Korea gets off to slow start in Daegu athletics meet
By Yoon Chul
The Kenyans’ dominance was only checked when Valeriy Borchin of Russia won in the men’s 20-kilometer race walk Sunday.
The 13th IAAF World Championships in Athletics officially began Saturday with the women’s marathon in the southeastern city.
Edna Kiplagat of Kenya and her fellow countrywomen were unbeatable in hot and humid weather to capture the gold, silver and bronze medals in the women’s marathon.
Kiplagat crossed the finish line with a time of two hours 28 minutes 43 seconds, becoming the first gold medalist of the Daegu worlds.
Priscah Jeptoo snatched silver clocking in at 2:29:00 and Sharon Cherop earned bronze with a season’s best of 2:29:21.
“This is my first championship I have run and I am happy to have won it,” Kiplagat said.
“I didn’t know I was going to be the winner.” Kiplagat even fell at the second last water station but she put in a gold medal performance.
The Kenyans again proved their dominance in long distance events in the women’s 10,000 meters. Vivian Cheruiyot set a personal best of 30:48.98 to top the podium, followed by Sally Kipyego and Linet Masai.
On Sunday, Borchin secured a gold medal for Russia in the men’s 20-kilometer race walk with a time of 1:19.56 while his teammate Vladimir Kanaykin crossed the finish line 31 seconds behind him for silver. Luis Lopez of Colombia took bronze.
Kim Hyun-sub was highly anticipated to win a medal for Korea but could only manage sixth in 1:21:17.
The long-awaited world athletics festival finally began at the 66,422-seater venue with a festive performance and firework display Saturday and President Lee Myung-bak at Daegu Stadium. Lamine Diack, president of the International Association of Athletics Federation, and Jacques Rogge, president of the International Olympic Committee, were also present.
Once the games began, the world’s top athletics event produced surprising outcomes.
Steve Hooker, the defending champion in the men’s pole vault, failed to advance to the next round.
In the preliminary vault, Hooker attempted 5.50 meters but he failed to register a single success in his three attempts.
“I felt a lot of pressure before the competition, so now it is gone,” Hooker said. “It is a good opportunity for me to look forward to next year. Practically, this is the end of season for me and I will have a rest.” The Korean athletes got off to a disappointing start. On Saturday, the nation’s best sprinter Kim Kuk-young was disqualified in his heat after a false start. From this event, the IAAF has ruled one false start will mean immediate disqualification.
Jung Soon-ok jumped a season best 6.18 meters in the women’s long jump preliminary but it was not enough to see her through to the next round.
Korean national team captain, hurdler Park Tae-kyung, raced against world recordholder Dayron Robles, but also failed to advance to the next round. Choi Yoon-hee leaped for a national record of 4.40 meters in the women’s pole vault qualification but failed to advance to the next stage.
On Sunday, there were no more upsets as Russian pole vault athlete Elena Isinbayeva sailed to the final while Oscar Pistorius of South Africa reached Monday’s 400-meter semifinal.
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