byLarry EderWell, gentle readers, it’s almost that time! Track geekdom has come to this: Nine days & nights of the best track & field around! Yes, for the 2011 World Athletics Champs in Daegu, Korea! I am nearly packed, one more load to put in the dryer, and my travels from Fort Atkinson, Wisconsin to Daegu, Korea begin! From car to Janesville, then bus to Chicago, then fly to SFO and SFO to Seoul, and a lovely one hour train ride to Daegu, Korea!
Rudisha vs Kaki, 2011 AVIVA London Grand Prix, photo by PhotoRun.net
There should not be a bad day on the schedule. Weather will have highs in the mid 80s and lows in mid sixties, with several days with some rain.
Most of the athletes are in Daegu, Korea as the World Champs, August 27 to September 4, will showcase the best athletes in our sports. With only four athletes not defending their titles, the competitions should be superb!
Runblogrun and the RunningNetwork looks forward to keeping you up to date on all things World Champ related. If you want to reach us, try runblogrun@gmail.com or twitter us at runblogrun!
DAEGU PREVIEWS IN ONE SENTENCE BY DAYS
Day 1 (Aug 27) – 2 finals:
women marathon: Kenya vs. Ethiopia (lottery pick)
women 10 000 m: First part Masai and Cheruiyot vs. Defar
Day 2 (Aug 28) – 6:
men 20 km walk: Russians expected to rule with Chinese, Australians, Schwazer
women long jump: Reese vs. Klishina
women discus: Open contest, German Muller or big surprise like in Beijing (Brown-Trafton)
men 10 000 m: Farah for many the top man, Kenenisa is returning, but what is his real shape
men 100 m: Bolt vs Powell, in second row Blake, Dix and Carter
decathlon: US affair, is Eaton going to attack Sebrle´s WR?
Day 3 (Aug 29) – 6:
men hammer: Pars looks as the logical choice, but Murofushi is at home in Asia
men pole vault: Lukyanenko the dark horse against the favorites headed by Lavillenie
women shot put: Adams is there, Ostapchuk ready to challenge her
women 400 m: Sanya having the shape back, Allyson is also ready, but what about the Russians with Montsho
men 110mH: The duel of the champs Robles – Oliver – Richardson – Liu
women 100 m: Jeter or Veronica, who will get the better start
Day 4 (Aug 30) – 6:
women pole vault: Yelena is ready to win, but Spiegelburg, Murer and Suhr waiting
men discus: Harting with knee pain against Malachowski, Alekna, Kanter, surprise could come from second row (maybe Kovago)
men 800 m: Rudisha against the clock, is it really so?
women steeple: Chemos with Zaripova, Kenya or Russia?
men 400 m: Youngster James with US Merritt and Jamaican Gonzales
heptathlon: Ennis is the choice, but Chernova has also top shape
Day 5 (Aug 31) – 1:
women 20 km walk: Kaniskina, who can challenge her?
Day 6 (Sep 1) – 6:
men high jump: Jesse Williams against Russians, young Mutaz ready for surprise
women triple jump: Savigne vs. Saladukha and Rypakova with Ibarguen not far behind
men steeple: Kenyan affair, will it be disrupted by French runners?
women 1500 m: Uceny, Jamal, who ever, very open
women 400mH: Spencer ready for WR
men 400mH: Small
US Champs, one step behind Dai Greene and Caribbeans (Culson with
Gordon), Van Zyl if fully healthy is also there
Day 7 (Sep 2) – 6:
men shot put: Cantwell and Hoffa vs. Majewski with Mikhnevich, USA vs. Europe, and Armstrong´s shape?
women javelin: Spotakova vs. Obergfoll vs. Abakumova or Viljoen ready for surprise?
men long jump: Watt looks to be the best, 860 should be enough, what is the shape of Phillips, surprise from Makusha?
women 5000 m: Second part Masai and Cheruiyot vs. Defar
women 200 m: Veronica vs. Allyson, that is clear
men 4×400 m: Any other win than USA would be a surprise (maybe Bahamas)
Day 8 (Sep 3) – 7:
men 50 km walk: Russians, Slovak Toth, Mexicans and mainly Diniz
women high jump: In emotional competition not totally healthy Vlasic vs. Chicherova and Di Martino
men javelin: Thorkildsen on his own
men
1500 m: Is Silas Kiplagat ready to transform his top shape to top win,
Kiprop, Laalou, newcomer Kaki not to be underestimated
women 4×400 m: USA vs Russia, Jamaica the dark horse, should be very fast
women 100mH: Pearson with US hurdlers attacking her
men 200 m: Bolt against the clock
Day 9 (Sep 4) – 7:
men marathon: Kenya vs. Ethiopia again (V. Kipruto, E. Kiptanui, defender Kirui vs. Gebremariam, Lilesa, Worku)
women hammer: Heidler with world record possibility
men triple jump: Idowu for some, but Taylor and Evora recently shaped up, El-Sheryf ready for surprise or Cubans?
men 5000 m: Farah, Bekele (in case both running) and some fast finishers like Lagat and experienced Kipchoge with young Koech
women 800 m: In case all three Russians will be in the finals, they can play their own game with Sinclair and Meadows
women 4×100 m: USA vs. Jamaica, part 1
men 4×100 m: USA vs. Jamaica, part 2
