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Sunday 12 August 2012

3rd August: Athletics (Morning)

I know it's not the spirit, but somehow for me (and many) the REAL Olympics begin when the Athletics begins.



An eagle-eyed friend had spotted that I had managed to snaffle a Category A ticket when I got this in the second round, and further more, I would be in a front row, somewhere.
I was actually right at the front indeed, just behind the bollards for the start of the 100m.



BUT - my initial giddiness was suddenly crushed when I got down to the front, and there was seat in that position, my ticket was 515, and the seat number there was 516.
It occured to me (with the help of a major Olympic facts and figures brain dump from on of our Sports Reporting tutors) that there may have been two seats originally, and one was taken out, but my biggest concern was that these tickets were sold in the 2nd chance run for those who had received nothing in the first ballot.

There were anxious moments as the spaces filled up around me and I waited for someone with Ticket 516 to arrive - although a Games Maker in charge of the photographer's pit reassured me that if there was an issue, I'd be given a better seat.

There wasn't too much time to worry though, as the track action was starting with the 100m hurdles heats in the Women's Heptathlon.

Louise Hazel and Katarina Johnson-Thompson had good solid runs in their heats, and KJT in particular looked quite overwhelmed when the crowd roared as her name was called out.





The final heat saw Jess take to the track and the stadium just erupted when she stormed her heat, setting a UK record for the 100mh!





Next up was the preliminary rounds for the W100m and you could tell that on the first morning of action in the stadium, things still needed a little polish.  A girl from Qatar pulled up with a hamstring but it was a good while until anyone came to her help as she sat on the track.

It was also quite amusing watching Games Makers getting bossed about by officials in turqoise as Technical Support (presumably they are qualified folks from the world of track and field) - so lots of shouts about which markers to put out the hurdles for the 400m

All the British men came through their heats (Dai Green, Jack Green qualified in their heats and Rhys Williams got in as a fastest loser).







Up until now it had been gloriously sunny, and suddenly out of nowhere while we were in the middle of the women's 400m heats, we got hit with a colossal rain shower.
Christine Ohuruogu won well and looked good in terms of defending her Beijing title.





The Heptathletes were over the far end of the stadium by now, doing their high jump so every now and again, during the Men's Steeplechase where we had one guy from Ethiopia obviously hurt himself early on in his heat and when he came to the last barrier (way behind the field) he clattered it very badly.  This time, the first aiders were a bit quicker to come to his aid.





Our one Brit, Stuart Stokes, had a really tough time in his heat.




Things were continuing in the Heptathlon High Jump and Katarina Johnson-Thompson was right up with the leaders, finishing third overall.

I escaped to meet up with Joe from the Opening Ceremony and my friend Nicky who was coming in the afternoon for the Handball.



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