composure and fight through the finish.”
That he did, and McLeod was all alone as he crossed the line ahead of Pascal Martinot-Lagarde (7.46) and Dimitri Bascou (7.48). “This is the second time I won a silver medal and I’m happy,” said Martinot-Lagarde. “I still want the gold. That is what I work for, but today Omar was just better than me.”
KEJELCHA TOO CLASSY, HILL RAISES ROOF
KEJELCHA TOO CLASSY, HILL RAISES ROOF
The men’s 3000m final started out as a slow, cagey affair, but slowly cranked up to a pace that was nothing short of vicious by the time they entered the final kilometre. Kenya’s Isiah Koech led through the opening 1000m in a pedestrian 2:52.18, but the first significant move of the race happened with six laps to go, as reigning champion Caleb Ndiku swept to the front along with Djibouti’s Youssouf Hiss Bachir.
Ndiku seemed intent to lead all the way to the finish, but he had no answers when Ethiopia’s Yomif Kejelcha stormed to the front with two laps to run. Behind him, Ndiku and his teammate Augustine Choge tried to come again along with Morocco’s Abdalaati Iguider and Ryan Hill of the US, but Kejelcha had too much speed over the final 100 metres and held on to take gold in 7:57.21. The last kilometre: a blistering 2:22.81.
Through the final 200 metres, the noise inside the arena reached a crescendo as Hill began his charge, and it was almost deafening as he moved from fourth to second in the final straight, edging Choge for silver on the line, 7:57.39 to 7:57.43.
VICTORY FOR VASHTI, DELIGHT FOR DENDY
VICTORY FOR VASHTI, DELIGHT FOR DENDY
Home favourites Vashti Cunningham and Marquis Dendy could hardly have endured closer contests in their respective finals, but both American jumpers showed admirable composure to take their first world indoor titles.
Since exploding on the scene when jumping 1.99m to win the US title last weekend, Cunningham has been touted as a budding star of the sport, but on Sunday she proved that the present – and not just the future – belongs to her as well. The 18-year-old had a perfect series between 1.84m and 1.96m, her first-time clearance at the latter height proving crucial in the end. Spain’s Ruth Beitia needed two attempts to go clear, as did Poland’s Kamila Licwinko, while Lithuania’s Airine Palsyte joined them at 1.99m after going clear on her third attempt.
All four recorded three failures at 1.99m, which gave gold, and world champion status, to Cunningham, who was self-critical even in victory. “I’m a little disappointed in myself for not clearing 1.99m,” she said, “but I’m thankful for the title.”
At twice her age, Beitia was equally impressive in taking silver. “I thought maybe I could get two metres,” she said. “This is my ninth world championship and the second silver medal and I’m 36 years old, so I’m very, very happy.”
Marquis Dendy edged an equally close men’s long jump final which saw the leading six men separated by just 12cm. Dendy’s second effort of 8.26m proved the crucial jump, with Australia’s Fabrice Lapierre – who set an Oceanian indoor record of 8.25m – denied by the shortest of margins.
Dendy, like Cunningham, was quick to point out his own underperformance, despite taking gold. “I didn’t jump how I wanted,” he said. “I have some things to fix in my approach heading into outdoors.”
China’s Changzhou Huang usurped Jeff Henderson of the US in the final round to take bronze, his best mark of 8.21m edging the American by just 2cm.
DIBABA, NIYSONSABA A CLASS APART
DIBABA, NIYSONSABA A CLASS APART
The female middle distance races were won in commanding fashion with strikingly similar mid-race surges.
In the women’s 3000m, Dibaba dropped the hammer with nine laps to run, coasting clear of the field and coming home an easy winner in 8:47.43 ahead of teammate Meseret Defar (8:54.26) and Shannon Rowbury (8:55.55). It was easy for me because the field was not that strong,” she said. “My family and my whole country are happy.”
In the women’s 800m, Burundi’s Francine Niyonsaba returned to form and upset home favourite Ajee Wilson to take gold in 2:00.01, the fastest time in the world this year. Wilson had seized control of the race on the first lap, but Kenya’s Margaret Wambui took over on the second lap. With 400m to run, Niyonsaba moved wide and surged to the front, shooting out to a five-metre lead which she never relinquished. Wilson rallied again to take second in 2:00.27, with Wambui third in 2:00.44.
“I think Burundian people will remember this night,” said Niyonsaba.
US RELAYS ON THE DOUBLE
US RELAYS ON THE DOUBLE
It came as no surprise that the USA re-asserted their dominance of the 4x400m with a pair of facile wins, though their path to gold was made considerably easier by the misfortune which struck two of their chief rivals.
In the women’s race, Jamaica’s Patricia hall crashed to the track on the first leg, ending their involvement, and from there the Americans were all alone at the front. Natasha Hastings gave them the lead on the first leg, an advantage extended by Quenera Hayes on the second leg. Courtney Okolo clocked the fastest split of the day on third leg, 50.71, which left Ashlet Spencer all alone to enjoy the final leg, bringing them home in 3:26.38 ahead of Poland (3:31.15) and Romania (3:31.51).
In the men’s race, Belgium looked the most likely to challenge the Americans, but their chances elapsed on the second leg when Robin Vanderbemden dropped the baton. Up front, the US extended their advantage with a strong leg from Christopher Giesting, who handed over to Vernon Norwood to bring them home in 3:02.45.
Bahamas, anchored by 37-year-old Chris Brown, held on for second in a national indoor record of 3:04.75, with Trinidad and Tobago taking third in 3:05.51, also a national record.
PORTLAND, Ore. — Matthew Centrowitz now owns a medal of every color, but he may want to save some room in his trophy case. Because if his performance today in the men’s 1500-meter final at the 2016 World Indoor Championships was any indication, he’s going to be very tough to beat at this summer’s Olympics in Rio.
On Sunday afternoon, in front of a roaring crowd in his adopted hometown of Portland, the 26-year-old became the first American to win the men’s 1500 at World Indoors — and the first American-born male to win a global 1500 gold in 108 years (Mel Sheppard was the last to turn the trick at the 1908 Olympics).
Centrowitz’ gold was the fitting finale to a meet that brought forth an avalanche of American medals in the distance/mid-distance events — six in six races, including gold in the first (men’s 800) and last (men’s 1500) distance finals of the weekend.
Centrowitz sat near the front of the pack for the entire race. New Zealand’s Nick Willis made a huge move with two laps to go but Centro was able to hang on and with 100 meters to go, he was right behind the Kiwi. As they entered the home stretch, Centrowitz swung into lane 2 and made his bid for gold. He pulled ahead of Willis and the two battled to the line. But Willis could not get back the ground he lost, and a late bid from the Czech Republic’s European indoor champion Jakub Holusa was good enough for second, but not enough to pass the golden boy Centrowitz, who won it in 3:44.22. Willis wound up third, his first global medal since his 2008 Olympic silver, while Robby Andrews used his trademark kick to move up from way back for fourth. Defending champion Ayanleh Souleimanof Djibouti led early but slowed considerably over the final lap and had to be carted through the mixed zone in a wheelchair patting his chest.
The Race
As he did in this race two years ago, Souleiman went to the lead immediately, towing the field through a 29.35 opening 200. He stepped off the gas for the next few laps, however, and came through 800 in 2:07.88. Ethiopia’sDawit Wolde moved into the lead by 1000, picking it up slightly, but the racing really got going when Willis made a huge move just before the 1100-meter mark. In the span of 100 meters, Willis went from last to first, sprinting around the outside of the pack and gaining a gap on the field just after passing the two-laps-to-go mark.
Once Willis was in the lead, he took off as if shot from a cannon. A month ago, Willis made a hard move with 400 to go at the Wanamaker Mile, but this one was even more aggressive and his rapid acceleration allowed him to gain a gap of a few meters on the rest of the field. Wolde and Centrowitz began to fight back, however, and by the bell, Centro was second, right behind Willis. Willis continued to press around the turn and down the back stretch, but he could do nothing to shake Centrowitz, who patiently bided his time. Centrowitz finally shifted to his highest gear coming off the final turn and with about 35 meters to go, he took the lead. Willis, who had spent all of his energy stringing the field out over the past lap and a half, was powerless to respond.
