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12th IAAF World Track & Field Championships
Berlin, Germany
August 15 - 23rd, 2009
John Nepolitan on site

Day 4 – First day of competition

Sat Aug 15 photo gallery

Meets like the World Championships or the Olympic Trials are like any long distance race: you have to be careful not to overdo it early, or you will pay later – so you have to pace yourself.  That simply means to take your breaks when you can and not get carried away with running around to do everything - but it is fun to get the action started.  

The first day was a good start for the USA with everyone in track events moving onto the finals and Christian Cantwell (photo left) getting the USA’s first gold medal.  Sanya Richards looked real easy, running 51.06, and all of the men’s 1500 meter runners looked sharp.  

The one big controversy of the day was in the women’s 10,000, where all but 1 runner on the outside of the stagger cut in too soon.  The award ceremony was to be last night right before the close of competition, but it was put off till today (Sunday) and now, looking at the Sunday time schedule, it is not there.  

I caused a little controversy myself in the area in the press center, where a group of people from the USA are sitting/working.  Since we first got here on Wednesday, all this one guy has done is talk about how expensive things are and looking to nickle and dime things.  An example: getting off a train 1 stop (1 mile early) and carrying all his luggage and all to save 35 cents.  Plus, while everyone is working he never shuts up.  My breaking point came when he was complaining that they charge you .70 euro's ($1.00) as a transaction fee to use the ATM.  It was my breaking point and I had to say something - "It is cheaper than in the USA.  If you can't afford to be here then you should not have come."  All the others had a shocked look on their faces and laughed.  I just said when they were thinking.  Well, this guy is not talking to me any more, so things are going well!

Today should be a wild day with the men’s 100 final.













                                                                                         Jennifer Barringer moves onto the steeple final








Tully (NY) HS alum Lopez Lomong will be in the 1500 semi
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