 mick finn
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Posted: 22 August 2007, 10:41 AM
OK its underway now!- reminds me of the scene in "my life as a dog" where they are listening to a world cup soccer match -sweden-germany (must be pers accent)
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mick finn
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Posted: 22 August 2007, 10:45 AM
all seems to be running smoothly - expected splits for women are (I think)
1: 14mins
2: 22mins
3: 32mins
Fin: 40mins
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mick finn
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Posted: 22 August 2007, 11:10 AM
maybe thats 32 to fnish but noone on target yet
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onemanfanclub
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Posted: 22 August 2007, 11:13 AM
Maybe 32's a good time to the second split
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Paul I
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Posted: 22 August 2007, 11:14 AM
Just a little light reading before the main events begin, grab a coffee, and sit back …
Wow – another great WOC unfolds. It’s awesome just sitting here watching (well more like listening and reading) stories of jumping off 7 metre cliffs to save 30 seconds, personal battles with the undergrowth, triumphs and disappointments, injuries, close calls, narrow misses. It’s all here at Kiev WOC 2007, and there’s so much more excitement sure to come in who can succeed against the physical and mental challenges, and their rival competitors.
From afar it seems that the terrain has taken some slightly by surprise with the long qualification having much more erosion detail than expected, together with plenty of thorny bushes and long, long grass to battle with. The sprint qual sounded not really tricky but due to the high speed racing there were traps that some fell into with overrunning controls and loosing vital seconds. Just ask Tania. And the middle qual sandy moraine, initially thought to heavily favour the speedster scandi’s, has proved more of a challenge.
MIDDLE QUALIFICATION:
With a thick scattering of nettles and other prolific greenery, the middle distance terrain has provided a much more level playing field with some careful o-skills essential to remain on course. There have been some major casualties who failed to cope with the conditions. To name a few high profile stars to miss the cut for the finals today are: Mueller, Gristwood, Larssen, Memleev, Detkov, Hofmeister and of course Osterbo.
At the very top of the qualifiers are the big names with a second large group just (and I’m only talking a couple of minutes here) behind, any one of whom could win today if they run well. You could throw a dart to pick a winner! Following that group is another large number of talented names who are also just a few small minutes behind, ready to have the run of their lives. To have Ross Morrison in the middle group just shows his mental and physical abilities. Ross’s attitude and ability to stay ahead of favourite Hubmann for the whole race is admirable and surely legendary. (There are some great official photos on the WOC site of their battle together). As I predicted, Aussie Julian Dent is right in the mix and one to keep an eye on, and he seems to feast on the rough stuff, for those of you who haven’t seen Julian in action- he’s very, very strong. I am surprised he’s not running in the long.
This year it seems that many all-rounders have chosen to specialise. Missing from the middle are Ikonen, Renard, Merz, Lakanen, Omelchenko, Efimov, Stevenson, Adamski to name a few. It seems that these runners are conserving energy for fewer races and perhaps focussing on a relay showdown. So far though, for the Aussie men, putting all their eggs in too few baskets hasn’t paid off, with TDH, Shep and Walters all missing out. It only takes one significant error then you’re down the road, sometimes there are only seconds in it as they have been unlucky to find out this time. First you must qualify but you never really know what races you will run well in.
It’s going to be intriguing to see how fatigue takes its toll as the week progresses, especially with the multi discipline runners such as our Chris, Ross, Rob and Tania, along with Nivikov, Nordberg and Weltzein etc.
Once again Tania’s middle qualifying result was just brilliant, joining a select few who qualified at the middle and long distance, and very nearly the sprint if it weren’t for an overrun error near the end. Tania’s speed and technical abilities in the tricky green moraine forest of Kiev was outstanding as it always is back home on the woodhill sand dune terrain. Hanny Alston too, is starting to shine as she acclimatises to the terrain. I think there will be some real surprises ahead. In fact all the Aussie women are performing very well.
Go Ross! Go Tania!
My men’s pick for the Middle final
(It’s not easy!!!!!!)
1. T Gueorgiou
2. V Novikov
3. D Hubmann
4. H Hott
5. A Nordberg
6. M Sirmais
7. J Huovila
8. M Haldin
9. D Andersson
10. A Weltzien
13. Julian Dent
19. Matt Crane
22. Ross Morrison
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mick finn
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Posted: 22 August 2007, 11:24 AM
light reading Paul? Trying to juggle three screens and two kids....maybe later...
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mick finn
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Posted: 22 August 2007, 11:26 AM
ok got thru it - have a good feeling bout today, especially seeing the early mistakes in the green Go Tania and Ross (notice they got a good mention from Pers)
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Paul I
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Posted: 22 August 2007, 11:36 AM
The running times in red for the runners out on the course is a good feature
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mick finn
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Posted: 22 August 2007, 11:37 AM
yeah 'tis -but shows that its tricky out there for Tania and Jo and Grace the Czech ahead of Jo got away from them and is second, Grace has passed the other 2
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Paul I
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Posted: 22 August 2007, 11:38 AM
Does that mean that Tan is at least 27 min, still no time up on radio 1
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Jamie
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Posted: 22 August 2007, 11:38 AM
yeah bad start for the day
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Jenni
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Posted: 22 August 2007, 11:39 AM
yep it's not good that Tan hasn't got there yet, or is it slow to update sometimes like the other day? But I suppise it fit's got Grace then Tan hasn't come through?
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mick finn
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Posted: 22 August 2007, 11:39 AM
no theres a lag - shes 26 to the first split!
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Paul I
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Posted: 22 August 2007, 11:40 AM
It seems to take them a minute or two to get the split time up, Tan 26min
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onemanfanclub
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Posted: 22 August 2007, 11:40 AM
Obviously some trouble out there, but by no means among the worst! Grace looks to be doing pretty good so far
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mick finn
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Posted: 22 August 2007, 11:41 AM
Yeah Tania could likely come through strongly
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