Mokoena qualifies for final in Moscow
Khotso Mokoena was back to form when he qualified for Friday’s long jump final at the World Athletics Championships in Moscow on Wednesday morning.
The Tuks athlete had one of the smoothest progressions of recent seasons as he opened with a 7.68m, stepped up with 7.96 and exceeded the required 8.10m qualifying mark by 60 centimetres on his final attempt.
The 28-year-old had his premier seasons in 2008 and 2009 when he won his Olympic silver in Beijing and added the World championship silver in Osako.
The last few seasons he has failed to regain form but it was a more relaxed and confident Mokoena who went through qualification in Moscow.
“No matter what trials and tribulations I’ve had I continued to work hard and when you work hard you reap what you sow. I’m happy with the qualification and looking forward to the final, Friday is a new day” said Mokoena.
In previous championship qualifiers “the crocodile” has struggled to get his rhythm, but this time out he seemed to have the adaption to the stadium’s new Mondo track under control.
“Its quite a fast track. For the last one I even had to shorten my run up so I could hit the board. I’m not consistent with my speed for the run up so I’ve had to learn to change distances,” continued Mokoena who had clearly already made the switch to thinking about Friday’s final (17:30 SA time)
“The Gold is open - The Spanish guy (Eusebio Caceres) jumped 8.25 with first attempt: (Dwight) Phillips can’t be discounted, (Aleksandr) Menkov the Russian and the Mexican dude, (Luis Rivera), and I’m also there.. its going to be interesting and I cant wait.“
Only Mokoena, Menkov and Caceres made the automatic qualification, with Netherlands Ignisious Gaisah closing the top 12 with 7.89 metres.
Life wasn't as rosy for Zarck Visser who opened with 7.78, but a no jump in the second and a 7.79 final trial left him 15th overall and disappointed with the outcome.
“Things happen and I guess .. I gave it my best there was nothing (more) I could do, “ said a clearly dejected Visser. “Nothing was specifically wrong. I just messed up the last run up, If I could have got one on the board it would have been different. I could have done that easily. ”
Johan Cronje had a comfortable progression to the semi finals in heat two of the 1500m where he placed fourth out of sixth automatic qualifiers.
The Bloemfontein runner went out with Turkey’s Ilham Ozbilen going through 400 in 58.19, and hitting the bell at 2:45.06 before securing his position down the home straight to finish in 3:39.95. Kenyan Silas Kiplagat won the run to the line clocking 3:39.31.
“ For a change I felt really well I made sure I positioned myself in te front whereas in the past I was always boxed in the back and I couldn't get out of the race. From the first lap its always difficult to get in so this time upfront it was pretty much easy going from there. Once Kiplagat had passed him on the home straight Cronje checked behind him several times before easing of the pace.“I think the semi is going to be even harder that the final, so going to make ready for a hard one,” said the 31 year old who became a father to Daniel in May. “I wish I could say its going to be a fast one and its going to take a 3;35 but it could be a 3;40 and then a sprint for the line. I hope for a fast one, so I can get into a rhythm and kick from the bell or 300m”
“The faster the better” hoped Cronje, who has Thursday for recovery before hitting Friday’s semi finals. (SA 17:05)
Ever changing weather conditions played against Marc Mundell in the 50km walk, which commenced after an overnight downpour of rain and switched between cool early conditions and bright sunlight for the final third of the distance.
“A very cosmopolitan day in terms of the weather, raining in the morning at 07:00, then all of a sudden heat in the race, and quite a bit of humidity so difficult to judge what pace to go at and definitely a lot warmer in the last 20,” said Mundell, I tried to juggle it and was on PB pace until 30-odd, and I backed myself to go with 14 km to go, but it just wasn't really there.”
The 30 year old missed improving on his African record of 3:55:32 set in London Olympics, but did improve his position by one place to 31st with his time of 3:57:55.
“This is my second best time ever and the improvemt in position from London, I’m delighted by that particularly given that I wasn't able to have a full winter and only came back in January, (due to knee surgery)."
Three South Africans move into action tomorrow morning, with Orazio Cremona first up at 08:20 (sa time) in the shot put qualifications where typically a 20.10 will secure a place in the final 12.
The up and coming Justine Palframan will start her campaign in the 200m sprint at 08:55 (sa Time) tomorrow morning and should be capable of making the evening's semi-finals.
However at 19 years of age, Moscow Worlds is about gaining experience and progression to the semis or a PB will be all that can be expected of the Stellenbosch University student.
The morning session closes with Robert Oosthuizen returning for his third World Championships in the Javelin where he has a PB of 86.80 set in 2008, but has failed to regain that form in recent years and goes into the qualifying round with seasons best of 81.97. In his debut in Osaka (2007) Oosthuizen threw 84.52 for sixth position.
(File Photo: Gallo Images)
- ECR Sportswave - Norrie Williamson
Twitter - @SportswaveAndre