Track and Field Blogs - Justin Kopunek

12th IAAF World Championship in Athletics – Berlin, Germany 2009

Preview of Day 9 – 23 August 2009

This is a day of all finals as it is the final day of this great championship. The 4x400 relays will look to redeem the disappointments of the 4x100 Relays for the United States. On top of that, this is the last chance for the US to get a medal in an event over 1,500m for the men and over 400m for the women at this meet. There are many chances, however. Kara Goucher takes on the marathon in the morning, and then with three men in the final of the 5,000m (Bernard Lagat, Matt Tegenkamp and Chris Solinsky) and three women in the 1,500m final (Christin Wurth-Thomas, Shannon Rowbury and Anna Willard), at least one medal is looking good. Add Nick Symmonds in the 800 final and Brittney Reese going for Long Jump gold and it is the most exciting day for the American team of the entire 9 days in Berlin. You do not want to miss this one.

Event: Women’s Marathon 5:15 AM EST

Defending World Champion: Cathrine Ndereba (Kenya) 2008 Olympic Champion: Constantina Dita (Romania) 2009 World Leader: Irena Mikitenko (Germany) 2:22:11

American Contingent: Kara Goucher, Desiree Davila, Paige Higgins, Zoila Gomez, Tera Moody

Top International Contenders: Bezunesh Bekele (Ethipoia), Yoko Shibui (Japan), Dire Tune (Ethiopia), Yoshimi Ozaki (Japan), Astede Baysa (Ethipoia), Yuri Kano (Japan), Martha Komu (Kenya), Svetlana Zakharova (Russia), Teyba Erkesso (Ethiopia), Lydia Simon (Romania), Xue Bai (China), Chunxiu Zhou (China)

Outlook: Without Paula Radcliffe, Yoko Shibui of Japan enters the race as the only women to have run under 2:20. That was, however, 5 years ago. Shibui has run 2:23 this year, though. She leads a strong Japanese team which includes sub-2:25 marathoners Yoshimi Ozaki and Yuri Kano. Ethiopia also sends a formidable team to Berlin. They are headed by this year’s Dubai Marathon champ Bezunesh Bekele, Boston Runner-up Dire Tune, Houston champ Teyiba Erkesso and Paris champ Astede Bayisa. American hopes lie in the hands of Kara Goucher, who was third in New York and Boston, defeating Bekele in the latter. This is only her third marathon and in an event with a huge learning curve, we could see a performance that matches her 10,000m surprise bronze from Osaka. Chunxiu Zhou of China is the bonze medalist from Beijing, but she was far from her best in London this year and will hopefully return to form for this race if the Chinese want to pick a medal here. The big names from eastern Europe are Svetlana Zakharova (Russia) and Lydia Simon (Romania). They have both scored medals in a World Championship Marathon, but those were almost a decade ago.

Likely Medalists: An unpredictable event, the top contenders seem to be Tune, Komu, Bekele, Shibui and Goucher.

1. Shibui 2. Bekele 3. Goucher

Event: Women’s Long Jump 10:15 AM EST

Defending World Champion: Tatyana Lebedeva (Russia) 2008 Olympic Champion: Maurren Maggi (Brazil) 2009 World Leader: Brittney Reese (USA) 7.06m

American Contingent: Brittney Reese, Brianna Glenn, Funmi Jimoh

Top International Contenders: Naide Gomes (Portugal), Tatyana Lebedeva, Maurren Maggi, Olga Kucherenko (Russia), Karin Mey Melis (Turkey), Ksenija Balta (Estonia)

Outlook: The World Champ Tatyana Lebdeva of Russia, Olympic Champ Maurren Maggi of Brazil and World Leader Brittney Reese are all capable of taking this crown. Both Lebedeva and Maggi are veterans in this event and have the best PRs of the field at 7.33m and 7.26m, respectively. They are not in that form anymore, but they are still great championship performers. On the other hand, Reese of the United States is jumping her best, setting a best of 7.06m this year. She has a history of not jumping her best in big finals. Reese is the only woman over 7 meters this year, but Naide Gomes of Portugal is right on the cusp at 6.99m. Gomes has been on a winning streak this season and has only lost once, to Reese. She had the best jump in the qualifying round and if she can put it together in the final, she is a gold medal contender. Olga Kucherenko gives Russia two shots at a medal and has been having her best season yet. Turk Karin Mey Melis and Estonian Ksenija Balta both have season bests of 6.87m will be factors on the runway if they can duplicate those performances.

