At the conclusion of the weekend’s action, the Athletics World Cup final standings painted a picture of dominance for the United States of America team who thrashed the other teams with an astounding points total of 219.

That total exceeded second-place Poland’s mark of 162 by a whopping 57 points, while Great Britain & Northern Ireland were third on 155 points. Both those nations will be pleased with their second day showing after improving on their placing from Saturday evening.

Jamaica had to settle for fourth place on 153 points, but the fact that they were only 9 points behind Poland and 2 behind Great Britain & Northern Ireland is a testament to how close the contest was behind the eventual Athletics World Cup winners, the USA.

France’s football World Cup win earlier on in the day did not appear to provide further motivation to a France team who endured a frustrating Sunday evening in the athletics equivalent, only adding 61 points to their total from the previous evening and therefore finishing in fifth place overall.

Looking further down the table, Germany, South Africa and China all struggled to challenge for the higher placings despite a smattering of strong individual performances and they ended on 137, 135 and 81 points respectively.

Been a pleasure being Co-Captain of the first ever @AthWorldCup champions No doubt @usatf is the #1 Track team in the ! pic.twitter.com/peP7RdOxYW

— Darrell Hill (@B1GHomie) July 15, 2018

Sitting comfortably in first place in the standings, all eyes were on team USA heading into the second evening (Sunday July 15) of the first edition of the Athletics World Cup. 24 points was the lead they held over France in second, and as intimidating as that lead may have been, the other teams showed no signs of being deterred in their quest to earn crucial points in the race to lift the platinum trophy.

In the pole vault, world champion Sam Kendricks took the opportunity to extend the USA’s lead in the Athletics World Cup standings, edging out Germany’s Raphael Holzdeppe with a 5.83m clearance. Keen to make use of the fantastic conditions at the London Stadium, Kendricks boldly opted to raise the barrier to 6.05m – 5 centimetres above his personal best. Unfortunately he was unable to successfully clear that height, but his vaulting display certainly got the crowd going.

The loudest cheers from the home crowd were heard when the Great Britain & Northern Ireland women’s 4x100m quartet of Asha Philip, Bianca Phillips, Shannon Hylton and Imani-Lara Lansiquot, who features on Fast Running as part of the Fast 10: class of 2018, took a clear win in an efficiently run race despite long jump bronze medallist Tissanna Hickling running a rapid last leg for Jamaica to apply plenty of pressure on Hylton.

Lansiquot said afterwards: “This is actually my first senior experience so I felt the pressure but it was positive pressure and I just wanted to run the best that I could and make sure the team did the best it possible could as well.”

Morgan Lake’s jump of 1.93m also prompted jubilation amongst the London Stadium audience, with that clearance being enough to secure both a silver medal and 7 points for Great Britain & Northern Ireland.

Far from the only athlete to take advantage of the perfect conditions, the USA’s Paul Dedewo cruised to 400m gold in a new personal best of 44.48, a time which was a whole second ahead of South Africa’s Derrick Mokaleng in second place.

The men’s 400m hurdles, ended in chaotic fashion as Jamaica’s Annsert Whyte, who had led for the majority of the race, stumbled across a couple lanes after smashing into the final hurdle and fell back into fourth place as a consequence.

The American competitor, Kenny Selmon, took advantage of this occurrence and crossed the line in first in 48.97 ahead of Poland’s Patryk Dobek, while the GB’s Dai Greene continued his impressive comeback from persistent injury woes by finishing in a respectable third place.

Thankfully for Shericka Jackson, she was able to avoid unwanted drama similar to that of her compatriot Whyte as she demonstrated admirable speed endurance to move past Jenna Prandini in the closing stages of the women’s 200m to record a winning time of 22.35 to score a valuable 8 points and prevent Jamaica from sliding further down the table. Claiming bronze and 6 points for Great Britain & Northern Ireland was breakthrough star Beth Dobbin; the Scot clocking 22.95 after running a fine bend.

