London,<\/p>\n
South African star Wayde van Niekerk is halfway to his target of the 400m and 200m world double after easing to victory in the former in London.<\/p>\n
The 25-year-old\u2019s task of landing both eased considerably with main rival Isaac Makwala of Botswana barred from running by the sport\u2019s governing body because he had been diagnosed with the highly contagious norovirus on Tuesday.<\/p>\n
It didn\u2019t prevent the 30-year-old from turning up at the warm-up track only to be turned away. The International Association of Athletics Federations (IAAF) said he should be in quarantine and not near the track.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt was definitely a heartbreaking moment,\u201d Van Niekerk said. \u201cI have a lot of sympathy for Isaac.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt is quite disappointing. I would have liked him to have his opportunity.<\/p>\n
\u201cBut this is sports, these things happen.\u201d Van Niekerk added that the double was not a given.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s easier said than done,\u201d he said. \u201cIt\u2019s competition, it\u2019s very unpredictable.<\/p>\n
\u201cMy body still feels very good. It took me a while to recover tonight.<\/p>\n
\u201cBut from endurance I go straight to speed tomorrow…<\/p>\n
It\u2019s a day-by-day, step-by-step process for us athletes.\u201d Botswana suffered further disappointment as 800m race favourite Nijel Amos\u2014second on the same track in the 2012 Olympic final\u2014faded to finish fifth with Frenchman Pierre-Ambroise Bosse taking a deserved gold for a bold and brave performance which he revealed afterwards reflected his love of gambling.<\/p>\n
\u201cI am a gambler, I love going to the casino,\u201d said Bosse.<\/p>\n
\u201cAnd today I just gambled, I put everything on the red, even my last Euro. So hopefully, this is also for luck in love.\u201d<\/p>\n
However, for his compatriot Renaud Lavillenie his world gold drought continued even in the stadium where he won Olympic gold in 2012.<\/p>\n
The Frenchman had to settle for bronze\u2014his fifth minor medal in the world championships\u2014with American Sam Kendricks taking the title in front of his parents and girlfriend to boot.<\/p>\n
Kipruto takes steeple<\/p>\n
Conselsus Kipruto maintained Kenya\u2019s fine record in the men\u2019s 3000 metres steeplechase winning in cheeky style from Morocco\u2019s Soufiane El bakkali with long-time leader Evan Jager of the United States third.<\/p>\n
Kipruto appeared to be under pressure from Elbakkali going to the last obstacle but once over it the Olympic champion cupped his hand to his ear and pounded his chest.<\/p>\n
\u201cI used my plans well and last night for morale I told myself: \u2018I am Olympic champion and that others must break me\u2019,\u201d said Kipruto.<\/p>\n
\u201cThere are others who are strong but I used my own plans.<\/p>\n
I knew if the race was around 8:10 that I was going to win.\u201d There was a second world title for the Czech Republic\u2019s women\u2019s javelin world record holder Barbora Spotakova.<\/p>\n
The 36-year-old\u2014a two-time Olympic champion\u2014won with a mark of 66.76 metres.<\/p>\n
\u201cAt this stadium, I am unbeatable,\u201d said Spotakova.<\/p>\n
\u201cThere must be something in the air about London. I cannot explain it but when I enter this stadium, I always feel so calm and relaxed.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe whole day I was thinking about my last world title which was ten years ago in Osaka. Actually, it is also almost exactly five years since my Olympic title here in London.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
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