Definitely - Johnson was moving up on the outside of lane one, Hailu shifted out without looking and got clipped. Perhaps both of their faults but mostly Hailu.
After another few replays, just to put a wrap on this while all but one of the women jog the 5k - in the 1500 Hailu moved out abruptly enough into Johnson that I think it was entirely her fault for getting clipped. It wasn't quite a Meghan Hunter/Addy Wiley 800 crash, but close. Doesn't Hailu normally go out hot and mostly front run? Maybe she's not used to running in a pack.
Johnson posted a picture on her Instagram story of 4 stitches in her thigh, presumably from getting spiked in the fall. She said she's okay though and will be back.
From what I saw, Johnson got very close to Hailu and stutter-stepped, then fell. Hard to tell from the angle whether it was caused by Johnson creeping up too close to Hailu or from Hailu making a sudden slow down. Looked to me like a usual case of Rubbin's Racing with an unfortunate outcome
Hailu was doing her typical craptactic of hanging back way off the pace.
What could possibly go wrong?
She threw a tantrum after being left off the Olympic team last year. That omission caused her to wake up late last season and early this season, running much closer to the front.
That produced superior results. She suckered the Ethiopian federation into naming her to the 5000 team, and above a young talent like Eisa.
Ever since being named to the team Hailu has gone back to the loitering style she used since junior days. After being left off Paris she had 9 consecutive races in 2024 and 2025 with 4 wins, 3 seconds, and nothing worse than 4th.
Her last 3 races have been 9th, 5th and today.
She's talented enough to respond. But I guarantee many in the Ethiopian leadership are already second guessing.
The women's pole vault was very good, with two clean through 4.80 with a 4.87 winner.
The TJ was good, with Moore finally looking better. I love the esthetics of the event and loved doing it even though I was a so-so distance runner.
Chase Jackson was facing not getting a fourth throw and hits a MR 20.90, two inches off her world lead.
The solo 44.05 400 was impressive. Norwood for more relay medals.
Men's Discus and Jav were good.
This was a Track AND Field meet.
Norwood is consistent.
Patterson is definitely the one to beat in the 400M. Dobson is the darkhorse. He runs strangely to me. I don't understand how he's able to hold his form and speed in the last 100M while others are dying.
I am not impressed with the mixed 4x1.
It was a good meet.
Dobson isn't swimming as much as others over the last 100. He usually enters the home straight in 7th or 8th and closes hard. I don't think he can win like that in Tokyo. Patterson looked good and he should be up there. I think Matt Hudson Smith will finally get his gold this year
One more thought: nice to see Laura Muir back and running well. 3:57 is well down on her best from last season, but she finished well and didn't have a clean run on the final lap as someone stepped in front of her around 300m out, forcing her to check. Her medalling days might be over, but I'd like to see her competitive. I think she probably retires after the Commonwealths in Glasgow next year
One more thought: nice to see Laura Muir back and running well. 3:57 is well down on her best from last season, but she finished well and didn't have a clean run on the final lap as someone stepped in front of her around 300m out, forcing her to check. Her medalling days might be over, but I'd like to see her competitive. I think she probably retires after the Commonwealths in Glasgow next year
I agree. I do wonder if she could be successful at the 5k or longer road races? But it’s so competitive these days. She’s one of my favourite athletes so I’ll be sad when she retires.
And Nordas 3:20.26 in Pfungstadt. 53.1/ 25.7 / 12.6
14.2 - 13.2 - 13.1 - 12.6
Four "Norwegians" in Tokyo: Jakob Ingebrigtsen, Narve Gilje Nordås, Håkon Moe Berg and the portugese Jose Carlos Pinto. 1:45.12 with an impressiv last 120. PB 1.49.And the way he won 5000 in the portugese championships: 13.29 in 36 degrees Celsius. He is ready to run very, very, fast in Tokyo.
One more thought: nice to see Laura Muir back and running well. 3:57 is well down on her best from last season, but she finished well and didn't have a clean run on the final lap as someone stepped in front of her around 300m out, forcing her to check. Her medalling days might be over, but I'd like to see her competitive. I think she probably retires after the Commonwealths in Glasgow next year
I agree. I do wonder if she could be successful at the 5k or longer road races? But it’s so competitive these days. She’s one of my favourite athletes so I’ll be sad when she retires.
Her 5k time is poor. She's never been a high volume runner and that begins to hurt from the 5k upwards. She might do some fun running but retirement seems more likely to me. She has a viable alternative career so doesn't need to cling on to athletics until the bitter end
Triple jump: help you jump bigger river with rocks in it
And 100m in no way helps you escape a bear that wants to eat you. You're toast in that situation unless you have a weapon (javelin, shot put) or vehicle (any motorsport).
What about discus?
I wish people would lay off the TJ - it's more entertaining than the vertical jumps.