Latest Prediction of World Championships in Athletics, Daegu 2011

Here is a prediction of future World champions in the IAAF World championships in Athletics in Daegu, which will starts on 27.08 to 04.09, 2011. (Note: selected events only, 1st paragraph for men, 2nd for women).

100 meters
Despite of being the 7th fastest in the world this year, Usain Bolt is going to defend his sprint century title in Daegu. Richard Thompson, Justin Gatlin, Yohan Blake and Walter Dix will be fighting to seize the next two medals. It's a great upset, the first four fastest men in the world this year, Asafa Powell (9.78), Tyson Gay (9.79), Steve Mullings (9.80) and Michael Rodgers (9.85) are out of the championships.

In women's, Jarmelita Jeters of USA seems to be the one who will take the world title. Two other podium finishers are most likely owned by the Jamaicans.

200 meters
No one can stop Usain Bolt to win gold in his favorite event. He will take the gold medal home, though he will probably run a "slower time". Honestly, in World champs I also awaits the achievements of two runners - Jayasuma Saidy Ndure (NOR) and Femi Seun Ogunode (QAT).

As in the previous championships, three-time world champion Allyson Felix and two-time Olympic champion Veronica Campbell will have to "fight very intensely" to  win gold medal. I'm slightly on Felix side.

400 meters
The 18-year-old (turning 19) Kirani James is perhaps "too young" to become the world champion. But Steve Lewis has done it before (Olympic title - 43.87 , 1988, aged 19). I'm not saying he can't but for now I'd pick LaShawn Meritt as the winner, if not there's Jermaine Gonzales of JAM who can win the title. Oscar Pistorious will explode, too !!

Sanya Richards-Ross is the second fastest (49.66) in the world this year, but I still believe that she will  finish the first place. Watch out Allyson Felix, she is the the main obstacle in the process. Oh wait... the 32-year-old Anastasiya Kapachinskaya of Russia ran a PB 49.35s (WL) this year (I'm not choosing her)!!

800 meters
I wonder if there are other runners out there who has the ability to beat David Rudisha in the men's 800m? I don't think there's any.

1500 meters
Silas Kiplagat (KEN) is very consistent this year. He will take the world title.

Maryam Yusuf Jamal will be gunning for her third gold medal (1500m) in the world championships. I've no doubt on this.

5000 meters
Mohammed  "Mo" Farah of GBR who clocked 12:53.11, will not only return with world title but most likely a new record. However watch out Kenenisa Bekele, who can be his main rival.

World lead Vivian Jepkemoi of KEN seems "good" to win world title. I only have the doubt about it if Meseret Defar of ETH performs her best or close to PB (14:12.88).

10000 meters
Kenenisa Bekele (ETH) and Zersenay Tadese (ERI) will fight between each other to win the world title. I'm a bit on Bekele side since he don't usually give too much of  a "disappointment" in major meets.

Marathon
Defending world champion Abel Kirui of Kenya is most likely to defend his world title. Or if not, there's a compatriot Vincent Kipruto who has recorded 2:05.13 this year to win gold.

3000m Steeplechase
Kenyan runners will dominate the podium. Ezekiel Kemboi is the defending world champion and ready to rock. However Brimin Kiprop Kipruto who has recorded 7:53.64 WL/PB will be the new world champion.

110 m / 100 m Hurdles
I feel that this is the time for this athlete to become the world champions - David Oliver (PB 12.89).

The same for Sally Pearson (PB/SB 12.48) in women.

400m hurdles
Louis Jacob van Zyl is the world leader with 47.66 (NR). But Bershawn Jackson will take the world title for the third times.

Lashinda Demus is perhaps the right choice if you wish to name the world champion now in the 400mh.

High Jump
Ivan Ukhov (PB 2.40) of RUS is lacking of consistency. He really excelled at indoors but not outdoors. Perhaps this is the time to become the world outdoor champion. If not, I would choose Jessie Williams of USA (SB 2.37).

Blanka Vlasic was or is injured? I'm not really sure about her condition. If you want to bet money out there, I would suggests to pick Anna Chicherova of RUS who leaped 2.07m recently (world lead).

Pole Vault
Australian great Steve Hooker is injured. So Renaud Lavillenie of France is the man in Pole Vault.

In the women's, It's between Yelena Isinbayeva of RUS (everyone knew her) and Jenn Suhr of USA who set a world lead 4.91m. Isinbayeva did a mistake in 2009 World champs, she learnt a lot from it and ready to become a world champion.

