Taking the temperature of the US Olympic Distance Squad a week before Athletics begin

Shalane Flanagan got to wear the flag in 2008. Will any American
Distance Runners get that opportunity in 2012?

Track and Field at the 2012 Olympic Games starts one week from today (check out the schedule here).

How's are the United States Distance Team doing going into the games?

Below is an update about what each American athlete has been up to since the trials and who has a true MEDAL CHANCE, a DARKHORSE medal opportunity, and then sadly, those who may not by ready to roll due to injury (HURT ALERT).

Men's 800
1. Nick Symmonds - MEDAL CHANCE
Ran a near PR 800 in Monaco in 1:43.78, then ran a tune up 400 in Ireland in 47.45. Symmonds looks to be fit and has run rounds well. No doubt he'll be gunning for a medal after coming in 5th in Daegu last year. Abubaker Kaki's recent demise helps him, but it will take an A+ effort to make the podium.

2. Khadevis Robinson - DARKHORSE
KD ran great at the trials, but hasn't run since. Making the final should be his number one goal. If he can do that, he's capable of top five or better, especially with his run from behind and kick from 300 out tactic, that he's employed over the last two seasons.

Saucony has made custom spikes for #5 All Time American
in the 800, Duane Solomon 

3. Duane Solomon - DARKHORSE
His phenomenal 1:43.44 PR in Monaco shows he is at the top of his game. Solomon, like KD, has changed his style from frontrunner to "run right behind the leader" and it's paid off well. His goal should be making the final, and then going from there. Like KD, and Symmonds for that matter, he's got a great shot if he's on the line for the final on Thursday, August 9th. One side note; neither Abraham Kipchirchir Rotich or Leonard Kirwa Kosencha, both of Kenya, who beat Solomon in Monaco, are running in London.

Women's 800
1. Alysia Montano - MEDAL CHANCE
Monaco was good, but not great for Montano. She ran 1:59.05 for third, but looked to be in better shape at the trials. Maybe it was just her international rust buster. She likes to front run, which can be disastrous, but she's too good not to make the final. From there, I'm sure she'd like to improve on her 4th place finish from Daegu last year.

2. Geena Gall
"OMG Opening Ceremonies is tonight!!!!" was a recent tweet from Gall. This is her first rodeo and she leads the clubhouse in the potentially "happy to be here" division. Will she be ready? She ran 2:01.65 at Crystal Palace, so she'll have to return to her Olympic Trials form to make it past the semifinal (it took 1:58.61 to make the final in '08).

3. Alice Schmidt
Schmidt's added strength training this year led to a PR and A Standard in the 1500 at Prefontaine. She barely missed the final in Daegu last year. That will be her goal for London. Read the 5 Questions with Schmidt feature here.

Hopefully this Manzano will show up in London
(photo: TrackAndFieldPhoto)

Men's 1500
1. Leo Manzano - DARKHORSE
Known for his hot and cold racing habits, Manzano has been hot all year, except for two weeks ago at Crystal Palace. Hopefully one poor showing isn't a sign of where he is right now. Manzano's kick is medal-worthy and if he runs like he did at the trials, that's a possibility.

2. Matt Centrowitz - DARKHORSE
A poor 800 at Crystal Palace led to a withdrawal at Monaco. He ran much better at the Morton Games a few days ago, winning the 800 in 1:47.72. Centro rounds into shape fast and runs rounds well. If he can time this right, he'll hope to finish on the podium again, like he did in Daegu.

3. Andrew Wheating - HURT ALERT
A few days ago, "Britain's Athletics International" said that Wheating had withdrawn from the games. That looked to be false information, but Wheating has been hurt and had to withdraw from Monaco with a flaring up of plantar fasciitis. Let's hope he's ready to go, but I wouldn't put too much stock in him going beyond the semis if this continues to be an issue (it took 3:37.77 to make the final in Beijing)

Uceny will lead a strong 3 in the 1500
(photo: TrackAndFieldPhoto)

Women's 1500
1. Morgan Uceny - MEDAL CHANCE
Uceny hasn't looked quite as strong as last year. The devastating kick that she displayed all of 2011, save Daegu, hasn't been there. Maybe by design. Her, Shannon Rowbury and Jenny Simpson all looked good, but not great, at Crystal Palace, but I'm sure she and her coach, Terrence Mahon, have been trying to time her peak for the games. We'll see if it works; as if it does, she's a podium threat.