But one man was moving even faster than Centrowitz, and that was the Czech Republic’s Jakub Holusa. Holusa was seventh at the bell, about 12 meters behind Willis, but came on like a freight train over the final 100. Holusa had just passed Wolde for fourth entering the home stretch and was only gaining steam. For a second, it looked as if Holusa would steal Centrowitz’s moment in the sun. But the U.S. champ held firm. Though it was Holusa who threw his hand up as he crossed the finish line, it was Centrowitz who earned victory, folding his arms in satisfaction before slapping five with Robby Andrews. Andrews was even further back than Holusa at the bell (so much so that he wasn’t even in the picture on the TV broadcast) but passed three men in the final straightaway to get up for fourth.
Centrowitz’ final 400 was run in about 52.5 seconds, with a final 200 of 26.71 leader to leader (26.6 for Centro since he was in second at the bell).
Centro Gets His Gold (Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images for IAAF)”
Centro Gets Gold (Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images for IAAF)
POS
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
BIB
374
168
300
365
199
200
266
218
175
COUNTRY
MARK
3:44.22
3:44.30
3:44.37
3:44.77
3:44.81
3:44.86
3:45.17
3:46.50
3:53.69
USA
CZE
NZL
USA
ETH
ETH
KEN
GBR
DJI
Men’s 3000: Ethiopia’s Yomif Kejelcha Wins and Arrives As Mo Farah’s Potential #1 Rival, Ryan Hill Silver
Men’s 3000: Ethiopia’s Yomif Kejelcha Wins and Arrives As Mo Farah’s Potential #1 Rival, Ryan Hill Silver
PORTLAND, Ore. — The construction of a near-perfect distance résumé for 18-year-old Yomif Kejelcha of Ethiopia continued this afternoon as he added yet another impressive line to his already sterling list of accomplishments at the 2016 World Indoor Track and Field Championships.
In 2013, Kejelcha won the World Youth title at 3000.
In 2014, he won the World Junior title at 5000.
In 2015, he put up the #1 time in the world at 5000.
In 2016, thanks to a brilliant tactical run this afternoon that Mo Farah would be proud of, Kejelcha won the first senior global title of his professional career as he won the men’s 3000 at the 2016 IAAF World Indoor Championships in 7:57.21 thanks to 2:22 last 1k. Nabbing the silver was the U.S.’s Ryan Hill, who had a great final 50 meters as he went from fourth to second (7:57.39) just ahead of Kenya’s Augustine Choge (7:57.43). 2015 World leader Abdalaati Iguider failed to medal as he was fourth (7:58.04). Defending champ Caleb Ndiku was the only other person in the field under 8:00 (7:58.81).
The Race
The race started off tactically (4:32.78 for the first 1600). The US’s Ryan Hill was perfectly positioned throughout as he was in second for most of the early going, saving ground and running smoothly. The next 400 was faster (61.55) as the defending champ Ndiku made a big move from last to first with six laps remaining.
The last 1k would be very fast (2:22.88 leader to leader). Just before 400 remained (6:32.12), Kejelcha went to the lead and he never gave it up. He hit the bell in 7:29.28 (27.16 leader to leader) and was able to close in 27.93 to get the win. The man with the best last 100 was Hill, who had been gapped a little by the top four with more than 400 to go. As the runners hit the bell, the top four of Kejelcha, Choge, Iguider and Ndiku were all in contact with each other and then Hill was 2-3 meters back. On the backstretch, Hill went by Ndiku and on the final turn he caught up to the back of the leading trio. Hill went by Iguider at the start of the homestretch and then got Choge at the line with a big lean with Kejelcha the much-deserved winner.
Results, quick take analysis and screenshots appear below.
POS
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
BIB
198
382
264
277
270
213
375
267
141
174
109
195
COUNTRY
MARK
7:57.21
7:57.39
7:57.43
7:58.04
7:58.81
8:00.70
8:00.76
8:01.70
8:07.96
8:08.87
8:11.11
8:12.54
ETH
USA
KEN
MAR
KEN
GBR
USA
KEN
CAN
DJI
AUS
ETH
Burundi’s Francine Niyonsaba Sprints to Gold in Women’s 800 as Ajee Wilson Has to Settle for Silver
Burundi’s Francine Niyonsaba Sprints to Gold in Women’s 800 as Ajee Wilson Has to Settle for Silver
by LetsRun.com
March 20, 2016
PORTLAND, Ore. — Burundi’s Francine Niyonsaba officially completed her comeback to the sport by winning her first global medal with 800m gold at the 2016 World Indoor Championships. Niyonsaba took control of the race just after 400m and never relinquished it, crossing the line first in a world-leading 2:00.01. Just .26 of a second behind her, US champion Ajee Wilson did her best to move on Niyonsaba, but couldn’t close the gap as she also won her first senior global medal with a 2:00.27 second place finish. After leading early, Kenya’s 2014 World Junior championMargaret Wambui was able to hold off American Laura Roesler, taking the bronze in 2:00.44 as Roesler was first out of the medals in 2:00.80.
The Race
Ajee Wilson won the race to the break, taking the lead and going through 200m in 29.23 as Margaret Wambui sat on her shoulder, Francine Niyonsaba sat mid-pack and Roesler tucked into last place. On the second lap, Wambui took the lead and took the field through 400m in 60.56, but her lead was short-lived as Niyonsaba surged to the front just after the halfway mark and started to push, immediately putting a small gap on the rest of the field.
Hitting one lap to go in 1:29.78, Niyonsaba continued to lead with a small gap to Wambui in second and Wilson in third as they tried to close the distance. In the final 100 Wilson went wide around Wambui to make a bid for victory as she tried to run down Niyonsaba, but fell short as Niyonsaba won in 2:00.01 to Wilson’s 2:00.27. Coming from way back on the last lap to try and grab the last medal was Roesler, but she ran out of room as Wambui held on to third with Roesler 4th. Iceland’s Anita Hinriksdottir and Ethiopia’sHabitam Alemu were never really in contention as they finished 5th and 6th (2:02.58 and 2:04.61).
Results, quick takes and interviews below.
Niyonsaba’s big move was too much for Wilson (Photo by Ian Walton/Getty Images for IAAF)
POS
1
2
3
4
5
6
BIB
613
847
727
836
699
652
COUNTRY
MARK
2:00.01
2:00.27
2:00.44
2:00.80
2:02.58
2:04.61
WL
PB
BDI
USA
KEN
USA
ISL
ETH
Quick Take #1: Even If It Wasn’t 100% Predictable A Week Ago, Niyonsaba’s Victory Isn’t Very Surprising
Coming into these championships we called Niyonsaba the “wildcard” as she was a 1:56.59 runner back in 2012, ran 1:57.62 last year, but hadn’t raced at all this year and not even her coach, Mark Rowland, knew for sure what kind of shape she was in. However, after she pretty much “fartleked” her way to a 2:02.37 victory in the prelim, it was clear that she was a medal favorite, if not a gold medal favorite.
Niyonsaba was very happy with the win and was pleased to cap a great weekend for Burundi, who also got a silver in the men’s 800 from Antoine Gakeme. Niyonsaba was full of praise for Rowland and her Oregon Track Club teammates, who she said keep her motivated. She said that Rowland told her to watch Wilson closely tonight and she stayed close behind her in the early stages before making her big move at the halfway point. Niyonsaba said that she had confidence in her speed, and when she was feeling good at 400, she decided to trust that speed and go for the win.
Boris Berian’s Gutsy Run Gets 800m Gold At World Indoors 2016; Bronze for Erik Sowinski
Boris Berian’s Gutsy Run Gets 800m Gold At World Indoors 2016; Bronze for Erik Sowinski
March 19, 2016
PORTLAND, Ore. — American Boris Berian put on an impressive display of wire-to-wire running to win the gold in the 800 at the 2016 World Indoor Track and Field Championships at the Oregon Convention Center.
Berian took it out in a super quick 23.92 and by 400m (49.73) he had opened a big gap on the field. He still had a big gap at 600m (1:17.37) but would he tie up on the final lap? No. He held on for a comfortable victory in 1:45.83 and got a slight assist on the final turn when Antoine Gakeme and Musaeb Balla, who were his two closest pursuers, clipped each other and lost stride momentarily.
Berian held up well down the homestretch so the guys behind him getting tangled up probably wouldn’t have made a difference in terms of the gold medal. However, Balla’s losing stride helped fellow American Erik Sowinski come up and nab the bronze in 1:47.22.
Results and analysis below.