Long Jump
It's not because of he is the world lead then you pick him as the favorite. But I think Mitchell Watt of AUS (8.54 WL) is going to deliver something special in Daegu. Nevertheless, USA's Dwight Phillips seems to defend his world title in Daegu. 

Triple Jump
Despite that most people have chosen the defending World champion, Philipps Idowu of GBR, I've already picked Teddy Tambgo of France to become world champion. Lets see what happen then.

In women's it will be between the Asian stardom Olga Rypakova and two-timesworld champion Yargelis Savigne. My instinct tells Rypakova will win.

Shot Put
Dylan Armstrong of CAN who threw 21.60m this year is the man to watch. It's when the defending world champion Christian Cantwell (USA) underperform.

The two times world champion Valerie Vili Adams is very good to any other opponents in the world. No one could take the gold away from her.

Hammer Throw
(Women) I'm afraid to lose "my gold medal collections" from Daegu. But Betty Heidler of GER who broke the world record this year is in my list now.

Javelin Throw
Andreas Thorkildsen of SWE (PB 91.59/ SB 90.61) - who else can beat him in Daegu?!

I'm a fan of Barbora Spotakova (PB 72.28 = WR / SB 69.45). She is the favorite in Daegu.

4x100 meters
Without Asafa Powell and Steve Mullings, which one of the teams do you think will take the gold medal? I'm a bit on USA side at the moment. If they have some exchange problems (as usual), then I would (automatically) pick Jamaica, and followed by Trinidad and Tobago and France.

The women's will be between USA and JAM. I feel that it's really dependent on how good the baton exchanges are. Perhaps, now is the turn for the USA team.

4x400 meters
All I can say... United States is the King of the 4x400m

Also the Queen of 4x400m.

Combined events
The American will win the world title. It's whether Ashton Eaton or Trey Hardee, both strong and the chance is almost 50-50... but if you need some help (i.e., bet money purpose), go for Ashton Eaton.

In the women's , Jessica Ennis is the best in the world and ready to take the gold.

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Steve Mullings in Memory of Track and Field

When Marion Jones was sentenced to prison a few years ago for lying in the investigation of performance enhancer-drug, Ben Johnson in an interview advised her to accept what has happened, back to normal life and just go forward. 

Such advices may apply to Steve Mullings too, as he would face a lifetime ban from athletics.

In June 2004, Steve Mullings was tested positive of banned substance or having excessive levels of testosterone found during the Jamaican national championships in Kingston. Here he was suspended two years under the rule of IAAF for first offence.

Mullings was back in athletics in 2006 but he could not reach his performance level as before. He recorded 10.31 in 100m and 20.54 in 200m. 

A year later he won silver medal at the 4x100m relays in the World championships in Osaka. 

In 2009, he was part of Jamaican team alongside Michael Frater, Usain Bolt and Asafa Powell that won the gold medal at 4x100m (37.30) in the World championships in Berlin. it was the highest performance achieved by Mullings in the major meets.

Fast forward, he looked very impressive in 2011. 

Breaking the 10s barrier was something that he had never done (and only the very best will do), but the 28-year-old ran sub-10 seven times this year.  

It included his 9.80 run from the Diamond league meet in Eugene, just one hundredth of a second slower than the best time of Ben Johnson and Maurice Greene.

Even with such impressive result, he noted that he is still in the middle of heavy training and expecting to improve the time during the world championships. 

His current result makes him the third fastest in the world, and sits in sixth on the all-time rankings. 

The following is Steve Mullings' progression at 100 meters, and his sub10 performance lists.

Year	100 meters
2011	9.80  +1.3  Eugene USA  01 June 9.89  +2.0  Clermont USA  21 May 9.90  +2.0  Starkville USA  16 April 9.93  +1.4  Arzana ITA  30 July 9.96  +0.6  Kingston JAM  24 June 9.97  -0.2  Ostrava CZE  31 May 9.98  +0.6  Lignano Sabbiadoro ITA  19 July
2010	10.03  +1.2  Lappeenranta FIN  15 July
2009	10.01  +0.4  Roma ITA  10 July
2008	10.19  +2.0  Gainesville USA  04 April
2007	10.05  +1.3  Zaragoza ESP  28 July
2006	10.31  -0.3  Tessaloniki GRE  24 July
2005	-
2004	10.04  -0.1  Kingston JAM  27 June
2003	10.28  +1.1  Austin USA  04 April
2002	10.69  -2.2  Kingston JAM  21 June
2001	10.59  +0.7  Santa Fe USA  18 October
Courtesy of AdrianSprints.com

While Mullings and his coach Lance Brauman in their final preparations towards the biggest meet in the world, his 'A' urine sample taken at the Jamaican nationals in late June was found to contain a masking agent namely diuretic furosemide, which is known a powerful substance to increase  'cleaning' efficiency (of athletes taking banned substance). 

