I think the Botswana winning the 400 (who I didn’t even know) while Patterson failed to medal, was shocking to me too. Tied for first. Esp when the Botswana needed a time qualifier to get out of the first round, while Patterson ran 43.9!
To the question of the biggest shock I think it was the M1500. Even as it was happening I was thinking the whole way that Laros/Reynold/Tim would win. The Kerr injury was a shock to begin with and the Hocker DQ. Wightman/Nader taking it to everyone was stunning.
The w800 to me was somewhat more predictable. Odira looked amazing in her heats. She’s looked fantastic in her races this year running 1:56 with basically no drafting on the second lap in Silesia. Then the final goes crazy fast and Keely is stuck playing Moraa’s games. As soon as she didn’t get by 300 in I was pretty sure she was vulnerable to GHB and Odira. I looked for Sarah Moraa but she was too far back. Odira was an overall shock but not in that moment. She always closes well and she has a better trip than I’ve usually seen.
Otherwise Jimmy Gressier showed himself so well at DL Final, Hocker we’re familiar with his kick. Beamish I’d say a real shock except like Odira you saw it in the prelim. Beating El B was next level though. Sprints the Kebinatshipi win was a mild shock but like SMLs crazy time, the Semis dulled the shock factor.
after the semis I thought wightman would contend for a medal since he looked so good but I just didn't see nader, though in hindsight that race suited him very well.
To the question of the biggest shock I think it was the M1500.
Otherwise Jimmy Gressier showed himself so well at DL Final, Hocker we’re familiar with his kick. Beamish I’d say a real shock except like Odira you saw it in the prelim. Beating El B was next level though. Sprints the Kebinatshipi win was a mild shock but like SMLs crazy time, the Semis dulled the shock factor.
Well, I thought the most shocking result was Wade von Niekirk in the 1600 relay, closing a some 10 meter gap in the rain in the lane-one river in about 43.2, enabling Nene to catch Rai Benjamin and the Botswana guy and come a few inches from giving South Africa the title.
Corrected: von Niekirk made up the ten meters in the third leg. Nene closed.