2. Shannon Rowbury - DARKHORSE
No stranger to the medal stand, Rowbury has been overshadowed by Uceny and Simpson over the past two seasons. She's a smart racer most certainly will make the final. After that, she'll need a big race, but like Simpson last year, is capable of medaling if things go her way.

3. Jenny Simpson - MEDAL CHANCE
Last year's 1500 meter World Champ hasn't shown that kind of form yet, but we know it's there. She's run under 4:00 in the event and has as good of 100 meter speed as anyone if it comes down to the last straightaway.

Man of the hour, Evan Jager
(photo: TrackAndFieldPhoto)

Men's 3000 Steeplechase
1. Evan Jager - MEDAL CHANCE
What's he done since the trials? Only set the American Record in the Steeple in an incredible time of 8:06.81. He also launched himself into the medal conversation. Maybe it's too soon, but maybe not. This event was made for Jager and he's taking full advantage of the opportunity. Look for him to contend on Friday, August 3rd (semifinal) and Sunday, August 5th (final).

2. Donn Cabral
The 2012 Princeton grad recently ran a PR of 3:40.03 for 1500 meters in Lignano, and then four days later, ran a flat 3000 PR of 7:53.48 in Szczecin. His smart racing style should land him in the final (it took 8:23.66 in Beijing). After that, top 10 would be an excellent goal. Read the 5 Questions with Cabral feature here.

3. Kyle Alcorn
If you saw Alcorn at the trials, you know he left it all out there to make the team. He'll have to do the same to make the final in London. He's got a great kick, which will bode well in a kickers race. Read the 5 Questions with Alcorn feature here.

Women's 3000 Steeplechase
1. Emma Coburn - DARKHORSE
Yet to be truly challenged this season, Coburn should thrive in London. She tuned up this week with a 4:33.24 Mile in Ireland. It took 9:17.16 to make the podium in Daegu last year. Coburn has run 9:25.28, but is certainly on the rise.

2. Bridget Franek
Franek looked excellent at Crystal Palace, running a PR of 9:29.53. She just missed the final in Daegu last year, but should be ready to run faster than the 9:40.04 it took to make the final then. Read the 5 Questions with Franek feature here (note: from before the trials).

3. Shalaya Kipp
Like Gall, hopefully Kipp won't fall into the potentially "happy to be here" mode and will compete. In the same Morton Mile as Coburn, Kipp managed only a 4:40.31, but is "hungry for more." She's certainly capable of making the final, but her best shot at the medal stand will be at 2016 or 2020.

Rupp, Lagat and Lomong will all have a shot at 5000
(photo: TrackAndFieldPhoto)

Men's 5000
1. Galen Rupp - MEDAL CHANCE
While Rupp's training partner, Mo Farah, ran in front of his home crowd at Crystal Palace, Rupp has been silent. I don't think anyone has any doubts he'll be ready to roll when the 5000 semifinal goes off on Wednesday, August 8th.

2. Bernard Lagat - MEDAL CHANCE
Not too much should be taken from Lagat's 3:54.17 Mile at Crystal Palace. It was an alright tune up race. Like Rupp, Lagat is a veteran that will be ready to go for the semis and will exhaust just enough energy to make the final. Gold is on his mind, but a podium finish would be a victory for him and America.

3. Lopez Lomong - DARKHORSE
Lomong won't have the hoopla that comes with being a flag bearer this year. In '08, he didn't make it out of the semifinal in the 1500. He should make it out of the semifinal and then could surprise in the final. He's run very few 5000's, but has run them all well. It took 13:06.22 to medal in Beijing, and will likely take faster in London.

Women's 5000
1. Julie Culley
Culley's kick at the trials was phenomenal. She'll need to channel that and more to make it to the final in London. Her 15:13.77 in Eugene and 8:45.57 3000 in Monaco show she is capable of the 15:15.12 that it took to make the final in 2008.

2. Molly Huddle
How fit is Huddle? We're not really sure. She's battled injury since her 14:44.76 American Record in 2010. Could she be rounding into shape? She didn't make it out of the heats in Daegu, so priority number one will be that.