Jeanine Williams came ever so close to making it two consecutive batches of 8 points for Jamaica in the women’s 100m hurdles but 2014 African Champion Rikenette Steenkamp had other ideas, stopping the clock at 12.88 and ending South Africa’s long wait for 8 points in a track event this weekend. Steenkamp admitted she “came into this not as a favourite, but still not counting [herself] out”, as well as backing the format of the Athletics World Cup with her assertion that she needs “this type of competition to push [her].”

A major factor in Poland rising past France in the standings was Marcin Lewandowski’s triumph in a cagey, tactical 1500m race in a time of 3:52.88. Lewandowski exuded experience as he dealt with fast finishes from the likes of Timo Benitz and Neil Gourley, representing Germany and Great Britain & Northern Ireland respectively.

From a tactical perspective the women’s 800m differed greatly from the men’s 1500m, with the duo of Leila Boufaarirane and Adelle Tracey charging through the opening lap in under a minute. Although they both presided over a large gap between themselves and the chasing group, Raevyn Rogers produced the type of kick that has seen her win no less than 5 US collegiate titles as she sped past Great Britain & Northern Ireland’s Adelle Tracey on her way towards the line in a winning time of 2:00.20.

The USA’s comfortable men’s 4x400m relay win in an excellent sub 3-minute clocking of 2:59.78 was merely a procession for the overall winners of the inaugural Athletics World Cup whose team captain Queen Harrison lifted the coveted platinum trophy aloft in a grand ceremony made even more spectacular by the array of fireworks that soared up into the London night sky.

Not only did they claim the unique trophy, which was presented to them by IAAF president Lord Sebastian Coe, but each member of the American team was presented with a Platinum Winners Medals to wear alongside their traditional medals from the individual events.

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Great Britain has named a team of 29 athletes for the Athletics World Cup on home soil at the London Stadium on 14-15 July. As reported earlier in the week, a number of the nation’s big-name runners will not be competing in the UK athletics organised event.

Laura Muir, Reece Prescod, Dina Asher-Smith, CJ Ujah and Zharnel Hughes are all among the notable names choosing not to be considered.

In total, 21 of the 29 athletes selected for the Athletics World Cup were crowned British champions at the Alexander Stadium at the weekend including Scottish 200m record holder Beth Dobbin, world indoor gold medallist Andrew Pozzi, former world 400m hurdles champion Dai Greene.

Photo: Andy Peat

The men’s 1500m selection will be announced next week. The top three at the British Championships were Chris O’Hare, Jake Wightman and fellow Scot Neil Gourley, with Charles Da’Vall Grice fourth, but it is unclear who will be representing GB.

As previously discussed on Fast Running, the competition will have no running events longer than 1500m.

Both the 4x100m and 4x400m relay teams will also be named next week.

British women’s 1500m champion Laura Weightman is not in the team but silver medalist Jemma Reekie, who won European junior 1500m gold last year, will make her senior debut over the distance at the Athletics World Cup.

Ojie Edoburun is the reigning European under-23 champion over 100m and equal second quickest Briton this year while Daryll Neita, Anyika Onuora and Rabah Yousif add Olympic, world and European medal winning pedigree to the British team.

In the field events, the selection’s are very strong and include long jumper Lorraine Ugen, high jumper Morgan Lake and hammer thrower Sophie Hitchon.

As well as competing for a maximum eight points across the 34 events on the Athletics World Cup schedule, each individual athlete in the overall winning team will receive $10,000 as well as platinum winners medal. Each individual athlete from the nation finishing as runners-up will receive $8,888 with third receiving £7,777 all the way down to seventh receiving £3,333 each and eighth receiving $2,200.

Although there is a hefty prize pot, there are no appearance fees. In contrast, athletes competing in the Diamond League can be paid a sizeable amount and with the ninth Diamond League event taking place the day before the Athletics World Cup on Friday, July 13 in Rabat, Morocco, it appears a number of the world’s top sprinters are preferring to head there instead.

“Following on from a highly-competitive Müller British Athletics Championships at the weekend, we are delighted to announce those athletes selected to represent Great Britain & Northern Ireland at the Athletics World Cup in London,” said British Athletics Performance Director Neil Black. “The Athletics World Cup is an exciting new addition to the athletics calendar for 2018 and as a team we will be striving to achieve the highest finish possible.

