Home » News and Media » News » 2009 » August » Berlin 2009 Day 1 - Evening session - LIVE
16.08.2009
Canberra-based duo Tristan Thomas and Brendan Cole are just about to make their world championships debut in the heats of the men's 400m hurdles.
Tasmanian-born Thomas appears in heat two where he will line up against 2005 champion Bershawn Jackson from the USA. Thomas, running out of lane six, will be hoping for a repeat performance of his effort at the Sydney Track Classic where he scalped the American when running a personal best at the time of 48.86.
Brendan Cole, a soft-tissue therapist, joins two-time Olympic champion Angelo Taylor and 2009 world leader LJ Van Zyl in the fourth and strongest of the heats.
The two Australian Flame hurdlers will need to finish in the first three to assure a place in the semi-finals.
Thomas has a personal best of 48.68 and will need to be close to that to progress. Thomas looked great coming off the final bend. He finishes strongly in 49.53 which won't be enough to qualify automatically so he will have to wait until the completion of the heats to see if he makes it through as one of the next four fastest.
Defending champion Kerron Clement (USA) gets his steps right and wins the third heat in 48.39.
Cole now takes to the track in a huge heat with Taylor and Van Zyl expected to dominate. Cole was a late addition to the Australian team after a successful European campaign that followed his personal best in Osaka in May.
Cole ran a great race as he lead Taylor and Van Zyl at 300m. Cole finishes third in 49.63 and automatically qualifies and beats the two-time Olympic champion Taylor. A huge result for the 28-year-old.
It's going to be close for Thomas as the next four fastest had very similar times.
The IAAF results feed is showing Thomas as the fourth fastest qualifier on times. If that's right both Australians will be through to the semi-finals to be held tomorrow.
Confirmation is now through and for the first time Australia will have two athletes in the semi-finals of the 400m hurdles at a world championships.
Brendan Cole on defeating two-time Olympic champion Angelo Taylor and automatically qualifying for the semi-finals: "I am just really bloody excited. I only just made the team in the last few weeks. I didn't have the immense pressure on me and I wasn't expecting to do anything amazing. Any scalp I get is a little bonus.
"To beat the Olympic champion is very nice, very nice indeed, so yeah I am stoked. It's great.
"I'm fit and I'm healthy and I think that's what got me through."
Tristan Thomas regarding the wait for the news of his qualification.
"It's one of the hardest things in the sport to just sit there and not know that you are definitely in."
"I was waiting for the last heat and sitting in that fourth qualifying position, wanting everyone in that race to run slow."
"I got to the stage where I grabbed my spikes and started walking thinking I had no chance."
"Now, all my positive emotions are going crazy and I don't have to go warm down and chuck my spikes over the fence."
"I'll do a bit of soul searching. I've been given an opportunity, so I really have to make the most of it and live up to the potential I have shown throughout the year."
In late breaking news, it looks like Brendan Cole has been disqualified for a trailing leg violation (IAAF rule 168.7). Australian team management are appealing the decision.
And to add further disappointment for the Australians, Jeff Riseley has been disqualified for obstructing another athlete with 150m to go
Men's 1500m - Heats
2009 Australian champion Jeff Riseley faces the silver medallist from Paris, Mehdi Baala (France) in heat one of the men's 1500m. Riseley has rewritten the Australian middle distance all-time lists this year, with the highlight being his performance of 3.32.93 at the Golden League in Rome moving him to No. 2 behind Queenslander Simon Doyle.
Outstanding junior Ryan Gregson, still only 18 years old, has made a rapid rise through the senior ranks this year and was rewarded with a berth in the Australian team. Gregson's apprenticeship will be complete when he meets defending champion Bernard Lagat (USA) and race favourite Asbel Kipruto Kiprop (Kenya) in heat two.
Sydney's Jeremy Roff is fresh from a personal best in the mile at the London Grand Prix and meets Brit Andrew Baddeley and 2009 world leader Augustine Kiprop Choge (Kenya) in the third of four heats.
Riseley is content to settle at the back of the pack on the first lap, just off the shoulder of Baala as the leaders go through in 1.02.01.