Likely Medalists: There seem to be 4 people that should be up at the top and there are only 3 medals. As we have seen in the Men’s Long Jump, however, even an Olympic Champ can register no mark in this event.

1. Reese 2. Gomes 3. Lebedeva

Event: Men’s Javelin Throw 10:20 AM EST

Defending World Champion: Tero Pitkamaki (Finland) 2008 Olympic Champion: Andreas Thorkildsen (Norway) 2009 World Leader: Vadims Vasilevskis (Latvia) 90.71m

American Contingent: Chris Hill, Mike Hazle, Sean Furey

Top International Contenders: Andreas Thorkildsen, Vadims Vasilevskis, Tero Pitkamaki, Teemu Wirkkala (Finland), Antti Ruuskanen (Finland), Ainars Kovals (Latvia), Mark Frank (Germany), Guillermo Martinez (Cuba)

Outlook: This event is dominated by the Scandinavian region of the world and this year will be no exception. Finland has an outstanding contingent in this event. They boast the defending World Champ Tero Pitkamaki, as well as Teemu Wirkkala and Antti Ruuskanen. All three have season bests over 85 meters ranking them #3, #4 and #5 of those in the final. Keeping all three off the podium are Norwegian Andreas Thorkildsen and Latvian Vadims Vasilevskis. Thorkildsen won this event in the past two Olympics, but only managed silver at the last two World Championships. Certainly here he will be looking to change that as one of the favorites. Vasilevskis is the world leader as the only man over 90 meters this season. He looked great in the prelims and will certainly want to upgrade his hardware, as his highest place at a global championship is second from back in Athens. His compatriot, Ainars Kovals will have two up at the top for Latvia. Kovals is the 2008 Olympic silver medalist, but is not yet back at that level this season. Mark Frank (Germany) and Guillermo Martinez (Cuba) looked good in the prelims and both athletes home nation’s athletes have been surpassing expectations at this meet.

Likely Medalists: Will Thorkildsen finally get that illusive World Championship gold?

1. Thorkildsen 2. Vasilevskis 3. Pitkamaki

Event: Men’s 5,000m Run 10:25 AM EST

Defending World Champion: Bernard Lagat (USA) 2008 Olympic Champion: Kenenisa Bekele (Ethiopia) 2009 World Leader: Kenenisa Bekele (Ethiopia) 12:56.23

American Contingent: Bernard Lagat, Matt Tegenkamp, Chris Solinsky, Evan Jager

Top International Contenders: Kenenisa Bekele, Eliud Kipchoge (Kenya), Moses Kipsiro (Uganda), Ali Abdosh (Ethiopia), Vincent Chepkok (Kenya), James C’Kurui (Qatar), Mo Farah (Great Britain)

Outlook: Kenenisa Bekele is looking to repeat his double from Beijing and he is half way there. Beyond tripping, it seems the only way Bekele will finish out of the medals is if the race is so slow that 3 men simply out kick him. Eliud Kipchoge of Kenya is the only man with a lifetime best within 10 seconds of Bekele. Kipchoge was 2nd in Beijing and Osaka and has finished at least 4th in every global championship 5,000m since 2003 in Paris where he won. The man who defeated Kipchoge in Osaka is defending champ Bernard Lagat, who is fresh off a bronze in the 1,500m. At 34 years old, Lagat lacked the finishing speed of some of his younger peers. In the 5K, however, he is still one of the quicker runners and will do well in a kicker’s race.

Beyond those three, Ali Abdosh (Ethiopia), Joseph Ebuya (Ethiopia), James C’Kurui (Qatar) and Moses Kipsiro (Uganda) each have run under 13 minutes in their lifetimes and can not be counted out. Kipsiro, who was 4th in Beijing and 3rd in Osaka, placed second at this year’s World Cross Country Championships in Amman. You may remember Abdosh from the first heat of the prelims as the crowd favorite who worked hard to catch the pack after falling and losing a shoe. As has been the theme of the meet where anyone who falls is granted a spot in the next round, Abdosh was allowed into the finals. Looking to break up the African dominance, American Matt Tegenkamp and Briton Mo Farah will be mixing it up in the front pack. Tegenkamp was 4th at the last World Championsips, while Farah was 6th. Looking extremely smooth on the last lap of the prelims, Tegenkamp appears to be in the best shape of his life.

Likely Medalists: Both on their second races of the meet, Lagat and Bekele, as well as Kipchoge and Kipsiro, have a wealth of championship experience.