Conley should feel like this if she
can make the 5000 final
(photo: TrackAndFieldPhoto)

3. Kim Conley
"Conley's definitely not just 'happy to be here.' This is the freaking Olympic Games. You can't simply coast in and show up," says her Coach Drew Wartenburg. "Training/prep is going well." She's got absolutely nothing to lose. She ran the race of her life to make it and secured a deal with New Balance in the process. Things are looking up. They'd be even more exciting if Conley could find that same magic to make the final. She won her tune up race in Cork, so it's possible!

Men's 10,000
1. Galen Rupp - MEDAL CHANCE
What seems to be Rupp's signature event will be the first on his schedule. The gun will go off next Saturday, August 4th for his run at the medal stand. It will be tough beating his teammate, Mo Farah, but everyone else is beatable, including Keninisa Bekele. He'll need to have the kick of his life to medal, but that's what he and his coach, Alberto Salazar, have been training his whole life for.

2. Matt Tegenkamp
Teg's run at the trials was inspiring. After looked washed up at Pre, he rebounded and looked in control the whole way. Keep in mind, he's only run four 10,000's ever. His 10th place finish at Daegu last year was good, but I'm sure he wants more, as he finished 4th in Osaka in the 5000 in 2007. Top 7-8 is likely where he'll fall if he runs a strong race.

3. Dathan Ritzenhein
Ritz seems to be on the upswing. His 13:15.91 in the rain at Crystal Palace was another positive step towards his comeback to the track (although he's running the Chicago Marathon this fall). Can he hang on to the front pack? It's going to be tough, but I would think a top 7-8 finish, like Teg, for Ritz is doable.

Brooks made custom shoes for Amy Hastings & Desi Davila
(photo: Amy Hastings Twitter)

Women's 10,000
1. Amy Hastings
One of the best stories of the trials was Amy Hastings breaking through and winning the 10,000, after finishing a disappointing 4th at the Marathon Trials. It will be near impossible to make the podium, but a top 7 finish should be possible, based on Daegu's results.

2. Lisa Uhl
Like Huddle, Uhl has been injured and it's hard to know what to expect from her. She hasn't raced since the trials, so we'll see what happens a week from today!

3. Janet Cherobon-Bawcom
JCB mentioned in her interview with me that she was "so sick in Eugene that I can't even pretend that I had a strategy." Hopefully she's feeling better now and will compete! Read the 5 Questions with JCB feature here.

Men's Marathon
1. Meb Keflezighi - HURT ALERT
While Meb has been busy on television running around in Citibank commercials, it sounds like he isn't ready for London. A hamstring injury seems to have set him back in his training, but he was the 2004 Olympic Silver Medalist, so he'll put forth his best effort.

2. Ryan Hall - DARKHORSE
In early June, Hall looked abysmal at the Rock 'n' Roll San Diego Half Marathon, getting his butt kicked by Meb. He's done this before, but never this slow. News came out that he'd had a bad case of plantar fasciitis that was hindering his training. That seems to be in the past now, but will he be ready for the world's best? I know he wants to rebound from his 10th place finish in Beijing. Expect him to contend for as long as he can on the last day of athletics, Sunday, August 11th.

Abdi hopes to airplane some people in London
(photo: The Oregonian)

3. Abdi Abdirahman
The Black Cactus is always a question mark. He could contend for the podium or he could finish 25th. It's hard to say until the race gets going. He'll likely be running in Nike's new Flyknit Racers and he "had a good workout at the track" on July 25.

Women's Marathon
1. Shalane Flanagan - MEDAL CHANCE
If you needed more of a reason to watch the Women's Marathon on Sunday, August 5th, Flanagan is it. Her surprise bronze medal finish in the Beijing 10,000 only whet her appetite for her chances in the marathon. She'll contend. Just watch.

2. Desi Davila - HURT ALERT
News has come out recently that Davila has been injured and could potenially not start next Sunday, August 5th. Let's hope she can find a way to go. The marathon is a tough event to go into half-cocked, but Davila is one of the toughest out there.

3. Kara Goucher - DARKHORSE
She surprised many with her podium finish at the trials and has been training well by all accounts. She could surprise again in London if people crash and burn, as she'll likely take a more balanced approach.

Agree? Disagree? Got some information I missed? Feel free to comment or email me something I left out.

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5 Questions with Alice Schmidt

The finish of the Women's 800 Final this year was a close one!
(photo: TrackAndFieldPhoto)

We start the week off with the second installment of 5 Questions with a member of the 2012 London Olympic Team. I take personal delight here, because she's a Tar Heel!

