What more can you say? The big matchup that everyone wanted to see, Bolt vs Gay, produced a new World Record of 9.58 and a new American Record of 9.71. It is difficult to take photos at a meet like this and separate yourself from being a fan. Yes, looking through the lens you see the race, but if you get too caught up in it, you miss the shot you want. As soon as Bolt crossed the line, I looked at the clock they have at the finish line and all I could think/say, once I saw the time, was, Holy crap. 9.58 is a time that is just so fast, it is one of those performances that puts a stunned look on people’s faces. You were expecting a record, but nothing like that.
Anyway, as you will see from the photo gallery I was able to get into the head-on photo position; it was kind of a made-up one and the photo chief allowed it since there were so many of us who what to shoot head on. I am sure they will not allow us there the rest of the meet and, to tell you the truth, I don’t want to be there. I am going down to a front row seat behind the start of the 100, or over just past the start of the 200 – clean shots, up close to the action, get to sit and it is just less of a hassle.
One great feature about events like this, as I mentioned a day or two ago, is that Canon is here. I borrowed a big 400 lens from them. This thing weighs a ton(ok, not a ton, more like 16 pounds, but feels like more), but it is great. For those who have seen me at meets shooting with my big lens – a 300 – this is much bigger and heavier. I never use a monopod, but I don’t have a choice here.
The 100 was not the only action at the track, though. The women's 10,000 was sorted out. When the race started, a number of runners cut in way too soon on the boxed/alley start, including the winner. After a few protests by different countries, the results were left as they were and medals given out. Right before the start of the 100 final, the stadium was exploding in sound as Germany's Nadine Kleinert was in a battle with Valerie Vili in the womens shot put. As the shot was in its final throws, the heptathlon 800 was being run with Jennifer Oeser of Germany sitting in 3rd place. Coming up to the 400 meter point of the final event, Oeser tripped and went down. Jumping right up, she took off after the pack and the crowd starting going nuts to push her along. She would finish 4th in her heat and, in the end, jump over Kamila Chudzik of Poland to get the silver medal. So now the stadium is going crazy (and with the partial roof on the stadium, the sound bounces around) Lijiao Gong of China was not able to improve on her final throw, assuring Kleinert the silver. Once again, the stadium erupted in cheers which delayed the start of the 100.
The one bad thing that happened today was my Ipod died. Between the morning session and the evening session there was about 5 hours so I figured I would come back to the apartment, go do some food shopping, and maybe catch a nap. It worked fine going to and back home from the market, and then when I went to head back to the stadium it was dead. Oh well, what can you do? It served me well and I guess when I get home I will get a new one. These things happen and you can't get too crazy over them.
What more can you say? The big matchup that everyone wanted to see, Bolt vs Gay, produced a new 
figured I would come back to the apartment, go do some food shopping, and maybe catch a nap. It worked fine going to and back home from the market, and then when I went to head back to the stadium it was dead. Oh well, what can you do? It served me well and I guess when I get home I will get a new one. These things happen and you can't get too crazy over them.
