The highly anticipated Men’s 100m final will be the showcase race of Saturday’s Athletics program at the National Stadium, as three of the fastest men in 100m history battle for their first Olympic Games gold medal. Gold medals will also be decided in the Men’s 20km Walk, Women’s Shot Put and Women’s Heptathlon.
Men’s 100m — semifinals and final
Favorites Asafa Powell of Jamaica, Tyson Gay of the United States and world record holder Usain Bolt of Jamaica all looked impressive in their round two heats.
Richard Thompson of Trinidad and Tobago outsprinted Gay in heat two, pipping the world champion 9.99 to 10.09, but Gay may still have plenty left in the tank ahead of the semifinals.
An ominous Bolt, the fastest qualifier with 9.92, was so far ahead in his heat that he even had time to look sideways at his opponents as he hit the brakes in the final 40 meters.
Powell also eased up in the final stages, clocking 10.02 for a comfortable victory.
Churandy Martina, of the Netherlands Antilles, the second fastest qualifier, set a national record in heat one, stopping the clock at 9.99.
The Men’s 100m final is scheduled for 10:30 p.m. (UTC/GMT +8) on Saturday, August 16, at the National Stadium.
Men’s 20km Walk — final
Although fairly inexperienced, Russia’s Sergei Morozov will go in as the favorite after breaking the world record (1:16:43) at the Russian Championships in June 2008.
Francisco Javier Fernandez of Spain will be desperate to win his first gold medal after collecting silver at the Athens 2004 Olympic Games.
Reigning world champion Jefferson Perez of Ecuador and reigning Olympic champion Ivano Brugnetti of Italy will also be in the mix.
Women’s Shot Put — qualifying round and final
2005 world champion Nadzeya Ostapchuk of Belarus has had a stellar year, putting the shot over the 20-meter mark on four occasions, including a world-leading best of 20.98m.
Valerie Vili of New Zealand has had the edge over Ostapchuk of late, defeating her at the 2008 World Indoor Championships and 2007 World Championships.
Women’s Heptathlon — Long Jump, Javelin, 800m
Athens 2004 finalist Nataliia Dobrynska of Ukraine currently leads the Women’s Heptathlon at the completion of day one with 3,052 points.
Sitting in second, Hyleas Fountain of the United States also had a very good day with wins in the 100m Hurdles and High Jump, and she should continue that form into the final events.
Men’s 3000m Steeplechase — round one
Led by reigning Olympic champion Ezekiel Kemboi, Kenya will be chasing their seventh straight Olympic title in the Men’s 3000m Steeplechase.
Women’s 800m — semifinals
Six-time Olympian and Sydney 2000 Olympic Games champion Maria Mutola of Mozambique is the fastest qualifier through to Saturday’s semifinals, after clocking a season’s best 1:58.91 in round one.
2007 world champion Janeth Jepkosgei Busienei of Kenya looked impressive in heat 6, winning in 1:59.72.
Men’s 400m Hurdles — semifinals
Markino Buckley from Jamaica was the fastest qualifier, progressing through to the semifinals with a new personal best 48.65.
Sydney 2000 Olympic Games gold medalist Angelo Taylor of the United States also displayed promising form in Friday’s first round, clocking 48.67 to comfortably win heat two.
Women’s Pole Vault — qualifying
Two-time world champion Elena Isinbaeva of Russia is the outright favorite to win her second Olympic gold medal and, if the conditions are favorable, will have every chance of breaking her own world record of 5.04m.
Men’s Discus Throw — qualifying
Dual world and Olympic Games champion Virgilius Alekna of Lithuania will be determined to defend his title but will face stiff opposition from Gerd Kanter of Estonia.
Kanter is hoping to repeat his gold medal performance at the 2007 World Championships in Osaka.
Women’s 100m — round one and two
Torri Edwards of the United States, the 2003 world champion, has been the best 100m runner of 2008, clocking 10.78 seconds.
Jamaica’s Kerron Stewart will be hoping she can build on an impressive 2008 and win her first major individual medal. She has the second best 100m time for 2008 with 10.80.
Women’s 400m — round one
Although she has dominated the Women’s 400m scene of recent years, Sanya Richards of the United States has yet to win an individual Olympic 400m gold medal. The Jamaica-born runner has been in good form in 2008, running 49.86 seconds and 49.89 seconds for her two best times.
African champion Amantle Montsho of Botswana has run the best time of 2008 with 49.83 seconds and will be full of confidence going into Saturday’s first round.
Men’s Long Jump — qualifying
Irving Jahir Saladino Aranda of Panama enters the Beijing 2008 Olympic Games as reigning world champion and has a good chance of becoming his NOC’s first ever Athletics gold medalist.
(Source: en.beijing2008.cn)