Alice Schmidt has been on the scene for over ten years now. Her first runs at the big time were her two runner-up finishes at the 2001 NCAA indoor and outdoor 800's, while at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. Since then, she's made multiple World teams and now is a 2-time Olympian. She's always been stronger at the 800 meters, but ran a PR and the Olympic A Standard in winning this year' Prefontaine Classic 1500 meters. She'll run a few races before lining up for the Olympic 800 prelims on August 8th.

5 Questions with Alice Schmidt

1. Writing About Running: The 800 Final at the trials saw five women within 0.64 seconds. What was it like weaving through the traffic in the final meters to make the all import top three, guaranteeing yourself a spot on the team?

Alice Schmidt: The women's 800 was a nail-biter. We all knew that it was going to be a serious fight to make the team this year because the caliber of the field was so high. I've always said that in the 800, nobody in the final can be counted out because it's such a strategic sprint and anything can happen. So, in the final, I wanted to go out behind Alysia and relax in that position. I was hoping to make a big surge at the end for the win, but I found myself stuck on the rail for much of the final kick. At the end of a race, people usually run wide, so I was able to squeeze out to have a clear line to the finish, and I was able to surge into 3rd place. Whew!

2. Writing About Running: With that, congrats making your second Olympic team. What was the feeling this year in relation to how it was in 2008?

Alice Schmidt: This year's 800 meter final had depth that I haven't seen in my career. Almost everyone in the final had the Olympic A standard; I think 4 of us had the standard in 2008. Obviously nothing was guaranteed. This year, I have been running a few more 1500s and doing more strength work. I was able to do speed work only in the last month or so. I kept having to tell myself that the "pieces of the puzzle" would come together at the trials, and thankfully, they did. Making the Olympic team for a second time was double-thrilling, seriously.

Schmidt on her way to winning the 2012 Pre Classic
 1500 over Jenny Simpson & Shannon Rowbury
(photo: TrackAndFieldPhoto)

3. Writing About Running: At the Prefontaine Classic this year, you upset 2/3 of the 2012 Olympic 1500 meter team, running a PR and Olympic A Standard time of 4:05.64. You have had a lot of success in the 800. Do you see a future in the longer event?

Alice Schmidt: My 1500 at Pre was a result of more strength work last year and this year. I've always raced the 1500 a few times a year, but last summer I raced the distance and won a couple of times in Europe. Still, I didn't have the A Standard. So, at Pre, I knew I wanted to get out of traffic, again, and I just went for it. I'm definitely looking forward to racing the "metric mile" more frequently!

4. Writing About Running: While at the University of North Carolina, you ran with two other future Olympians in Shalane Flanagan and Erin Donohue. How did your time at UNC and your relationship with these women shape you as a runner?

UNC's team of Schmidt, Donohue, Carol
Henry and Flanagan ran 17:20.18 to win
the 4x1500 at the 2003 Penn Relays.

Alice Schmidt: Shalane, Erin and my other teammates at UNC were critical in setting me up for success in college and as a professional. Having teammates who made it to NCAAs and got on the podium regularly set the bar pretty high. Successful athletics was the status quo. After college, I knew I wanted to find a similar atmosphere. As a resident athlete at the Olympic Training Center, I've got the same thing. My teammates there are not my training partners, but their hard work and success have inspired me to make teams and set my sights high.

5. Writing About Running: You have about a month until Round 1 of the 800 in London. What will you do to prepare over these last few weeks and how do you see your Olympic experience being different this time as a veteran of Team USA? Is there any European racing on your schedule in advance of the games?

Alice Schmidt: I'm already in Europe! I left the USA a few days after the trials. I knew I would need to take a bit of downtime after my 6 races at the trials, so I figured I would "kill 2 birds with 1 stone" and get over jet-lag while resting my legs. I've got about a week of working out before I start racing here. I hope to get into 3 races or so, and I plan to stay in Europe until the Olympics. I've learned from previous years that I'm at my best after a few races in Europe, so I'm trying to put myself in the best position for the Olympics.