Talk about the race on our world famous fan forum / messageboard: Boris MF Berian is the World Champ!! Wire to Wire!!!
Boris Berian is known for taking it out hard and leading, so it wasn’t surprising to learn that was his plan going into this race. Berian said, “[My gameplan] was simple, just take the lead right away and hang on. That’s how I feel more comfortable racing and that’s exactly what I wanted to do.” Talking about whether he was afraid he’d get caught at the end, Berian said that he started tightening up with 150m to go, but that “the home crowd kept me going and got me gold.” We’re glad Berian front-ran today as yesterday in the first round, he didn’t front-run and wasfortunate to get into the final as a time qualifier.
As far as how fast he went out (23.92 for 200, 49.73 for 400), Berian wasn’t too worried about it or giving it a lot of thought. He said the plan was just to get out “The original plan was just getting out right away. I wasn’t really focused on what time that was going to be. Whether it be 26, 24, 23, I just wanted to get out in front… I was just excited to be representing USA. … I stayed positive, trusted in my training and hung on.”
Sifan Hassan Holds off Dawit Seyaum to Earn First Global Gold in 4:04.96 and Lead Ethiopian-Born 1-2-3-4 Sweep
Sifan Hassan Holds off Dawit Seyaum to Earn First Global Gold in 4:04.96 and Lead Ethiopian-Born 1-2-3-4 Sweep
Boris Berian Gets Gold (Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images for IAAF)
March 19, 2016
PORTLAND, Ore. — Seven months ago in Beijing, Sifan Hassan left the women’s 1500-meter final at the World Championships in tears. Though her close was incredible — she covered the final 800 meters in a sensational 1:57.6 to earn bronze — she was merely a footnote to the coronation of middle distance queen Genzebe Dibaba. It wasn’t the first time Hassan’s brilliance had been outshone by the transcendent talent of Dibaba: when Hassan ran 3:56.05 last year in Monaco — the fastest non-Dibaba time since 2006 — she was half a straightaway behind Dibaba, who was well into her world record celebration by the time Hassan crossed the line.
But there was no Dibaba in the women’s 1500 final tonight at the 2016 IAAF World Indoor Championships, and Hassan took full advantage, using a 29.81-second final lap to hold off Ethiopia’s Dawit Seyaum to earn her first global title in 4:04.96. Seyaum was spectacular, but her run was only good enough for silver as she finished right behind Hassan, just as she did in Beijing. Seyaum’s countrywoman Gudaf Tsegay nabbed the bronze in 4:05.71 as America’s Brenda Martinez was outclassed and had to settle for fifth in 4:09.57.
The Race
Just as she did in her prelim, Aussie Melissa Duncan went right to the front and by 400 meters (65.87) had about a 10-meter lead on the field. Hassan began the race boxed in toward the back of the pack, but she made her trademark move to the front on the third lap and by 600 she had moved into second place. By 800 (2:12.71), she was on Duncan’s shoulder as Seyaum, Tsegay and Martinez all followed close behind.
Just before the 1k mark (2:46.35), Hassan moved into the lead, but she didn’t make a big move right away, covering the next lap in 33.64 seconds. Hassan sped it up slightly from there and as she approached the bell, she led with Seyaum and Tsegay hot on her tail. Martinez was still in touching distance in fourth, but had a lot of work to do to contend for the win.
Seyaum pulled up on Hassan’s shoulder at the bell and tried to pass, which spurred Hassan to launch into her kick. Seyaum was the only one to go with her and the field began to string out, with Hassan and Seyaum creating a slight gap on Tsegay, who in turn had a larger gap on the rest of the field.
Entering the home straight the medals were decided, but the gold medal still hung in the balance. Hassan, as she had for the entire final 500 meters, led slightly, with Seyaum trying desperately to muscle her way past. But Hassan would not let up, and she held on for a well-deserved gold medal. Seyaum and Tsegay followed in quick succession, with the rest of the pack well behind. Axumawit Embaye won a three-way kick to make it 1-2-3-4 for Ethiopian-born athletes, while Martinez and Duncan took fifth and sixth.
Victory is sweet (Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images for IAAF)
March 17, 2016 to March 20, 2016
Portland, OR
POS
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
BIB
744
658
659
657
828
605
764
725
COUNTRY
MARK
4:04.96
4:05.30
4:05.71
4:09.37
4:09.57
4:09.69
4:10.14
NED
ETH
ETH
ETH
USA
AUS
POL
Women’s 3000m Goes According to Form: Genzebe Dibaba Dominates, Defar Gets Silver, Shannon Rowbury Bronze at 2016 World Indoors
Email this page By LetsRun.comMarch 20, 2016
PORTLAND, Ore. — They ran the women’s 3000m at the 2016 World Indoor Track and Field Championships to prove what we already knew: Ethiopia’s Genzebe Dibaba is the best distance runner in the world right now.
After a slow first six laps (3:51.59 for 1200, 9:38 pace), Dibaba went to the front, took the lead with ease and would never relinquish it, winning gold in dominant fashion in 8:47.43. Meseret Defar, a four-time indoor gold medallist and two-time Olympic champion, was clearly best of the chasers and got silver — her seventh medal in this event overall — in 8:54.26.
American Shannon Rowbury was third-best on paper and she ran a well-executed race to secure the bronze in 8:55.55. Rowbury had been battling with Maureen Koster of the Netherlands and Betlhem Desalegn of the United Arab Emirates, but closed the best and was even gaining on Defar at the end. Koster finished fourth and AmericanAbbey D’Agostino closed tremendously well from further back to get 5th as Desalegn would fade to 8th.
POS
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
BIB
656
655
838
745
819
675
726
803
629
724
615
630
666
COUNTRY
MARK
8:47.43
8:54.26
8:55.55
8:56.44
8:58.40
9:00.38
9:01.86
9:03.30
9:05.71
9:07.63
9:17.45
9:19.67
9:29.10
ETH
ETH
USA
NED
USA
GBR
KEN
UAE
CAN
KEN
BLR
CAN
GBR
Czech Republic’s Pavel Maslak became the third man the history of the World Indoor Championships – and the first one in 10 years – to successfully defend a world indoor 400m title, taking a commanding victory in 45.44.
In his quest to equal his countryman Alleyne Francique, two-time winner in 2004 and 2006, Grenada’s world leader Bralon Taplin set a blistering pace, hitting the bell in 20.89, closely followed by Maslak.
Taplin stayed at the front until 350m, but then started to fade. Maslak finished strong to secure the victory. Qatar’s 19-year-old Abdalelah Haroun – the youngest ever 400m finalist and medallist in the history of the championships – took silver with 45.59 while Trinidad and Tobago’s Deon Lendore overtook the fading Taplin to clinch bronze in 46.17.
Lendore became only the second man from Trinidad and Tobago to win an individual world indoor medal, 27 years after Ian Morris took silver, also in the 400m.
20 MAR 2016 REPORT PORTLAND, USA
If there was a danger that success was becoming all too easy for Ashton Eaton, then all one needed to do was see the look on his face during the final event of the heptathlon on Saturday night, as he grimaced, grinded and battled his way to a time of 2:35.22, which gave him overall victory by almost 300 points.
“It’s kind of hard to psych yourself up in that situation,” said Eaton. “You just have to tell yourself to still run hard. I really wanted to set another world record and give everyone here a little treat, but hopefully they still got something out of this.”
His overall tally was 6470 points, a mark which only fellow American Dan O’Brien – and Eaton himself, who holds the world record at 6645 – have bettered.
With the gold medal secured, and Eaton needing an absurdly fast time of 2:20.48 to break his world record, the only true conundrum awaiting resolution in the final event was to see who took the minor medals.
It came down to a battle between three men: USA's Curtis Beach, Ukraine’s Oleksiy Kasyanov and Germany’s Mathias Brugger. The standings made for a typically complex situation, with Beach – by far the best 1000m runner among them – needing to best Kasyanov by 16.02 seconds and Bruger by 5.62 seconds to take the silver medal.
He set off with exactly that intention, and was roared around the track in the Oregon Convention Center as he passed 200m in 29.93 and 400m in 59.77.
Leading the chase was Brugger, who was keen to keep Beach within shouting distance to maintain his medal position. Running just behind Brugger throughout was Eaton, who instead of coasting around on five laps of honour – as he would have been well entitled to – instead was intent to leave it all on the track.
