Track and Field Blogs - Justin Kopunek

12^th IAAF World Championships in Athletics – Berlin, Germany 2009

Preview of Day 4 – 18 August 2009

Day 4 has quite a few medal possibilities for the US over one lap. The Women’s 400 will give perennial world leader another chance to win the gold that she has been yet to get a hold of. In the Men’s 400m Hurdles, the American’s hope to continue the country’s dominance in the event with two former world champions in the final.

Event Finals

Event: Men’s Triple Jump 12:05 PM EST

Defending World Champion: Nelson Evora (Portugal) 2008 Olympic Champion: Nelson Evora (Portugal) 2009 World Leader: Nelson Evora (Portugal) 17.66m

American Contingent: Brandon Roulhac, Walter Davis, Kenta Bell

Top International Conteders: Nelson Evora, Alexis Copello (Cuba), David Giralt (Cuba), Phillips Idowu (Great Britain), Fabrizio Donato (Italy), Teddy Tamgho (France), Yanxi Li (China), Leevan Sands (Bahamas)

Outlook: When someone is the World leader and the defending World and Olympic Champion, they are usually considered a favorite. This is the case with Portugal’s triple jumper Nelson Evora. He is, however, only a slight favorite. His World leading jump of 17.66m is from back in May and only 0.01m better than the next two closest men in the world this year. Evora is still in peak shape, however, throwing down a monster, albeit +2.5 wind-aided, jump of 17.82m in late July. If he loses his title, it will likely be to a jumper from Cuba. They have the strongest triple jumping team in the world this year with their 3 men ranked at 2nd, 2nd, and 4th in the world and holding 11 of the top 15 jumps. Alexis Copello is the youngest of the trio, but has improved significantly this year with a 17.65m best. Yoandri Bentanzos shares the #2 spot with his compatriot with the same season best mark. After a long and successful career, which includes a sliver at the 2005 World Champs, Bentanzos had his first personal best in 3 years when he jumped 17.65m this year, but could not make it out of the qualification round. The final Cuban in contention is David Giralt with a 17.62m jump. Giralt was Cuba’s top triple jumper in Beijing last year at 4th and you can be sure he will not want to end up 4t again this year. Giralt and Bentanzos are the only two men to have beaten Evora this year, doing so back in May in Rio de Janeiro.

If any non-Cuban has a shot of taking down Evora it will be Phillips Idowu of Great Britain. He is the only other triple jumper over 17.60m this year and was 2nd at last Summer’s Olympic Games. Beyond Idowu, Europe has another possible medal contender in Teddy Tamgho (France). Despite not having very impressive jumps so far this season, he lead was #2 in the world indoors jumping 17.58m and jumping a season best in the qualifying round. The same goes for Leevan Sands (Bahamas), who was the bronze medalist in Beijing.

Likely Medalists: Evora is a proven Championship performer and will remain at the top until somebody dethrones him. Girat and Idowu have also shown strong championship ability. Copello has the least experience, but that does not mean he will perform poorly, he is just an unknown entity.

1. Evora 2. Idowu 3. Copello

Event: Women’s 400m Dash 1:35 PM EST

Defending World Champion: Christine Ohuruogu (Great Britain) 2008 Olympic Champion: Christine Ohuruogu (Great Britain) 2009 World Leader: Sanya Richards (USA) 49.23

American Contingent: Sanya Richards, Debbie Dunn, Jessica Beard

Top International Conteders: Antonia Krivoshapka (Russia), Shericka Williams (Jamaica), Anastasyia Kapachinskaya (Russia), Novlene Williams-Mills (Jamaica), Christine Ohuruogu, Amantle Montsho (Botswana)

Outlook: It is the same story as last summer; only add an Olympic disappointment to the mix. Sanya Richards has been the most dominant quarter miler this past half a decade and the fastest women in the event in over 13 years. Despite leading the world year after year and winning almost every Golden League meet she runs in, she has yet to win an individual Global Title. Is 2009 the year the curse is broken? She has been consistent and unbeatable so far this year, but this is something we have seen before. Richards has been winning her races by astounding margins, however. The closest anyone has been to her this year is 0.74 and she has beaten Olympic and World medalists by close to, or over 1 second in every World Athletics Tour race she has been in.

