Each day I’ll be doing a fairly extensive but “just the facts, ma’am” preview. For something a little more narrative, head on over to Flotrack.
Some notes: names in gold, silver or bronze are the medal position predicted by Track and Field News, and all times are Eastern. “Gambler’s picks” are the odds in the UK.
Remember, you can watch live online at NBCOlympics.com
You also want to follow the IAAF’s live blog, they do a fantastic job.
Scheduled TV coverage
| NBC | 6:00-9:00am | LIVE coverage of the women’s marathon |
| NBC | 7:00pm-midnight | Track & Field’s centerpiece event — the men’s 100m dash, plus apparatus finals in Gymnastics, the women’s springboard final in Diving, and a Beach Volleyball matchup. |
| NBC | 12:35-1:35am | Finals in the men’s hammer throw and steeplechase, and qualifying in the high jump, plus the men’s singles final in Badminton. |
6:00 AM Women’s Marathon
Defending World Marathon Majors Champion: Liliya Shobukhova (RUS)
Defending World Champion: Edna Kiplagat (RUS)
Defending Olympic Champion: Constantina Diṭă-Tomescu (ROM)
2012 World Leader: Mary Keitany (KEN)
Track and Field News’ Medal Picks: Mary Keitany (KEN), Liliya Shobukhova (RUS), Edna Kiplagat (RUS)
Gambler’s Medal Picks: Mary Keitany (KEN), Liliya Shobukhova (RUS), Tiki Gelana (ETH)
TFN Preview | IAAF Preview | All-time Olympic stats
Recent headlines about this event have centered around who might not be in this event: world record holder Paula Radcliffe and American Desi Davila. Radcliffe is out with injury, and Davila has had some problems that impacted her ability to get to the start line. Davila is still on the start list and plans to run, but she’s highly unlikely to make a difference in the race.
Based on their excellent road racing records, the favorites are Kenyan Mary Keitany and Edna Kiplagat and Russia’s Liliya Shobukhova, but Team USA has legitimate medal threats in Shalane Flanagan and Kara Goucher. Both have excellent track credentials, with Flanagan winning Olympic 10k bronze in 2008 and Goucher winning Worlds 10k bronze in 2007, and both appear to be in top condition.
The others who are expected to challenge come from the expected places: Kenya (Priscah Jeptoo) and Ethiopia (Aselefech Mergia, Tiki Gelana) but there are alwats surprises in Olympic marathons. One who could surprise is Rhode Island-based Kiwi Kim Smith, who led the 2011 Boston Marathon before succombing to injury. Her pre-Olympic preparations have gone well, topped off with a half marathon win and a course record at the B.A.A. 10k.
2:00 PM Women’s 400m Hurdles heats
Qualifying format: top four in each heat plus four more by time qualify to Monday’s semifinals
Start list
Notables by heat…
Heat 1: Zuzana Hejnová (CZE), Vania Stambolova (BUL), T’erea Brown (USA), Sarah-Lynn Wells (CAN)
Heat 2: Natalya Antyukh (RUS), Kaliese Spencer (JAM)
Heat 3: Lashinda Demus(USA), Denisa Rosolová (CZE)
Heat 4: Irina Davydova (RUS), Georganne Moline (USA)
Heat 5: >Melaine Walker (JAM), Perri Shakes-Drayton (GBR)
2:05 PM Men’s High Jump qualifying
Qualifying format: top twelve ore everyone over 2.32m, whichever is more, qualify to Tuesday’s final
Start list
Notables in group A: Andrey Silnov (RUS), Derek Drouin (CAN), Aleksandr Shustov (RUS), Mutaz Essa Barshim (QAT), Guowei Zhang (CHN)
Notables in group B: Ivan Ukhov (RUS), Jesse Williams (USA), Robbie Grabarz (GBR), Trevor Barry (BAH), Erik Kynard (USA)
2:35 PM Women’s Triple Jump final
Defending World Indoor Champion: Yamilé Aldama (GBR)
Defending World Champion: Olha Saladuha (UKR)
Defending Olympic Champion: Françoise Mbango Etone (CMR) — not entered
2012 World Leader: Olha Saladuha (UKR)
Track and Field News’ Medal Picks: Caterine Ibargüen (COL), Olha Saladuha (UKR), Olga Rypakova (KAZ)
Gambler’s Medal Picks: Olha Saladuha (UKR), Caterine Ibargüen (COL), Olga Rypakova (KAZ)
TFN Preview | IAAF Preview | All-time Olympic stats
Start list
Saladuha is everyone’s favorite, but I think Ibargüen is being undersold; she beat both Saladuha and Rypakova in her last two Diamond League outings.