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Daily Daegu: On the last day, Mo Farah gets his Gold

Farah's eyes now turn to London 2012

The Brits will have a lot to be excited about heading into London 2012. After many years of mediocrity in the distance events, they now have the favorite, or at minimum, co-favorite, for both the 5000 and 10,000 in Mo Farah. Farah looked great on Day 9 in Daegu, taking charge when he needed to and powering home for that Gold Medal in the 5000; the one he desperately wanted in the 10,000. His winning time was 13:23.26. Bernard Lagat gave a hard charge down the homestretch to pass the Ethiopians, Imane Merga and Dejen Gebremeskel, for Silver, but ran out of room to catch Farah. Merga held on for third, but was disqualified for stepping inside the rail. Karma for his continued jostling with force? Perhaps. Gebremeskel came in fourth, but will be awarded the Bronze. Farah's training partner, Galen Rupp, looked great until about 450 to go, when he just couldn't kick with the big boys. Rupp's last lap was 58, Farah's was 52. Rupp would finish ninth.

The Women's 800 was a barn burner as well, as it looked to be Gold for Caster Semenya with 200 to go. At that point, Russia's Mariya Savinova had one more push and outlasted Semenya to the line to take the Gold in a blazing 1:55.87. The early leader, Kenya's Janeth Jepkosgei, barely held off a diving Alysia Montano, for the Bronze. Montano's time was 1:57.48. Maggie Vessey finished sixth in a season's best of 1:58.50. A strong showing, but not likely what she wanted.

Kirui didn't stay with the pack long

The night before was the Abel Kirui show in the Men's Marathon. Kirui broke free around 25k and ran a 14:17 5k from 25k to 30k. That was enough to secure his victory and his victory was huge. Kenya's Vincent Kipruto finished second in 2:10:06, which was 2:28 behind Kirui's 2:07:38. Kirui is now a repeat World Champion. Can he bring that kind of intensity to London next year? He'll surely have better competition, but he would have beaten just about anyone today. Ethiopia's Feyisa Lilesa broke up the Kenyan sweep with a Bronze finish in 2:10:32. Mike Morgan, of the Hanson-Brooks Distance Project, was the top American in 31st in 2:18:30. Nick Arciniaga, the most accomplished American on the team, finished a disappointing 41st in 2:24:06. Hard to think he'll truly be a threat to make the London team with a performance like that going into the trials, but maybe he was holding back a little or just having a bad day. The Marathon is a strange beast.

The night finished with the 4x100's. The Women's went off first and the Americans did not disappoint. Bianca Knight got off to a great start, Allyson Felix worked the backstretch, Marshevet Myers ran an unbelievable curve and Carmelita Jeter isn't going to give away a lead in the final stretch. A job well done and a Gold Medal to show. The Men were up next and would be the last event on the track for the 2011 IAAF Track and Field World Championships. The Jamaicans were the heavy favorite and delivered as promised. They went above and beyond with a new World Record in 37.04. All this without Asafa Powell. The Americans failed to finish yet again, although this was just as much the British team's fault as it was Doc Patton's. Coming around the third curve, Patton caught an elbow from Great Britain's Harry Aikines-Aryeetey, sending him to the track and ending the United States' chances at Silver. Could it have been avoided? Probably. Just more disappointment for the 4x100. Not much you can do in that situation, except to be aware it may happen next time.

All in all, the 2011 IAAF Track and Field Championships went off without a hitch. The United States got more medals than expected and had some very nice surprises in the distance events with Jenny Simpson taking the Gold in the 1500 and Matt Centrowitz taking the Bronze in the 1500 as well. All eyes will focus on London 2012 now. Hope you enjoyed the coverage here and on Universal Sports!

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Daily Daegu: Matt Centrowitz surprises with Bronze Medal

Matt Centrowitz did big things in 2011

From NCAA Champion to surprise USA Champion to World Championships 1500 Bronze Medal, it's been quite a season for the University of Oregon's Matt Centrowitz. Once again, Centro executed an excellent race plan in getting to the podium in Daegu. New Zealand's Nick Willis took the early lead at right about 3:45 1500 pace and Centro tucked in right behind, not giving up the rail. The proved to be an excellent tactic in the semis and it proved the same in the final. When the group behind him began to charge, he maintained his composure and began to kick with 250 to go. He closed harder than anyone in the final 100, looking super smooth in his shifting of gears and rolling past everyone but Kenyan favorites, Asbel Kiprop (Gold) and Silas Kiplagat (Silver) to finish a strong third in 3:36.08. What a way to finish an excellent season.