Beach passed 800m in 1:58.54, and battled overwhelming fatigue over the final lap to come home in 2:29.04, the fastest time ever run over 1000m during a world indoor heptathlon. It gave him a tally of 6118 points.
Next in was Brugger, who ran a personal best of 2:34.10 to ensure he would stay ahead of Beach in the overall standings with a total of 6126 points. All the while, Kasyanov was powering his way towards the line, which he crossed in a season’s best of 2:39.64 to consolidate his silver medal position. His grand total: a season’s best of 6182.
“Coming into the last event, I calculated how many metres of a difference I was ahead of third place, and I decided to run as close as possible to my strongest pace and have a conservative start,” said Kasyanov. “It worked out really well.”
Bronze medallist Brugger was overjoyed with his first medal at a senior championship. “It was beautiful,” he said. “I can’t believe it. It’s a dream.”
Adam Helcelet of the Czech Republic ran 2:45.06 to take his total over 6000 points, his tally of 6003 enough for fifth place overall. Grenada’s Kurt Felix ran 2:44.23 to set a national indoor record of 5986 in sixth place.
20 MAR 2016 REPORT PORTLAND, USA
Men’s Heptathlon: Ashton Eaton Wins Again
Men’s Heptathlon: Ashton Eaton Wins Again
Ashton Eaton made it three straight world indoor titles in three tries as he won with a world-leading score 6470, winning gold a day after his wife Brianne Theisen-Eaton won gold in the women’s pentathlon. Eaton dominated the competition as the Ukraine’s Oleksiy Kasyanovwas second (just as he was in 2012) with 6182. The real excitement today came in the battle for third. Germany’s Mathias Brugger entered the final event – the 1000 – with a 67-point lead on American Curtis Beach, who was in 6th but had his best event coming up as his 1k pb is a stellar 2:23.63. Would Beach be able to catch up to Brugger, who had a 2:38.05 pb? If Beach beat Brugger by 5.8 seconds, the bronze would be his.
Beach certainly went for it as he had the lead from start to finish, winning the event in 2:29.04. But Brugger really wanted the medal and tracked Beach throughout. He was about three seconds back entering the final lap but Beach’s lead expanded from there to the finish. Yet in the end, Brugger came through with a massive pb of 2:34.10. Beach won by just 5.06 – not the 5.8 that he needed. Brugger won bronze with 6126 to Beach’s 6118.
While Eaton was totally dominant over the last two days, it’s worth pointing out that his marks this year were worse in every single event than when he set the world indoor record of 6645 in 2012.
Eaton, however, was still within striking distance of the world record during the pole vault. He cleared 5.10 (16’8″), then passed and took two attempts at over 5.50 (18’0″) which would have made the world record feasible in the 1000. Once he missed 5.50, the world record wasn’t a possibility.
Quick Take #1: Great weekend for the Eatons and coach Harry Marra
Eaton and his coach Harry Marra are always philosophical about the sport. Eaton said he would have loved to give the fans a world record, “I really wanted to set another world record and give everyone here a little treat, but hopefully they still got something out of this.”
Marra coached two gold medallists this weekend as Eaton’s wife Brianne Theisen-Eaton won gold in the pentathlon Friday night. When asked how he felt he said, “I’m numb. I’m numb.” Marra is going to retire after next season and said then he will hopefully have ten years to go to his home in California and reflect more. Before that happens, he has to prepare the Eaton’s for Rio. Marra said the only issue with Ashton was he was a bit rusty as he had more sponsorship commitments this winter.
Vashti Cunningham – Randall’s Daughter – Wins World High Jump Title And Announces That She’s Going Pro
Vashti Cunningham – Randall’s Daughter – Wins World High Jump Title And Announces That She’s Going Pro
March 20, 2016
PORTLAND, Ore. — 18-year-old high schooler Vashti Cunningham, the daughter of former NFL quarterback Randall Cunningham, won the gold medal in the women’s high jump at the 2016 World Indoor Track and Field Championship as she was the only competitor to clear 6’5″ (1.96m) without a miss.
Three other competitors also cleared 6’5″. Spain’s Ruth Beitia got the silver thanks to her second-attempt clearance (and no misses earlier in the meet) while Poland’s Kamila Licwinko got the bronze. Lithuania’s Airinė Palšytė also cleared the height but didn’t get a medal as she had five previous misses.
After winning the competition, Cunningham announced that she intends to turn professional in the coming days.
“I believe I’m going to be turning pro so keep on the lookout for me [to announce something],” said Cunningham during an interview on the NBC Sports Network broadcast.
QT: Cunningham is So New to This She Didn’t Even Realize She Had Won When Everyone Else Had Missed
We caught up with Cunningham ourselves after the race. You can watch that interview below.
Cunningham may be the world champion but she’s so inexperienced in the high jump and was so focused on trying to make her final attempt he didn’t even realize she had won the competition when the other competitors all had missed.
When asked which company she wants to sign with she said, “Hopefully Nike
10 SUPERLATIVE PERFORMANCES ON DAY 3 OF THE IAAF WORLD INDOOR CHAMPIONSHIPS PORTLAND 2016
10 SUPERLATIVE PERFORMANCES ON DAY 3 OF THE IAAF WORLD INDOOR CHAMPIONSHIPS PORTLAND 2016
Cunningham celebrates
A capacity crowd again packed the Oregon Convention Centre and they were treated again to splendid night of athletics with 10 champions crowned on the third day of the IAAF World Indoor Championships Portland 2016.
THIRD GOLD FOR EATON IN HIS HOMETOWN
THIRD GOLD FOR EATON IN HIS HOMETOWN
It was not a world record for Ashton Eaton, but perhaps it was the most memorable of his three victories for two reasons.
He became the first man to win three world indoor heptathlon titles in and he did so in his hometown, one day after his wife Canada’s Brianne Theisen-Eaton joined him as a global champion with her pentathlon victory.
“Nothing I did this weekend matched what she did. It made the whole week for me. She is one who stole the show,” said Eaton after being confirmed the winner with 6470 points a mark which only fellow American Dan O’Brien – and Eaton himself, who holds the world record at 6645 – have bettered.
ROJAS PUTS VENEZUELA ON THE ATHLETICS MAP
ROJAS PUTS VENEZUELA ON THE ATHLETICS MAP
History was made in the first final of the day as Yulimar Rojas became Venezuela’s first athletics world champions as she dominated the triple jump to win with 14.41m.
It was her only valid jump, but enough to secure victory for the tall 20-year old, trained by five-time world indoor champion Ivan Pedroso.
“I am happy, proud of what I have accomplished, the best achievement in my sports career. This was the goal since I started the preparation for the indoor season. It’s been four months of hard work with my coach Ivan Pedroso. I believed in myself and my talent. This medal is for the people of Venezuela,” said an overjoyed Rojas, who was inspired by Arnoldo Devonich, winner of their country’s first Olympic medal, also in the triple jump, back in 1952.
BERIAN FROM GUN TO THE 800M GLORY
BERIAN FROM GUN TO THE 800M GLORY
USA’s Boris Berian produced the most impressive run of the evening leading the 800m from start to finish to earn the USA’s 100th gold medal in the history of the world indoor championships.
The 23-year old set a fast pace hitting the first 200m in 23.92 and the halfway mark in 49.73. The other five finalists could not match the American’s pace, who crossed the line in 1:45.83 to an eruption of celebration in the Oregon Convention Center
“My game plan was simple, get the lead and hang on,” said Berian. “It’s so exciting to have two Americans in the top three. It’s a huge accomplishment in front of our home crowd,” said Berian.
ADEKOYA BECOMES FIRST ASIAN TO WIN THE 400M
ADEKOYA BECOMES FIRST ASIAN TO WIN THE 400M
Before 2016, no Asian woman had ever run a world indoor championships final over two laps of the track. But that changed on Saturday as Bahrain’s continental champion Oluwakemi Adekoya claimed gold in a new Asian indoor record of 51.45.
Adekoya held off the American pair of Ashley Spencer (51.72) and Quanera Hayes (51.76) to deprive the host country of a fourth consecutive world indoor crown in this event.
Apart from an Asian first, Adekoya gave Bahrain its first world indoor gold.
MICHELLE CARTER WINS HISTORIC GOLD IN THE WOMEN’S SHOT PUT
MICHELLE CARTER WINS HISTORIC GOLD IN THE WOMEN’S SHOT PUT
The enthusiastic 7000-strong crowd propelled Michelle Carter to her best performance ever as she became the first American woman to win a global title in the shot put.