Who is standing in her way? The Russians (like a Cold War era action film). They were pretty much off the radar until the Russian Championships (as was the case in many events this year). Antonia Krivoshapka led the way with a superb 49.29 clocking. The 22 year old has chopped almost 2 full seconds off of her PR from last year (51.21) when she took over a full second off her best the from previous year (52.32). She has been rapidly improving after a few stagnant years (2005-2006), so she looks to be Richards main competition. Her teammate, Anastasiya Kapachinskaya set a new PR of 49.97 at Russian Nats at just under 30 years old. She was the Wolrd Champ at 200m in 2003 but then faced a 2 year ban from 2004 to 2006 after testing positive for a banned anabolic steroid. If you recall the women’s 4x4 from Beijing last summer, Kapachinskaya is the Russian anchor Richards ran down on the home straightaway. Jamaica also has a threatening duo of2008 Olympic silver medalist Shericka Williams and 2007 World bronze medalist Novlene Williams-Mills. People you never want to count out for a 400m medal are the other two Americans in the field, Debbie Dunn ran a personal best in the semi-final running 49,95. World/Olympic Champ Christine Ohuruogu has been far off her form from the previous 2 years, but showing good from in the rounds.

Likely Medalists: Even The Curse of the Great Bambino had to be broken sometime. Richards has a different outlook going into this year where she is just approaching each race without expectations weighing on her and just enjoying herself. Hopefully that will be the key to winning the gold medal that has evaded her these past few years. I am hesitent to predict the Russians finishing too high, because many of them have only performed at a high level in their home country so far this year. Other than Richards and the Russians, all the women in the finals ran personal or season bests in the semi-final, putting everyone in the field under 50 for the year except Ohuruogu. The medals could go to anyone in that final, it will be who is ready on the day.

1. Richards 2. Williams 3. Krivoshapka

Event: Women’s Javelin Throw 1:25 PM EST

Defending World Champion: Barbora Spotakova (Czech Republic) 2008 Olympic Champion: Barbora Spotakova (Czech Republic) 2009 World Leader: Mariya Abakumova (Russia) 68.92m

American Contingent: Kara Patterson, Rachael Yurkovich

Top International Conteders: Christina Obergfoll, Barbora Spotakova, Mariya Abakumova (Russia), Steffi Nerius (Germany), Linda Stahl (Germany), Martina Ratej (Slovakia)

Outlook: This looks to be a battle of the 3 medalists from Beijing last summer. Czech gold medalist Barbora Spotakova and Russian silver medalist Mariya Abakumova were both 4 meters short of where they were last year, leaving an opening for German bronze medalist Christina Obergfoll. Abakumova had a great qualifying round and threw the world leader. The world leader coming into the meet, Obergfoll is one of the host nation’s biggest hopes for a medal and you can be sure the Olympic Stadium in Berlin will be full of support Deutschland supporters. Obergfoll’s teammates, Steffi Nerius and Linda Stahl, will also be strong medal favorites. Nerius is a decorated jav thrower who had medaled in every international championship starting in 2003 (3rd ’03, 2nd ’04, 3rd ’05, 3rd ’07) until she placed ‘only’ 5th at the 2008 Olympics. Martina Ratej also put herself in the mix with a season best throw in the qualifier.

Likely Medalists: I never underestimate the home nation advantage as it has proven to bolster performances so many times in the past. On occasion, however, if can be too much pressure for and athlete and they fold under the spotlight.

