Olympics Track and Field Part 2: Long Distance, Relays and Field Events

Athletics Begins Tomorrow in London

Today, Weekend Warriors previews the long distance and relay track events, as well as the field events that Canada has athletes competing in. While I would love to devote the same coverage to all field events and the race walking events as I do to the track events, I cannot profess to know nearly as much about the field and walking events as I do about the track. I apologize for the long blog post, but I hope it provides some insight into the Athletics programme that starts tomorrow. And so we start with the 5000m.

Men’s 5000m Run

The men’s 5000 has been dominated on the world stage by Ethiopian Kenenisa Bekele since he took over from countryman Haile Gebresselaisse at the 2004 Olympics in Athens earning Silver in the 5000 and Gold in the 10 000. However, the world record holder at 5000m has been on a slow decline since winning double gold in Beijing 2008 and is not contesting the 5000m this year, opting to compete in only the 10 000. This means it is someone else’s turn to rise to the top of the distance totem pole, and the favourite of this Olympic Games is hometown hero Mohammad Farah. Farah won gold at last year’s World Championships and while ranked 8^th in the world this year at the distance is favoured going in due to his racing savvy. Others expected to contest closely for a medal in this event are the United States’ Bernard Lagat (personal best of 12:53.60 and former world 5000m champion), as well as 17 year old Ethiopian wunderkind Hagos Gebrihwet, who holds this year’s second fastest time.. Expect this race to be extremely tactical with a blistering last lap. Canadian Content: Cameron Levins, NCAA Champion at 5000 and 10 000 will represent Canada in this event, but is not expected to be a factor.

Predictions – 1) Edwin Soi – KEN 2) Mo Farah – GBR 3) Bernard Lagat – USA

Ethiopia's Kenenisa Bekele

Men’s 10 000m Run

In what may be his Olympic swan song, Kenenisa Bekele enters this event ranked 3^rd in the world this year, and is in search of one thing and one thing only; another Olympic Gold medal. Bekele could be in tough however, coming off of injuries and inconsistent training for the first time in his career. Kenyans Wilson Kiprop and Moses Masai are currently 1 and 2 in the world, but Kenenisa and his younger brother Tariku Bekele both have times within a second and a half of the world lead and will be factors. Again, British poster boy Mohammad Farah will be a factor as he is coming off a silver medal in this event at last year’s world Championships. This could be the most exciting event of the Games, if you’re a distance fan that is. Canadian Content: Canada will be represented by NCAA 10 000m Champion Cameron Levins and 21 year old Mohammad Ahmed of St. Catharines. Ahmed boasts a 4^th place finish at the World Junior Championships over this distance in 2010. Both of these athletes will be long shots to break into the top 10 however.

Predictions – 1) Kenenisa Bekele – ETH 2) Mo Farah – GBR 3) Tariku Bekele – ETH

Men’s 3000m Steeplechase

To the casual track fans, this is the event in which you get to watch people take oftentimes painful tumbles into a pit of water, where you run the risk of having 1/8^th inch steel spikes, which can do quite a bit of damage (I speak from experience), slice up your back. This event almost entirely eliminates the sit and kick mentality as it champions rhythm running due to the barriers that the athletes must navigate, and is often won by smooth runners. It comes as no surprise that this event has never been won by anyone other than a Kenyan. Two of the all time greats in this event will compete in these games: Brimin Kipruto and Ezekiel Kemboi will race in the Kenyan colours and are expected to contest for a medal. American Evan Jager is a surprise on the scene boasting this year’s 4^th fastest time, but it is yet to see how he will do in navigating the rounds. Canadian Content: Alex Genest will contest the steeplechase for Canada but is not expected to advance out of the heats.

Predictions: 1) Brimin Kipruto – KEN 2) Mahiedine MEKHISSI-BENABBAD – FRA 3) Ezekiel Kemboi - KEN

Men’s 110m Hurdles

A showdown between current world record holder Dayron Robles of Cuba, and former world record holder Liu Xiang of China is imminent, but may not be the match up that produces an Olympic Gold. Robles has experienced injuries all year long, and after false starting in Beijing and being a virtual non factor on the world stage in the last few years, Xiang is coming into these games with a large question mark hovering over him. Americans Aries Merrit, Jason Richardson, and Jeff Porter boast 3 of the top 4 times this year and could potentially sweep the podium if they can make it through the rounds safely. Canadian Content: No Canadians will compete in this event.

Predictions: 1) Jason Richardson – USA 2) Aries Merrit – USA 3) Dayron Robles - CUB

Men’s 400m Hurdles

An event that used to be as automatic for America as the steeplechase was for Kenya is no longer a lock. The world lead is held by Puerto Rican Javier Culson, and Britain is championing another medal threat in David Greene who is ranked 2^nd in the world this year. Expect American veterans Angelo Taylor and Kerron Clement to show up and contend for a medal. Canadian Content: Canada does not have an entry in this event.

