Olympic Track and Field Preview for Sunday Events

[TahoeLegend]

Track and Field begins Friday.

10,000 Meters
The Kenyans and the Ethiopians dominated this event for years, but the Kenyans have dropped back to the pack and the Ugandans—who only became a track power in the last decade—are now dominant, with Ethiopia right behind.
Joshua Cheptegei of Uganda—silver medalist at Tokyo, set a world record earlier this year—is the strong favorite over the Ethiopian, Barega.
The best American distance runner of all time is Grant Fisher (Stanford). He holds the American and North American records in the 3,000, 5,000, and 10,000 meters and is a contender, but his best time is 22 seconds slower than Cheptegei and no nation has shown they can compete with the East Africans
(The Only track and field final scheduled for Friday)

100 Meters
Women—Sha’Carrie Richardson (USA) one of the highest paid track athletes in the world, is defending World Champion and posted the fastest time in the world this year. She is the favorite, but has strong competition from five-time world champion, Shelly Ann Frazier-Price (Jamaica), No St.Lucia athlete has ever won a medal, but Julien Alfred is a real threat to be the first
(Preliminary heats on Friday)

1500 Meters
Men—Two of the greatest ever in Ingebritsen (Norway), defending Olympic Champ, world record holder, and Kerr (Great Britain). Ingebritsen was considered unbeatable till Kerr shocked the track world by beating the Norwegian at the World Championships last year. Either one could win this race
Cole Hocker (Oregon) and Yared Naguse (Notre Dame) give the USA a chance for a medal. Naguse set the American record in the event this year, but was beaten by Hocker at the Olympic trials. Neither has shown they can run with the two favorites
This is another event in which the Kenyans have faded
(Preliminary heats on Friday)

Decathlon
These guys have so few meets it’s hard to know who is the best. Warner (Canada) is the defending Olympic champion, but is showing some age. LePage (Canada) and Mayer (France) are both world champions, but have withdrawn from competition because of injuries.
My pick is Leo Neugebauer (Germany,runs track at Texas). A young guy who seems to be peaking, he was NCAA champion this spring and has the best decathlon score in the world this year. Good at all events, but could win the discus at most meets if he just entered that one event.
(First five events Friday)

Men’s Shot Put
Ryan Crouser (USA) won the last two Olympics and last three World Championships. Is the best in the world again this year and is as big a favorite as there is in these games
(Qualifying Friday)

Women’s 5,000 Meters
East Africans all the way. Cheruiyot (Kenya) is a slight favorite over Defar (Ethiopia), but all runners from those two countries are a threat. Any other country making the podium is a long shot
(Qualifying heats Friday)

 

[KJ]

I'll try to check in, I'm all about a mile and under so will post when I can. Not a fan much of distance and field but it's really what makes the Summer Olympics for me.

 

[TahoeLegend]

SATURDAY EVENTS

Men’s Pole Vault
Lots of good pole vaulters, but no one can beat Armand Duplantis, an American--raised in Baton Rouge, competed for LSU—who competes for Sweden to honor his Swedish-born mother. Defending Olympic champ, world record holder, world indoor and outdoor champion the last three years, and unbeaten since his gold in Tokyo.
Watching the ease with which he clears his winning heights is one of the most popular sights in the sport and the fans flock to the part of the arenas where the pole vault is located. USA has excellent vaulters, but no one has shown they can come close to Duplantis.
(Qualifying jumps Saturday)

Men’s 100 Meters
Noah Lyles is the fastest man on the planet, world champion the last three years, unbeatable in big meets. The world is full of great sprinters and the pack is always even with Lyles till the last 20 meters when he effortlessly hits the afterburners and leaves them behind. Thompson and Seville (both Jamaica) and Omayala (a rarity in track, a Kenyan sprinter) have all broken 9.8 this year while Lyles’ best time is 9.81, but no one has beaten Lyles in a big meet in three years.
(Qualifying heats Saturday)

Women’s 100 Meters
(Semi-finals and finals Saturday)

Decathlon
Neugebauer (Germany) leads after day one
(Final five events Saturday)

Men’s Shot Put
Ryan Crouser (USA) took just one throw and qualified for the finals
(Finals Saturday)