He denied it, claiming that he wasn't on drug and said he don't even know what does the drug really do. 

However his chance to convince the people around that he has not taken such an illegal substance appeared over - his 'B' sample (tested in Montreal), had also comeback positive.

Doping has been prohibited since 1928 in athletics. Based on current practices, the first offence will be banned about two years but it's depend on the types of doping. 

Just like Ben Johnson in 1993, Mullings who might be having a chance of winning at least two medals in the World championships next week, now would face a life ban (or at least 4 years) from athletics when the authority announce their final decision on this case.

Steve Mullings' 9.80s (PB) Video at Eugene, Diamond League

PS: There is an important lesson for athletes out there; no crap shortcut, magic pills, or snake oils,  to improve performance. Long-term development, proper training and recovery are the keys. If you got caught, then as Ben Johnson said, what ever happened life must go on.

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ATHLETICS RESULTS - UNIVERSIADE 2011 / World University Games, Shenzhen

Universiade or World University Games (WUG) is an event organized by FISU (Federation Internationale du Sports Universitaire) and held every two years. WUG is the second largest multi-sport event in the World, after the Olympics. Summary:
Date: August 16 - 21, 2011 (athletics)
Location: Shenzhen, China
Event size: >170 countries / 13,000 athletes & officials
Athletics full result are as follow;

UNIVERSIADE, SHENZHEN 2011 – ATHLETICS RESULTS (MEN)
EVENT	Round 1	Quarterfinal	Semifinal	Final
100 meters	Results	Results	Results	Results
200 meters	Results	Results	Results	Results
400 meters	Results	-	Results	Results
800 meters	Results	-	Results	Results
1500 meters	Results	-	-	Results
5000 meters	-	-	-	Results
10000 meters	-	-	-	Results
Half Marathon	-	-	-	Results
3000m Steeple.	Results	-	-	Results
110m Hurdles	Results	-	Results	Results
400m Hurdles	Results	-	Results	Results
20km Walk	-	-	-	Results
50km Walk	-	-	-	x
4x100 meters	Results	-	-	Results
4x400 meters	Results h1  h2	-	-	Results
	Qualifying Round		Final
High Jump	Group A               Group B		Results
Pole Vault	-		Results
Long Jump	Group A               Group B		Results
Triple Jump	Group A               Group B		Results
Shot Put	Summary		Results
Discus Throw	Group A               Group B		Results
Hammer Throw	-		Results
Javelin Throw	Group A               Group B		Results
	Day 1		Day 2
Decathlon	(100m)      (LJ a  b)      (SP a  b)   (HJ a  b)      (400m)		(110mh)    (DT a b)     (PV a b) (JT a b)     (1500m)     (Results)
Courtesy of AdrianSprints.com

UNIVERSIADE, SHENZHEN 2011 – ATHLETICS RESULTS (WOMEN)
EVENT	Round 1	Quarterfinal	Semifinal	Final
100 meters	Results	Results	Results	Results
200 meters	Results	Results	Results	Results
400 meters	Results	-	Results	Results
800 meters	Results	-	Results	Results
1500 meters	Results	-	-	Results
5000 meters	Results	-	-	Results
10000 meters	-	-	-	Results
Half Marathon	-	-	-	Results
3000m Steeple.	Results	-	-	Results
100m Hurdles	Results	-	Results	Results
400m Hurdles	Results	-	-	Results
20km Walk	-	-	-	Results
50km Walk	-	-	-	x
4x100 meters	Results	-	-	Results
4x400 meters	-	-	-	Results
	Qualifying Round		Final
High Jump	-		Results
Pole Vault	Group A               Group B		Results
Long Jump	Group A               Group B		Results
Triple Jump	Group A               Group B		Results
Shot Put	-		Results
Discus Throw	-		Results
Hammer Throw	Group A               Group B		Results
Javelin Throw	-		Results
	Day 1		Day 2
Heptathlon	100mh    (HJ a b)    (SP a b)   200m		(LJ a b)   (JT a b)  800m
Courtesy of AdrianSprints.com

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