Tokyo 2020 Olympics most anticipated action has started in Olympic Stadium. First day programme, mostly filled by heats, ended with men’s 10,000 metres final.
Here are some notes from the opening day action.
♦ Selemon Barega’s emphatic win up Ethiopia to six Olympic victory in this discipline, second after Finland (7).
♦ Uganda became just fourth country to have podium double in 10,000 metres men, joining Finland, United States and Ethiopia.
♦ Best Kenyan athlete finished 7th (Rodgers Kwemoi) in 10,000 metres final. Never happened since 1984.
♦ Slowest race since 1992 Barcelona, which ran in hotter conditions from Tokyo (31 degrees).
♦ Canada’s Andrea Seccafian secured the last berth in Women’s 5000 metres final in best ever cut-off for the final.
♦ Since 2000, Ethiopia is projected to final with full force – three athletes – as Kenya follows them with four consecutive ones.
♦ 2000-born Nadia Batoccletti, second Italian woman to run under 15 mins, progressed to new PB with 14:55.83
♦ Starting from London, China has three women in shot put final once again, only country to achieve that in Tokyo final.
♦ Valerie Adams became the first woman to progress to fifth Olympic final in shot put.
♦ US 4x4 mixed team clocked 3:11.39, disqualified for out of zone baton change, but reinstated after appeal. Nine teams will contest in the final.
