World Athletics Championship - Eugene Oregon

[Lee Smith]

A few final day thoughts:

1/ Michael Johnson is an utter disgrace doubting the world record for Amusan in the 110 metre hurdles - just because she took his mate Keni Harrison's world best and her gold medal.

Bit harsh calling him an utter disgrace mate ?. It wasn’t just Johnson doubting the time, Colin Jackson and Steve Cram had their doubts too, as well as others. I’m sure it had less to do with the fact that “his mate” was beaten, and more to do with the fact that literally half of the field over the 3 semi finals (12 runners), either broke their National Record or recorded a PB in the event.

Amusan’s reaction time wasn’t that great (which is unusual when a record is broken), and even the British (*cough* American *cough*) girl Cindy Ember said it felt like she had run a slow race, yet according to the clock she still broke the British record. So you can see why people were skeptical.

I’m sure ultimately the times will be ratified once they go through the usual review process though, Amusan was technically flawless over the hurdles in both the semi and final.

Somewhat related, the “unofficial” times that were popping up in the little graphic in the bottom left of the screen immediately after all the races throughout the championships were complete garbage, showing people in the wrong positions and their “confirmed” times eventually being out by huge margins. Which perhaps led to people being dubious also.

The people accusing Johnson of “black racism” need to give their heads a wobble, he is one of the most unbiased commentators around imo.

 

[davek]

Bit harsh calling him an utter disgrace mate ?. It wasn’t just Johnson doubting the time, Colin Jackson and Steve Cram had their doubts too, as well as others. I’m sure it had less to do with the fact that “his mate” was beaten, and more to do with the fact that literally half of the field over the 3 semi finals (12 runners), either broke their National Record or recorded a PB in the event.

Amusan’s reaction time wasn’t that great (which is unusual when a record is broken), and even the British (*cough* American *cough*) girl Cindy Ember said it felt like she had run a slow race, yet according to the clock she still broke the British record. So you can see why people were skeptical.

I’m sure ultimately the times will be ratified once they go through the usual review process though, Amusan was technically flawless over the hurdles in both the semi and final.

Somewhat related, the “unofficial” times that were popping up in the little graphic in the bottom left of the screen immediately after all the races throughout the championships were complete garbage, showing people in the wrong positions and their “confirmed” times eventually being out by huge margins. Which perhaps led to people being dubious also.

The people accusing Johnson of “black racism” need to give their heads a wobble, he is one of the most unbiased commentators around imo.

No mate. You have that wrong. Colin Jackson didn't call it as dodgy. He was in the studio and said he couldn't see any reason to challenge it. The reason being that Harrison prior to the World's was going into the championships with great times (12.3), then you see how far ahead Amusan beat her by...a street in 100 metre hurdling terms.

It wasn't difficult to accept that she shaved a tenth of a second off the existing world record.

As for the others in the race: in my memory every time you get a very fast track at a championships where the elite are all assembled then a world best time drags a lot of people through to PBs / national records. Conditions were nigh on perfect.

It was plain sour grapes from Johnson.

 

[Lee Smith]

No mate. You have that wrong. Colin Jackson didn't call it as dodgy. He was in the studio and said he couldn't see any reason to challenge it. The reason being that Harrison prior to the World's was going into the championships with great times (12.3), then you see how far ahead Amusan beat her by...a street in 100 metre hurdling terms.

It wasn't difficult to accept that she shaved a tenth of a second off the existing world record.

As for the others in the race: in my memory every time you get a very fast track at a championships where the elite are all assembled then a world best time drags a lot of people through to PBs / national records. Conditions were nigh on perfect.

It was plain sour grapes from Johnson.

I never said “Colin Jackson called it dodgy”. I said he had his doubts. I’ve just rewatched the live coverage, and Cram, Jackson, and the other commentator (Steve Backley?), were all talking about it (not just Johnson) for quite some time, and were sounding surprised at the huge number of records being broken.

In fact when asked (while watching the replay of SF3), Jackson said “it will be interesting when World Athletics ratify these times, they will have to look at that record and check it quite intensely, but those 2 athletes there (referring to the winners of SF3), just ran the easiest 12.3’s I’ve seen in a very long time”, and then proceeds to laugh. What he didn’t say was (from what I’ve just watched anyway), is that he sees no reason to challenge it, as you claimed.

They then go on as a group to discuss the fact that the Jamaican girl broke the national record in SF3 after easing up at the line, at which point Steve Cram also mentions the fact the she got a relatively slow reaction time also, yet managed to shave a tenth off the NR.

It wasn’t just doubts over the WR, it was doubts over the timings across all 3 SFs in general.

To insinuate it was just because Johnson had sour grapes is laughable.

 

[SerenityNigh]

A few final day thoughts:

3/ Duplantis. An amazing vaulter. A world record was never in doubt, he's that good. He'll take the record to 6.30m before he retires.

