Athletics World Cup - action from Day 1

The inaugural 2018 Athletics World Cup, presented by Müller, certainly delivered two nights of thrilling action under the floodlights of the London Stadium from 14th-15th July, as the USA became the first nation to lift the Platinum Trophy.

Highlights of the weekend included Poland’s Anita Wlodarczyk’s world lead in the women’s hammer, and popular home victories for Holly Bradshaw in the pole vault, Lorraine Ugen in the long jump, and the Great Britain and Northern Ireland quartet in the women’s 4x100m relay.

But it was the USA who came out on top, claiming 219 out of a possible 272 points across 34 events and two nights of exhilarating action.

The USA led by 24 points after Saturday’s action, but they had to wait until the final few track events on day one to secure their first win of the competition as Clayton Murphy secured victory in the men’s 800m. Ashley Henderson ensured the USA didn’t have to wait long to celebrate another win, taking the women’s 100m title.

More success quickly followed for the USA with their women’s 4x400m and men’s 4x100m relay teams both victorious in the final events on the track. The last field event signalled another victory for the eventual winners as Jeron Robinson claimed the win in the men’s high jump.

Both days began with a succession of field events and the spectators inside the London Stadium were treated to a thrilling women’s hammer competition on Saturday. Poland’s Anita Wlodarczyk’s produced one of the performances of the weekend, throwing a world leading distance of 78.74m to claim the win by more than five metres.

Other notable performances from the opening day saw Great Britain and Northern Ireland captain Lorraine Ugen lead by example, winning the women’s long jump by a considerable margin. Ugen was one of two British winners on the opening day with Holly Bradshaw claiming the other home victory in the women’s pole vault.

There was plenty of drama across the weekend with South Africa’s Sunette Viljoen clinching the victory in the women’s javelin with her final round throw. Viljoen was one of three South African victors across the two days, with Luvo Manyonga winning the men’s long jump and Rikenette Steenkamp victorious in the women’s 100m Hurdles.

After a multitude of second and third place finishes, Pascal Martinot-Lagarde secured maximum points for France in the men’s 110m Hurdles to claim France’s first win. The Frenchman’s victory came moments after Chinese national record holder Zhenye Xie stormed to victory in the men’s 200m; one of only two Chinese victories at the Athletics World Cup.


A selection of photos from the day follows and can be seen at:  http://www.peverilphoto.com/section665568_740775.html

Greg Rutherford says farewell...to his British fans*

British long-jumping legend and Olympic, World, European and Commonwealth champion, Greg Rutherford was denied a dream farewell to the sport during his final year of competition; having to settle for a second round effort of 7.43m as his best mark in the long jump competition of the Muller Grand prix at the Diamond League Meeting at the Alexander Stadium Birmingham today.

Rutherford said: “I am incredibly lucky to have is an opportunity to come out in the stadiums one last time to wave to the crowds, sign lots of autographs and meet lots of people because that’s part of what I think as an athlete you should do. You should give back when you can and that is what I am using this time to do.

Greg Rutherford on his way to 7.43m in the second round of jumps

“I wanted to turn this into my farewell tour and I just want to have a chance to go one more time in the big British meets and try and enjoy it and actually see it from a different sort of standing point.”

* - Greg is scheduled to compete one last time at the Newcastle Great City Games in early September