The field saw a lot of Bolt's back tonight

The Women's 4x400 team matched the Men with another Gold, and Danielle Carruthers took the Silver and Dawn Harper the Bronze in the Women's 100 hurdles (aka the Sally Pearson Party). The Usain Bolt show closed the night with an excellent win in 19.40. Walter Dix ran the second fastest time of his life in 19.70 for the Silver, while a hard charging Christophe "White Lightning" Lemaitre broke 20 for the first time, bringing home the Bronze in a French National Record of 19.80.

Day 9 kicks off tonight for us in America (and in the morning in Daegu) with the Men's Marathon at 8pm eastern. Once again, it will likely look like a Kenya vs. Ethiopia dual meet up front, but with a stronger Ethiopian contingent than on the Women's side. Watch out for NYC Marathon winner, Ethiopian Gebre Gebremariam, to sit and try to take it from one of the Kenyans at the end. Vincent Kipruto, Benjamin Kiptoo and Abel Kirui will lead the Kenyan assault against Gebremariam and countryman, Feyisa Lilesa.

The final session on the track kicks off at 6:40am eastern with the Men's 5000. This is an event that many distance fans have been waiting for. Is this Bernard Lagat's chance at Gold? Is this Mo Farah's chance at redemption? Can Galen Rupp run as smart and tactically as Matt Centrowitz, and sneak on the medal stand? Will Imane Merga throw anyone to the track? Lots of questions for the 5k, but it should be a good one. To make the medal stand, you better be ready to run a sub 4:00 final mile and possibly a sub 53 final 400 if it gets real tactical.

Next up is the final distance race of the championships, the Women's 800. This will be another excellent race as no one is quite sure which Caster Semenya will show up. If she runs like she did in the semis, it's over. If she runs like she has the rest of the season, it's anyone game. Jamaica's Kenia Sinclair  has had an excellent season, but barely snuck in. Same with Kenya's Janeth Jepkosgei. Can Maggie Vessey or Alysia Montano make the medal stand? They've surely got a great shot. If Vessey closes like she did in the semis, finishing second to Russia's Yuliya Rusanova, she should be in the cards. We'll know at 7:15am.

Closing it all out will be the Women's 4x100 at 7:35am and the Men's 4x100 at 8:00am. Can the Women and/or Men top Jamaica for Gold? Can both teams finish without dropping the baton? We'll know in less than 24 hours!

Watch the action unfold on Universal Sports.

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Daily Daegu: Maggie Vessey powers into Women's 800 Final

Vessey drops the hammer in the last 10
(TrackAndFieldPhoto)

Maggie Vessey got things started in the night session of Day 7 at Daegu by running a near perfect race in the semis of the Women's 800. Vessey glided by Great Britain's Jenny Meadows in the final meters to secure a spot in the final and thus eliminating Meadows, a medal favorite in the process. Her time was a quick 1:58.98 and was the slowest of the 8 qualifiers for the final. Alysia Montano sprinted into the final as well with one of the two time qualifiers. The other non-auto qualifier was Jamaica's Kenia Sinclair, another favorite. The final is going to be a good one, but watch out for Caster Semenya. As I mentioned on Twitter this morning, it looks like she's been sandbagging. Her final 200 in the semis was lightning fast. If she unleashes something like that in the finals, it will be a fight for Silver.

The Women's 5000 was a hard fought battle between the Kenyans and Ethiopians, specifically the eventual winner, Vivian Cheruiyot, her teammate, Sylvia Kibet (Silver) and Ethiopia's Meseret Defar (Bronze). The only competitor to break up the Kenya/Ethiopia dual meet was our own Lauren Fleshman, who dug deep and kicked down Ethiopia's Genzebe Dibaba in the final steps, for a very respectable 7th in 15:09.25 (one place better than she finished at USA's). Amy Hastings didn't have it today, but for a marathoner to even make the 5000 Final at Worlds is quite the accomplishment.

In the sprints, Usain Bolt, Walter Dix and Christophe Lemaitre look like the medal favorites in the 200, where Veronica Campbell Brown took Gold in the Women's 200 Final, with Carmelita Jeter taking Silver and Allyson Felix taking Bronze. The Men's 4x400 Relay had to work for it, but in the end, LaShawn Merritt used a miler's sit and kick tactics and powered home on the last straightaway to secure the American Gold.

