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August 15th 2017

Published: August 16th 2017

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John Miranda

Mens 4 x 100 Metres Final

World Athletics Championships London 2017

A week after the disappointment of Usain Bolt’s performance in the Mens 100 Metres Final, we were back in the capital for Phase 2 of our World Athletic Championships experience. The media had a field day talking about whether Justin Gatlin should have even been allowed to race, but race he did – and he won. The subject of drugs in sport had reared the ugly head again and other than that, London 2017 was getting rave reviews. Sell out enthusiastic crowds for all sessions. The IAAF money men would be pleased. Seb Coe was smiling. He has come a long way from when we used to see him wandering around the football grounds of northern England watching the Division 2 team that is now a force in European football. I had originally secured tickets for the Thursday night session in the belief that Mr Bolt would be doubling up in the sprints and going in the 200 Metres as well. My optimism proved unfounded. We checked into our residence for the next couple of nights and caught a bus to link up with the Central Line. The metropolis of Stratford was heaving with other folk, who had probably made a

Sally Pearson

World Athletics Championships London 2017 Womens 100 Metres Hurdles

similar bet as myself with the ticketing. The morning session had emptied into the adjacent Westfield shopping emporium and the evening spectators were arriving. The majority seemed intent on finding food. There are no shortage of eating venues in the locality – indeed more place to eat and drink coffee, than shopping on face value. A long queue snaked out from most, blocking the concourse. I met my big sister and family, who also had tickets and we eventually found a dining possibility that could cater for 6. The most important criteria was also met – they could cater now and not in about 2 weeks time, when the championships were finished. Fed and watered, we made our way to the stadium.

The security was a lot less intense than the previous weekend and we arrived at our Category A seat in no time. We were low down in the 2^nd tier right above the 100 Metres start line. A good mid-point view of the 200 Metres and the water jump for the steeplechase and an excellent view of the 100 Metres hurdles. The big race was the Mens 200 Metres Final, which had an unexpected outcome

Womens 4 x 100 Metres Final

World Athletics Championships London 2017

as a Turk beat Van Niekirk lthe South African red hot favourite. The Womens 100 Metres hurdles also saw the favourite struggle, as we maintained our 100% Sally Pearson record – 2 races, never seen her lose. The London 2012 Olympics and now today. The Womens High Jump Qualifying was down in front of us and saw as expected, the 2 British athletes make the Final later in the week. The typical tall, gangly appearance of the high jumpers was not universal and a small pocket rocket with a vast array of body art leapt skywards into the Final.

In the midst of our athletics frenzy, we took a trip out into the wilds of Essex. Rainham conjures up thoughts of birdwatching on the marshes by the flood plain of the River Thames. However, we had come to visit the London outpost of the National Trust that is Rainham Hall. We caught the C2C overground train from West Ham, not be confused with where West Ham actually played. The train was fairly empty – most on the platform had got on the seaside express to Southend. We passed Dagenham, where last time I was in the area

Rainham Hall

I recall acre after acre of new Ford vehicles lined up. The scene today was large tracts of land that appeared to have been left as industrial wasteland. Rainham town centre took all of 5 minutes to visit and bizarrely in the middle of it was a small, pristine Georgian mansion. It was built by Captain John Harle in 1729. A native of South Shields he made his money transporting coal from the North East, before diversifying. The location of his new mansion was ideal for keeping an eye on his business interest down by the Thames tributaries. The Hall had many owners before finally being requisitioned by Essex County Council in 1942 for use as a day nursery. Mums would drop their toddlers off before heading out to work in the war effort. It then eventually came into the hands of the National Trust. The original contents are long gone and the Trust have left it largely unfurnished. A series of sprawling grounds – a fraction of the original gardens – were being restored. The local kids were enjoying their school holidays, bug hunting in the gardens.

The C2C train pulled into Fenchurch Street. I had

London Stadium

World Athletics Championships London 2017

never been to Fenchurch Street before, but it felt familiar from being a destination on the original Monopoly board. Cooper’s Row was awash with athletes. The accommodation for the big event in town was in an Olympic style village, but in a range of swanky hotels. An outbreak of norovirus that affected some and their chances of a medal probably had a number wishing for a return of the “village” system. I paid my respects to the relations on the Merchant Navy Memorial outside Trinity House and had a lunchtime pizza, courtesy of those nice people at Tesco who give away vouchers. We watched as the City broker types stood outside in the sun at the pub across the road and ordered another round. There was clearly no work to be done this afternoon. I suspect they were all “in a meeting”. We walked across Tower Bridge to the south side of the Thames. It is a splendid construction. I laugh at the guy who paid a small fortune to buy the old London Bridge in the belief that it was the more impressive Tower Bridge and had it reconstructed in the no man’s land that was to become Lake

Mo Farrah

World Athletics Championships London 2017 Mens 5000 Metres Final

Havasu City, Arizona.

The river front warehouses along what is called Shad Thames have all been renovated into fancy apartments and waterfront dining. A check in the estate agents suggested you don’t get much for your money, but the view is quite spectacular and the commute probably short. The Thames Path follows a maze in this section and leads into the Mill Lane area where an inlet juts in from the main river. I found a plaque to confirm this was originally known as Jacobs Island - a slum and where Charles Dickens took inspiration to base his Fagin character in the Oliver Twist novel. The prices of the apartments are not exactly slum prices now. We walked along Jamaica Road in search of Bermondsey Underground to head back towards Stratford and the athletics.