Good Looking Track Women
One of the hidden pleasures of track and field is it has by far the best looking women of any sport on the planet. And they show up looking the best they can. One of the top beauties is Netherlands sprinter—400 meters, 4x400 mixed relay—Leike Klaver:

 

[Frank Costanza]

SATURDAY EVENTS

Men’s Pole Vault
Lots of good pole vaulters, but no one can beat Armand Duplantis, an American--raised in Baton Rouge, competed for LSU—who competes for Sweden to honor his Swedish-born mother. Defending Olympic champ, world record holder, world indoor and outdoor champion the last three years, and unbeaten since his gold in Tokyo.
Watching the ease with which he clears his winning heights is one of the most popular sights in the sport and the fans flock to the part of the arenas where the pole vault is located. USA has excellent vaulters, but no one has shown they can come close to Duplantis.
(Qualifying jumps Saturday)

Men’s 100 Meters
Noah Lyles is the fastest man on the planet, world champion the last three years, unbeatable in big meets. The world is full of great sprinters and the pack is always even with Lyles till the last 20 meters when he effortlessly hits the afterburners and leaves them behind. Thompson and Seville (both Jamaica) and Omayala (a rarity in track, a Kenyan sprinter) have all broken 9.8 this year while Lyles’ best time is 9.81, but no one has beaten Lyles in a big meet in three years.
(Qualifying heats Saturday)

Women’s 100 Meters
(Semi-finals and finals Saturday)

Decathlon
Neugebauer (Germany) leads after day one
(Final five events Saturday)

Men’s Shot Put
Ryan Crouser (USA) took just one throw and qualified for the finals
(Finals Saturday)

Good Looking Track Women
One of the hidden pleasures of track and field is it has by far the best looking women of any sport on the planet. And they show up looking the best they can. One of the top beauties is Netherlands sprinter—400 meters, 4x400 mixed relay—Leike Klaver:
View attachment 86543

Don't necessarily disagree on the latter but there are some incredible-looking volleyball players as well.

 

[TahoeLegend]

Don't necessarily disagree on the latter but there are some incredible-looking volleyball players as well.

Agree with that one. And indoor volleyball players too. One of the Serbia indoor players looks like a future movie star

 

[TahoeLegend]

Sunday Events

Women’s 400 Meter Hurdles
Probably the most anticipated track event of thisOlympics. Sydney McLaughlin is a legend in the event—defending Olympic champ, World champion, world record holder(fourth time she has broken her own record), and wins her races by an average of 10 yards.
But she’s not a sure thing. Femke Bol (Netherlands) world champion and defending Olympic champ in the 400 meter run, smoked the field today to lead the Netherlands to gold in the gold in the 4x400 mixed relay. She came from thirty yards back in the last 60 yards to run down the favored Americans
It’s hard to see anyone beating McLauglin, but if anyone can do it, it’s Bol
(Qualifying rounds Sunday)

Men’s 1500 Meters
Ingebritsen (Norway)and Kerr (Great Britain),as expected, made the semi-finals with ease The Norwegian is favored, but Kerr has his number lately.
The Americans, Hocker (Oregon)and Naguse (Notre Dame) are over matched, but made the semi-finals so are still alive
(Semi-finals Sunday)

Women’s 3,000 Meter Steeplechase
A wide open race with the defending Olympic champ Chemutai (Uganda), world record holder Chepkoech (Kenya), world champion Yavi (Bahrain), rising star Cherotich (Kenya) and the rest of the top ten in the world rankings.
Valerie Constien (USA) American record at the Olympic trials and the third best time int the world this year is the top American, but this event traditionally belongs to the East Africans
(Qualifying rounds Sunday)

Men’s 110 Meter High Hurdles
Grant Holloway (USA) is a huge favorite. Three straight world championships, fastest time in the world each year the last three years, world indoor champion five times. No one has come close to him this year.
Broadwell (Brit), Zhoya (France), and Llopis (Spain) all have top ten times in the world this year, but nothing close to what Holloway runs
(Qualifying rounds Sunday)

Women’s 200 Meters
Gabby Thomas(USA) (Also Good Looking Track Woman of the Day)is the world leader this year and is the favorite. Top challenge is from Jackson(Jamaica) This was considered Sha’reeka Jackson’s strongest race, but she failed to make the team at the Olympic trials
(Qualifying rounds Sunday)

