Day 6 Recap: Bolt Beats Gatlin (Again) in 200, Christian Taylor Scares the World Record and Allyson Felix Reigns Supreme

By LetsRun.com
August 27, 2015

BEIJING — Day 6 at the Bird’s Nest in Beijing saw some incredible action as Christian Taylor scared the world record in the triple jump and Allyson Felix was golden in the 400. But once again it was king of the track and field, Usain Bolt, stealing the show as he crushed Justin Gatlin in the 200m, 19.55 to 19.74, to show he is without a doubt still the world’s best sprinter.

We recap all of Thursday’s action below starting with Usain St. Leo Bolt. The only event we don’t cover is the women’s 800 semifinals, which were so ridiculous they get their own article here.

Men’s 200m: Bolt Blasts Gatlin And Then Gets RUN OVER by Segway after the Race

After the 100m, the debate in the track and field world was whether Bolt had won the 100m, or whether Justin Gatlin’s stumble had given the 100m to Bolt.

There was no debate after the 200m as Bolt made this one no contest, running 19.55 to Gatlin’s 19.74. Both men started well and Bolt had a slight lead heading onto the straightaway. It was soon no contest as Bolt pulled away from Gatlin. This time Gatlin flailed his arms again like in the 100, but it was because there was nothing he could do to get any closer to Bolt.

Bolt had time to let up before the finish and pump his chest vigorously as he crossed the line. The king was firmly atop his throne. All Gatlin could do was smile; no there was no beating Bolt today.

Race video for US vistors:

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Results from All-Athletics.com (wind: -0.1)

Bolt made the Bird’s Nest crowd come to life like no one else in track and field during a raucous victory lap that almost ended in tragic fashion. As Bolt was on the homestretch of his victory lap a cameraman on a Segway came up behind him and as he got close to Bolt from behind, lost control of the Segway and it clipped Bolt from behind as the camerman, Bolt, and the Segway all tumbled to the ground.

https://vine.co/v/ejQd0iZdBBU

Video of fall below (non-US visitors click here)

Fortunately, Bolt got up, limped slightly, but then continued on his victory lap, even returning to make sure the cameraman was ok. There was another scare later on the victory lap as a man dressed in what appeared to be the same uniform as the security came onto the track and attempted to get near to Bolt (we’re not sure if he made contact with Bolt or not), before being chased away and apprehended by security as he tried to scale the wall surrounding the track.

Usain Bolt can entertain the track and field world like no other and that was the case tonight in Beijing. His post-race press interactions were hilarious as well. Watch them below to get a good feel for his personality.

Video with Bolt post race: (Bolt/Gatlin press conference here)

Full Medalist Press Conference With Bolt and Gatlin and Jobodwana.

Post-Race Interview with Gatlin:

Men’s Triple Jump: Christian Taylor Gives the World Record a Scare

Taylor came thisclose to Edwards’ world record (and he left some on the board)

As expected, Christian Taylor and Pedro Pablo Pichardo were in a tight battle for triple jump gold. That is, until the final round. That is when Taylor, already in the lead with a 17.68 jump (to Pichardo’s 17.60; both men had been over 18 meters this year), unleashed a monster. Taylor knew it was big and got out of the pit and did a bow of respect.

When it was measured, the scoreboard showed 18.21, the #2 legal jump of all time, just eight centimeters off of Jonathan Edwards’ world record. The replays also showed Taylor left about 10 centimeters on the board, so with a perfect leap, he could have been the new world record holder.

Pichardo still had the final jump of the competition remaining, and while he improved to 17.73, the night rightfully belonged to Christian Taylor.

POS	BIB	ATHLETE	COUNTRY	MARK	Wind	DETAIL	Attempt 1	Attempt 2	Attempt 3	Attempt 4	Attempt 5	Attempt 6
1	1062	Christian Taylor	USA	18.21	+0.2	WL	16.85 +0.4	17.49 +0.2	17.60 +0.2	17.68 +0.1	17.22 +0.1	18.21 +0.2
2	382	Pedro P. Pichardo	CUB	17.73	+0.2		17.52 -0.6	17.44 +0.2	17.60 +0.2	17.33 -0.1	17.52 -1.4	17.73 +0.2
3	817	Nelson Évora	POR	17.52	+0.3	SB	17.28 +0.3	X	17.29 -0.6	X -0.3	X	17.52 +0.3
4	1007	Omar Craddock	USA	17.37	+0.2		17.14 +0.4	17.08 +0.2	X 0.0	17.14 +0.4	17.37 +0.2	16.50 +0.1
5	862	Lyukman Adams	RUS	17.28	+0.3		X	17.12 +0.3	17.28 +0.3	X -0.2	17.21 0.0	17.23 +0.1
6	835	Marian Oprea	ROU	17.06	+0.4		17.06 +0.4	16.23 +0.2	–	–	–	X 0.0
7	885	Dmitriy Sorokin	RUS	16.99	+0.4		16.99 +0.4	16.38 +0.3	X	X 0.0	X -0.8	X -0.2
8	772	Tosin Oke	NGR	16.81	+0.4		16.77 +0.5	X	16.81 +0.4	X	X	X -0.6
9	851	Godfrey Khotso Mokoena	RSA	16.81	+0.3		16.57 -0.5	16.76 +0.2	16.81 +0.3
10	205	Leevan Sands	BAH	16.68	+0.3		16.68 +0.3	X +0.3	16.47 +0.2
11	755	Jonathan Drack	MRI	16.64	+0.1		X	16.15 +0.2	16.64 +0.1
12	491	Benjamin Compaoré	FRA	16.63	+0.2		X	X	16.63 +0.2

Christian Taylor Bows

QT #1: An American Training in the Netherlands With a Dutch Coach Gets the US Back on Track
The US had struggled at these championships and it took an American who lives and trains in the Netherlands with a Dutch coach to get the US back on the gold medal stand with its second gold of the championships. Minutes later Allsyon Felix would up the gold medal tally for USA.