Predictions: 1) David Greene – GBR 2) Angelo Taylor – USA 3) Javier Culson – PUR

Jamaica Intends to Continue Their Relay Dominance

Men’s 4x100m Relay

Jamaica vs USA showdown, but Jamaica has the opportunity to put together the first relay ever that consists of all sub 9.80 second runners and is expected to push the 37 second barrier and be the first team ever to dip into the 36s in the 4x1. The United States needs to somehow avoid what seems to have become routinely bad handoffs and they may come close to pushing the Jamaican team. However Jamaica is unbeatable. That’s not a bold statement. It’s fact. My prediction of Jamaica for first is not a prediction. It’s going to happen. Canadian Content: In 2008 at Beijing the Canadian relay team finished 6^th. They will be expected to make the finals this time around, but not compete for a medal.

Predictions: 1) Jamaica 2) USA 3) France

Men’s 4x400m Relay

This event, like the 4x1 for the Jamaicans, is a virtual lock for the Americans. Each year it seems as if a different team appears to push them, but on the final leg, someone has broken away for the United States and led them to gold once again. How dominant is America in this event? They haven’t lost an Olympic 4x400 dating back to 1976 (excluding the boycotted 1980 Games in the USSR). Cuba and the Bahamas will be the Americans closest competitors in this event. Canadian Content: Canada is not fielding a 4x400m relay team.

Men’s Marathon

The Oldest Olympic event, and the longest at 26.2 miles and 42.2 kilometers, traditionally concludes the Olympic Games, and it is no different this year. Emmanuel Mutai of Kenya is the favourite going into the event, but anything can happen over such a long distance. Again, expect this event to be dominated by east Africans. Canadian Content: Dylan Wykes, Eric Gillis, and Reid Coolsaet will represent Canada in this event, but will not be factors.

Men’s Decathlon

After American, Ashton Eaton, set the current Decathlon World Record at the American Olympic Trials this past June, he cemented himself as the favourite in the Decathlon. Eaton is almost 500 points clear of the next Athlete and will probably only push his World Record further now that he’s competing internationally. This event truly does determine the world’s best athlete as these men compete in the 100, 110 Hurdles, 400, 1500, High Jump, Long Jump, Pole Vault, Shot Put, Discus Throw and Javelin Throw. These athletes are the definition of the Olympic slogan of Faster, Higher, Stronger. Canadian Content: Canadian Damian Warner will compete in this event, but likely not medal.

Predictions: 1) Ashton Eaton – USA 2) Trey Hardee – USA 3) Pascal Behrenbruch – GER

Canada's Derek Drouin Leaping 2.33m

Men’s High Jump

Russian Ivan Ukhov enters the event with a season best of 2.39m and a personal best of 2.40m and will be the man that most will be looking to defeat in the high jump. However, there are 22 men who have bested 2.30m this year, and in an event where weather determines jumping conditions so much, all of these athletes are in contention. Including Canadian medal hopeful Derek Drouin of Sarnia, Ontario. Drouin enters the event with one of the most impressive resumes of all contestants. Drouin is a 3 time NCAA Champion in the discipline, including 2 outdoor and 1 indoor champion. Not bad for an athlete who is entering his Senior year at Indiana University. Drouin will be a top 8 threat, but will have to leapfrog Americans Erik Kynard and Jesse Williams in order to claim a spot on the podium. Canadian Content: Both Drouin and Mike Mason will look to claim spots inside the top 8 while wearing the Red and White of Canada.

Predictions: 1) Ivan Ukhov – RUS 2) Jesse Williams – USA 3) Derek Drouin - CAN

Men’s Shot Put

Arguably Canada’s best chance at a medal in Track and Field. Dylan Armstrong throws for Canada coming off of a silver at last year’s World Championships, and will go head to head with the three Americans: Christian Cantwell, Reese Hoffa, and Ryan Whiting. The United States will look to sweep the podium, and Armstrong will likely need to have a toss of upwards of 22m in order to get there, but it is not out of reach for him.  Canadian Content: Justin Rodhe will compete for Canada alongside medal threat Dylan Armstrong.

Predictions: 1) Reese Hoffa – USA 2) Christian Cantwell  - USA 3) Dylan Armstrong – CAN

Men’s Hammer Throw

Canadian James Steacy competes in the event that is traditionally dominated by Eastern European countries. Don’t believe me? The top 5 entries in this event are from Bulgaria, Poland, Hungary and Russian. Considering I can’t even lift this event’s implement, nor pronounce these men’s names, I won’t attempt to have the audacity to make predictions for this event.

Men’s Javelin Throw

Canadian Curtis Moss will don the Red and White for Canada in this event, which is again dominated by Eastern European athletes. The Javelin has been dominated in the past by Finland native Tero Pitkamaki, and Norwegian Andreas Thorkildsen, and these two men will be expected to be at the top of the podium again. Look for them to bring the heat in the finals and throw much further than their current seasons bests of 84.90m and 84.72m respectively.