Men’s 100 Meters
Surprise when Bednarek and Fred Kerley (both USA) posted the top two times in qualifying. Noah Lyles advanced to the semi-finals but fished second in his heat and had only the 12th best time of all qualifiers
(Semi-finals and finals Sunday)

Women’s High Jump
Mahuchikh (Ukraine),one of the most beautiful women in track, set the world record a few weeks ago and comes in as the favorite. Vashti Cunningham (USA)—daughter of former Eagle QB Randall made the finals and is an outside threat
(Finals Sunday)

Women’s 800 meters
Three names have dominated the 800-meters this decade. Athing Mu (USA) defending Olympic and world champion was a heavy favorite, but fell at the Olympic trials and failed to make the team
Keely Hodgkinson (Great Britain, England)silver at Tokyo and the fastest time in the world this year is now the favorite. Mary Mora (Kenya), defending world champ andKenyan record holder in the 400 meter will challenge, as will Jemma Reekie (Great Britain, Scotland),second fastest time in the world this year
(Finals Sunday)

Men’s 400 Meters
The USA has traditionally dominated the 400, but not this year. Sedjati (Algeria) is the dominant 400 runner this year with the two fastest times, and victories in the two Diamond League races where the top competitors ran. Wanyonyi (Kenya)and Tual (France) are the only runners other than Sedjati to run under 1:42 this year and are legit medal threats
Hoppel (USA), top six time in the world this year and has lost only one race, that to Sedjati when the Algerian ran the best time in the world has an outside chance

 

[CPA-hole]

I thought the guy from Jamaica looked great in the 100m. Lyles will have his work cut out for him

 

[TahoeLegend]

I thought the guy from Jamaica looked great in the 100m. Lyles will have his work cut out for him

The NFL should look at the guy. He's a monster and the second fastest man on the planet

 

[TahoeLegend]

Monday Events

Men's 200m Round 1
Don’t know where I got the idea Noah Lyles was not running the 200. It was Sha’Carrie Richardson who failed to qualify. The 200 is Lyles’ best event—world champion three straight years--and he goes in as the favorite.
Plenty of competition from Bednarek (USA), Tebogo (Botswana), and DeGrasse (Canada), the defending Olympic champ. Knighton (USA) was a phenom when he broke Usain Bolt’s under-16 and under -18 world records and the track world expected him to be a super-star by now, but he has yet to deliver

Men's 400m Hurdles
May be the premier event of the Paris games. Three of the greatest of all time, all at their peak. Karston Warholm (Norway), defending Olympic champ, world record holder, world champion three of the last four years. Alison dos Santos (Brazil), world champion at Eugene in 2022. RaiBenjamin (USA) silver at Tokyo, beat both the other two a few weeks ago in Monaco. All three are capable of winning, all three capable of world record


Women's Pole Vault Qualification
Kari Moon (USA) defending Olympic champ, world champion two of last three years is the favorite. Kennedy (Australia)and Caudrey (great Britain) the best among many challengers.

Women's 400m Round 1
Sydney McLaughlin or Femke Bol would be heavy favorite if either runs the race, but McLaughlin will run only the 400 m hurdles and the 4x400 relay and Bol apparently will also skip the 400 flat.
Anyone’s race now,with Nickisha Pryce (Jamaica), world leading time this year, Adeleke (Ireland), Kaczmarek (Poland) and Paulino (Dominican Republic) the favorites.

Men's Pole Vault Final
Duplantis is as close to a sure thing as any athlete in thegames and may set a world record as well

Men's 3000m Steeplechase Round 1
No man has defended gold in this event in a century, but El Bakkali (Morocco)has won two world titles since Tokyo and has a chance. Girma (Ethiopia),world record holder, is the likely favorite if he has not run himself out in numerous races this summer. Then there is the usual mob of East African runners.
This is the event Kenya values above all others and they once dominated it. Any Kenyan who wins is the biggest hero in the country, but Kenya is in the drought and not expected to be a factor

Women's Discus Throw Final
Valarie Allman is defending Olympic champ and the best thrower in the world. She was 4 meters better than any woman during qualifiers. She’s also the best looking woman discus thrower of all time and has revolutionized how women weight athletes look and throw
There are a lot of good women throwers so Allman is not a cinch

Women's 200m Semi-Final
Gabby Thomas was fastest qualifier and races in semi-finals Monday

Women's 5000m Final,
Faith Kipyegon (Kenya)won the last two Olympics, the last two world titles, and world record holder in the 1,500 meters, mile, and 5,000 meters. She is the only runner from the once-proud Kenyans who is favored in an event.
Desta (Ethopia) broke Kipyegon’s 5,000 meter record and is the strongest competition, but there are plenty of hungry East Africans who will go all out.

