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AAA CHAMPIONSHIPS PICTURES BY MIKE & MURRAY LAMBDEN
Just three starters in the women’s 5,000 metres at the AAA championships was a disgrace and unworthy of this 123 year old event.
Although the field was bigger in the men’s event, a 71 second first lap was a joke. If the runners know they have to get a qualifying time for the world championships, why not go for it when they are all together?
Even though the pace speeded up, far too many athletes dropped out as soon as it did. Just look at the way standards have fallen (source www.gbrathletics.com)
But can you blame the athletes, the sport or society? Andrew Graffin trails Chris Davies before pouncing. At least Davies had the guts to split the field and Graffin had the speed to get away from him.
One top class international who is proud to win a British title is Chris Rawlinson. He won the title for the fifth year in a row, even though the picture above shows he clearly had to work hard to do so as he trails Matt Douglas here. His winning time has only been bettered seven times in the AAA championships including 3 times by himself and once by the great Ed Moses (when it was an open event). As he told Neil Wilson of the Daily Mail: Winning a British title still means a lot to me. For trials, I support three past the post, like the Americans have. It would eliminate the drop-outs. If you are too injured to compete three weeks before the Worlds, chances are you are not going to be winning a medal anyway. We earn good money round the circuit. The national championships are our chance to compete at home and say thank you to our supporters, to give something back. (Source Athletics International)
FIRST SET OF AAA CHAMPIONSHIP PICTURES SECOND SET OF AAA CHAMPIONSHIP PICTURES THIRD SET OF AAA CHAMPIONSHIP PICTURES
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(c) 2003 Murray Lambden. All rights reserved. |