Day 4 Review

Results
IAAF review
Sports Illustrated review
USATF report
USA Today notebook

My thoughts on the fourth day of the World Championships...

Why, oh why can we never get an on-screen version of the chart in the high jump and pole vault? And why is it that the conventional wisdom states an eight-minute race is too long to hold attention, but ten minutes of jaw-flapping prior to a hurdle final is OK?

Event-by-event reactions...

Women's Pole Vault: Isi wins as expected. For it starting so promising, Stuczynski is having a very difficult year.

Men's Discus Throw: Shocker! Alekna bombs! I suppose it had to happen sometime, but why now? (If you couldn't guess, he was my one of fantasy league team captains.)

Women's 100H semis: Perry and Kallur, the summer season's two leading hurdlers, won the two semis with Perry's performance making her a heavy favorite.

Men's 200m quarters: Bolt looked very good. Gay looked great.

Men's Steeplechase: Kenyan sweep. Hardly a surprise, except that the favorite ended up second.

Women's Long Jump: Russian sweep. The same.

Women's 800 meters: The French would use the term "s'imposer" to describe Jepkosgei's semi and final: she imposed herself on the competition. Benhassi ran a smart race for second.

Women's 400H semis: Rawlinson on Nosova won their semis with the two best times, which is what you'd expect. Somewhat of a surprise was Jesien winning her semi in the next best time. Need a Pole for the fantasy league?

Men's 400H finals: Clement has been known for tremendous potential and inconsistency. The word potential implies opportunities unfulfilled. I'd still call him inconsistent--this was his only win of the year so far--but for once you can definitely say he lived up to his abilities.