Carter remained composed and produced a US indoor record and world-leading 20.21m to win the most important accolade of her career.
“It (her winning throw) came from prayer. I just had to focus on what I knew I could and needed to do. I was able to take some time and put everything together to do what I needed to do,” said Carter.
MASLAK SUCCESSFULLY DEFENDS 400M CROWN
MASLAK SUCCESSFULLY DEFENDS 400M CROWN
Czech Republic’s Pavel Maslak became the third man the history of the IAAF World Indoor Championships, and the first one in 10 years, to defend his world indoor title when he showed his tactical strength to win in 45.44.
Maslak took the lead with 50 metres to go and sprinted to victory while Qatar’s 19-year old Abdaleh Haroun (45.59) and Trinidad and Tobago’s Deon Lendore (46.17) took the silver and bronze medals
Haroun, only just 19, became the youngest 400m medallist ever at the world indoors.
DONG BRINGS GOLD TO CHINA
DONG BRINGS GOLD TO CHINA
World leader Dong Bin made history by becoming just the third Chinese athlete ever to win a world indoor title.
Dong confirmed his status as the favourite in the final with the three best jumps of the evening.
Dong sealed his victory by leaping 17.33m in the penultimate round with Germany’s Max Hess, another 19-year-old, getting the silver in personal best of 17.14m
FIRST GLOBAL GOLD FOR HASSAN
FIRST GLOBAL GOLD FOR HASSAN
Sifan Hassan, of the Netherlands, claimed her first global title in commanding style on Saturday night, the 23-year-old seizing control of the women’s 1500m final with less than three laps to run and refusing to be passed before winning in 4:04.96.
Hassan became the fourth Dutch athlete – coincidently all women - to win an indoor title.
“I had a lot of confidence going into the race,” said Hassan. “My training has been very good, and the last 100 was very quick,” stated an elated Hassan, draped in the Dutch flag.
PIERRE WINS FIRST GOBAL TITLE IN 60M
PIERRE WINS FIRST GOBAL TITLE IN 60M
An equal world leader prior to the championships, Barbara Pierre accelerated from a perfect start to claim her first global title with 7.02.
Pierre was all smiles as she became the first American woman in eight years, holding off The Netherlands’ 2015 world 200m champion Dafne Schipper, who was second with 7.04.
“It means a lot,” said Pierre. “I’ve worked really really hard and to see it come out means a lot. I had to bring it home because the crowd was so loud and I thought: ‘I have to do this, I have to finish.’ It gave me that extra bit.”
TAMBERI ENDS 15-YEAR DROUGHT FOR ITALY
TAMBERI ENDS 15-YEAR DROUGHT FOR ITALY
Tamberi closed a magic evening of athletics at the Oregon Convention Centre and put Italy back on top of the podium after 15 years.
A world leader at 2.38m, Tamberi confirmed his consistency throughout the winter with a first time clearance at 2.36m, enough for the win, before three good misses in his attempt to join the 2.40m club.
Coming back from a surgery, Great Britain’s Robert Grabarz and soared to a season’s best of 2.33m to clinch silver and Erik Kynard pleased his home crowd with a 2.33m effort for the bronze.
Defending champion Mutaz Essa Barshim pulled up on his second attempt at 2.33m with a slight cramp opted to take his final available attempt at 2.36m, without success. He finished fourth with 2.29m.
20 MAR 2016 REPORT PORTLAND, USA
REPORT: WOMEN'S 60 METRES FINAL – IAAF WORLD INDOOR CHAMPIONSHIPS PORTLAND 2016
REPORT: WOMEN'S 60 METRES FINAL – IAAF WORLD INDOOR CHAMPIONSHIPS PORTLAND 2016
FINAL RESULTS
FINAL RESULTS
19 MAR 2016 REPORT PORTLAND, USA
REPORT: HEPTATHLON 60M HURDLES – IAAF WORLD INDOOR CHAMPIONSHIPS PORTLAND 2016
REPORT: HEPTATHLON 60M HURDLES – IAAF WORLD INDOOR CHAMPIONSHIPS PORTLAND 2016
It was the start that ended it.
In the women’s 60m final on Saturday night, Barbara Pierre of the United States made the most of an explosive exit from the blocks to propel her to victory in 7.02 seconds ahead of Dafne Schippers of the Netherlands (7.04) and Elaine Thompson of Jamaica (7.08).
Afterwards, Pierre was quick to acknowledge that it was those first 20 metres which had been the deciding factor in taking her first world title.
“It’s the 60 and it’s really short, so you have to get out,” she said. “It’s very important.”
Pierre has been a revelation this season, having taken her personal best from 7.08 down to 7.00 in one fell swoop to win the US title last weekend, which propelled her into favouritism alongside Schippers ahead of this weekend’s event.
In the final, she had a quicker reaction time (0.138) than either Schippers or Thompson, and it showed. The American led from the moment they rose from the blocks, and despite Schippers rallying through the latter half of the race, it wasn’t enough.
“It means a lot,” said Pierre. “I’ve worked really really hard and to see it come out means a lot. I had to bring it home because the crowd was so loud and I thought: ‘I have to do this, I have to finish.’ It gave me that extra bit.”
Back in second, Schippers was understandably upset with her performance which, leaving aside the semi-final earlier in the day, was her first defeat of the year. “It was not a good race,” she said. “My start was not so good but my speed was very good. I’m just going to go for the outdoor season now and run the 100m and 200m.”
Thompson, who was the fastest in the semifinal when running 7.04, was pleased with third. “It’s my first world indoor championships and I won the bronze,” she said. “I’m really excited about that. My good race in the semifinal motivated and pushed me. In the semifinal I had a great start. In the final, I didn’t, but I can’t complain.
POS
1
2
3
JAM
NED
USA
COUNTRY
MARK
7.02
7.04
7.06
With his lead having reduced to 63 points after yesterday’s final event, Ashton Eaton increased his lead in the heptathlon by posting the fastest time in the first event of the second day, the 60m hurdles.
He clattered the third hurdle and brushed the fourth, but managed to stay on his feet and crossed the line in 7.78. That time, though, was some way down on his season’s best, meaning he would have to significantly improve his PB in one of the remaining events to beat his heptathlon world indoor record.
Ukraine’s Oleksiy Kasyanov improved his medal chances by posting the second-fastest time of the day with 7.91. The 2012 world indoor silver medallist has moved from third to second in the overall standings, but is relatively weak in the final two events and so may struggle to maintain that position.
USA’s Curtis Beach had his first disappointment of his series, running just 8.45 to drop from fourth to sixth in the overall standings. But if he performs as expected in the final two events, he still looks set to take a medal.
Germany’s Mathias Brugger will also be in the hunt for a medal after clocking a season’s best of 8.24 in the 60m hurdles to move from sixth to fifth overall.
With just the pole vault and 1000m remaining, Eaton has a 177-point lead. The world record may be a big ask, but he still looks set to produce a score better than any other athlete in history has achieved.
19 MAR 2016 REPORT PORTLAND, USA
Day two at the IAAF World Indoor Championships Portland 2016 saw the athletes take to the track for the first time, with the fans who packed the stands being treated to a night to remember. Here are the six pivotal storylines from an unforgettable evening.
THEISEN-EATON LEAVES IT LATE
THEISEN-EATON LEAVES IT LATE
Like a true performer – one with an impeccable sense of dramatic timing – Canada’s Brianne Theisen-Eaton left it until the very last event, and the very last metres, to take gold in the women’s pentathlon. The 27-year-old was in third place entering the final event, the 800m, trailing Ukraine’s Anastasiya Mokhnyuk and Alina Fodorova by 150 and 36 points respectively.
After finishing second in her last three global championships, it almost seemed destined that Theisen-Eaton would do so again, given she needed to beat Mokhnyuk by over 10 seconds to claim gold. With a partisan American crowd getting behind the Eugene-based athlete, Theisen-Eaton sped through the first 400m behind Barbara Nwaba of the US, and responded to screams of encouragement from the heptathletes infield – including her husband Ashton Eaton – to power home in 2:09.99. Next came a nervous wait as the Ukrainians struggled towards the line, but it wasn’t soon enough for either of them to deny Theisen-Eaton gold. The first to congratulate her was husband Ashton, the other half of what is now truly the golden couple of athletics.
