12th IAAF World Track & Field Championships Berlin, Germany August 15 - 23rd, 2009 John Nepolitan on site
Day 11 (Aug 22) – Two, only two
Dwight Phillips and Steven Hooker have something in common besides both winning gold medals today. Both only needed two jumps to take home their medal. Phillips only needed two because he simply dominated the field in the long jump. He took the lead on his first attempts, then slammed the door shut on anybody’s hopes in the 2nd round.
Hooker, on the other hand, could not handle more than two jumps. About 1 week before he was to start jumping in Berlin, Hooker hurt his thigh and was, by his estimate, 50-50 if he would jump in the qualifying round. He did take just 1 jump, and looked in pain afterward, but it was enough to advance to the final. In the final, he played the waiting game until there were just 3 others remaining. Taking his first jump at 19’ 2.25”, Hooker had a close miss then passed up to the next height of 19’ 4.25”, where he would only have two attempts. His next time down the runway, he was up and over the bar.
This time, instead of climbing out of the landing mat in pain, he was overcome with the moment and tears started to flow. He then had to wait and watch as the other competitors took their shots, but in the end, the Olympic Champ would add the title of World Champ to his resume.
Once again, the Americans were denied a shot at a medal in the 4 x 100 relay; this time the women’s team could not get the stick around the track. Team USA made out better in the longer relay, advancing in both with little problem. On the women's 4 x 400 , AP Randolph (NY) alum Natasha Hastings ran the 2nd leg, blowing the race wide open for the USA and allowing anchor leg Sanya Richards to run just 54 seconds to get the win.
Today, for some reason, I was allowed to sit track side (behind the signboards that ring the track) and shoot -- and I will be allowed there again tomorrow for the final day of the meet. There is a whole different feeling, being down on the track than in the first row. It is hard to believe, but the level of the volume is even greater down there. Having over 59,000 people all going nuts for whatever reason sends a chill down your spine.
Just one day left, almost don’t want to see it end.
Dwight Phillips and Steven Hooker have something in common besides both winning gold medals today. Both only needed two jumps to take home their medal. Phillips only needed two because he simply dominated the field in the long jump. He took the lead on his first attempts, then slammed the door shut on anybody’s hopes in the 2nd round. 
Natasha Hastings ran the 2nd leg, blowing the race wide open for the USA and allowing anchor leg Sanya Richards to run just 54 seconds to get the win.
