Birmingham CWG -Day 3 (Thursday August 4th)

[trickstat]

Quality hurdling by Broadbell. Not bad for the other, other Jamaican.

Pozzi edges Zeller for bronze.

[Ursus]

Okoye just looks so pedestrian in the circle. So powerful, but.

[trickstat]

Okoye at least has one senior medal in his career.


Denny is a wonderfully consistent thrower but he is up against an outstanding generation of Europeans at World level.

[oxfan]

Denny 6 throws better than anyone else

[DerbyCountyinNZ]

Great competition from Matt Denny. Nice bloke too (for an Aussie ).

[Ursus]

Denny’s entire series better than anyone else. Dominant, consistent, quality throwing.

[marra]

Zeller didn't look as sharp as he did in Eugene. End of a long season for him. Pozzi finally put in a solid performance in what has been a pretty meh season - still second best in the household, mind.

Okoye finally got a solid performance in. Denny the class of the competition though.

[jjimbojames]

Really pleased for Pozzi and Okoye - both have received quite a lot of negative press for not delivering on their undoubted talents. It’s obviously not e.g. an Olympic gold etc, but a medal is a medal.

I’m wondering if getting the monkey off the back might ease their self-pressure and see them step up, especially Okoye, who as a youngster just threw relaxed and carefree…if he can get back to that, the 68m+ will be back.

[CAML]

Zeller has earned his holiday. If he can sort out the first three hurdles, then he really becomes a threat. His finish is always strong, his technique stands up well under pressure, and his personna is made for the American collegiate system.

[jjimbojames]

Yes…he’s doing well from being over there and has the temperament to go on after. I imagine he may well stay over there after he finishes college, as the set up is working well for him

[jjimbojames]

All about doing your research as to the strengths of the programme and the kind of coach leading it!

[trickstat]

They must have good indoor facilities because they get pretty cold winters.

[marra]

Very cold is underestimating it. As someone who spends about half their time in that state, ball freezingly cold is closer to the truth!

U of M is one of the best universities in the country on a sporting level though, really great facilities. The Ofilis are both Michigan natives, so they stayed in state. Would in interesting to ask Zeller if their success had any impact on his decision to go there.

[Ursus]

Really pleased for Pozzi and Okoye - both have received quite a lot of negative press for not delivering on their undoubted talents. It’s obviously not e.g. an Olympic gold etc, but a medal is a medal.

I’m wondering if getting the monkey off the back might ease their self-pressure and see them step up, especially Okoye, who as a youngster just threw relaxed and carefree…if he can get back to that, the 68m+ will be back.

I doubt it.

Last year I may have agreed on Okoye, but this year has been a regression in distance and consistency. He’s now in his 30s (as is Pozzi) and it’s hard to see him back to near NR level. With the likes of Stahl, Ceh and Alekna around I can’t see him medalling above CG level either. Would like those words rammed down my throat, obviously.

[jjimbojames]

Discus throwers can go on a while! I don’t think it’s necessarily about winning a global medal, but performing to his ability. At his very best, he’s competitive at the business end, and then who knows.

Pozzi - he has a much tougher ask but he has the silverware from indoors, at least!

[Occasional Hope]

He claims on the BBC website he’s been throwing massive distances in training.

[jjimbojames]

I can believe that - having watched him as a schoolboy compared to now, his demeanour has massively changed - I wouldn’t be surprised if he’s been weighed down by the negative feedback. He could easily have just quietly gone off after the NFL didn’t work, head to law school and go off into the real world, but he’s come back, taken the flack, and now has a medal. If he can just relax now, those training distances may transfer into comps

[alfie]

Bit of a quiet day after the previous one... But one advantage was we got to see some (very competitive) field events mostly live.

Denny had an excellent and remarkably consistent sequence of marks : truly commanding win for him. I was pleased to see Okoye at least edging back towards his potential - though I quite understand why Ursus remains unconvinced he is going anywhere...your comment about his lack of dynamism in the circle makes sense : am I dreaming in thinking he still has time to improve and even realise some of that youthful promise ? At least he has a medal now...

Pozzi will be delighted to at least have a bronze after difficult times - really threw himself at the line , eh ? Only just pipped Zeller , who has every right to be happy with his efforts these last couple of weeks : medals in his future , you'd think , so just missing this time not a disaster.

[PotterHoppo96]

They could have put one of the steeplechase races yesterday.