Two laps down and Belal Mansoor Ali takes the lead. Riseley and Baala now make their moves as they get the bell.
Baala in the lead at 200m and Riseley comes round the field. First four automatically qualify and Riseley will be one of them.
The winning time for Frenchman Baala, who has returned to his best form this year, is 3.42.77, Riseley recorded 3.43.03 to finish in fourth position and will have a day off before returning for the semi-finals on Monday.
Ryan Gregson is looking confident at the start line in heat two.
The young Australian is just off the shoulder of favourite Kiprop in the first 200m. He doesn't seem to be overawed by this field.
Gregson leading the field through with two laps to go. The crowd roars as the German Schlangen goes past the Aussie with 600m remaining.
At the bell Gregson is in fourth place but losing touch. Lagat runs well on the last lap to take second as Kiprop shows why he is the race favourite and wins in 3.41.42. Gregson fades towards the end to place tenth in 3.44.79 and unfortunately will not progress to the final. But what a great year from the junior sensation who will be one of the athletes to look out for in 2010.
Jeremy Roff is not hard to miss with his signature head band and is up with the leaders early in this heat. Choge is a picture of relaxation as he leads the field through with two laps to go.
With 600m to go Roff maintains his position one out, one back, but now hits the lead as he takes the bell in 2.51.94.
200m to go and there is some pushing and shoving and Roff is losing some ground. The jostling affects Roff the most as he fades in the final 100m to place 10th (3.47.08s). Choge wins the heat in 3.44.73.
The fourth and final heat is the fastest of the day with Deresse Mekonnen (Ethiopia) winning in 3.37.04 but the crowd is most happy about their town's namesake and competitor from heat three Antoine Berlin being interviewed after the race.
Riseley, in response to his tactics of sitting at the back of the pack for the first two laps said: "Happy days. That was the plan. I just had to relax over the first 800m and accept the position I got. There is no point getting in the front with all the argy-bargy and spend the first two laps fighting.
"I just accepted that I was at the back and with 500m to go just had to make sure I got in a position to be able to cover any moves.
"I hit a few dead ends and had to throw a few elbows to get out. When I needed to sprint I found it. I got tired in the last 30 metres, but it was enough. I got that fourth automatic which is what I came for."
Gregson was philosophical about his result.
"To get in that first five, that was pretty crazy. They are all Olympic medallists. It was a pretty tough heat. A lot of people who have come to the world stage have gone straight to the back, but you have just got to give yourself a chance.
"I was under no illusion about how good these guys are but I am only 19, the youngest in the field, so hopefully in the next couple of years I'll get fitter and stronger and get it together."
To view Jeff Riseley's post race interview click here
To view Ryan Gregson's post race interview click here
To view Jeremy Roff's post race interview click here
Men's 100m - Second round
The fast men are back for their second appearance today in the second round of the men's 100m.
Dwayne Chambers (GBR) records a season's best 10.04 to win the first of five second round heats from Olympic silver medallist Richard Thompson (Trinidad and Tobago).
A sensation in the second heat as the new European hope Christophe Lemaitre from France, only 19 years old, is disqualified for false starting.
Michael Rogers (USA) wins the heat in a fast 10.01, the fastest of the championships so far.
Asafa Powell, who survived a scare this morning, is up next in heat three. He shut his heat down early to only just hold onto third and the crucial automatic qualifying position. The former world record-holder will be sure not to repeat this tonight, so we can expect a fast time.
Powell runs through to 90m, shuts down and crosses the line in 9.95, perhaps making a statement to compatriot Usain Bolt and defending champion Tyson Gay that he is not to be discounted in what organisers have dubbed as a duel between the big two.
Defending champion Tyson Gay has had some groin trouble this year, but looked good in round one. He joins Powell with a win and a sub-10 time to dominate heat four in 9.98.
Let's see if world record-holder Usain Bolt will run faster in the fifth and final second-round heat.
No, Bolt is content to enjoy one of the most relaxed trips down the straight away ever seen with his training partner Daniel Bailey (Antigua) and finishes in 10.03 just behind Bailey's 10.02.
