Day 3

Day 3 of the World Championships was very exciting with 6 finals. The 3 track finals were very anticipated. The Women's 400, Men's 110 hurdles and Women's 100.

The first final of the night was the hammer throw. Koji Murofushi of Japan the 2004 Olympic Champion won with a throw of 81.24m in the third and fifth rounds. Krisztián Pars of Hungary won the silver medal with a throw of 81.18m in the sixth and final round. The 2008 Olympic Champion Primož Kozmus was the best of the rest winning the bronze with a seasons best throw of 79.39m.

The first final on the track was the women's 400. This was one of the highlight finals with Allyson Felix going for the 200-400 double, Sanya Richards-Ross defending Champion, Amantle Montsho the most consistent woman in the world this year, the Jamaicans, Shericka Williams and Novlene Williams-Mills, who have World and Olympic medals. The Russians who are always fast and then the fast rising american Francena McCrory. The final was very entertaining with Felix and Montsho fighting for the gold with Montsho prevailing in an outstanding time and new national record of 49.56, .03 ahead of Felix who got silver in her quest for the sprint 200-400 double in 49.59 a personal record. The Bronze went to the Russian Champion Anastasiya Kapachinskaya in 50.24. McCrory was fourth in 50.45. Richards-Ross finished seventh in 51.32 to add to her bad season.

The next final contested was the men's 100 hurles. All of the favorites made it to the final with relative ease. Dyron Robles the World Record holder and Olympic Champion going in as the favorite over Liu Xiang and Jason Richardson. David Oliver, the American record holder has not been in the same form as he was last year and was in no form to be considered a gold medal contender. Also making the final was the European Champion Andy Turner of Great Britain. In the final the gold medal went ot Robles with Richardson and Xiang in silver and bronze, but the Chinese put in a protest after Robles and Xiang hit between the final two hurdles. This protest disqualified Robles and gave the Gold medal to Richardson and the silver to Xiang, also moving Turner into the Bronze.

Then there was the Women's Shot Put. This competition west to form with Valerie Adams defending her title and Nadzeya Ostapchuk taking the silver and Jillian Camerena-Williams with the bronze.

The Men's Pole Vault was exciting, but the huge favorite Renaud Lavillenie finished in the bronze medal positon. This meant there was an unexpected winner, and that was Pawel Wojciechowski of Poland with Lázaro Borges of Cuba taking the Silver both cleared 5.90m but the Pole won on count back.

The Women's 100 the excitement of the night. Carmelita Jeter went in as the favorite and she didn't disappoint. Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce got the best start, but Jeter ran her down and passed her in the last 30 meters. Fraser-Pryce looked like she would hold on for the silver, but she was out leaned by country woman Veronica Campbell-Brown and Trinidad and Tobago's Kelly-Ann Baptise. This left the defending champion in fourth. Jeter ran a 10.90 into a -1.4m headwind. The difference between second and fourth was 10.97, 10.98, 10.99.

World Championships Day 2

During the men's 100m final Usain Bolt was disqualified for a false start. Yohan Blake won the title in the absence of his countryman. Walter dix won the silver with Kim Collins taking the bronze 8 years after winning his world title.

In the Decathlon Trey Hardee defended his world title over Ashton Eaton giving the USA a gold and silver. The bronze went to Leonel Suarez of Cuba.

Brittney Reese successfully defended her world title in the long jump. Olga Kucherenko of Russia was second with Latvia's Ineta Radevica in third.

Mo Farah of Great Britain was out kicked in the last 100 by Ethiopia's Ibrahim Jeilan. The bronze went to Imane Merga of Ethiopia.

In the Women's Discus Yangfeng Li pf China won with a throw of 66.52 meters. Nadine Müller of Germany won the silver with Yarelis Barrios of Cuba winning the bronze.

More to come later.

Count Down to World Champs!

Each day I am going to count down to thee world championships by previewing events and making my predictions.

11 days left until the start.

Todays events are the women's throws.

Shot Put

My Prediction

Gold - Valerie Adams (NZL)

Silver - Nadezhda Ostapchuk (BLR)

Bronze - Lijiao Gong (CHN) or Jillian Camarena-Williams (USA)

The defending World and Olympic Champion will prevail again and win her third straight world title. Ostapchuk will put up a good fight, but it wont be enough. Although Ostapchuk has the farthest throw this season with a 20.94 to Adams 20.78. Adams is undefeated on the season and has beaten Ostapchuk in all of their meetings.

The battle for Bronze will be a good one between the number three and four throwers on the season Camarena-Williams and Lijiao Gong. Gong is the world bronze medalist from 2009 and Camarena-Williams who just tied the American Record this year. Also Michelle Carter the US Champion has an outside chance at a medal. If she is on her game she could challenge Gong and Camarena-Williams, but she has been very inconsistent.

Discus

My Prediction

Gold - Yarelis Barrios (CUB)

Silver - Nadine Müller (GER)

Bronze - Yanfeng Li (CHN)

Barrios has a Bronze from 2007 and a Silver from 2009. I believe she will go one place better and win the Gold. Although she may not have the farthest throw of the season she is consistent and places in the top two when she competes. Müller has beaten Barrios this season in winning in Monaco, but with the medals from Barrios its hard to bet against her. Then there is Li from China who has the farthest throw of the season, but can she throw big when it counts?

the Olympic Champion Stephanie Brown-Trafton of the US has not thrown well and has been very inconsistent since her breakout 2008 season.

Javelin

My Prediction

Gold - Barbora Špotáková (CZH)

Silver - Christina Obergföll (GER)

Bronze - Mariya Abakumova (RUS)

Špotáková will take her world title back, but he does have to be very aware of Obergföll and Abakumova. If Špotáková is off her game the other two women will be ready to pounce.Obergföll is very inconsistent though. She is a great thrower, but when it comes championship time she has always faltered.

Hammer

My Prediction

Gold - Betty Heidler (GER)

Silver - Anita Wlodrczyk (POL)

Bronze - Kathrin Klass (GER)

Betty Heidler is the clear favorite after she threw a world record of 79.42 earlier this year. The woman who had the world record before her was Woldrczyk at 78.30 in 2010. Although Woldrczyk has not thrown so well this season her experience in high pressure situations will help her, especially being the defending champion. Klass has been very consistent this season with many good throws and top 3 placings.