2:45 PM Men’s 100 Meters semifinals
Qualifying format: top two in each heat plus two more by time qualify to Monday’s semifinals
Start list
Notables by heat…
Heat 1: Justin Gatlin (USA), Asafa Powell (JAM), Keston Bledman (TRI)
Heat 2: Usain Bolt (JAM), Ryan Bailey (USA), Richard Thompson (TRI), Dwain Chambers (GBR), Gerald Phiri (ZAM)
Heat 3: Yohan Blake (JAM), Tyson Gay (USA), Justyn Warner (CAN)
3:15 PM Men’s 1500 Meters semifinals
Qualifying format: top five in each heat plus two more by time qualify to Tuesday’s finals
Start list
Notables by heat…
Heat 1: Asbel Kiprop (KEN), Taoufik Makhloufi (MAR), Mekonnen Gebremedhin (ETH), Hamza Driouch (QAT), Leo Manzano (USA), Andrew Wheating (USA)
Heat 2: Silas Kiplagat (KEN), Nixon Kiplimo Chepseba (KEN), Nick Willis (NZL), Abdalaati Iguider (MAR), Matthew Centrowitz (USA), Nate Brannen (CAN)
3:20 PM Men’s Hammer Throw final
Defending World Champion: Koji Murofushi (JPN)
Defending Olympic Champion: Primož Kozmus (SLO)
2012 World Leader: Krisztián Pars (HUN)
Track and Field News’ Medal Picks: Krisztián Pars (HUN), Ivan Tikhon (BLR), Pawel Fajdek (POL)
Gambler’s Medal Picks: Krisztián Pars (HUN), Koji Murofushi (JPN), Primož Kozmus (SLO)
TFN Preview | IAAF Preview | All-time Olympic stats
Start list
Tikhon got hit with a doping ban right before the q-round began (and a well-deserved one in many eyes), and Fajdek didn’t make it to the final. So, based on this year’s pattern, it makes Pars an even stronger favorite. Based on past years’ patterns, the aging Murofushi will pull a rabbit out of his hat and be in contention for a medal, possibly gold. Young Olexiy Sokyrskiyy (UKR) has been competing well this year but is inexperienced on the big stage. Kirill Ikonnikov (RUS) has some big throws under his belt. The door is open for American Kibwe Johnson, who was one of just three throwers to record their seasonal best in the q-round.
3:40 PM Men’s 400 Meters semifinals
Qualifying format: top two in each heat plus two more by time qualify to tomorrow’s final
Start list
Notables by heat…
Heat 1: Demetrius Pinder (BAH)
Heat 2: Kirani James (GRN), Jonathan Borlée (BEL), Tony McQuay (USA), Chris Brown (BAH), Oscar Postorius (RSA)
Heat 3: Kévin Borlée (BEL), Luguelín Santos (DOM), Bryshon Nellum (USA), Martyn Rooney (GBR)
4:10 PM Women’s 400 Meters final
Defending World Indoor Champion: Sanya Richards-Ross (USA)
Defending World Champion: Amantle Montsho (BOT)
Defending Olympic Champion: Christine Ohuruogu (GBR)
2012 World Leader: Antonina Krivoshapka (RUS)
Track and Field News’ Medal Picks: Sanya Richards-Ross (USA), Amantle Montsho (BOT), Antonina Krivoshapka (RUS)
Gambler’s Medal Picks: Sanya Richards-Ross (USA), Antonina Krivoshapka (RUS), Christine Ohuruogu (GBR)
TFN Preview | IAAF Preview | All-time Olympic stats
Start list
Richards-Ross has won just about everything save an individual Olympic gold medal, and she looks ready. Krivoshapka ran with suicidal pacing in the heats and semis; Montsho is a smart runner who knows how to pick her spots. Those are the three most likely medalists, but the USA could do some damage, as we have three finalists in Richards-Ross, DeeDee Trotter and Francena McCorory.
4:25 PM Men’s Steeplechase final
Defending World Champion: Ezekiel Kemboi (KEN)
Defending Olympic Champion: Brimin Kiprop Kipruto (KEN)
2012 World Leader: Paul Kipsiele Koech (KEN) — not entered
Track and Field News’ Medal Picks: Brimin Kiprop Kipruto (KEN), Ezekiel Kemboi (KEN), Abel Mutai (KEN)
Gambler’s Medal Picks: Brimin Kiprop Kipruto (KEN), Ezekiel Kemboi (KEN), Abel Mutai (KEN)
TFN Preview | IAAF Preview | All-time Olympic stats
Start list
As always, this event remains a Kenyan fiefdom. It would surprise no one if they swept the medals, and Kipruto is the favorite. However, things can happen when there are hurdles, and that’s where everyone’s hope lies. If an opening occurs, then look for Ethiopia’s Roba Gari or possibly even rising US star Evan Jager to sneak onto the medal podium. The last time the USA had either a finish inside the top ten or two in the final was 1996, and the second feat is repeated in 2012 with Jager and Donn Cabral.
4:50 PM Men’s 100 Meters final
Defending World Indoor Champion (60 meters): Justin Gatlin (USA)
Defending World Champion: Yohan Blake (JAM)
Defending Olympic Champion: Usain Bolt (JAM)
2012 World Leader: Yohan Blake (JAM)
Track and Field News’ Medal Picks: Yohan Blake (JAM), Usain Bolt (JAM), Tyson Gay (USA)
Gambler’s Medal Picks: Usain Bolt (JAM), Yohan Blake (JAM), Ryan Bailey (USA)
TFN Preview | IAAF Preview | All-time Olympic stats
Semis will be run earlier in the evening, and watch those carefully in order to get a preview of the final. No one who runs poorly in a semi is ever a threat to win, and gold usually goes to whoever runs the best in those semis. While first place is expected to be a battle between training partners and compatriates Bolt and Blake, Team USA probably has the next three best runners in Ryan Bailey, Tyson Gay and Justin Gatlin. Bailey is a youngster who skipped the NCAA system to go pro, and while he’s had flashes of brilliance it’s taken until now for him to put it all together.