Written by Bridget Cushen on 1 Nov 2016
0.3 sec separate M45 100m medallist!
Steven Peters overcomes scare
It was a late journey home on Saturday evening for Officials, Sports Centre staff and the Results Team as hatches had to be battened down with a strong cold South wind swirling around and athletes heading back to their hotels as soon as possible. Sunday 30 October was the first Rest Day for the competitors and with so many local attractions and warmer weather; they were able to sample everything from whale watching to island hopping trips.
Locked away in a large conference room, Delegatesfrom over 90 countries debated Proposals, Rules etc. and after watching excellent Bid Presentations from the cities of Gothenburg and Toronto, found it very difficult to decide which box to tick. Toronto got the nod by 68 votes to 57. Pencil into your Diary 12-23 August 2020 for the Championships to return to Toronto 45 years after they hosted the first ever Games.
Three countries virtually carved up the men’s 100m finals between them on Saturday, USA, GBR and Australia, but only after the photo finish panel had to consult, it was that close in the younger Age Groups. Steven Peter sent British hearts racing when he was left on his blocks in his semi! It was too late for the Recall in a “was it; wasn’t it” false start. The Officials debated, fortunately the Meet Director Alan Bell, one of the most experienced and respected Starters in the world, was in the Stands and saw it. In such a situation, the athlete is normally given the benefit of the doubt. The marvellous facilities here came to an amicable understanding however, as Bell told Peters that he would have to run a separate 100m trial after the last event, knowing that with a spare lane should he achieve the necessary time, the decision would not affect any of the other qualifiers. Peters had to sit it out until 19.15 and in a solo run, arguably the world’s best Masters sprinter sped to a faster time that the semi’s winner! “It was very upsetting at the time” he said after he showed his class in the final drawing away over the last 25m to take the World M60 title in a blazing 12.11 from R. Oe, Japan 12.23sec (w.1.6). The remarkable Texan, Bill Collins, captured the M65 title in 12.1 (w.2.8). Australian Peter Crombie retained his M70 title and it was arms aloft for M80 Yorkshire man Tony Bowman as he crossed the line in a nifty 14.85 (w.4.7), way ahead of T. Haraldseid Norway 15.64.
With a 3.2 wind swirling the M45 final saw the American Karnell Vicers race to 11.09, from Fukuzato Japan 11.10 and Pendland USA 11.12sec. No way was the defending North Londoner, Tamunonengiye-Ofori Ossai, going to disappoint his fans as he raced to a 10.58 (w3.4) victory.
Experiencing windy and cooler than anticipated weather, the women in the heptathlon did not let the conditions affect their performance with some excellent points. Carole Filer, Australian Marie Kay and the permanently smiling Austrian Marianne Maier have all seen it before; all keeping their World titles intact.
Over on the second track some of the men’s 5000m were under way. Ben Reynolds taking the M50 race with 12sec to spare, The M40 race saw another battle between the Italian, Pole, Spanish cross-country runners but it was the local boy Roberto Busi who proved faster over the closing laps. The USA-based Paul Thompson got his second M60 gold.
The host nation are on top of the medal table with 171 medals, the USA 50 but we are right up there with 44 well ahead of France with 31.