1. Abakumova 2. Spotakova 3. Obergfoll

Event: Men’s 3,000m Steeplechase 1:50 PM EST

Defending World Champion: Brimin Kipruto (Kenya) 2008 Olympic Champion: Brimin Kipruto (Kenya) 2009 World Leader: Ezekiel Kemboi (Kenya) 7:58.85

American Contingent: Josh McAdams, Dan Huling, Kyle Alcorn

Top International Conteders: Brimin Kipruto, Ezekiel Kemboi, Paul Koech (Kenya), Bouabdellah Tahri (France), Richard Matelong (Kenya), Tareg Taher (Bahrain), Jamel Chatbi (Morocco)

Outlook: Kenya has been dominant in this event over the years and swept the medals at the last World Championships. They will have a tough time repeating that in Berlin, due largely to the French contingent in the race, but it would not be shocking if they did sweep either. Leading the way for Kenya are reigning Olympic and World Champ Brimin Kipruto and World Leader Ezekiel Kemboi. A Kenyan won each of the opening heats. In addition to the 2 listed above, Richard Matelong won his heat to sail into the final. The final Kenyan in the event, Paul Koech, was 3rd in that heat to ensure they will have 4 shots at 3 medals.

One of France’s best shots at a medal, Mahiedine Mekhissi-Benabbad, DNFed in the qualifier. It is a blow to the French squad, as he was the silver medalist in Beijing, but Bouabdellah Tahri will give the country a great shot at a medal. He sits at #3 in the world with a stellar 8:02.19 run this July and a 7:33 personal best in the 3,000m. Also look for Tareg Taher and Jamel Chatbi to be in the front pack. Both have run sun 8:10 this season.

Likely Medalists: It is tough to think the Kenyan’s will not have at least 2 on the podium with their history and the quality of athletes they have running in the final.

1. Kemboi 2. Koech 3. Tahri

Event: Men’s 400m Hurdles 2:50 PM EST

Defending World Champion: Kerron Clement (USA) 2008 Olympic Champion: Angelo Taylor (USA) 2009 World Leader: L.J. van Zyl (South Africa) 47.94

American Contingent: Kerron Clement, Bershawn Jackson, Johnny Dutch, Angelo Taylor

Top International Conteders: Danny McFarlane (Jamaica), Javier Culson (Cuba), Felix Sanchez (Dominican Republic), David Greene (United Kingdom), Periklis Iakovakis (Greece)

Outlook: Just as Kenya has controlled the men’s steeplechase, the United States has done the same in the 400m Hurdles. In this race, the US boasted 3 highly decorated 400m Hurdlers and 1 young up-and-comer. Kerron Clement won the 2007 World Championships and also ran on the gold medal 4x400m Relay at that meet and took silver at the Olympics last year. The fastest American this year and the US Champ is neither of these two, however. Bershawn Jackson is that man. He has is no stranger to the podium either, he won the 2005 World Championships and grabbed bronze in Beijing last summer. Two time Olympic Champion, Angelo Taylor, was unfortunately eliminated after the first round and 2008 Junior World runner-up Johnny Dutch was eliminated in the semi-final round, but Jackson and Clement provide the US with the best 1-2 punch in the finals.

Taylor was not the only medal threat to not make the final. World leader L.J. van Zyl of South Africa failed to make it through, as did Isa Phillips of Jamaica. If anyone will take the crown from the US, it will be Former Olympic Champion Felix Sanchez (Dominican Republic) or Danny McFarlane (Jamaica). McFarlane was the 2004 Olympic runner-up and just missed a medal placing 4th in last year’s Olympics when the United States swept. David Greene (United Kingdom) ran a personal best of 48.27 to make the finals, which is a good sign heading into the finals.

Likely Medalists: With only two in the finals, the US can’t duplicate their sweep, but they look primed to get two medals.

1. Clement 2. Jackson 3. Sanchez

Preliminary Action to Watch For

After the amazing 100 times run on Day 2, the first 2 rounds of the Men’s 200 are sure to be worth checking out. Beyond the Bolt/Gay showdown, the heats of the Men’s 400m on Day 4 begins the long awaited showdown between Jeremy Wariner and LaShawn Merritt. On top of that, the American women begin their quest at a medal in the 1,500m after the sensation season that they have been having. Rounds in both the women’s hurdle events will take place and both feature a stable of talented Americans who have what it takes to get on the podium. In the field, qualifiers in the Men’s Discus and Women’s High Jump will be taking place in the morning. Make sure to stayed tuned to find out the exciting stories these preliminary rounds set up for the finals in the upcoming days.