Athletics Wanganui and Wanganui Collegiate athletics captain Lexi Maples (left) with the world 200 metre Champion Dafne Scippers at Azusa California in April.
The Olympic Stadium in London once again proved to be a magnificent venue for track and field championships with the curtain coming down on Sunday on a truly magnificent edition of the IAAF World Track and Field Championships.
For 10 days those lucky enough to be able to follow the action on Sky TV and those even luckier to be among the 701,000 ticket holders in London watched a great sporting event.
Sport is at its best when there is a degree of uncertainty and drama surrounding the final result and this was certainly the case in London.
Not only were the in-stadium events magnificent and wonderfully presented but the choice of venues for the out of stadium venues were outstanding. The marathon course along the banks of the Thames starting and finishing on Tower Bridge with both men's and women's events run back to back proved to be successful.
The choice of venue for the walks along the Mall with Buckingham Palace as a backdrop was inspirational with the walks blessed with glorious sunshine.
The medals were shared by 42 countries with additional athletes coming from ANA (Authorized neutral athletes) demonstrating once again that the universality of the sport. USA had an outstanding championships winning 30 medals (10 gold), Kenya were second courtesy of their distance runners with 11 medals (5 gold) with South Africa third with six medals (3 gold).
The host nation ended up sixth also with six medals (2 gold) but also had five fourth places and a fifth which raised the nation to third if top eight places are used as a measure. This is perhaps a better measure and is one I always use when analysing local results at the New Zealand Schools Championships.
New Zealand did not repeat the medal success of Rio de Janeiro where four medals were won. However Tomas Walsh with his win in the shot became our first male medal winner at the IAAF Championships.
As mentioned last week Eliza McCartney, still only 20, had an injury hampered preparation finished 9th, Nick Willis also had injury problems throughout his build up but demonstrated that at 34 there is still a place for him on the world stage when he finished 8th over the 1500m. More importantly the passion and desire is still there as Willis turns his attention to next year's Commonwealth Games on the Gold Coast.
Valerie Adams has of course had a year out of the sport expecting her first child in a couple of months. Jack Gill finished 9th in the shot and with age on his side has an exciting future and Quentin Rew set a New Zealand record and a huge personal best finishing 12th in the 49 strong field in the 50km walk on the Mall on Sunday.
There were so many memorable moments from London including the sad end of two great athletic careers. Mo Farah as mentioned last week won the 10,000 metres but had to settle for second over 5000 metres while we were all saddened to see Usain Bolt limp off the track in his final relay.
The home crowd gained considerable consolation with a superb British victory in the event. Britain won medals in all four relays demonstrating the importance of that team aspect for Team GB ( I share in that). Japan demonstrated in the same relay that baton changing and team work are vital and were rewarded with a bronze.
The USA women proved in the steeplechase with a stunning first and second place that non Kenyans can excel just as it was good to see two Europeans on the podium with Frenchman Pierre-Ambroise Bosse taking gold - the unpredictability I referred to earlier.
I particularly enjoyed watching Australian Sally Pearson take an unexpected gold in the 100 metre hurdles battling back from a horrific injury.
As a young school age athlete I was lucky enough to be invited to the Welsh Games and will never forget competing at the same meet as the great Kenyan Kip Keino and also watch Welsh Olympic gold medal long jump winner jump against the great American Ralph Boston. Such inspiration helped develop a life-long passion for the sport
Four young Whanganui athletes were lucky enough to be alongside three IAAF Championship medal winners at Azusa California in April.
Dafne Schippers, who successfully retained her world title over 200 metres in London, ran in both the 200 metres and 100 metres with world class performances in each with IAAF bronze medal winner Tianna Bartoletta taking second in the latter demonstrating the importance of speed for jumpers.
The athletes also got a preview of the triple jump with multiple global title winner Christian Taylor in winning action.
This live and TV action is inspirational an vital for young athletes.