Athletics / World Athletics Championships: Uproar over lifting hitch for walkers: Race in disarray as judge exposes flaws in technique

THE event is known as the 20 kilometres walk. Yesterday in the Gottlieb Daimler stadium it became the 20km farce. After the eventual winner, Valentin Massana of Spain, had reached the track, the atmosphere descended to that of a pantomime. The villain of the piece was an official with a clipboard and a little red table tennis bat, which indicated disqualification for 'lifting' - not keeping one or other foot on the ground at any one time.

As the crowd whistled in outrage, he presented one after another walker with his bat. It was as welcome as the black spot.

Some competitors were stopped in the tunnel. Some as they entered the track. Some 50m from the line. One 10m from it. As the rejected and dejected raged impotently or consoled each other, it became clear that another two men had slipped through the net and been allowed to finish unhindered. The overall spectacle called into question the validity of an event which is becoming increasingly marred by incidents such as these.

The walkers' feelings of frustration were matched by those of Andrei Skyaryuk, of the Ukraine, who had all three throws ruled out in the hammer event, which was won by Andrei Abduvaliev, of Tajikistan. The second of them was without fault, but declared invalid because he had exceeded his one-and-a-half minute time limit. By two seconds. All in all, a bad night for officials and common sense.

Steve Backley, who failed, bafflingly, to qualify for the javelin final at the last World Championships, has avoided the same fate this time around. But all is far from well with him. Like Britain's other thrower in tonight's final, Mick Hill, he has been suffering from a strained muscle in his groin. His best throw yesterday, 79.64m, was produced from a cautious stance designed to prevent him causing himself further injury; now he must decide whether he can afford to risk all.

'At least now that I'm in the final there's something to put my neck on the line for,' he said. 'I'll just tune in to that first throw and hit it as hard as I possibly can. If my adductor goes at least I can say I've given it a try.'

Marion Sutton, one of two British entrants in yesterday's marathon, may be consoling herself with exactly that sentiment after a race which was run in nearly 70 per cent humidity and a temperature of 25C. 'I never really felt comfortable out there,' she said after finishing 14th in a time of 2hr 39min 45sec. 'I'm taking up 100m, I'm telling you . . .'

Junko Asari became the first Japanese to take a major marathon title, despite the long tradition of running the distance in her country, finishing in 2:30:03. Germany's London marathon winner, Katrin Dorre, slipped out of contention from the halfway point, finishing sixth. Mysteriously, the Chinese - who have the four fastest runners in the world this year - did not enter a single runner.

The distance of the Tianjing marathon run on 4 April, at which the first eight finishers were timed under 2hr 27min, has been officially questioned. But it may be that the Chinese are saving their energies for a team performance in the World Marathon Cup this October.

Meanwhile another Briton well acquainted with injury, Steve Cram, has been assessing his chances in the 1500m later this week. Having achieved the qualifying mark at the last possible opportunity in Cologne at the beginning of this month, the 32- year-old world mile record-holder was left limping for two days with an injured calf and he was not able to get in a full training session until last Monday. 'I am going to aim to get to the final,' he said. 'My head and my heart are certainly willing. It's just whether my legs can cope.'

Martin Steele, the fastest 800m runner in the world this year, failed to reach the final here, but Curtis Robb and Tom McKean did so creditably. McKean won his heat in 1min 45.64sec, while Robb ran a personal best of 1:44.92 to take the second qualification place in a heat which saw Johnny Gray, of the United States, drop from first to last around the final bend. Gray was enraged afterwards, claiming that several runners, including Robb, had baulked him. Once again he has failed to perform to his potential in a major championship.

A crowd eager for home performances to cheer had their hearts' desire in the competition between two Germans, Heike Drechlser and Susan Tiedtke, in the long jump, which Drechsler won with a leap of 7.11m.

Michael Johnson qualified for today's 400m semi-finals in 44.72sec, looking absurdly relaxed after slowing down almost 80 metres out. His team- mates Quincy Watts and Butch Reynolds joined him, the latter in a time 0.01sec faster. But both appeared to be working far harder than the 200m world champion.

(Photograph omitted)