World Track and Field Championships: Stay Tuned for the Next Drama

Ato Boldon had a premonition.

He saw a major track star sparking a controversy at the on-going World Track and Field Championships in Daegu, South Korea. The controversy would erupt over the athlete's sudden disqualification.

Boldon, a former sprint great and now esteemed track-and-field analyst for NBC's Universal Sports, never claimed to be a prophet. He simply expressed his prediction in a casual tweet about two weeks ago.

But boy, has his premonition proven to be prophetic!

Only three days into the meet, we've had four major track stars deprived of their goals through various means of disqualification:

Christine Ohuruogu (GBR)—2008 Olympic champion; false start in 400m heats.

Dwain Chambers (GBR)—2010 World Indoor champion, 60m; false start in 100m semis.

Usain Bolt (JAM)—No descriptors necessary, false start in 100m finals.

Dayron Robles (CUB)—2008 Olympic champion, world record holder; interference, 110m hurdles final.

And now there's even some scuttle-butt about a program cover jinx, ala Sports Illustrated. UPDATE: The cover jinx continues. Yelena Isinbayeva (RUS), world record holder and favorite in the women's pole vault, finished a disappointing sixth.

The sport of track and field, which had been hoping to draw positive attention through the World Championships—on the merits of its star's performances—is now reaping a harvest of inquiring minds who are tuning in just to witness the next dramatic controversy.

With such a captive audience—and with a little good fortune—perhaps the sport will snare a whole new wave of fans by giving us the remaining seven days filled with World Championship-caliber competition.

But count on a little more juicy controversy sprinkled in the mix. Boldon had another tweet today:

"Next big drama will probably be a distance fall or a step on the inside lane violation."

 ~ For some great previews on the other athletes to watch, go here and here.

 ~ Here's an easy-view World Championships schedule (scroll down).

What: 2011 World Track and Field Championships
When: August 27-September 4, 2011
Where: Daegu, South Korea
Coverage (Online and TV): details here.

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