BROMELL SHOCKS POWELL
BROMELL SHOCKS POWELL
No one saw it coming. When Asafa Powell settled into his blocks for the heat five of the men’s 60m on Friday afternoon, no one could have known just how swiftly the Jamaican was about to blast down the track. When he coasted across the line and the clock stopped at 6.43, gasps echoed around the Oregon Convention Center, and the time, later corrected to 6.44, moved him to number five on the all-time list. Later in the day, with several athletes much closer to him, Powell did the very same thing – literally – running 6.44 to win his semi-final.
What everyone wondered, though, was whether Powell – who has developed a reputation as an unreliable championship performer – could do it when it mattered most.
One athlete in the field who was ready to test his mettle was world 100m bronze medallist Trayvon Bromell, the 20-year-old who has been dubbed the future of sprinting. When the gun sounded for the final, he showed why that moniker is justified, powering down the track to take victory in 6.47 seconds. Powell, once again, faltered when it mattered most, but managed to hold on for second in 6.50. Barbados’s Ramon Gittens, like most others in the arena, had a night he will never forget, and scooped the bronze medal in a national record of 6.51.
ALI FIGHTS BACK
ALI FIGHTS BACK
Few had predicted that Nia Ali – who took time out from the sport last year to give birth – could regain her world indoor title in Portland, facing as she did the might of Kendra Harrison and Brianna Rollins, who blitzed their semi-finals in 7.81 and 7.82 respectively.
Ali, though, kept her head best as her rivals faltered, taking victory in 7.81 in the final. For Harrison, there was nothing but regret after she clattered the first barrier, putting an end to her race. Rollins, meanwhile, stumbled slightly emerging from the blocks but recovered well to lead midway through the race, and eventually be just denied for gold in 7.82.
“In the hurdles, it’s always close,” said Ali. “I had the best race of the season today and it couldn’t have fallen on a better day. Being a mother and a professional athlete can sometimes be a struggle, but I can’t take full credit for this because I have an amazing support system.”
REESE PRODUCES MAGIC
REESE PRODUCES MAGIC
Once again, when the pressure was at its highest, Brittney Reese reached down into her bag of tricks and pulled off something approaching sorcery, leaping out to a whopping 7.22m jump on her final effort to deny Serbia’s Ivana Spanovic gold.
The moment she hit the sand, she knew it was special, and Reese took off down the track with her arms in the air. Though she had taken the lead in the fifth round with a 7.00m jump, Spanovic responded in kind with an outright Serbian record of 7.07m. Reese, though, saved the best for last, pulling off a jump which only two women in history have bettered indoors.
WALSH PUTS RIVALS IN THEIR PLACE
WALSH PUTS RIVALS IN THEIR PLACE
Tomas Walsh didn’t just beat rivals in the final of the men’s shot put; he thrashed them. Not only was the New Zealander the only thrower in the competition to surpass 21 metres; he did it five times in a row.
Walsh was a bronze medallist at this event two years ago, but as soon as he launched the sphere out to 21.60m in the second round, it was clear the 24-year-old was destined for gold. With none of his rivals posing any genuine threat in the ensuing rounds, Walsh took to the throwing circle in the final round knowing that his first major title was secured, but rather than rest on his laurels, the Kiwi launched it to an outright Oceanian record of 21.78m.
“The experience out there was awesome,” said Walsh. “The fans were amazing and that drives really good throwing.”
There appeared to be weight to Walsh’s theory, as the minor medallists had also raised their game on the night. Romania’s Andrei Gag threw a season’s best of 20.89m to take silver, while Croatia’s Filip Mihaljevic threw a personal best of 20.87m to take bronze.
ALL TOO EASY FOR EATON
ALL TOO EASY FOR EATON
While there was no doubting that he was overshadowed throughout the night by the exploits of his wife, Ashton Eaton quietly and consistently went about building an overnight lead of 63 points in the heptathlon, and given the strength of his second day, he appears unstoppable on his quest for a third successive world indoor title.
Eaton began the day in solid, though unexceptional, fashion with a 6.81 performance in the 60m. While it may have been some way off the 6.66 he opened with in Sopot two years ago, he made up for it when he took to the long jump runway, flying out to a season’s best of 8.08m.
The shot put proved a disappointment, with Eaton well down on his best and throwing 14.16m, while his high jump best of 1.99m was also a reasonable, though unspectacular, result. It is a measure of his greatness that without having a superb day, he is still well clear of his chief rivals, with Grenada’s Kurt Felix the closest pursuer on 3501 points.
If Eaton does make any major errors on day two, then the athlete most likely to capitalise is fellow American Curtis Beach, who finished the day in fourth place on 3337 points. Beach approached his lifetime bests with his performances in both the 60m (7.04) and long jump (7.65m), and rounded the day off with a solid high jump effort of 2.02m.
“I feel good,” said Eaton at the end of the day’s proceedings. “I’ve been good in some things, average in some things, and below average in others. I’m excited for tomorrow.”
And so is everyone else.
Cathal Dennehy for the IAAF
REPORT: MEN’S POLE VAULT FINAL – IAAF WORLD INDOOR CHAMPIONSHIPS PORTLAND 2016
REPORT: MEN’S POLE VAULT FINAL – IAAF WORLD INDOOR CHAMPIONSHIPS PORTLAND 2016
For all his dominance, it had been almost four years since France’s Renaud Lavillenie last won a global championship title, but the world record holder re-asserted his superiority in supreme fashion on the first day of the IAAF World Indoor Championships Portland 2016, setting a championship record of 6.02m to take gold.
American Sam Kendricks took the silver medal with a best of 5.80m, while Poland’s Piotr Lisek took third with 5.75m.
Lavillenie made his confidence known long before he took to the runway at a packed Oregon Convention Center on Thursday night, sitting out several early rounds – during which he paced the arena for the best part of two hours – and entering the competition at 5.75m.
It was a height he soared over with room to spare, which launched him immediately to the head of the standings, but he was briefly usurped at the next height, 5.80m, with US champion Sam Kendricks making a perfect clearance to the delight of the home crowd.
Rather than attempt to reclaim the lead, though, Lavillenie passed at 5.80m and 5.85m, re-entering at 5.90m. Meanwhile the leading contenders began to fall by the wayside, with Jan Kudlicka of the Czech Republic bowing out after three failures at 5.80m, his third-time clearance at 5.75m only good enough for fourth. He shared that position with world champion Shawn Barber, who had a below-par night, requiring three attempts to clear both 5.65m and 5.75m.
That was also the best Lisek could manage, but because Lisek cleared 5.75m on his first attempt, he took the bronze medal on countback after failing twice at 5.80m and once at 5.85m.
With only one competitor left in his way, Lavillenie took to the runway once again at 5.90m, sprinting down the track and not so much as brushing the bar as he sailed over with ease. Kendricks tried to respond in kind, but in truth, neither of his two remaining attempts at 5.90m came close, and Lavillenie was crowned world indoor champion for the second time in his career.
“My only aim is to be competitive, and jumping with a guy like Renaud you know he’s going to be immaculate,” said Kendricks.
That’s exactly what Lavillenie was at his next height, sling-shotting himself over 6.02m to break Steve Hooker’s championship record of 6.01m and bringing several thousand fans in the arena to their feet.
Minutes later, a rush of excitement spread through the crowd again as it was announced Lavillenie had moved the bar up to a world record height of 6.17m, and legions of fans clapped along and stomped their feet as he took his first attempt at breaking his own mark.
It wasn’t close, but Lavillenie rested, recovered and came again. On his second attempt, he fell into the bar while attempting to clear it and came crashing to the track, giving fans a thumbs up upon landing to signify no damage had been done. "I was a bit afraid, but I was able to manage it and fall safely," he said. "Pole vault is sometimes very dangerous and intense, but that’s why we love it."
Midway through his third and final attempt, he accepted the world record would have to wait for another day, and the new champion landed cautiously to the congratulations of an appreciative crowd.
"I’m happy to take the win and to get another six-metre jump," he said. "I have plenty of time to get the world record."
Back in 2012, Lavillenie took the world indoor title in Istanbul months before winning Olympic gold in London, and on the evidence presented in Portland, he appears well on course for a repeat performance later this year in Rio de Janeiro.