“The London Stadium is a fantastic venue for athletics and we have a balanced team of experienced athletes who have competed at the very highest level and those who will be making their senior British debuts as they look to reach the top of the sport.”

The British team selected for the Athletics World Cup:

Men

100m: Ojie Edoburun, 200m: Delano Williams, 400m: Rabah Yousif, 800m: Elliot Giles, 1500m: TBC, 110m Hurdles: Andrew Pozzi, 400m Hurdles: Dai Greene, High Jump: Chris Baker, Pole Vault: Charlie Myers, Long Jump: Dan Bramble, Triple Jump: Nathan Douglas, Shot Put: Scott Lincoln, Discus: Brett Morse, Hammer: Nick Miller, Javelin: James Whiteaker, 4x100m: TBC, 4x400m: TBC

Women

100m: Daryll Neita, 200m: Beth Dobbin, 400m: Anyika Onuora, 800m: Adelle Tracey, 1500m: Jemma Reekie, 100m Hurdles: Megan Marrs, 400m Hurdles: Meghan Beesley: High Jump: Morgan Lake, Pole Vault: Holly Bradshaw, Long Jump: Lorraine Ugen, Triple Jump: Naomi Ogbeta, Shot Put: Amelia Strickler, Discus: Jade Lally, Hammer: Sophie Hitchon, Javelin: Laura Whittingham, 4x100m: TBC, 4x400m: TBC

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Only four of the 15 British athletes on top-level funding will compete at the inaugural Athletics World Cup later this month, according to The Telegraph.

Among the big-name British athletes set to be absent from the team when it is named on Thursday are; newly crowned 800m champion Laura Muir, Dina Asher-Smith, Adam Gemili, Zharnel Hughes, Reece Prescod, Chijindu Ujah and Nethaneel Mitchell-Blake.

The four top-level funded athletes expected in the team all compete in field events.

The new athletics competition that sees eight nations – Great Britain, USA, Jamaica, Poland, China, Germany, France and South Africa – compete at London’s Olympic Stadium on July 14 and 15, had been billed as “exiting” and “innovative” by IAAF president Seb Coe when the competition was launched in February.

However, when the majority of Britain’s leading athletes decide to snub an event organised by their governing body it doesn’t instil confidence among the general public or athletics fans in the merits of the event, that also occupies the same weekend as the World Cup football final and the Wimbledon tennis finals.

American sports journalist Jonathan Gault at Let’s Run said on Twitter: “British Athletics is putting on this meet and can’t even convince its biggest stars to turn out for it.

“Many top field eventers are going because they don’t get as much $$$ or competitive opportunities on the Diamond League circuit. Runners aren’t as financially dependent.”

The reports from The Telegraph follow on from the US team named last week which also has a number of headline names absent, including world 60m champion Christian Coleman and the three quickest men over 100m Noah Lyles, Michael Rodgers and Ronnie Baker. Justin Gatlin will also sit out the competition as will Tori Bowie, Allyson Felix and Sydney McLaughlin.

As previously discussed on Fast Running, the competition will have no running events longer than 1500m, and consist of all field events and track events up to that distance. Each athlete will collect points based on their finishing position and a prize fund of $450,000 (£342,000) will be shared among the winning nation.

Although there is a hefty prize pot, there are no appearance fees. In contrast, athletes competing in the Diamond League can be paid a sizeable amount and with the ninth Diamond League event taking place the day before the Athletics World Cup on Friday, July 13 in Rabat, Morocco, it appears a number of the world’s top sprinters are preferring to head there instead.

RELATED: Athletics World Cup: where’s the long distance running?

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The Local Organising Committee (LOC) have announced that over a quarter of a million ticket requests have been received by those wishing to attend the inaugural Athletics World Cup in July, following the ticket registrations opening just seven weeks ago (February 5).

This figure is a UK record amount of requests for an athletics event bar London 2017.