Had never watched Duplantis before, that's 1000% as Cajun a name as they come, Armand Gustav Duplantis, no doubt he only knows how to pole vault because someone saw him crossing between levees on the bayou an dey told him he can go to school for that. He's defo an athletics Bobby Boucher.

 

[davek]

I never said “Colin Jackson called it dodgy”. I said he had his doubts. I’ve just rewatched the live coverage, and Cram, Jackson, and the other commentator (Steve Backley?), were all talking about it (not just Johnson) for quite some time, and were sounding surprised at the huge number of records being broken.

In fact when asked (while watching the replay of SF3), Jackson said “it will be interesting when World Athletics ratify these times, they will have to look at that record and check it quite intensely, but those 2 athletes there (referring to the winners of SF3), just ran the easiest 12.3’s I’ve seen in a very long time”, and then proceeds to laugh. What he didn’t say was (from what I’ve just watched anyway), is that he sees no reason to challenge it, as you claimed.

They then go on as a group to discuss the fact that the Jamaican girl broke the national record in SF3 after easing up at the line, at which point Steve Cram also mentions the fact the she got a relatively slow reaction time also, yet managed to shave a tenth off the NR.

It wasn’t just doubts over the WR, it was doubts over the timings across all 3 SFs in general.

To insinuate it was just because Johnson had sour grapes is laughable.

A number of things to point out here:

1/ both Johnson and Jackson immediately after the race stated that the time was astonishing but then rationalised that a/ she was a street ahead of Harrison "the best there's ever been" so it's understandable a world best was set and b/ they thought the Sydney McLoughlin world record was astonishing too, but that was "ok" for Johnson so that was that...he was never going to call out a fellow American sprinter.... though all agreed at first Amusan's race was "hurdling perfection"....and THEN Johnson started to question it a few minutes later. Johnson has massive influence over the BBC athletics team. Also the Scottish no mark commentator Andrew Cotter played his part in trying to make controversy questioning the timing system and kept on and on about it.

2/ Jackson when they went to the studio rationalised the world record by saying Harrison had carried 12.3 into the championships and that 12.12 in beating her by such a distance in the SFs WOULD get you that time and that "I'm not doubting that time at this moment".

3/ Amusan comes out next race and blows the world record AGAIN...slightly wind assisted and therefore didn't stand, but two bad timings in a row for her?!!! No chance. And not a peep out of the BBC team.

4/ since the race Johnson et al have never questioned the validity of the time or the world record. Why? Had their arses handed to them elsewhere over their BS claims so have STFU about it?

In short: it was a Johnson-led BBC pile on that they couldn't justify...and they would never have questioned an American or British world best timing athlete like that. If I was SEIKO I might want to get lawyered up and go after the BBC over that.

 

[Stevie Nicks Bootleg]

A few final day thoughts:

1/ Michael Johnson is an utter disgrace doubting the world record for Amusan in the 110 metre hurdles - just because she took his mate Keni Harrison's world best and her gold medal.

2/ Keely Hodgkinson was mugged in the 800m final by a very savvy Mu who showed her the inside track then got her elbows out to deny Hodgkinson. That was a fair tactic, but Hodgkinson could have won if she'd have switched ouside at the beginning of the straight. I think she's the quicker runner now.

3/ Duplantis. An amazing vaulter. A world record was never in doubt, he's that good. He'll take the record to 6.30m before he retires.

4/ They're all on PEDS like.

All good calls. My favourite 'Johnson' moment was when Lyles ran 12.32 and the commentator said "he's equalled your great time Michael" (or words to that effect)...then the clocked rounded it down to 21.31...he then said "the time doesn't matter". Johnson must have had his usual cob-on when one of his times gets eclipsed.

 

[Stevie Nicks Bootleg]

Bit harsh calling him an utter disgrace mate ?. It wasn’t just Johnson doubting the time, Colin Jackson and Steve Cram had their doubts too, as well as others. I’m sure it had less to do with the fact that “his mate” was beaten, and more to do with the fact that literally half of the field over the 3 semi finals (12 runners), either broke their National Record or recorded a PB in the event.

Aaah, of course, only the Americans are allowed to 'improve' rapidly in no time, ala Florence Griffith Joyner back in the day.

 

[davek]

All good calls. My favourite 'Johnson' moment was when Lyles ran 12.32 and the commentator said "he's equalled your great time Michael" (or words to that effect)...then the clocked rounded it down to 21.31...he then said "the time doesn't matter". Johnson must have had his usual cob-on when one of his times gets eclipsed.

lol lol lol

Brilliant.

He's a graceless bully, Johnson.

The whole BBC athletics team (commentary team) are self important and pious. They really went for Amusan and it was a horrible spectacle.

I love athletics but I dread having to listen to these people with their brand of xenophobia + Johnson's personal agendas.

 

[davek]

One other thing to bear in mind with Johnson is hos Nike comnnections. I know he's been associated with them in his career. Amusan is wearing Adidas and they are now the focus of an attack on her over 'the technology'.

Jihnson's attack could well be part of the very murky world of corporate skullduggery.