1. Bekele 2. Kipchoge 3. Kipsiro

Event: Women’s 1,500m Run 11:00 AM EST

Defending World Champion: Maryam Jamal (Bahrain) 2008 Olympic Champion: Nancy Jebet Lagat (Kenya) 2009 World Leader: Maryam Jamal (Bahrain) 3:56.55

American Contingent: Shannon Rowbury, Christin Wurth-Thomas, Anna Willard

Top International Contenders: Maryam Jamal, Gelete Burka (Ethiopia), Natalya Evdokimova (Russia), Mariem Alaoui Selsouli (Morocco), Natalia Rodriguez (Spain), Lisa Dobrinskey (Great Britain), Lidia Chojecka (Poland)

Outlook: In this race, most of the favorites safely qualified to the finals. The only bug casualty was Olympic Champ Nancy Jebet Lagat. Both Maryam Jamal of Bahrain and Gelete Burka of Ethiopia have had sensational years over this distance and come in as the medal favorites. They have the fastest times in the final and have only lost to each other this year. Also, after both had disappointments in Beijing, they will cetainly be looking to redeem themselves. Russia entered with a strong team in the 1,500m, but only one made it to the finals. Sub-4 this season, Natalya Evdokimova will be there only chance at a medal as she has the second best PR in the field and has the third fastest season best. Right behind her on the world list is American Christin Wurth-Thomas who also dipped under 4 minutes. She is have a breakthrough season and will likely push the pace on the third lap if the pace is lagging.

Two other talented American women made the final; Shannon Rowbury and Anna Willard. Rowbury was 7th last year and closed her 1,500 at USAs in 60 seconds. Willard also has a great kick and is the fastest over 800 meters this year at 1:58.80. Like the American men, with three in a final of 12, there are good odds that at least one will grab a medal. Mariem Alaoui Selsouli of Morocco is having a breakout year in the 1,500m running 4:00.95. She previously focused on the 5,000m, holding a PR of 14:36. Briton Lisa Dobrinskey will be looking to add to the great season the UK women’s middle distance is having. They already grabbed bronze in the 800m. Natalia Rodriguez of Spain looked great in the semi-finals and has gone 3:59.51 back in 2005. The one with the most championship experience in the final is Poland’s Lidia Chojecka, but her career arch is on the decline.

Likely Medalists: With such a close field, anyone could grab a medal here, but Jamal and Burka are the ones who will certainly be in that top 5 or so coming down the home straight away. With three in the final, there is a great chance it will be an American getting up for a podium spot and it could really be any of them and any given day.

1. Jamal 2. Burka 3. Willard

Event: Men’s 800m Run 11:25 AM EST

Defending World Champion: Alfred Kirwa Yego (Kenya) 2008 Olympic Champion: Wilfred Bungei (Kenya) 2009 World Leader: Abubaker Kaki (Sudan) 1:43.09

American Contingent: Nick Symmonds, Khadevis Robinson, Ryan Brown

Top International Contenders: Yusuf Kamel (Bahrain), Amine Laalou (Morocco), Yuriy Borzakovskiy (Russia), Alfred Kirwa Yego, Marcin Lewandowiski (Poland), Jackson Kivuva (Kenya), Yeimer Lopez (Cuba), Bram Som (Netherlands), Mbulaeni Mulaudzi (South Africa)

Outlook: It has been happening a lot this meet, people getting tripped getting automatically advanced to the next round. Normally I am for this, but you have to draw the line before you are stuck cramming 10 people into lanes for an 8 person 800m. It is not fair to those who stay on their feet, stay out of trouble and actually qualify for the final by running and not protesting. Abubaker Kaki, the favorite and Bram Som tripped each other up, with Som behind Kaki. For anyone who saw this fall, Som was not guilt free in this fall and they both both hit the track. On their way down they took Marcin Lewandowiski of Poland with them. I agree with allowing Lewandowiski into the final. He had nothing to do with the fall, finished the race and boasts a 1:43.84 season best. Kaki was not admitted to the final, but Som was. Som did not finish and is clearly at fault partially (he was behing Kaki and clearly their feet hit each other). So now Som is now sharing a lane with American Nick Symmonds in the final after only have to run 250 meters in the semi-final. On the bright side, Symmonds has finally made that final he has been hoping for and will be leaving everything out on the track in order to get on the podium.

