After any Championship event you can always expect a drop in performances, especially for those who have won the Gold. Zurich followed Osaka and the stadium was packed with spectators coming out for an evening's athletics and a chance to see the recently crowned Champions from Japan.
Two athletes who did have a great deal to prove were France's Mehdi Baala, who had been disqualfied after his semi-final in Osaka, and Sanya Richards (USA), who had failed to qualify for the US team in the 400m. Both cameto Zurich and had convincing wins in their respective distances over 1500 and 400.
There were Gold Medalists from Osaka who did win and they were; on the running side, Bernard Lagat who won the 3000m (in Osaka he became the first man in Championship history to do the 1500/5000 double, Bahrain's Maryam Jamal who had won the 1500m against Russia's Yelena Soboleva, repeated her performance in Zurich and then the new 'Darling of the 800m', Kenya's Janeth Jepkosgei, who again displayed her brilliance over 2 laps.
On the field events side Croatia's Blanka Vlasic took the High Jump and Yelena Isinbayeva captured the Pole Vault, this win keeps the Russian's hopes alive for the Golden Jackpot. .
Sweden's Susanna Kallur, 4th in the Women's 100m hurdles in Osaka, put an end to Michelle Perry's Golden League Jackpot contention, in winning in Zurich however Perry could only manage 3rd.
It was great to see a packed stadium and without pace setters, the crowds were treated to enthralling races which went down to the line.
Till next week and the Memorial Van Damme.