When the new competition was first announced, that is on the same weekend as the football World Cup final and Wimbledon tennis finals, questions were asked if there would be the demand for tickets, especially when there is also no running events longer than 1500m.

However, the 250,000 ticket requests would definitely prove otherwise.

Alongside a record amount of ticket requests, the LOC have also been inundated with volunteer applications ahead of the tournament, with over 2000 enquires being sent in by those wishing to work across the weekend.

Set to take place on 14-15 July at the London Stadium, the Athletics World Cup will see eight nations – USA, Great Britain & Northern Ireland, Poland, China, Germany, France, Jamaica and South Africa – go head to head over two days in a points-scoring system.

“The reaction to the announcement of the tournament has been terrific, and the registration figures exceeding that of those seen in 2013 for the first ever Anniversary Games speaks volumes about the relationship the globe’s athletics fans have with the sport, said CEO of the Athletics World Cup, Niels de Vos.

“With a limited window of time remaining before registrations close, I would urge anyone wishing to attend the Athletics World Cup to confirm their interest over on the website in order to be in with a chance of securing tickets.

“This event is the first of its kind, and with the top eight nations in the world in attendance it will be a weekend of world-class and highly competitive athletics in what is the world’s best athletics stadium.”

The event schedule was announced earlier this month, while the timing for each session has not been confirmed, but is expected to run from 7-10pm.

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Taking place on the weekend of 14-15 July at the London Stadium, the Athletics World Cup will feature track events from 100m through to the 1500m, 4x100m and 4x400m relays, as well as all eight field events.

The two evening sessions will feature a split of eight field events and nine track events, with each evening building to finish with the relay races.

Joining Great Britain & NI, USA and Jamaica in the eight-nation head-to-head points-scoring system, are Poland, China, Germany, France and South Africa.

As previously discussed on Fast Running, the Athletics World Cup will not feature any longer track distances than 1500m.

Saturday’s session will begin with female field events, before the action on the track features a multitude of sprints, hurdles and middle-distance races, with the men’s 4x100m and women’s 4x400m bring the session to a close.

Set to decide who takes home the Athletics World Cup trophy, the eight nations’ bid to continue scoring maximum points will pick back up at pace on Sunday.

The Cup is set to conclude with the men’s 100m and 4x400m and women’s 4x100m, following which the winning nation will be presented with the Athletics World Cup trophy.

Timings for the Athletics World Cup will be confirmed in due course, with each session expected to run from 7-10pm.

The post Athletics World Cup schedule announced appeared first on Fast Running.

Hopefully the new Athletics World Cup that was announced this week is a great success for athletics as a whole – I really mean that. But when long distance running – the most relatable aspect of athletics to the running boom audience – is excluded it makes you wonder.

Also with the new competition clashing with the Wimbledon tennis finals on both the 14th and 15th July, as well as the World Cup football final on the 15th – who is going to fill the 66,000 seats over two evenings?

Not forgetting who will win the #worldcup battle on Twitter?

For endurance running fans the longest race is a mere 1500m. The middle distance certainly involves some great racing and is one of the best endurance events, but why stop at 1500m?

The plan seems to be to stripped back version of athletics to the simplest form. Take out anything that requires a bit of thought so that the masses will come and cheer. Who can run quickest over 100m, who can throw the furthest and who can jump a long way. Easily quantifiable results without any tactics.

With the boom in popularity of running being mainly at the 5k, 10k and beyond – why are we not seeing one of those events in the mix? Even the simplicity of the mile distance would be so relatable to the new running audience?

When UK Athletics chief executive describes the event as “probably a magic bullet” for the sport, and “all the best bits of the World Championships rolled into two sessions” – it makes you wonder about the future of long distance running?

As one up and coming British distance runner asked on Twitter: “Good for short and middle distance track and field but maybe not so good for long distance/endurance events. Maybe LD/endurance event future is on the roads backed by a mass participation event?”

Now that Mo Farah has retired from the track, is the 5000m and 10,000m being retired from the London Stadium too?

Britain’s most decorated track athlete was fantastic for the sport and is bringing that excitement to the marathon now, but how are we getting behind the next generation of long distance running stars.