Day 8 has the Men's 50k Race Walk in the morning and then gets fired up on the Track at night (or the early morning Stateside). The fun starts at 7:15am eastern with the Men's 1500. Matt Centrowitz has surprised with his calm and veteran-like demeanor in qualifying for his first World Final. Should we really be that surprised though? Centro has proved to be an excellent rounds and tactical race runner. The final should see how good he really is. A medal shouldn't be out of the question, and at minimum, he should be there in the mix with 200 to go. He'll have quite the competition, with Kenyan favorites Asbel Kiprop ('08 Olympic Gold Medalist) and Silas Kiplagat ('11 World Leader), as well as Nick Willis ('08 Silver Medalist), Mehdi Baala ('08 Bronze Medalist), plus many others, including the most improved, and most beloved, "Bullet with the Mullet," Ireland's (via Florida State) Ciaran O'Lionaird. Check out Flotrack's prediction contest as well.

Closing out Day 8 will be three sprint races. The first is Women's 4x400 Relay at 7:40am. Can they match the Men's Gold? Next up is the Women's 100 hurdles at 8:00am, where they have to run the semis 1:45 beforehand. Closing out the day at 8:20am will be Mr. Bolt vs. the World in the Men's 200 final. Walter Dix looked great in the semis, but can he stay within a few tenths of the king? We'll see. He may not have to if Bolt "false starts" again.

Follow along at Universal Sports!

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Daily Daegu: Bernard Lagat's quest for Gold starts today

Farah will look to spin Silver in to Gold in the 5000
(TrackandFieldPhoto)

Day 6 at Daegu kicks off tonight at 9:05pm Eastern with the Men's 5000 semis. The top 5 out of each heat qualify for the final in addition to the top 5 times after that. Galen Rupp and Bernard Lagat are in heat 1, with Kenya's Isiah Koech and Thomas Longosiwa, Ethiopia's Dejen Gebremeskel, Australia's Buster Mottram and Collis Birmingham, plus host of other excellent athletes. Kenenisa Bekele was supposed to be in heat 1, but apparently is not running. Andrew Bumbalough, who replaced teaammate Chris Solinsky on the team, is in heat 2 with Ethiopia's Imane Merga, Kenya's Eliud Kipchoge, Ireland's Allistar Cragg (via Mammoth TC), Australia's Ben St. Lawrence and some guy named Mo Farah, who will be looking for redemption. Rupp and Lagat should get through to the finals, but Bumby's gonna have his hands full. It will be a great experience for him at minimum for what's to come. No pressure is good.

The Women's 800 meter prelims go off at 10:40pm. Maggie Vessey goes off in heat 1 (with favorite Jenny Meadows). Alysia Montano goes off in heat 3 (with Janeth Jepkosgei). And finally, Alice Schmidt goes off in heat 4 (with Caster Semenya). All three should have a pretty easy time getting through to the semis, with Montano facing the hardest competition (4 other competitors sub 2:00 this year in her heat).

After an American night's rest and an afternoon's rest in Daegu, the night (Daegu)/morning (America) session will get going at 6:55am with the Men's 1500 Semis. Frenchman Mehdi Baala's protest was successful and he has been advanced to the first heat of the semis and will join Matt Centrowitz, Silas Kiplagat, Amine Laalou, Yusuf Kamel and others in a top 5 go automatically situation. The next 2 times will advance to the finals as well. Leo Manzano is in the second heat, with Asbel Kiprop, Nick Willis, Daniel Komen, Deresse Mekonnen and Irishman Ciaran O'Lionaird. Expect a tough, but doable run for Centro and expect Manzano to cruise through to the final.

Staying one step ahead of Kenya
(TrackAndFieldPhoto)

Next up is the Men's Steeple final at 7:25am. No Americans involved. It will be exciting to see Kenya's Brimin Kipruto coming off a .01 second miss of the World Record, against countryman Ezekiel Kemboi, and the two Frenchmen,  Bob Tahri (Mehdi Baala's training partner) and Mahiedine Mekhissi-Benabbad (Mehdi Baala's sparring partner).

Finally, the Women's 1500 final goes off at 7:55am. Can the Americans get a medal, or possibly two? I would think so. Morgan Uceny has been incredible all year and has looked flawless in the prelims. Jenny Simpson has showed some bite in the prelims and has a furious kick from time to time. Their hands will be full with all the usual suspects involved, but Shannon Rowbury got the bronze in 2009, so they have a great chance to make it happen.

Follow along on Universal Sports and UniversalSports.com and check the results on the IAAF's Daegu page.

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