Athletics Day 9 Preview: Bekele aims for distance double

  2008-08-23 03:07:50 GMT    2008-08-23 11:07:50 (Beijing Time)    BOCOG

  (BEIJING, August 23) -- Seven medals will be awarded on the penultimate day of the Athletics competition at the National Stadium on Saturday, August 23.

  Men's 5000m - Final

  Kenenisa Bekele of Ethiopia is poised to win the 5000m and 10,000m double. If he can do so, the Athens 2004 silver medallist will become the second Ethiopian, behind Miruts Yifter (Moscow 1980), to achieve the feat.

  Bernard Lagat of the United States redeemed himself in the heats after a sub-standard performance in the 1500m, and will be determined to repeat his 5000m victory from the world championships last year.

  Matthew Tegenkamp of the United States was the fastest qualifier in 13:37.36.

  Eliud Kipchoge of Kenya and Tariku Bekele of Ethiopia will also provide strong competition.

  Women's High Jump - Final

  Reigning world champion and undisputed favorite Blanka Vlasic of Croatia will target her first Olympic gold and the world record of 2.09m.

  Defending Olympic champion Elena Slesarenko of Russia could cause an upset.

  Ariane Friedrich of Germany set a personal-best 2.03m this year and has been a consistent challenger to Vlasic throughout 2008.

  Women's 4 x 400m Relay - Final

  The United States were the fastest qualifiers through to the final. They still have the option of calling experienced relay runner Deedee Trotter into the team to assist them in defending their Olympic title.

  Jamaica finished second to the United States in their heat, and will be a strong force in the final.

  Belarus, who qualified third fastest, will also be a threat.

  Yulia Gushchina and Anastasia Kapachinskaya, who finished fourth and fifth respectively in the individual 400m final, will lead Russia's charge.

  Men's 4 x 400m Relay - Final

  The United States have won 15 out of a possible 21 Olympic titles in the Men's 4 x 400m Relay and this reign is expected to continue on Saturday night.

  The US team is individually strong, with their team including the three medallists from the Men's 400m final - LaShawn Merritt, Jeremy Wariner and David Neville.

  Great Britain and the Bahamas were the fastest qualifiers into the final.

  Men's Javelin Throw - Final

  Three men automatically advanced to the final after surpassing 82.50m in the qualification round - Vadims Vasilevskis of Latvia, Ilya Korotkov of Russia and reigning world champion Tero Pitkamaki of Finland.

  Defending champion Andreas Thorkildsen of Norway will need to improve on his 79.85m performance from the qualifying round if he wishes to feature in the medals.

  Men's 800m - Final

  With several early favorites knocked out in the semifinals, the door is open for reigning world champion Alfred Kirwa Yego of Kenya and Sudanese runner Ismail Ahmed Ismail to take control of the Men's 800m final.

  Yeimer Lopez of Cuba finished strongly in his semifinal and could pose a threat.

  Women's 1500m - Final

  Nancy Jebet Langat of Kenya was the fastest qualifier through in 4:03.02.

  World champion Maryam Jamal of the Bahamas easily won her heat and is still the standout favorite to win her first Olympic Gold.

  Potential medallist and 2008 African champion Gelete Burka of Ethiopia was knocked out in the first round after finishing in sixth place.