Report 3 - Day 1

March 7 - 21:00

Nick Davies reports from Paris

What a terrific day for Greek sport. Not only was Athens selected by the IOC to be one of the final five candidates for the 2004 Olympic Games but Haralamboes Papadias shocked some big name rivals to win the first men’s final of the championships, the 60m, in a new national record of 6.50. Papadias, who had looked impressive in previous rounds, did not have a fantastic start but kept his cool to claw back Michael Green’s early lead. Surprisingly, defending champion Bruny Surin was not in contention at all but Davidson Ezinwa of Nigeria set a personal best of 6.52 to finish third with Ray Stewart fourth in 6.55. Now Papadias will focus on making a similar impact in the IAAF World Championships that take place in Athens this summer.

The women’s 60m final, set to renew the rivalry between Irina Privalova and Gail Devers, ended in tears for the Russian after she pulled a hamstring while leading the race. Privalova, had a fantastic start and looked to be pulling away after 40 metres when disaster struck. With a look of horror on her face Privalova tried to continue before her leg gave way. She crossed the line (her time was even officially recorded as 7.88) before falling to the ground. Before beginning her victory lap Devers went over to console her great rival. In such unfortunate circumstances the victory of the Olympic 100m champion in 7.06 was somewhat devalued. Chandra Sturrup won silver for the Bahamas in 7.15 while Frederique Bangue raised a huge cheer from the crowd by winning France’s first medal in 7.17.

In earlier action Hicham El Guerrouj, perhaps to show that he too had a world record in him, cruised to victory in his 1500m heat. With two laps left to run El Guerrouj made an incredible surge which took him 15 metres clear of his rivals. Then, almost contemptuously, he relaxed his pace but the race was already over. Only Kenya’s William Tanui and Germany’s Rudiger Stenzel look likely to trouble the Moroccan in the final.

Germany’s Sabine Braun, Heptathlon World Champion outdoors back in 1991, took the Pentathlon gold with a finely balanced performance to record 4780. Braun’s best performance was in the 60m hurdles where she established a new "world best" in the Pentathlon of 8.11. Her compatriot Mona Steigauf set a new personal best of 4681 to win silver.

Ato Boldon won his heat of the 200m in 20.41, a new Championships best, with the impressive American Kevin Little equalling his personal best of 20.46. Boldon took an early lead and held his form well despite being pressurised by Little.

Back

Reports from the championships.