ATHS: Champagne athletics but hangover set to muscle in

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ATHS: Champagne athletics but hangover set to muscle in

By Pirate Irwin

MANCHESTER, Aug 1 AFP - Athletics legends Frankie Fredericks and Maria Mutola led theway as the track and field at the Commonwealth Games surpassed all expectations and provedthe critics wrong that with several stars absent it would be an embarrassment of povertyrather than riches.

However, with every session sold out it also exposed UK Athletics incompetence at thehandling of the organisation of the 2005 world championships in London which was so badthat the event was taken away from the capital city.

Paula Radcliffe said after her stunning run in the 5000m, which saw her finish justthree seconds outside the world record, it was a crying shame the track was to be tornup and the stadium handed over to Manchester City football club.

"To win a championship in front of your home crowd is the best of all worlds but itis so frustrating that for several of us it will never be possible again," said the 28-year-old.

Radcliffe's performance in landing her first senior track title after years of nearmisses was the one world class effort and evoked memories of Australian icon Cathy Freemanwinning the 400m in the 2000 Olympics in Sydney.

Freeman herself showed up but looked very different to how she had done on that balmynight in 2000, understandably as she had taken time out to care for her husband SandyBodecker who was diagnosed with throat cancer earlier this year.

However, her 4x400m relay team helped the 29-year-old to a fourth Commonwealth titlewith her successor as the future golden girl of Aussie athletics 19-year-old Jana Pittmanimpressing the most as she added the relay crown to the 400m hurdles.

The two aren't only linked by natural talent but they also sport tattoos with Freemanstill carrying the 'Cos I'm Free' which goes back to a relationship turning sour, andPittman has a bee tattoed on her thigh as she claims it serves as a reminder that justas bees aren't aerodynamically meant to fly so her body isn't made for hurdling.

Confused?

Well that was nothing to how the home crowd felt on Saturday evening when the eagerlyawaited duel between English teenage sensation Mark Lewis-Francis and older compatriotDwain Chambers literally collapsed as the former went down at the same moment as the latterpulled up with cramp.

Their agony was Kim Collins's delight as he handed the St Kitts and Nevis their firstever track and field gold.

The men's 200 was a very different affair.

While Fredericks made an emotional return after undergoing two Achilles tendon operationsin two years, the two English hopes Marlon Devonish and Darren Campbell not only stayedon their feet but won silver and bronze respectively.

Fredericks showed why he is one of the greatest ever sprinters as he coasted to victoryand for him and Campbell it represented an enormous amount after the Dark Ages of injurymisery.

"No-one knows what I have been through except my family and manager...this was somethingI couldn't have dreamt of two years ago," said a tearful Fredericks.

While the 34-year-old Namibian sobbed, Campbell revealed the fragility of a top athlete'smental state as he confessed to having been close to suicide.

"I've been down a very dark road," said 28-year-old Campbell, who took the silver medalin the 200m at the 2000 Sydney Olympics.

"I love what I do and when that was taken away I don't think people fully appreciatedwhat it did to me.

"It almost took away my life," added the Manchester-born athlete, who was to top offhis week by anchoring England to a hairsbreadth decision in the 4x100 relay.

There were others too, who came back from the brink, although in rather less dramaticcircumstances.

South Africa's Shawn Bownes, who came back after serving a drugs ban, ended Welsh starColin Jackson's hopes of a third Commonwealth 110m hurdles title and compatriot OkkertBrits finally did it on the big stage after years of disappointing in the pole vault.

"At last I can sit here before you guys and know I'm not going to be trashed the nextday," the 28-year-old Brits said.

Their stand-out performances were typical of a surprisingly good show by South Africaas they had lost several athletes to injury and suspension prior to the Games.

Other countries enjoyed their moment of maiden medal glory with the Cayman Islands,St Lucia and Botswana all carving their name in Games history - while India grabbed two.

Debbie Ferguson of the Bahamas outdid them becoming the first woman since Aussie RaeleneBoyle in 1970 and 1974 to win the 100, 200 and 4x100 relay to head a strong display bythe Carribean island.

Kenya produced a curate's egg of performances with two cleansweeps in the men's 5,000mand steeplechase but no golds in the marathons, both the 800m and the 1500m exposing theweakness of the team as several athletes stayed away and waited for the richer pickingsof the Grand Prix circuit.

It was they who lost out and it will be British athletes who lose out long term, butfor the moment the lingering high of champagne athletics will remain.

However, the hangover of a missed opportunity will have far greater consequences.

AFP nh

KEYWORD: GAMES ATHS WRAP