To view Usain Bolt's post race interview click here
News
Berlin 2009 Day 1 - Evening session - LIVE
Men's 400m hurdles - HeatsCanberra-based duo Tristan Thomas and Brendan Cole are just about to make their world championships debut in the heats of the men's 400m hurdles.
Tasmanian-born Thomas appears in heat two where he will line up against 2005 champion Bershawn Jackson from the USA. Thomas, running out of lane six, will be hoping for a repeat performance of his effort at the Sydney Track Classic where he scalped the American when running a personal best at the time of 48.86.
Brendan Cole, a soft-tissue therapist, joins two-time Olympic champion Angelo Taylor and 2009 world leader LJ Van Zyl in the fourth and strongest of the heats.
The two Australian Flame hurdlers will need to finish in the first three to assure a place in the semi-finals.
Thomas has a personal best of 48.68 and will need to be close to that to progress. Thomas looked great coming off the final bend. He finishes strongly in 49.53 which won't be enough to qualify automatically so he will have to wait until the completion of the heats to see if he makes it through as one of the next four fastest.
Defending champion Kerron Clement (USA) gets his steps right and wins the third heat in 48.39.
Cole now takes to the track in a huge heat with Taylor and Van Zyl expected to dominate. Cole was a late addition to the Australian team after a successful European campaign that followed his personal best in Osaka in May.
Cole ran a great race as he lead Taylor and Van Zyl at 300m. Cole finishes third in 49.63 and automatically qualifies and beats the two-time Olympic champion Taylor. A huge result for the 28-year-old.
It's going to be close for Thomas as the next four fastest had very similar times.
The IAAF results feed is showing Thomas as the fourth fastest qualifier on times. If that's right both Australians will be through to the semi-finals to be held tomorrow.
Confirmation is now through and for the first time Australia will have two athletes in the semi-finals of the 400m hurdles at a world championships.
Brendan Cole on defeating two-time Olympic champion Angelo Taylor and automatically qualifying for the semi-finals: "I am just really bloody excited. I only just made the team in the last few weeks. I didn't have the immense pressure on me and I wasn't expecting to do anything amazing. Any scalp I get is a little bonus.
"To beat the Olympic champion is very nice, very nice indeed, so yeah I am stoked. It's great.
"I'm fit and I'm healthy and I think that's what got me through."
Tristan Thomas regarding the wait for the news of his qualification.
"It's one of the hardest things in the sport to just sit there and not know that you are definitely in."
"I was waiting for the last heat and sitting in that fourth qualifying position, wanting everyone in that race to run slow."
"I got to the stage where I grabbed my spikes and started walking thinking I had no chance."
"Now, all my positive emotions are going crazy and I don't have to go warm down and chuck my spikes over the fence."
"I'll do a bit of soul searching. I've been given an opportunity, so I really have to make the most of it and live up to the potential I have shown throughout the year."
In late breaking news, it looks like Brendan Cole has been disqualified for a trailing leg violation (IAAF rule 168.7). Australian team management are appealing the decision.
And to add further disappointment for the Australians, Jeff Riseley has been disqualified for obstructing another athlete with 150m to go
To view Brendan Cole's post race interview click here
To view Tristan Thomas' post race interview click here
Men's 1500m - Heats
2009 Australian champion Jeff Riseley faces the silver medallist from Paris, Mehdi Baala (France) in heat one of the men's 1500m. Riseley has rewritten the Australian middle distance all-time lists this year, with the highlight being his performance of 3.32.93 at the Golden League in Rome moving him to No. 2 behind Queenslander Simon Doyle.
Outstanding junior Ryan Gregson, still only 18 years old, has made a rapid rise through the senior ranks this year and was rewarded with a berth in the Australian team. Gregson's apprenticeship will be complete when he meets defending champion Bernard Lagat (USA) and race favourite Asbel Kipruto Kiprop (Kenya) in heat two.
Sydney's Jeremy Roff is fresh from a personal best in the mile at the London Grand Prix and meets Brit Andrew Baddeley and 2009 world leader Augustine Kiprop Choge (Kenya) in the third of four heats.
Riseley is content to settle at the back of the pack on the first lap, just off the shoulder of Baala as the leaders go through in 1.02.01.