Good Looking Track Woman of the Day
Tara Davis-Woodhall loves the camera. As soon as is finished in the long jump she puts on her boots and cowboy hat and parades around the rest of the meet.

 

[TahoeLegend]

Tuesday Events

Men's 1500m
Best event of the day. Ingebritsen (Norway)and Kerr (Great Britain)are through to the final so the most hate-filled feud in track and field willbe settled on the track. Americanrunners, Hocker and Naguse, are running at a high level and could contend, evenbreak the American record, but don’t look to be quite at the level of the toptwo
(Finals Tuesday)

Women's 3000m Steeplechase
No surprise in qualifiers. Defending Olympic champ and favorite on Tuesday, Chemutai (Uganda),world record holder Chepkoech (Kenya),world champion Yavi (Bahrain), all won their heats with ease and a bunch of other East Africans joined them.
Kenyahas yet to win gold in any event so the pressure is on Chepkoech to save somepride for the once dominant Kenyans
(Finals Tuesday)

Women's 200m
Gabby Thomas had the best time of any qualifier and is the solid favorite, but Julien Alfred became the biggest star in the history of her country when she won gold in the 100—the first medal ever won by an athlete from St Lucie—and now appears to be the top threat
(Finals Tuesday)

Women's 1500m
Faith Kipyegon (Kenya), defending Olympic and World champ,set a new world record in this event just a month ago, is a heavy favorite, but ran a grueling 5,000 meter final Monday and lost at the tape. What’s left in the tank?
The usual mob of East Africans are medal threats led by Ethiopians Haylom and Welteji.
Strong American team and all three American runners are a threat
(QualifiersTuesday)

Men's 400m
American men looked strong in qualifying. Sedjati (Algeria)still the favorite. Of the Americans Ilike the chances of Hoppel the best
(Semi-finals Tuesday) USA Heptathlon star Anna Hall

Women's 400m Hurdles
McLaughlin and Bol both won their qualifying heats. One of those two will win gold and my pick is McLaughlin
(Semi-Finals onTuesday)

Good Looking Track Woman of the Day
USA Heptathlon star Anna Hall

 

[KJ]

This 110 hurdles heat was a disaster

False start then 2 stand ups because the gun didn't go off , can't make that up

Was entertaining at least. 13.54/13.54/13.54/13.55 and top two advance lol

 

[TahoeLegend]

Men's 3,000m Steeplechase
Best event of the day. Hard to equal the men’s 1,500 finish, but this one may come close. El Bakali (Morocco) has won the last two world titles, is trying to be the first Olympic champion to repeat in more than a century. Girma (Ethiopia) broke El Bakali’s world record and has the best time in the world this year. The usual suspects, meaning all East Africans, will challenge.
Final Wednesday

Men's 400m
Norman (USA) ran a 44.01 in his heat, but Kirani James ran a 43.78 and Samukonga (Zambia) a 43.8. Hudson-Smith (Great Britain) has the best time of the year. Anybody’s race
Final Wednesday

Women's Pole Vault
Katie Moon (USA) is defending Olympic champion and is a slight favorite. Main competition will come from Kennedy (Australia) who tied Moon at last year’s world championship
Final Wednesday

Men's 400m Hurdles
No event at this Olympics has three runners who are the greatest of all time at their event, all a threat to win gold, and all a threat to break the world record—Warholm (NOR) defending Olympic champ, defending world champion, world record holder, Benjamin (USA) fastest time in the world this year, Dos Santos (BRA) world champion 2022. Anybody’s race
Semifinal Wednesday

Men's 5,000m
Defending Olympic champ Ingebritsen (Norway) finished fourth in the 1,500m, is better in the 5,000 where is has won the last two world championships. Gebrhiwet (Ethopia) has the second fast time in history. There are at least a dozen East Africans who will challenge
Round 1

