Day 3 in Osaka was quite a day at the World Championships with controversy coming from the 2nd men's 1500m semi-final and then the comeback to Championship victory of Ethiopia's Kenenisa Bekele in the Men's 10000m final , as well as the success of Russia's Yekaterina Volkova in the 3000m SteepleChase final.
In other areas of the field events Belarus' Ivan Tsikhan showed his pure class by winning the Hammer with his penultimate throw. The mark of a Champion who up until that throw was not in a medal position. The big surprise came in the Men's Triple Jump where Portugal's Nelson Évora produced a National Record jump to win the title.
The Women's 100m provided a blanket finish where Jamaica's Veronica Campbell took Gold on a photo finish.
In winning the Steeple, Volkova went one better than her Silver placing in 2005 and displaced her compatriot, Gulnara Samitova-Galkina, as her country's #1 in the event. Samitova-Galinka still holds the World Record in the event and had started out rather quickly before 'dying a 1000 deaths', not a nice feeling in this grueling event. She finished 7th, well off the pace.
In the 10000m, Bekele survived the test and took the title with a powerful kick over the last 200m. This was no 'run of the mill' win for Bekele, who had to shake off the massive doubt which had begun to hang over him since his defeat in Mombasa. With 2 laps to go you could see he was troubled and anyone who carries a strong finishing kick knows, that even when you are feeling lousy, all you have to do is put yourself within a striking distance and you will have a chance. Once you unleash the kick it is almost as though the mind takes over from the body and orders the physical reaction to take place. Bekele had this to thank, as I believe he still had a little doubt in his ability and when the kick came, it was as though a relief came over him and a smile broke across his face once victory was assured. Another title but more significantly a return to the belief in one's ability.
At this level, it is all about self-belief.
Now to my talking point of the day, the diabolical performance of France's Mehdi Baala. Everyone has focused on the final straight however even earlier in the race down the backstraight approaching 200m to go, Baala tried to go through on the inside without there being a gap. Then to do what he did was plain and simply ridiculous. For me there was no choice but disqualification, there was no other choice. If this were the final they would even have to reconsider re-running it and rightly so.
Baala deserves all the criticism he shall receive and he must learn from this once and for all. The final shall now see 14 athletes instead of 12 and yet again New Zealand's Nick Willis was a recipient of luck on the day.
The athletes were reinstated under Rule 163 .. see IAAF ruling
Bahrain's Rashid Ramzi looked impressive and has me eating a portion of humble pie, however with a faster pace in the final, I will still stick with Belal Mansoor Ali as my favourite. The USA's Allan Webb did not run a convincing semi and he can look to the final with a different perspective. If Webb, is to win, I suspect that El G's winning approach from Athens 2004, is the answer. A 3.33 winning time could put paid to Ramzi.
Athlete of the day Ethiopia's Kenenisa Bekele.
That's it for today, more action to follow
TheEd