Two laps down and Belal Mansoor Ali takes the lead. Riseley and Baala now make their moves as they get the bell.
Baala in the lead at 200m and Riseley comes round the field. First four automatically qualify and Riseley will be one of them.
The winning time for Frenchman Baala, who has returned to his best form this year, is 3.42.77, Riseley recorded 3.43.03 to finish in fourth position and will have a day off before returning for the semi-finals on Monday.
Ryan Gregson is looking confident at the start line in heat two.
The young Australian is just off the shoulder of favourite Kiprop in the first 200m. He doesn't seem to be overawed by this field.
Gregson leading the field through with two laps to go. The crowd roars as the German Schlangen goes past the Aussie with 600m remaining.
At the bell Gregson is in fourth place but losing touch. Lagat runs well on the last lap to take second as Kiprop shows why he is the race favourite and wins in 3.41.42. Gregson fades towards the end to place tenth in 3.44.79 and unfortunately will not progress to the final. But what a great year from the junior sensation who will be one of the athletes to look out for in 2010.
Jeremy Roff is not hard to miss with his signature head band and is up with the leaders early in this heat. Choge is a picture of relaxation as he leads the field through with two laps to go.
With 600m to go Roff maintains his position one out, one back, but now hits the lead as he takes the bell in 2.51.94.
200m to go and there is some pushing and shoving and Roff is losing some ground. The jostling affects Roff the most as he fades in the final 100m to place 10th (3.47.08s). Choge wins the heat in 3.44.73.
The fourth and final heat is the fastest of the day with Deresse Mekonnen (Ethiopia) winning in 3.37.04 but the crowd is most happy about their town's namesake and competitor from heat three Antoine Berlin being interviewed after the race.
Riseley, in response to his tactics of sitting at the back of the pack for the first two laps said: "Happy days. That was the plan. I just had to relax over the first 800m and accept the position I got. There is no point getting in the front with all the argy-bargy and spend the first two laps fighting.
"I just accepted that I was at the back and with 500m to go just had to make sure I got in a position to be able to cover any moves.
"I hit a few dead ends and had to throw a few elbows to get out. When I needed to sprint I found it. I got tired in the last 30 metres, but it was enough. I got that fourth automatic which is what I came for."
Gregson was philosophical about his result.
"To get in that first five, that was pretty crazy. They are all Olympic medallists. It was a pretty tough heat. A lot of people who have come to the world stage have gone straight to the back, but you have just got to give yourself a chance.
"I was under no illusion about how good these guys are but I am only 19, the youngest in the field, so hopefully in the next couple of years I'll get fitter and stronger and get it together."
To view Jeff Riseley's post race interview click here
To view Ryan Gregson's post race interview click here
To view Jeremy Roff's post race interview click here
Men's 100m - Second round
The fast men are back for their second appearance today in the second round of the men's 100m.
Dwayne Chambers (GBR) records a season's best 10.04 to win the first of five second round heats from Olympic silver medallist Richard Thompson (Trinidad and Tobago).
A sensation in the second heat as the new European hope Christophe Lemaitre from France, only 19 years old, is disqualified for false starting.
Michael Rogers (USA) wins the heat in a fast 10.01, the fastest of the championships so far.
Asafa Powell, who survived a scare this morning, is up next in heat three. He shut his heat down early to only just hold onto third and the crucial automatic qualifying position. The former world record-holder will be sure not to repeat this tonight, so we can expect a fast time.
Powell runs through to 90m, shuts down and crosses the line in 9.95, perhaps making a statement to compatriot Usain Bolt and defending champion Tyson Gay that he is not to be discounted in what organisers have dubbed as a duel between the big two.
Defending champion Tyson Gay has had some groin trouble this year, but looked good in round one. He joins Powell with a win and a sub-10 time to dominate heat four in 9.98.
Let's see if world record-holder Usain Bolt will run faster in the fifth and final second-round heat.
No, Bolt is content to enjoy one of the most relaxed trips down the straight away ever seen with his training partner Daniel Bailey (Antigua) and finishes in 10.03 just behind Bailey's 10.02.
To view Usain Bolt's post race interview click here
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