Renaud Lavillenie wins the pole vault at the IAAF World Indoor Championships Portland 2016 (Getty Images) © Copyright
FINAL RESULTS
FINAL RESULTS
FRA
USA
POL
18 MAR 2016 REPORT PORTLAND, USA
REPORT: WOMEN’S POLE VAULT FINAL – IAAF WORLD INDOOR CHAMPIONSHIPS PORTLAND 2016
REPORT: WOMEN’S POLE VAULT FINAL – IAAF WORLD INDOOR CHAMPIONSHIPS PORTLAND 2016
Jenn Suhr won her first world title in front of a sold-out crowd at the Oregon Convention Center and she did so in spectacular fashion by clearing a championship record of 4.90m.
Suhr, the world indoor record-holder since 2013, had a clean series over 4.60m, 4.75m and 4.85m, before clearing her winning 4.90m, also on her first attempt. She initially asked for the bar to be raised to a would-be world indoor record of 5.04m, but decided to call it a day minutes later.
For the first time ever in a women’s pole vault competition, four women went over 4.80m.
US indoor champion Sandi Morris (4.85m) and Greek indoor record-holder Ekaterini Stefanidi (4.80m) joined Suhr on the podium with their first senior global championships medals.
Before the start of the competition, Australian record-holder Alana Boyd was taken from the competition area via wheelchair due to a moderate lateral ankle sprain.
Portugal’s Marta Onofre was the first woman to exit the competition with three misses over the opening 4.35m height.
With Suhr passing at 4.50m, seven women followed with a first clearance at that height. The field was then reduced to seven after Czech Romana Malakova missed with the bar at 4.60m.
Morris was the first woman to go over 4.70m at the first time of asking, followed by Stefanidi. Oceanian record-holder Eliza McCartney and Nicole Buchler of Switzerland also made it on their second and third attempts, respectively.
For the first time ever in an indoor competition, five women went 4.70m or higher, but Brazil’s 2010 world indoor champion and 2015 world silver medallist Fabiana Murer and Greece’s Nikoleta Kyriakopoulu were not among them.
Stefanidi moved to the lead as she became the first woman to clear 4.75m and was soon joined by Suhr. Morris also joined the duo on her second attempt.
Facing elimination for the third time of the evening, Buchler tried and cleared a Swiss record of 4.80m to propel herself into pole position. Morris also made it at the first time of asking to regain the lead, but was soon overtaken by Stefanidi thanks to her clean series.
The youngest athlete of the evening, 19-year-old New Zealander McCartney missed her Oceanian record height of 4.80m and was the next to exit, leaving four women in contention for the medals.
After the US duo of Morris and Suhr cleared 4.85m, Buchler and Stefanidi passed after one miss at that height and the bar was raised to 4.90m.
The European pair could not clear that height, but Stefanidi found some consolation by becoming the first Greek woman to win a world indoor medal since 2008.
After two misses at 4.90m, Morris tried at 4.95m, her winning mark at the US Indoor Championships a week earlier, but was unsuccessful. Fourth at the 2015 World Championships, 23-year-old Morris made it a 1-2 finish for the US and savoured her first global medal.
Javier Clavelo Robinson for the IAAF
Jenn Suhr in the pole vault at the IAAF World Indoor Championships Portland 2016 (Getty Images) © Copyright
FINAL RESULTS
FINAL RESULTS
USA
USA
GRE
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Seven world indoor medallists, including two-time heptathlon champion Ashton Eaton, highlight the host nation’s team for the IAAF World Indoor Championships Portland 2016.
In total, 58 athletes will represent the USA at the Oregon Convention Center between 17-20 March.
Joining Eaton in defending their titles are 60m hurdles champion Nia Ali, 4x400m world record-holders Kyle Clemons and Calvin Smith, and 4x400m gold medallist Natasha Hastings.
There are numerous world leaders on the team, including pole vaulter Jenn Suhr, middle-distance runner Matthew Centrowitz, long jumper Marquis Dendy, 800m runner Ajee Wilson and world U20 indoor high jump record-holder Vashti Cunningham.
The team has also been bolstered in three events by the wildcards given to IAAF World Indoor Tour winners Mike Rodgers, Omar Craddock and Nia Ali. It means that the USA has been able to field three athletes in the men's 60m, men's triple jump and women's 60m hurdles.
To date, USA’s best medal haul at the World Indoor Championships came in 2012 when they won 10 gold medals, three silver and five bronze.
USATF for the IAAF
US TEAM FOR PORTLAND
US TEAM FOR PORTLAND
MEN
60m: Marvin Bracy, Trayvon Bromell, Mike Rodgers
400m: Kyle Clemons, Vernon Norwood
800m: Boris Berian, Erik Sowinski
1500m: Robby Andrews, Matthew Centrowitz
3000m: Paul Chelimo, Ryan Hill
60m hurdles: Spencer Adams, Jarret Eaton
High jump: Erik Kynard, Ricky Robertson
Pole vault: Mike Arnold, Sam Kendricks
Long jump: Marquis Dendy, Jeff Henderson
Triple jump: Chris Bernard, Omar Craddock, Alphonso Jordan
Shot put: Jonathan Jones, Kurt Roberts
Heptathlon: Curtis Beach, Ashton Eaton
4x400m: Elvyonn Bailey, Kyle Clemons, Patrick Feeney, Christopher Giesting, Vernon Norwood, Calvin Smith
WOMEN
60m: Tori Bowie, Barbara Pierre
400m: Quanera Hayes, Ashley Spencer
800m: Laura Roesler, Ajee Wilson
1500m: Brenda Martinez, Cory McGee
3000m: Abbey D’Agostino, Shannon Rowbury
60m hurdles: Nia Ali, Kendra Harrison, Brianna Rollins
High jump: Vashti Cunningham
Pole vault: Sandi Morris, Jenn Suhr
Long jump: Janay DeLoach, Brittney Reese
Triple jump: Christina Epps, Keturah Orji
Shot put: Jillian Camarena-Williams, Michelle Carter
Pentathlon: Barbara Nwaba, Kendell Williams
4x400m: Kendra Chambers, Phyllis Francis, Natasha Hastings, Quanera Hayes, Courtney Okolo, Ashley Spencer
http://iaaf-ebooks.s3.amazonaws.com/2016/World-Indoors-Portland/index.htm
15 MAR 2016 IAAF NEWS PORTLAND, USA
NEARLY US$2.5 MILLION AT STAKE IN PORTLAND
NEARLY US$2.5 MILLION AT STAKE IN PORTLAND
A total of US$2,464,000 is on offer from the IAAF as prize money at this week's IAAF World Indoor Championships Portland 2016, which starts on Thursday (17) and continues until Sunday (20) at the Oregon Convention Center.
As has become traditional, there is also a US$50,000 bonus for any athlete setting a world record during the four-day championships.
PRIZE MONEY* at the IAAF World Indoor Championships Portland 2016
Individual events (total US$ 2,288,000)
1st US$40,000
2nd US$20,000
3rd US$10,000
4th US$8000
5th US$6000
6th US$4000
Relays per team (total US$176,000)
1st US$40,000
2nd US$20,000
3rd US$10,000
4th US$8000
5th US$6000
6th US$4000
World record bonus
US$50,000 - for any athlete setting a world record.
* all awards are dependent upon athletes undergoing and clearing the usual anti-doping procedures
WITH ONE MONTH TO GO, ATHLETES’ PORTLAND PREPARATION GATHERS PACE
WITH ONE MONTH TO GO, ATHLETES’ PORTLAND PREPARATION GATHERS PACE
Exactly one month from today (17), the IAAF World Indoor Championships Portland 2016 will get underway at the Oregon Convention Center.
The new IAAF World Indoor Tour has provided the perfect platform for athletes to test their form ahead of the championships on 17-20 March, so much so that some athletes who had initially ruled out competing in Portland are now starting to reconsider.
Meseret Defar’s certainty in her own comeback was so low she had made no racing plans whatsoever after her first race. After running 8:30.83, a time only nine other women have ever bettered indoors, on Sunday evening in Boston, Defar already had her eye on another race in the USA next month.
With the World Indoor Championships returning to the USA for the first time in almost 30 years – the first edition was in Indianapolis in 1987 – the World Indoor Tour’s only stop in the USA sparked more mixed-zone discussion of the global championship than usual.
Defar, who has a remarkable four world indoor 3000m titles, immediately saw Portland as a natural next step for her comeback, and was practically itching to find races to sharpen her racing skills should she be selected for the Ethiopian team.