Friday night at the athletics was much quieter than the previous night. We only had a Category D ticket. The strange ticketing system was highlighted, as we found ourselves a mere 5 rows behind the location we were on the Thursday and a block across. The difference in ticket price – a huge £60. I am sure somebody in the

Tower Bridge

fantasy land of Ticketmaster could justify why, but I won’t ask. The final of the Womens 3000 Metres Steeplechase was expected to be a breeze for the East Africans. However, the 2 Americans showed distance running doesn’t have to be the domain of those born at altitude with a convincing 1-2 result. There were falls and the bizarre sight of a Kenyan missing the turn into the water jump, before having to double back to avoid disqualification. Caster Samenya breezed through the round of the Womens 800 Metres. In real life, her masculinity makes it look like a very distorted contest against some of the other competitors. Deana Asher Smith showed that a broken foot had not hindered her progress towards the top of womens sprinting by finishing a creditable 4^th. The addition to the British medal tally proved elusive. Dafne Schippers sent the orange clad fans into a frenzy with her victory.

On Saturday we found ourselves walking into Chigwell. The land made famous by Footballers Wives, where it obligatory to have electric gates and a series of Bentleys on the drive. The houses might be large and expensive, but there seems to be a bit

Mens 4 x 100 Metres Final

World Athletics Championships London 2017

of taste missing from the equation at times. It appears the inhabitants feel somewhat insecure, judging by the placards attached to the railings announcing private security firms are poised to pounce on you if you stray inside uninvited. The Only Way Is Essex. We parked the car in South Woodford in the usual place. The approach to Stratford is just so much more comfortable from the east. I was looking forward to this session more than any other. The Jamaican men had qualified for the 4 x 100 Metres Final, so Bolt would go in his last race. It would the finale and our finale at the event. However before that there was the small matter of Sir Mo going for the double Gold in the 5000 Metres. In all honesty, it never looked likely to happen. An Ethiopian team effort out thought him and despite the best efforts of the raucous crowd, Silver was all he could manage. The Womens High Jump Final got lost in the excitement and noise of Mo’s efforts on the track. The British pair disappeared and came 5^th and 6^th. An Authorised Neutral Athlete – otherwise known as a drug free Russian – won.

Mo Farrah

World Athletics Championships London 2017 Mens 5000 Metres Final

The crowd waited in eager anticipation of what national anthem they would play at the medal ceremony. It was the IAAF theme tune incidentally. Kendra Harrison of the USA remained favourite to take the Womens 100 Metres Hurdles, even after her disappointing performance in the Semi. We maintained our 100 % Sally Pearson record. She scooped Gold and the ultimate award of being carried round the track by a Hedgehog mascot. Sonic move over. Hero the Hedgehog had stolen the show. A lone Australian sang Advance Australia Fair at the top of his voice a few rows behind us. The British Women proved a tight unit in grabbing silver in the 4 x 100 Metres Relay, although realistically never looked like challenging the USA.

The final track event brought mixed emotions. The Jamaican crowd were out in force again – all looking for Bolt to go out on a high. “The Legend” cards were held high. Boos greeted Gatlin and the USA team, who romped into strong contention. The British Men held the advantage at the final changeover, but everybody half expected a charge from Bolt over the final few metres. In gripping final 10 seconds, the

Tower Hill

Merchant Navy Memorial

Jamaican laid crumpled in agony on the track. Cramp was mentioned. Others peculated a pulled hamstring. Whatever the reason, there would be no fairy tale end. Britain held off the USA for Gold. Bolt and Jamaica did not finish. My emotions were a little like that first FA Cup Final loss in 1994. It was a great occasion. I had waited so long for the moment and it wasn’t meant to end like that. It was a sad way to end possibly the greatest track career of them all.

Appendix 1

Thursday 10th August 2017

Mens 200 Metres Final

1. R Guliyev (Turkey)

2. W Van Niekirk (South Africa)

3. J Richards (Trinidad & Tobago)

Triple Jump Mens Final

1. C Taylor (USA)

2. W Claye (USA)

3. N Evora (Portugal)

Womens 400 Metres Hurdles Final

1. K Carter (USA)

2. D Muhammad (USA)

3. R Tracey (Jamaica)

Appendix 2

Friday 11th August 2017

Womens Long Jump Final

1. B Reese (USA)

2. D Klishnia (ANA)

3.

Mens 5000 Metres Final

World Athletics Championships London 2017

T Bartoletta (USA)

Mens Hammer Final

1. P Fajdek (Poland)

2. V Pronkin (ANA)

3. W Nowicki (Poland)

Womens 3000 Metres Steeplechase Final

1. E Coburn (USA)

2. C Frerichs (USA)

3. H K Jepkemoi (Kenya)

Womens 200 Metres Final

1. D Schippers (Netherlands)

2. M J Ta Lou (Ivory Coast)

3. S Miller (Bahamas)

Appendix 3

Saturday 12th August 2017

Mens 4 x 100 Metres Final

1. Great Britain

2. USA

3. Japan

Womens 4 x 100 Metres Final

1. USA

2. Great Britain

3. Jamaica

Mens 5000 Metres Final

1. M Edris (Ethiopia)

2. M Farrah (Great Britain)

3. P K Chelimo (USA)

Womens 100 m Hurdles Final

1. S Pearson (Australia)

2. D Harper Nelson (USA)

3. P Dutkiewicz (Germany)

Womens High Jump Final

1. M Lasitskene (ANA)

2. Y Levchenko (Ukraine)

3. K Licwinko (Poland)

Mens Javelin

1. J