Men's 800m
Sedjati (Algeria) is the best in the world this year and the most entertaining. He lags at the back of the pack for the first 600 meters, then hits overdrive and runs the next 200 meters like a sprinter
Wanyonyi (Kenya) is the biggest challenger and this is probably the only chance Kenya has to win a gold. Hoppel (USA) has had a great year and has a chance. Kessler (USA) ran a great race in the 1,500m on Tuesday and is a wild card if he has anything left in the tank
Round 1

Men's 200m
Lyles (USA) is slight favorite as he tries for the double, but plenty of competition. Bednarek (USA) and Knighton (USA) ran strong heats and are threats, but the main challenge looks to come from Teboga (Botswana) and the usual suspects from Jamaica
Semifinal Wednesday

Good Looking Track Woman of the Day
Anna Cockrell (USA) 400m

 

[TahoeLegend]

Thursday Events

Women's 400m Hurdles
McLaughlin (USA) and Bol (Netherlands)have been the favorites all year and both blew away the competition in their semi-finals. McLaughlin with ease and we may see a world record
Final Thursday

Men's 200m Final
Lyles (USA) came in as the favorite and is trying for the rare 100m/200m double, but was flat in the prelims and Tebogo (Botswana) beat him with ease. Bednarek (USA) also had a better time
Finals Friday

Men's 110m Hurdles
Holloway (USA) is the heavy favorite. The biggest question is, will he set a world and Olympic record
Final Thursday

Women’s Long Jump
Mihambo (Germany)and Spanovic (Serbia) are both world champions, but Tara Davis-Woodhall, (the hottest long jumper in the world) is younger and still improving. The main question is, will the lovely Tara put on her hat and boots for a victory lap
Final Friday

Women's 1500m
In any distance race you start with the East Africans. The favorite is world record holder Faith Kipyegon, (Kenya) who won silver in the 5,000 yesterday, In then came back and qualified for the 1,500 two hours later. Two Ethiopians, Tsegay and Welteji won their qualifying heats with ease and both have the talent to win gold.
The usual mob of Ugandans, Kenyans, and Ethiopians will challenge. If any non-East African contend it’s likely Hull of Australia.
Semi-Final Friday

Women's Heptathlon
First four events—100m hurdles, high jump, shot, 200m—of the Heptathlon. These multi-event sports are notoriously hard to predict, (as the men’s decathlon proved). There are only a couple of meets each year that even bother to hold the decathlon or heptathlon
Nafi Thiam (Belgium) is the most decorated athlete in the sport, gold medal winner the last two Olympics and multiple world championships. Katrina Johnson-Thomspon (Great Britain) has won ever honor in the sport except an Olympic gold
Those two are both in their 30s, ancient in track and field, so my pick is the beautiful Anna Hall (USA). Best score in the world this year, a decade younger than her competitors and still improving

Men's 4x100m Relay
If they decided this event by just adding up the times of the four runners the USA would win every year. But getting the baton around the track is a skill that has eluded the USA for decades. Most years they don’t even make it out of the qualifying heats.
The perfect example was the mixed 4x400 relay on Tuesday. The second runner lined up 50 yards out the passing and zone and only corrected her blunder because an official was kind enough to get her attention and warn her. And it was the exact same mistake, also with the second runner, that got them DQ’d in the same event in the last Olympics
The USA wins with ease if they managed to pass the stick
Qualifying heats Thursday

Women’s 4x100m Relay
The women are better than the men at passing the stick and are the favorites. Jamaica came into the Olympics as the favorite, but three of their stars are out with injuries so Great Britain should be the main challenger. The Brits have talent, but lack the depth of the USA,so the Americans should cruise
Qualifying heats Friday

Good Looking Track Woman of the Day
Alysha Newman (Canada), bronze medal in pole vault and named most beautiful athlete at the Paris Olympics

 

[Frank Costanza]

Thursday Events

Women's 400m Hurdles
McLaughlin (USA) and Bol (Netherlands)have been the favorites all year and both blew away the competition in their semi-finals. McLaughlin with ease and we may see a world record
Final Thursday

Men's 200m Final
Lyles (USA) came in as the favorite and is trying for the rare 100m/200m double, but was flat in the prelims and Tebogo (Botswana) beat him with ease. Bednarek (USA) also had a better time
Finals Friday

Men's 110m Hurdles
Holloway (USA) is the heavy favorite. The biggest question is, will he set a world and Olympic record
Final Thursday