Audio interview with Taylor:

QT #2: Craddock loses bronze on final jump

2008 Olympic champ Nelson Evora of Portugal saved his best for last, jumping 17.52 on his final jump to snatch the bronze from Omar Craddock of the US.

Women’s 400m: Allyson Felix Gets 400m Crown and a PB

Allyson Felix had won a dozen World and Olympic gold medals before tonight. However, they all had been in the 200, 4×100 or 4×400. That changed in 49.26 seconds as Felix ran a lifetime best to hold off a strong challenge from former world junior champ Shaunae Miller, who PR’d in 49.67 for silver, as Jamaica’s Shericka Jackson went sub-50 for the first time to get bronze in 49.99. Defending world champ Christine Ohuruogu faded down the homestretch to last in 50.63.

Race video (for US visitors)

Post-Race Interview With Felix

Results from All-Athletics.com

QT #1: Time for a change?
With 12 gold medals, Felix didn’t need this title to cement her legacy, but it will get people talking about changing the schedule at the Olympics to make the 200/400 double possible in Rio. Right now, the first round of the 200 is 75 minutes before the 400 final.

QT #2: The world hasn’t seen a sub-49 since 2009
While Felix helped turn around the fortunes of the US tonight, the 400m was one event where things could have been even better. Heading into Worlds, the US had the top two 400m runners on the world list, Sanya Richards-Ross and Francena McCorory. Problem was, neither made the US team individually. Who knows what they could have done tonight, but they are fresh for the 4×400.

Speaking of SRR, there hasn’t been a sub-49 clocking since Richards-Ross closed out the season in Brussels in 2009 with a 48.83.

Women’s Hammer Record Holder Anna Wlodarczyk Wins World Title, Just Misses WR

Hammer world record holder and 2012 Olympic silver medallist Anita Wlodarczyk of Poland (81.08 pb) picked up her second world title with a heave of 80.85 that just missed her world record of 81.08 (it was still a championship record). It was Wlodarczyk’s first global title since the 2009 Worlds as she dominated the event with four throws good enough to win.

POS	BIB	ATHLETE	COUNTRY	MARK	DETAIL	Attempt 1	Attempt 2	Attempt 3	Attempt 4	Attempt 5	Attempt 6
1	684	Anita Wlodarczyk	POL	80.85	CR	74.40	78.52	80.27	80.85	79.31	X
2	266	Wenxiu Zhang	CHN	76.33	SB	73.47	75.92	73.65	76.33	69.93	72.99
3	380	Alexandra Tavernier	FRA	74.02		74.02	69.59	X	67.83	69.93	70.60
4	400	Sophie Hitchon	GBR	73.86	NR	71.20	71.44	73.65	71.06	72.10	73.86
5	260	Zheng Wang	CHN	73.83		72.92	68.80	X	X	71.50	73.83
6	432	Kathrin Klaas	GER	73.18	SB	70.61	72.72	73.13	72.65	71.64	73.18
7	428	Betty Heidler	GER	72.56		69.33	72.56	72.24	72.35	71.22	69.85
8	607	Zalina Marghieva	MDA	72.38		72.15	72.20	72.38	X	71.87	X
9	862	Amanda Bingson	USA	72.35	SB	72.35	68.86	X
10	162	Alena Sobaleva	BLR	70.09		63.52	67.80	70.09
11	939	Rosa Rodríguez	VEN	67.78		X	X	67.78
	869	Amber Campbell	USA	NM		X	X	X

Women’s 200m Semis: Thompson, Asher-Smith, Schippers Set Up Wide-Open Final

Elaine Thompson, Candyce McGrone, Dafne Schippers (silver in 100 earlier), and Dina Asher-Smith had the four fastest season’s bests in the field coming in and they ran the four fastst times here with Thompson and Asher-Smith looking the best.

USA champ and new pro Jenna Prandini did not advance, but confirmed to LRC after the race she has signed with Puma.

Results from All-Athletics.com

Semifinal 1, Wind: -0.1

Semifinal 2, Wind: -0.1

Semifinal 3, Wind: -0.1

Men’s 110 M Hurdles: 3 Americans Making the Final Including World Record Holder Aries Merritt Who Is Having a Kidney Transplant Next Tuesday

All the favorites, including three Americans, made the final, but the most amazing story is that of Aries Merritt. The world record holder is receiving a kidney transplant next Tuesday, yet he led the qualifying with a 13.08.

Results from All-Athletics.com

Semifinal 1, Wind: 0.0

Semifinal 2, Wind: -0.2

Semifinal 3, Wind: -0.1