Day 7 - 11 May 2018
What a day! Start and finish within a day. And everything is pretty mixed again. Due to the action in Swimming and in the Sprint, and their consequences for the overall standings, I leave the Marathon aside today, because it is currently a little quieter there. Of course, the teams have shifted their focus a bit at the moment. Because in the next few hours, the first decision comes in:
Swimming
What a finale is awaiting us here. The spectators jump up from their seats. If somebody isn't on their feat by now, call the amulance. SUSA has just taken the lead again after P3D (#2) managed to pass the Americans. What else can both teams mobilize in order to win the final sprint?
The fight for bronze is no less exciting. In 2015, AF (#3) last managed to step onto the podium in a discipline, and appear highly motivated. TC (#4) currently have to lick their scales, they could not withstand the furious attack in the last hours and had to give up bronze. But I am sure that the fire breathers from the Far East have not set off all the fireworks yet.
SG (#5) continues to break away from [H] (#6), but the lead is not too large for a final bunker hit. This was already delivered by TAAT. With an awesome boost, they passed OCN (#8) and CNT (#9) to take #7. If there is still juice, it is even possible to attack 5th place! This makes the spurt of the Czechs appear almost puny, but far from it. Here too, a strong intermediate sprint has ensured a significant improvement.
Losers of the last hours are Poland (#10) and RKN (#11), but this does not mean that both will give up already. No danger seems to threaten from behind. The distance is comfortable and Australia (#12) does not make an effort to attack. Place 13 seems to be the maximum achievable for Meisterkühler. They are still in this position, but EVGA (#14) is already asserting its claim. Italy (#15) is still there too, even though they just had to yield their position.
Chinese Dream (#16) and USA (#17) seem to be happy with their rankings, and LTT Forums are looking pretty at #18. But behind them, #19 is still contested. Ukraine (#19), LITOMYSL (#20), Boincstats (#21), and even the AMD Users (#22) are players here. Place 23 is not yet secured by Das Kartell, because SETIKAH (#24) is showing up again and again. And you should not disregard 2ch (#25) either, dear readers.
Mixi has a good chance to enter #26. Meanwhile, the Boinc Confederation (#27) has come under pressure. Crystal Dream (#28) is getting closer and has passed the UK BOINC Team (#29). Pfalz (#30), US Army (#31), and Bitola (#32) are apparently content to be at the end of the field.
Sprint
It is no surprise that SUSA (#1) came out of the starting block the fastest. Behind them, TC placed themselves onto #2, but only a little ahead of P3D (#3). SG did not start as badly as usual. 4th place is a good starting position to have a say in the fight for medals. TAAT (#5) are only narrowly behind the Germans and have OCN (#6), CNT (#7), and [H] (#8) behind them.
Unsurprisingly, rank 9 is held by RKN, followed by Italy who started very well. Swimming probably takes its toll from AF, because merely #11 is currently on the scoreboard. Behind them, the gaps are paper-thin. Rankings there will certainly change a lot in the next few hours. But for now, LTT Forums are surely enjoying #12, followed by EVGA (#13), USA (#14), MK (#15), Australia (#16), and the UK Boinc Team (#17).
Behind them is gaping a small void. SETIKAH (#18) lead this part of the field ahead of Poland (#19), AMD Users (#20), 2ch (#21), Boincstats (#22), and Chinese Dream (#23). Behind them, the distances are microscopic: BOINC Confederation (#24) just so ahead of Ukraine (#25). Mixi (#26) and Crystal Dream (#27) are also separate by a hair only.
As you can see, there is still a lot of entertainment to be had here. Time is running quick and the distances are tight. All the ingredients for a thrilling sprint race are here.
Overall
The overall standings have changed quite a bit with the sprint. While SUSA continue to lead P3D, and TC can consolidate #3, a lot happened behind them. SG are now at #4, very narrowly in front of [H]. TAAT have improved to #6, passing AF (#7). OCN (#8) are gaining many points on AF due to the sprint, and are thus putting on pressure. CNT (#9), RKN (#10), MK (#11), and Italy (#12) can hold their placings for the time being. The Italians gained points, breaking away from EVGA (#13), USA (#14), and Australia (#15).
LTT Forums (#16) are also leapfrogging because of the Sprint, taking advantage of the current sprint weaknesses of Poland (#17), AMD Users (#18), Chinese Dream (#19), and Ukraine (#20). The good intermediate result also helps the UK Boinc Team (#21), who sprinted forward together with 2ch (#22) and SETIKAH (#23). Boincstats can hold #24, but this is due to the short-circuit weakness of Das Kartell (#25), LITOMYSL (#26), and Mixi (#27). At #28 is the Boinc Confederation, ahead of Crystal Dream (#29), US Army (#30) and Pfalz (#31).
You know what you have to do today? Find answers!
Who will win Swimming?
Will AF finally get a medal again?
What is still awaiting us in the Sprint?
As you can see, it remains exciting at the BOINC Pentathlon.
Jeeper
[Based on stats at 09:00 UTC]