Women’s Long Jump
Mihambo (Germany)and Spanovic (Serbia) are both world champions, but Tara Davis-Woodhall, (the hottest long jumper in the world) is younger and still improving. The main question is, will the lovely Tara put on her hat and boots for a victory lap
Final Friday

Women's 1500m
In any distance race you start with the East Africans. The favorite is world record holder Faith Kipyegon, (Kenya) who won silver in the 5,000 yesterday, In then came back and qualified for the 1,500 two hours later. Two Ethiopians, Tsegay and Welteji won their qualifying heats with ease and both have the talent to win gold.
The usual mob of Ugandans, Kenyans, and Ethiopians will challenge. If any non-East African contend it’s likely Hull of Australia.
Semi-Final Friday

Women's Heptathlon
First four events—100m hurdles, high jump, shot, 200m—of the Heptathlon. These multi-event sports are notoriously hard to predict, (as the men’s decathlon proved). There are only a couple of meets each year that even bother to hold the decathlon or heptathlon
Nafi Thiam (Belgium) is the most decorated athlete in the sport, gold medal winner the last two Olympics and multiple world championships. Katrina Johnson-Thomspon (Great Britain) has won ever honor in the sport except an Olympic gold
Those two are both in their 30s, ancient in track and field, so my pick is the beautiful Anna Hall (USA). Best score in the world this year, a decade younger than her competitors and still improving

Men's 4x100m Relay
If they decided this event by just adding up the times of the four runners the USA would win every year. But getting the baton around the track is a skill that has eluded the USA for decades. Most years they don’t even make it out of the qualifying heats.
The perfect example was the mixed 4x400 relay on Tuesday. The second runner lined up 50 yards out the passing and zone and only corrected her blunder because an official was kind enough to get her attention and warn her. And it was the exact same mistake, also with the second runner, that got them DQ’d in the same event in the last Olympics
The USA wins with ease if they managed to pass the stick
Qualifying heats Thursday

Women’s 4x100m Relay
The women are better than the men at passing the stick and are the favorites. Jamaica came into the Olympics as the favorite, but three of their stars are out with injuries so Great Britain should be the main challenger. The Brits have talent, but lack the depth of the USA,so the Americans should cruise
Qualifying heats Friday

Good Looking Track Woman of the Day
Alysha Newman (Canada), bronze medal in pole vault and named most beautiful athlete at the Paris Olympics
View attachment 86756

Great updates during the Games.

Thx

 

[KJ]

Just heads up for anyone not watching, men's 200 final is going off in a couple minutes on NBC, not Friday

 

[VirginiaCavs]

Damn Lyles was a huge favorite

 

[VirginiaCavs]

Take note bettors. Hard to do 100 and 200 double

 

[VirginiaCavs]

Oh was he sick

 

[~Utah]

BOTSWANA!!!!

 

[KJ]

Yesterday's semis was pretty telling in hindsight, easy to say now that he was working hard at the end to try to hold off Tobogo and couldn't although he looked to shut it down the last 10 meters and just qualify but he was gassed after this one. That's not normal for elite 200 runners. Probably too much hype tour this week even for Lyles.

 

[Gandolf]

McLaughlin vs Bol is the one I want to see. These two dominate.

 

[~Utah]

Lyles had Covid!?

 

[KJ]

McLaughlin vs Bol is the one I want to see. These two dominate.

They still have that to run tonight? I guess it's only 9pm there so there might still be a couple more events

 

[Gandolf]

They still have that to run tonight? I guess it's only 9pm there so there might still be a couple more events

Stay awake a little longer....running in 15 minutes.

 

[Gandolf]

Pakastani just threw a javelin the length of a football field.

 

[pressitup]

lyles got his interview

 

[Gandolf]

Wow, SML just crushed it.

 

[KJ]

That was pretty awesome to watch off the turn

 

[pressitup]

she had the stagger erased mid way through the back stretch

 

[KJ]

Took a little Roberts to win a medal here at -135

Injury concern but he crushed the race I watched the other day. Holloway -1400 to win, can't do much with that.

 

[pressitup]

ding dong the witch is dead

 

[TahoeLegend]

Great updates during the Games.