Even Jenn Suhr, who had been pretty clear two weeks ago about not including Portland in her plans, had re-opened the door by Sunday.
The quirks of the timetables of the USA Indoor Championships and the World Indoor Championships would mean Suhr would vault for selection on Saturday 12 March and then at the World Indoor Championships on Thursday 17 March, a turnaround Suhr is uncertain of attempting. But on Sunday evening she said: “I’ll have to see if I think I can turn around and come back. I’d like another crack at 5.07m; the more times I can try it, the more likely it is I’ll get over.”
World pole vault champion Shawn Barber was vaulting for the eighth time this season on Sunday night in Boston. He characterised his entire indoor season, which has him crisscrossing the globe and vaulting on a weekly basis, as an attempt to mimic the frequent competition of his collegiate schedule in 2015. “The idea is not to change anything,” he said, and the immediate goal was to “carry some momentum into world indoors. I’d like to be on the podium there.”
Kurt Roberts, who won the shot put in Boston with a PB of 21.57m, described the competition in Portland as practically an obligation for US athletes. The last senior global track and field championships in North America was the 2001 IAAF World Championships in Edmonton, and the last in the USA was the 1996 Olympics in Atlanta. Since then, US athletes have always been ‘away’ for major competitions.
“You have to want to do it,” said Roberts. “And I’m going to be ready.” 600m winner Boris Berian put it more succinctly if less imperatively. “Portland is home,” he said, despite being a native of Colorado.
Two athletes competing in Boston already have their places in Portland assured: the combined-events power couple of Ashton Eaton and Brianne Theisen-Eaton. Eaton equalled his pole vault PB and raced the 60m; Theisen-Eaton was third in both the long jump and the 300m, setting lifetime bests in both.
“It’s awesome to not have to travel,” Theisen-Eaton said of the event that is barely two hours’ drive from the Eaton’s base in Eugene.
“My goal all this year is to compete with a solid focus across each event,” she added. “If I can do that, I’ll walk away satisfied, no matter what the result.”
Boston’s runners were equally eager to race in Portland, particularly the large contingent from Eugene. Eugene-based Andrew Wheating, an Olympian in 2008, is a visible presence in any indoor race due to his height, but he’s also been prominent in the results coming from the ‘House of Track’, the temporary facility set up in a Portland warehouse to test the systems and surface of the competition track. After winning the 1000m in 2:18.68, Wheating’s question about racing in Portland was whether to try for selection at 800m or the 1500m.
Ethiopia’s Dejen Gebremeskel, who took world indoor bronze two years ago, didn’t have quite the same challenge, because his team won’t be selected through competition. Gebremeskel hoped his winning time of 7:42.94 would assure his spot in Portland, but so far this season he’s only the third-fastest Ethiopian at 3000m and he might find himself looking for another chance to improve that mark.
Of the Ethiopians in Boston hoping to head to Portland, though, perhaps none was quite as confident as Dawit Seyaum. Winner of the women’s 1500m in a world-leading 4:01.86, Seyaum beamed when Oregon was mentioned. Her previous visit to that state was to Eugene for the 2014 IAAF World Junior championships, where she won the 1500m.
PORTLAND SET TO HOST NORTH AMERICA’S BIGGEST EVER IAAF WORLD INDOOR CHAMPIONSHIPS
PORTLAND SET TO HOST NORTH AMERICA’S BIGGEST EVER IAAF WORLD INDOOR CHAMPIONSHIPS
The IAAF World Indoor Championships Portland 2016 on 17-20 March is set to be the biggest ever edition of the championships on North American soil.
Preliminary entries of 699 athletes (403 men, 296 women) have been received from 154 federations, making it a significantly larger event than the previous two editions on the continent.
There were 537 athletes from 93 countries at the 1993 World Indoor Championships in Toronto, while 419 athletes from 85 countries competed at the 1987 World Indoor Championships in Indianapolis.
Although there will be a slight reduction in numbers between preliminary entries and final participants, this year’s championships could be better represented than the IAAF World Indoor Championships Sopot 2014, at which 539 athletes from 134 nations competed.
The USA is one of just five countries to have hosted IAAF championship events across the four main competition surfaces: outdoor track, indoor track, road and cross country.
NEW INNOVATIONS AT IAAF WORLD INDOOR CHAMPIONSHIPS PORTLAND 2016
NEW INNOVATIONS AT IAAF WORLD INDOOR CHAMPIONSHIPS PORTLAND 2016
With two weeks to go until the IAAF World Indoor Championships Portland 2016, the IAAF and local organisers have promised a global athletics competition like no other.
Several new innovations will be incorporated into the competition at the Oregon Convention Center on 17-20 March.
One of the biggest changes will be in the shot put, long jump and triple jump. After five rounds, just the top four athletes will have a sixth attempt. With the battle for medals intensified, the competition schedule will allow time so that those final-round attempts will be the sole focus of the whole arena at that time.
Athletes in all semi-finals and finals will be introduced on to the field of play one by one, in much the same way that teams are presented at the IAAF World Relays.
Winners of each event will be awarded flowers at the end of their competition before going on a lap of honour. The medal ceremonies will then take place each evening at Pioneers Courthouse Square in the heart of Portland. Effectively a big track and field party with music, food and a live stream of the action, the medallists will be welcomed by a huge crowd every evening.
Before the action kicks off with the pole vault finals on 17 March, the championships will officially get underway with the opening ceremony at 6pm. During the ceremony, a group of 50 children will carry numerous hand flags of each participating federation into the stadium and distribute them to spectators.
With more than 600 of the world’s greatest track and field athletes from more than 150 countries in action, the IAAF World Indoor Championships Portland 2016 promises to be an incredible sporting spectacle.
10 MAR 2016 IAAF NEWS PORTLAND, USA
COMBINED EVENTS AND RELAY FIELDS ANNOUNCED FOR IAAF WORLD INDOOR CHAMPIONSHIPS PORTLAND 2016
COMBINED EVENTS AND RELAY FIELDS ANNOUNCED FOR IAAF WORLD INDOOR CHAMPIONSHIPS PORTLAND 2016
One week from now, the focus of the athletics world will be on the IAAF World Indoor Championships Portland 2016, which takes place from 17-20 March.
Much of the spotlight will be on the combined events as Oregon-based Ashton Eaton and Brianne Theisen-Eaton will be in action. World and Olympic decathlon champion Eaton will be aiming for his third successive world indoor heptathlon title, while Theisen-Eaton will be looking to win her first global title.
The size of the combined events fields for this year’s championships has been increased; for the first time since 1997, the pentathlon and heptathlon will have 12 athletes in each competition.
The invites for the combined events in Portland were based on the 2015 IAAF Combined Events Challenge, on last year's outdoor world season lists, on this year’s indoor world season lists, plus one wild card.
Heptathlon field
Curtis Beach (USA)
Larbi Bourrada (ALG)
Mathias Brugger (GER)
Ashton Eaton (USA)
Kurt Felix (GRN)
Adam Sebastian Helcelet (CZE)
Oleksiy Kasyanov (UKR)
Jeremy Lelievre (FRA)
Tim Nowak (GER)
Petter Olson (SWE)
Samuel Remedios (POR)
Jorge Urena (ESP)
Pentathlon field
Makeba Alcide (LCA)
Katerina Cachova (CZE)
Georgia Ellenwood (CAN)
Alina Fodorova (UKR)
Morgan Lake (GBR)
Celina Leffler (GER)
Anastasiya Mokhnyuk (UKR)
Barbara Nwaba (USA)
Salcia Slack (JAM)
Brianne Theisen-Eaton (CAN)
Kendell Williams (USA)
Gyorgyi Zsivoczky-Farkas (HUN)
The IAAF has also received entries for the men’s and women’s 4x400m. The nations that will be contesting that event are:
Men
Bahamas
Belgium
Guyana
Jamaica
Nigeria
South Africa
Trinidad and Tobago
United States
Women
Jamaica
Nigeria
Poland
Romania
Ukraine
United States
March 21, 2016
All-Athletics.com announces the Top 10 male and female performances respectively at the World Indoor Championships in Portland.
The lists were set up by using the rules of the All-Athletics.com World Rankings.
The next updated All-Athletics.com World Rankings will be published on Wednesday, 23 March.
(Photo: Getty Images for IAAF)
Portland 2016 - Top 10
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