Who’s going to be there

USA, Great Britain & Northern Ireland, Poland, China, Germany, France, Jamaica and South Africa are the nations included, with the notable omission of number two on the 2017 World Championships medal table – Kenya.

Number two Kenya, the long-distance running powerhouse, is now also competing at a range of distances lower than 1500m and field events too. So how could have a World Cup without them? Maybe they were invited, we just don’t know at this point.

Of the nations that will be competing, there will be no East African countries, so you’d expect the distance events to actually be little more open. It could be anyone’s game.

Was the lack of distance runners with fan favourites Jamaica the reason to keep 1500m as the longest event?

Imagine Usain Bolt coming out of retirement to run the 10000m for his country. With the dates and the name, you might even trick Bolt into thinking it was the Jamaican football team that needed him.

However, instead of forgetting and removing the distance events could there be an attempt to make them more exciting for spectators.

Some constructive ideas

So, how can we make 5000m on the track more exciting to Joe Bloggs who is not an already keen athletics fan?

Look at other how other sports have changed their fortunes. Not darts, per se, although it is impressive how this has become such a spectator friendly sport. What about cycling or formula one racing. How are these time heavy sports made more exciting?

One from the world of cycling could be to introduce points races or pair events like the Madison. If it is a team format that the competition warrants them have intermediate points on offer for each lap or ‘devil takes the hindmost’ style events.

The omnium (a multiple race event) from the world of track cycling could be a new distance medley in itself.

 The distance running omnium could go as follows over two days:

Day One
A points race with intermediate sprints and overall winner points.

Individual pursuit, possibly with four athletes all 100m apart and you drop out if overtaken. Maybe even eight athletes 50m apart on a 400m loop.

A scratch race, just your normal event.

Day Two
Time trials with each athlete against the clock.

A paced distance where a rabbit sets a high tempo for the first so many laps, with everyone needing to hold onto the pace before racing starts on the final lap.

Even a handicap race to finish, 5000m with the points earned in the previous races dictating your start position.

Now that is just one crazy idea, but surely there are better ones out there. If the only option is just to cut distance running out of the main events then what can we do to up the game? How can the endurance community make a difference?

The post Athletics World Cup: where’s the long distance running? appeared first on Fast Running.

Launched by British Athletics the competition will see eight of the top athletics nations – Great Britain, USA, Jamaica, Poland, China, Germany, France and South Africa – compete in the new two-day track and field event.

Taking place at the London Stadium, the ‘Athletics World Cup’ will run from Saturday 14th to Sunday 15th July under floodlights.

“This is world-class competition where nation will face nation and fans will see an amazing feast of athletics over two days featuring many of the biggest global superstars in the world of sport,” said Richard Bowker CBE, Chair of UK Athletics. “This will be an incredible event which we are thrilled to be able to launch on the back of a highly-successful World Championships last summer.”

One man and one woman from each nation will be selected in each field and track event up to and including the 1500m, with the nations competing for a $2million prize pot.

To mark 100 years since women were given the right to vote, and as part of the Mayor of London’s #BehindEveryGreatCity campaign, the first edition of the event will see all nations select a female athlete as team captain.

“This is one of the exciting innovative events we are seeing in our sport and our thanks go to British Athletics and the Mayor of London for creating it and hosting it,” said IAAF President, Sebastian Coe. “We have 8 lanes, 8 top nations, 8 teams and a host of world-class athletes lining up in each event to win the trophy and prize pot.

“This will be a fast-paced and exhilarating experience for athletes and fans.”

South Africa’s Wayde van Niekerk, 200m & 400m, Olympic and World Champion said: “It’s great to see such an exciting head to head event confirmed to be taking place in London this summer – the concept is one that will excite everyone in athletics and is sure to attract new fans to the sport.

“The South African team will be there in force and we hope to see fans from all over the world join us in London for what will be an amazing competition.”

It is understood that the previously announced athletics competition ‘The Meet’ has now been cancelled, but the concept of Great Britain competing solely against the USA could be reconsidered in 2019.

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