Thx

Tara Davis-Woodhall came through with a medal for the Longhorns. Great performance. She just got better and better as the season wore on

 

[TahoeLegend]

Friday Events
Lots of semi-finals and final for events already introduced. Only one marquee event and one new event.
The US men made it around the track in the 4x100, but botched two of the four baton passes.

Men's 400m Hurdles
Everyone has been waiting for this showdown since Warholm set a world record and edged out Benjamin (USA) for gold in Tokyo. Alison dos Santos was expected to make it a three-man race, but came out flat in the semi-finals and that has spelled disaster in most events at these Olympics.

Women’s 10,000 Meters
The East Africans have dominated this event for years. Chebet( Kenya)broke the 10,000m world record in June and was already the existing 5k road world record holder and is a slight favorite.
Hassan (Netherlands, but born and raised in Ethiopia) is the top challenger and one of the most interesting runners in track and field. She won bronze in the 5,000 yesterday, will run the 10,000m Friday, then the marathon Sunday. She runs more miles at the Olympics than any distance runner—male or female—in this era. She wins too—gold in the 5,000 and 10,000, bronze in the 1,500m at Tokyo
All three Ethiopians and the other two Kenyans are contenders. Tsegay (Ethiopia),second fastest time in the world this year and 5,000m world record holder withdrew from the race.
Top American hopes--Parker Valby, won five NCAA titles this year, Karissa Schweizer finished 10th in the 5,000m, Weini Kelati won the US Olympic trials 10,000.

Beautiful Track Woman of the Day
Natalie Kazcmarek, won her heat, is in the finals of women’s400m

 

[Frank Costanza]

Still madly in love with Gabby Thomas. Smart as they come with the Harvard undergrad and master's from Texas, and equally personable and charismatic.

Helluva athlete as well.

 

[Gandolf]

US gets bupkis in the relay. Exchange problems. Men's relay that is.

 

[pressitup]

US gets bupkis in the relay. Exchange problems. Men's relay that is.

It's cursed at this point.
you could write the US into the sprint relay when I was a kid
these guys can't be bartenders now, fumble the toothpick trying to pierce an olive.

 

[TahoeLegend]

Men's Marathon
The marathon route will retrace the historic "March of the Women" moment of the French Revolution, when a crowd of 10,000 angry Parisian women marched to Versailles, broke in, forced Louie XVI and his family out of the palace, and marched them back to the Tuileries where they were confined.
The route, filled with hills and considered the most difficult in Olympic history, will end at the Esplanade de Invalides, the magnificent golden-domed palace housing Napoleon’s tomb.
Kipchoge (Kenya),winner of the last two Olympic marathon, is the favorite, but is aging and finished four minutes behind the winner in his last outing.
The usual mob of East Africans led by Ethiopians Tola, Geleta,and Bekele, and Kiplangat (Uganda), world champion in 2023, will challenge, along with Abraham (Ethiopian who now runs for Switzerland), and Kipruto (Kenya), fastest time in the world this year.
Two more East Africans from Somali now run for European countries, Abdi (Belgium)and Nageeye (Netherlands),and are medal threats.
The two Americans, Mantz and Young don’t have the pedigree of the East Africans, but USA runners have over-performed in every distance race so far

Men's 800m
Sedjeti (Algeria) is the favorite and looked it in the qualifying heats. Wanyonyi (Kenya)is the top challenger. Hoppel (USA) and Kessler (USA) have a shot
Final Saturday

Men's 5000m
Defending Olympic champ Ingebritsen (Norway)had the fastest qualifying time. Nordas (Norway)and Gebrhiwet (Ethiopia) finished in a virtual tie in the other heat. Grant Fisher won the 10,000, beating Ingebritsen in the process, and has as good a shot as anyone.
Plenty of East Africans hungry for a win
Final Saturday

Women's 1500m
No surprise in the semi-finals. Kipyegon, (Kenya)won her heat on cruise control. . The two main challengers, Ethiopians Tsegay and Welteji qualified with ease. Hull (Australia), and St Pierre and Hiltz, both USA, all have a shot at breaking the East African monopoly
Final Saturday

Men's 4x400m Relay
Sure win for the USA if they don’t mess up a handoff. The good thing about the 4x100 is it’s so long they can mess up a couple of passes—which they always do—and still win. The USA almost didn’t qualify when they decided to have a high school kid run the first leg in the heat and he finished dead last and was barely trotting when he made the hand off
Final Saturday

Women's 4x400m Relay
USA is a sure thing if they make even poor passes
Final Saturday

Good Looking Track Woman of the Day
German sprinter Alicia Schmidt, called "the sexiest female athlete in the world" by the press. She deserves the title

 

[KJ]

Watching that kid trying to finish the first leg in the 4x4 was the most torturous moment of these Olympics. At least on the track.

