Marcell Jacobs in semifinals without shining
The words of Marcell Jacobs
Marcell Jacobs’ debut brings with it qualification for the semifinals. But having said that, it seems clear how the Tokyo hero is forced to struggle against one more opponent: the muscle problem that, although solved, still seems to limit his action. Jacobs is second in his heat in 10.04 (wind +0.2), surpassed only by Jamaican Oblique Seville (9.93), the man who, on balance, breaks an unbeaten streak that lasted since the Games. After a good start, it is an open battle between the Jamaican and the Brescian, but without the latter being able to abandon himself, in search of that fluidity of gesture that had been his trademark last year. How much the limitation is voluntary (to avoid damage), or instead the result of the difficulties suffered so far, only Jacobs can say.
Who in fact recounts, “I think I got a good start,” he says in the immediate aftermath of the race, “and even accelerated in the right way. But then, I can’t let go. Now I have to try to put myself in the hands of the physiotherapist as soon as possible, to try to be in better condition for the semifinals. Preparation-wise, I think I’m fine, otherwise, in light of the above, I wouldn’t be able to run 10.04.” The wait will last only a few hours. Tomorrow, in the Italian night between Saturday and Sunday (3 a.m. on Sunday), will come the time for the verdict. On the track, meanwhile, many of the opponents – as expected – are going strong, very strong. Americans first and foremost. Fred Kerley has a plan: to terrorize everyone, which he actually does very well, by virtue of a frightening 9.79 in battery (+0.1). Trayvon Bromell jokes in the last few meters but still stops the stopwatch at 9.89 (+0.6), and after Seville, 19-year-old Letsile Tebogo, Botswana, whose 9.94 is the world junior record figure, also comes to the fore. Seven drop below 10 seconds, Marcell signing the tenth time. Little glory for Chituru Ali, whose 10.40 was the result of a series of mistakes and a stop a few meters before the finish line, with the race now compromised.