With the pre-race favorites of Kaki and Asbel Kiprop not in the final, the new favorites seem to be two 800m runners who tried their hands in the 1,500m already this championship; Yusuf Kamel (Bahrain) and Amine Laalou (Morocco). Kamel was more successful in that 1,500m, becoming the surprise winner. It is scary to think the 800m is his better event (He has a PR of 1:42.79), but the 1,500/800 double is difficult with 6 races in 9 days. Laalou has the fastest season best in the field with a 1:43.36, but is also attempting the difficult double. Yuriy Borzakovskiy of Russia is a proven champion. He won gold in Athens and was third in Osaka. He is one of only three men in the field who has been under 1:43 seconds. The others are Kamel and Mbulaeni Mulaudzi of South Africa. Mulaudzi did that way back in 2003 and he was the silver medalist to Borzakovskiy in Athens, but he has yet to break 1:44.8 this season. The worst season best belongs to Kenyan Alfred Kirwa Yego, but do not let that fool you. He is a great championship runner. In Beijing he took bronze and in Osaka he won the gold. Cuba has been having a great meet so far and add a finalist in the men’s 800m with Yeimer Lopez. Lopez was 6th at the 2008 Olympics and can definitely improve on that in Berlin.

Likely Medalists: This race is pretty wide open as most are in 1:43 second shape, but they will not all run that on Sunday. I would love for Symmonds to grab a medal, but I have to go with experience and this is his first final. Many people medal in their first final, however. Just look at the Women’s 800m.

1. Kamel 2. Laalou 3. Yego

Event: Women’s 4x400m Relay 11:50 AM EST

Defending World Champion: United States 2008 Olympic Champion: United States 2009 World Leader: United States (Hargrove, Hastings, Felix, Richards) 3:23.08

American Contingent: Sanya Richards, Debbie Dunn, Jessica Beard, Natasha Hastings, Lashinda Demus, Allyson Felix

Top International Contenders: Russia, Jamaica, Great Britain, Germany, Nigeria, France, Cuba

Outlook: The three medalists from Beijing look like they will retain their places on the podium, but will they be in the same spots? The US Women’s team won in a thrilling victory over Russia last summer. The Russian individuals have each improved this year and looking at the world list appear to be the stronger team. Here in Berlin, however, the two women in the open 400 final, Sanya Richards and Debbie Dunn, out performed the two Russian women in the race. Add to the American team the 200m Champion, Allyson Felix, who is the fastest 400 meter runner in the world who does not run the race at championships. The US could also use 400m Hurdler Lashinda Demus who has run 52 seconds twice this season for the hurdle race. Jamaica also has a strong team which has the 400m silver medalist Shericka Williams, the second fastest 400m Hurdler in history, Melaine Walker, 400m 4th place finisher Novlene Williams-Mills. Great Britain will also have a team that could sneak in for a medal if these three are off their games. They will likely be anchored by Olympic Champion Christine Ohuruogu.

Likely Medalists: The US team was able to cruise in the prelims and will be the freshest for this final. Sanya Richards had such a lead in the final leg that she was able to run a 55 second split and still win the heat.

1. USA 2. Russia 3. Jamaica

Event: Men’s 4x400m Relay 12:15 PM EST

Defending World Champion: United States 2008 Olympic Champion: United States 2009 World Leader: Florida State University (Williams, K. Borlee, Clark, J. Borlee) 2:59.99

American Contingent: Jeremy Wariner, LaShawn Merritt, Gil Robert, Lionel Larry, David Neville, Kerron Clement, Bershawn Jackson, Angelo Taylor

Top International Contenders: Great Britain, Australia, Belgium, France, Dominican Republic, Poland

Outlook: Disaster would have to strike for this American team to lose. With the 1-2 finishers in the 400m and 1-3 finishers in the 400m Hurdles, the hardest thing about this relay is deciding who to put on it besides LaShawn Merritt and Jeremy Wariner. With the Bahamas getting DQed in the prelims for an exchange zone violation, the door has been opened for the silver medal as they have been consistent runner-up finishers in this relay. Besides the USA, Great Britain and France are the only teams in this final that had an athlete in the 400m final. The British have 7th place finisher Michael Bingham and the French have 8th place finisher Leslie Djhone. Great Britain also has 400m Hurdle finalist David Greene.

Likely Medalists: How many teams will run slower that Florida State University did at NCAAs this year? It is a shame for the Belgian team that Jonathan Borlee is injured, but his brother Kevin ran a great anchor leg in the prelims.

1. USA 2. Great Britain 3. France