byLarry EderThe Aviva London Grand Prix is two days of amazing track & field, from sprints and distances to throws and jumps. Walt Murphy, one of our sport’s keenest observers, gives you a few of his predicted highlights from the meet. I am looking forward to watching Tyson Gay and Usain Bolt run, although in separate races. I will write about my picks in the next blog.
Bernard Lagat, winning the Nike Pre 3,000 meters, June 2009, courtesy of Photorun.net.
Walt Murphy’s News and Results Service
The Aviva London Grand Prix will take place in London on Friday and Saturday. A live webcast will be available at www.Universalsports.com (Friday-12:35pm-3:30pmET/9:35am-12:30pmPT/Saturday-8:45am-12:30pmET/5:45am-9:30amPT). Times for delayed TV broadcasts on Universal Sports: Friday-3:00pm-5:30pmET, Saturday-3:00pm-6pmET/check your local listings for the times in your area.
Time Schedule and Entries
http://www.uka.org.uk/uka-major-events/2009/aviva-london-grand-prix-2009/
IAAF Preview
http://www.iaaf.org/GP09/news/kind=100/newsid=52241.html
2009 World Lists
http://www.tilastopaja.org/
T&F News Discussion
http://www.trackandfieldnews.com/discussion/viewforum.php?f=1
Expected Highlights
Friday
Men’s Shot Put–World Championships Preview–Olympic champ Tomasz Majewski of Poland against the U.S. quartet of Reese Hoffam Christian Cantwell, Adam Nelson, and Dan Taylor.
Men’s 100(heats&final)–Usain Bolt and Asafa Powell. Not surprisingly, rain is predicted for Friday. Almost every time that Bolt has run this year (and run well), it’s been in the rain.
Women’s 800—Maggie Vessey is running out of opportunities as she still needs to run 2:00.00 or faster to earn a berth on the U.S. World Championship team. She’s come agonzingly close in her last two races–ran 2:00.14 in Rome on July 11 and 2:00.04 in Ghent, Belgium, this past Tuesday.
Saturday
Men’s 200–Double reigning World Champion Tyson Gay(100-200), who has been dealing with a lingering groin injury (http://tinyurl.com/mk2gp4), ran a personal best of 19.58 earlier this year.
Women’s 1500– Good matchup between Americans Shannon Rowbury, a 2008 Olympic finalist(7th) and Anna Willard, who has run personal bests of 1:58.80 and 4:01.44 this season. Willard, who qualified for the World Championships in both the 1500 and steeplechase, will only run the 1500 in Berlin.
Women’s 400-hurdles–Olympic Champion Melaine Walker against American Lashina Demus, who has the fastest time in the world this year(53.78).
Women’s 5000–World Record holder Tirunesh Dibaba is apparently healthy after an early-season injury. Renee Baillie (nee Metivier) could qualify for the U.S.World Championship team if she meets the A qualifying standard of 15:20.00.
Women’s 100-hurdles–Lolo Jones, who didn’t make the final at the U.S. Championships (and won’t be in Berlin), ran a world-leading 12.47 on Monday.
Men’s Mile–Bernard Lagat, Leo Manzano, and Lopez Lomong, all of whom will run the 1500-meters for the U.S. at the World Championships, are in the field. Lagat is the reigning World Champion in the 1500 and 5000.
Men’s 4×100 Relay–Usain Bolt is scheduled to run, as is Tyson Gay.
Special thanks to Walt Murphy. We highly encourage you to subscribe to Walt’s XCountry XPress, email WMurphy25@aol.com
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