HELSINKI, Finland, 10 August 2005 — Former Kenyan Saif Saaeed Shaheen of Qatar retained his world championship steeplechase title yesterday, again frustrating Kenyan attempts to reclaim an event they consider their own.
With a devastating kick for home, Shaheen made the difference after the last water jump and easily beat Kenyans Ezekiel Kemboi and Brimin Kipruto.
Shaheen, formerly known as Stephen Cherono, extended his unbeaten streak to 22 races going back to 2002.
He wrapped himself in the white and claret flag of Qatar, while the Kenyan toured the stadium, seemingly happy with silver and bronze.
Shaheen could well have been the Olympic champion too, but Kenya kept him out of the Athens Games last year over his nationality change.
Justin Gatlin was still sluggish from winning the 100 meters at the world athletics championships, yet kept his drive for three golds going Tuesday by reaching the quarterfinals of the 200.
Fortunately for him, a torrential rain storm forced organizers to delay that quarterfinal until Wednesday, giving him one more day to recuperate.
The American looked lethargic on the bend and never got his famed acceleration going, as he was always chasing opposition. Still, he advanced to the quarterfinals as the third and last assured qualifier from his heat.
“I feel a little sore, tired, like any person that runs fast,” Gatlin said.
Even though he ran into a headwind of 2.1, his time of 20.90 seconds was far from reassuring and was almost a second behind fellow American Tyson Gay, who rode a huge push in the back from the wind to clock 19.99.
Wallace Spearmon, the season’s best performer, also easily won his heat. And Jamaican teenager Usain Bolt proved he will be a force to reckon with, blowing away competition in his heat from the tight inside lane.
Gatlin is going for three golds to become the most dominant athlete of the championships. He has the 400 relays set for this weekend.
Spearmon, however wants to spread America’s sprinting wealth a bit.
“It is my job to make sure he doesn’t get two golds,” Spearmon said of Gatlin. “I want to take one home, too. He cannot be too greedy.”
In the pole vault, Olympic silver medalist Toby Stevenson of the United States pulled out with a sore hamstring during the warmups for qualifying.
In the early evening, the storm hit the Olympic Stadium just as the runners in the second heat of the 100-meter hurdles lined up.
The Mondo surface was quickly covered in water, making it impossible to continue after the athletes had rushed inside for cover.
Thousands of fans left the uncovered stands, scurrying inside to find shelter while the Creedence Clearwater Revival song “Who’ll Stop The Rain” blared over the public address system.
When lightning starting hitting close to the stadium, the songs stopped and about half the crowd of 40,000 had left the stadium.
Apart from the 200 meter quarterfinals, organizers also delayed women’s discus final until Thursday, and men’s triple jump qualifying until Wednesday.
It was not only the rain that affected the competition. The blustery winds swirling around the stadium also disturbed the athletes, and a height-measuring device cracked off and briefly suspended pole vault qualifying.
After the intervention of pole vaulting great Sergei Bubka, the qualifying height for the final was lowered to 5.60 meters from 5.75. Jean Galfione, the 1996 Olympic pole vault champion, retired after failing to reach the final.
“It’s over,” said the 34-year old, who also won the world indoor title in 1999.
In the decathlon, world and Olympic bronze medalist Dmitriy Karpov of Kazakhstan didn’t even start the first of the 10-event competition, out with a false start in his opening 100-meter heat.
Bryan Clay of the United States led after three events, ahead of Olympic champion and world record holder Roman Sebrle.
After three events — the 100, the long jump and the shot put — Clay had 2,804 points for a 29-point lead over Sebrle, mainly thanks to the American’s fast 100 race but also a good shot put.
Sebrle beat Clay to win the gold medal at the 2004 Athens Olympics and capture his fist major title in the punishing two-day event.
Clay had the fastest time in the 100 of 10.43 seconds, while Sebrle clocked only 10.91 on a blustery day. The American was helped by a strong but still legal tail wind.
In Finland’s national event, the javelin, the near capacity crowd of 40,000 gave Tero Pitkamaki the biggest cheer when he threw 82.21 meters and qualified for Wednesday’s final on his first attempt.
“I just wanted to make sure I did it with my first throw,” Pitkamaki said. “The conditions were challenging. I hope the wind calms down for tomorrow.”
Only two others cleared the automatic qualifying mark, defending champion Sergei Makarov (85.08) and Olympic champion Andreas Thorkildsen (81.45).
“I’m sure there are not going to be any free seats tomorrow for the final,” Makarov said.
In 400 qualifying, Olympic champion Jeremy Wariner easily advanced to the next round, cruising in his heat to finish in 45.24.
