HELSINKI, Aug 9: Torrential rain followed by a thunderstorm forced the world athletics championships to be suspended for over an hour here on Tuesday. The championships were due to restart, but the men’s 200 metres quarterfinals were postponed till Wednesday’s morning session and the women’s discus final will now take place on Thursday evening.

The men’s triple jump qualifying round was also postponed to Wednesday. The second heat of the women’s 100 metres hurdles was halted due to the rain just as the runners were down in the blocks while the women’s discus final was also suspended after just one competitor had thrown.

The decathletes were left stranded down by the high jump as it reached its climax. Meanwhile, in an attempt at humour the public address system played ‘It’s Raining Men’ by the Weather Girls’.

Organisers said the men’s triple jump qualifying and 200 metres quarterfinals would be staged on Wednesday.

The storm struck after the first heat of the women’s 100 metres hurdles and sent athletes and officials scurrying from the Olympic stadium. The decathlon high jump was interrupted and only four throws were possible in the women’s discus.

Torrential rain fell for about 90 minutes, flooding the track and the infield. Tuesday’s three remaining finals are the men’s 3,000 metres steeplechase, the women’s 800 metres and the men’s 400 metres hurdles.—Agencies

Medals table - Day Three

G S B T

United States 3 1 0 4

Ethiopia 2 2 1 5

Sweden 2 0 1 3

Belarus 1 2 0 3

Jamaica 1 2 0 3

Russia 1 1 1 3

Ecuador 1 0 0 1

Lithuania 1 0 0 1

Uganda 1 0 0 1

Spain 0 1 1 2

France 0 1 1 2

Cuba 0 1 0 1

Estonia 0 1 0 1

Netherlands 0 1 0 1

Germany 0 0 2 2

Kenya 0 0 2 2

Ghana 0 0 1 1

Poland 0 0 1 1

Portugal 0 0 1 1

St Kitts & Nevis 0 0 1 1

—Reuters