CULWULLA
August 11th, 2005, 01:08 AM
i know the champs are nearly over but where going ok.
http://www.sportal.com.au/photos/news/069554ld.jpg
Johnson into 200m final
Sportal
Patrick Johnson has advanced to the 200m final at the world athletic championships in Helsinki, the first Australian to reach a sprint from in 12 years.
Fellow Australian John Steffensen has also reached the final of the 400m after overcoming heavy rain and chilling winds to finish third in his semi 46.06 seconds.
Johnson finished fourth in his 200m semi-final, behind American Tyson Gay (20.27 seconds), after covering the distance in 20.65 seconds.
But Daniel Batman failed to join Johnson in the final, finishing his semi-final sixth in 20.98.
"I knew I was in shape coming into the world champs, it's no easy feat to make world championships final and I've done it. I've always backed myself and I've proved it today," Johnson said.
Dean Capobianco and Damien Marsh were the last Australians to reach a world championships sprint final, achieving the feat in 1993.
World 100m champion Justin Gatlin qualified for the final in 20.47.
Lauren Hewitt wasn't as fortunate in the women's 200m, bowing out in the first round with a time of 24.20.
Meanwhile, Estonian Andrus Varnik has captured the men's javelin world title with a throw of 87.17 metres.
The crowd was showing great support for local hope Tero Pitkamaki, but the 22-year-old's best effort of 81.27 was only good enough for fourth place.
Norwegian Andreas Thorkildsen won silver with a throw of 86.18 and Russian Sergey Makarov took bronze (83.54).
In the 1500m, Rashid Ramzi won gold, Bahrain's first world championships medal.
Defending champion Hicham El Guerrouj was missing from the field because of illness, but Ramzi told AFP the race was still had its difficulties.
"I'm very happy about this race and winning the world championships," he said after another rainy night. "The race was difficult because of the bad weather."
Ramzi won the race in 3 minutes 37.88 seconds, while Moroccan Adil Kaouch was runner up and Olympic bronze medallist Rui Silva of Portugal was third.
In the 110m hurdles heats four-times world champion Allen Johnson had to battle horrendous conditions to advance to the next round.
He told Reuters he felt like he was being blown backwards by gusting winds swirling around the Olympic stadium.
"I've never ran into a headwind like that," Johnson said after clocking 13.92 to finish second in the first of six first round heats.
"I felt like I was being blown backwards," he said. "I thought I wasn't going to reach the next hurdle. I hope it changes tomorrow."
Johnson is hoping to set a new record for the number of track titles won by an athlete. He claimed the world titles in 1995, 1997, 2001 and 2003.
http://www.sportal.com.au/photos/news/069554ld.jpg
Johnson into 200m final
Sportal
Patrick Johnson has advanced to the 200m final at the world athletic championships in Helsinki, the first Australian to reach a sprint from in 12 years.
Fellow Australian John Steffensen has also reached the final of the 400m after overcoming heavy rain and chilling winds to finish third in his semi 46.06 seconds.
Johnson finished fourth in his 200m semi-final, behind American Tyson Gay (20.27 seconds), after covering the distance in 20.65 seconds.
But Daniel Batman failed to join Johnson in the final, finishing his semi-final sixth in 20.98.
"I knew I was in shape coming into the world champs, it's no easy feat to make world championships final and I've done it. I've always backed myself and I've proved it today," Johnson said.
Dean Capobianco and Damien Marsh were the last Australians to reach a world championships sprint final, achieving the feat in 1993.
World 100m champion Justin Gatlin qualified for the final in 20.47.
Lauren Hewitt wasn't as fortunate in the women's 200m, bowing out in the first round with a time of 24.20.
Meanwhile, Estonian Andrus Varnik has captured the men's javelin world title with a throw of 87.17 metres.
The crowd was showing great support for local hope Tero Pitkamaki, but the 22-year-old's best effort of 81.27 was only good enough for fourth place.
Norwegian Andreas Thorkildsen won silver with a throw of 86.18 and Russian Sergey Makarov took bronze (83.54).
In the 1500m, Rashid Ramzi won gold, Bahrain's first world championships medal.
Defending champion Hicham El Guerrouj was missing from the field because of illness, but Ramzi told AFP the race was still had its difficulties.
"I'm very happy about this race and winning the world championships," he said after another rainy night. "The race was difficult because of the bad weather."
Ramzi won the race in 3 minutes 37.88 seconds, while Moroccan Adil Kaouch was runner up and Olympic bronze medallist Rui Silva of Portugal was third.
In the 110m hurdles heats four-times world champion Allen Johnson had to battle horrendous conditions to advance to the next round.
He told Reuters he felt like he was being blown backwards by gusting winds swirling around the Olympic stadium.
"I've never ran into a headwind like that," Johnson said after clocking 13.92 to finish second in the first of six first round heats.
"I felt like I was being blown backwards," he said. "I thought I wasn't going to reach the next hurdle. I hope it changes tomorrow."
Johnson is hoping to set a new record for the number of track titles won by an athlete. He claimed the world titles in 1995, 1997, 2001 and 2003.