 

[GridironGems]

Men's Marathon
The marathon route will retrace the historic "March of the Women" moment of the French Revolution, when a crowd of 10,000 angry Parisian women marched to Versailles, broke in, forced Louie XVI and his family out of the palace, and marched them back to the Tuileries where they were confined.
The route, filled with hills and considered the most difficult in Olympic history, will end at the Esplanade de Invalides, the magnificent golden-domed palace housing Napoleon’s tomb.
Kipchoge (Kenya),winner of the last two Olympic marathon, is the favorite, but is aging and finished four minutes behind the winner in his last outing.
The usual mob of East Africans led by Ethiopians Tola, Geleta,and Bekele, and Kiplangat (Uganda), world champion in 2023, will challenge, along with Abraham (Ethiopian who now runs for Switzerland), and Kipruto (Kenya), fastest time in the world this year.
Two more East Africans from Somali now run for European countries, Abdi (Belgium)and Nageeye (Netherlands),and are medal threats.
The two Americans, Mantz and Young don’t have the pedigree of the East Africans, but USA runners have over-performed in every distance race so far

Men's 800m
Sedjeti (Algeria) is the favorite and looked it in the qualifying heats. Wanyonyi (Kenya)is the top challenger. Hoppel (USA) and Kessler (USA) have a shot
Final Saturday

Men's 5000m
Defending Olympic champ Ingebritsen (Norway)had the fastest qualifying time. Nordas (Norway)and Gebrhiwet (Ethiopia) finished in a virtual tie in the other heat. Grant Fisher won the 10,000, beating Ingebritsen in the process, and has as good a shot as anyone.
Plenty of East Africans hungry for a win
Final Saturday

Women's 1500m
No surprise in the semi-finals. Kipyegon, (Kenya)won her heat on cruise control. . The two main challengers, Ethiopians Tsegay and Welteji qualified with ease. Hull (Australia), and St Pierre and Hiltz, both USA, all have a shot at breaking the East African monopoly
Final Saturday

Men's 4x400m Relay
Sure win for the USA if they don’t mess up a handoff. The good thing about the 4x100 is it’s so long they can mess up a couple of passes—which they always do—and still win. The USA almost didn’t qualify when they decided to have a high school kid run the first leg in the heat and he finished dead last and was barely trotting when he made the hand off
Final Saturday

Women's 4x400m Relay
USA is a sure thing if they make even poor passes
Final Saturday

Good Looking Track Woman of the Day
German sprinter Alicia Schmidt, called "the sexiest female athlete in the world" by the press. She deserves the title
View attachment 86844

Is Quincy Wilson, the 16 year old, running in today's finals?

 

[TahoeLegend]

Is Quincy Wilson, the 16 year old, running in today's finals?

No, he was a complete failure in the first leg in the heats and will not run in the finals.

 

[TahoeLegend]

Women’s Marathon

The women will will follow the same historic route throughsome of the most beautiful parts of Parisas the men’s marathon. There are three main favorites:

1. Assefa (Ethiopia) set the world record, an astounding 2:11:53,faster than legendary Ethiopian runner, Abebe Bikila, two time Olympic champion who won in Rome running barefoot, ever ran in his storied career.

2. Hassan (Ethiopian, who now runs for the Netherlands)is a runner like the track world has never seen—bronze in the 5,000 on Tuesday, bronze in the 10,000 on Friday, now one of the favorites in the Marathon 38 hours later.

3. Jepchirchir (Kenya),defending Olympic champ and Olympic record holder.

The rest of the Kenyan team and the Ethiopian team all have either world championships or major international marathon wins the last two years and all are threats.

Sisson (USA) is the holder of the American record, but it will be a big surprise if any the Americans contend.





Boy, I hate to see track and field end. It’s been the best Olympics I can ever recall and track and field is the main reason. Hard to face the fact it will be four years before we see such a show again