Yes, we are back! Four years have surpassed since the last Olympic Trials and once again U.S track fans are in for a treat. What kind of magic will we be seeing at Historic Hayward Field these Olympic Trials? Well, I will be giving you just a small dose of which Olympic hopefuls you should lookout for along with my predictions in the male running events.
100m:
Tyson Gay- American Record Holder in the event. Look to see if he can bounce back from two hips surgeries. Gay ran his first race back from injury just a few weeks ago at the Adidas Grand Prix with a 10 seconds flat 100m; a respectable time for a guy running in his first race after taking a complete year off from injury.
Walter Dix- Beijing double bronze medalist and Daegu double silver medalist, this former Seminole will be needed to compete with the Jamaicans in London. Dix is the sixth fastest American all time in the event and even though Michael Rodgers has a faster 100m, Dix is always very consistent in big-time races.
Justin Gatlin- Gatlin has been very impressing this year. Coming off of a four-year drug-doping ban beginning in 2006, he continued to stay in shape and now is back in full form. He already has three sub 10-second runs this year – including the nation leading time thus far – 9.87 seconds in the 100m.
200m:
Wallace Spearmon- Nation leading 19.95, Spearmon is the seventh fastest runner all-time in the event. Has not competed in a championship race since Berlin 09. In addition, he is of most recently your 2012 Prefontaine Classic 200m champ. Curious to see how he responds to greater competition.
Walter Dix- This is Walter’s better event where he is the fourth fastest all-time with a 19:53, which is even faster than Tyson Gay. Will he be a contender against Jamaica’s one-two punch: Usain Bolt and Yohan Blake?
Justin Gatlin- Gatlin is looking for a double at London 2012 and is kind of a fill in athlete here. He ranks better at the 100m but is still prime at the 200m. It would mean a lot to him to come back from a 4-year suspension as well.
400m:
LaShawn Merritt- No surprise here. Merritt is predicted to compete and win gold at London. Although despite this being America’s event, Merritt may be in a run for his money with the emergence of Kirani James from Grenada. But still, a 43.75 personal best in the 400m is world class.
Mike Berry- The Washington native and yes fellow Oregon Duck, Mike Berry is my prediction to be going to London. Competed on the America’s 4x4 team in the Worlds last year and ran a solid 44.75 at the NCAA meet to take second place. And the scary thing is, Berry just finished his sophomore year in college.
Tony McQuay- McQuay came off the final turn in the recent NCAA Championships to pass up Mike Berry and take home the first place medal and help his team win a NCAA title. With both Mike Berry and Tony McQuay both going to the Olympics, means no Jeremy Wariner – Athens Gold medalist – Olympic appearance. Wariner has not looked so sharp this season.
800m: Nick Symmonds- This is a lock. No one from the American 800m field has the 1:43 speed as Symmonds does. Holds the Division III record in the 800m at 1:46 and was part of the famous “Oregon Sweep” at the last Olympic trials. The question is if he can be competitive with Abubaker Kaki from the Sudan for a silver medal because it looks as if no one will be shocking David Rudisha for gold.
Charles Jock- Reigning 800m NCAA champion Charles Jock is my favorite runner to watch. He goes out hard every race and most of the time he comes in after the first 400m at 50 seconds flat. Any runner who takes the race out that hard should be liked (plus he is from my hometown). I see his young fresh legs carrying him onto the Olympic team.
Khadevis Robinson- The 35-year-old barely edged out at the finish line of the last trials, so Robinson is looking for revenge here. KD has the second fastest entry time here at the Trials. The 800m will be one of the premiere events to watch. Was part of the USA 4x800m team that broke the American and world record in 2006 and he had the fastest leg on the relay running a 1:43.8.
1500m:
Matthew Centrowitz- Former Duck and reigning bronze medalist in the 2012 World Championships, Centro is best known as a tactical runner who knows how and when to make his moves during a race. Centro has a career best of 3:34 seconds in the 1500m. Look for him to advance to London in the most competitive 1500m field we have seen yet.
Russell Brown- Oregon Track Club Elite runner Russell Brown is looking to compete in his first ever Olympics. Failing to qualify last trials, Brown is hungrier than ever. He too has a personal best of 3:34 seconds in the event. He is just one of the many great runners to watch at this year’s trials. Many people would have Leo Manzano in this spot; however, I think Leo is a bit too inconsistent in the big races.
Andrew Wheating- Maybe a surprise to some but maybe not, Andrew Wheating is my prediction in heading to the 2012 Olympics. Coming off a hamstring injury, some are doubtful that he is ready for major competition. However, with a strong performance at the Jerome Classic in Canada he was able to silence all the doubters. The Eugene crowd will support all three very heavily because of their affiliation with running in Eugene.
5000m:
Bernard Lagat- The famous Bernard Lagat will just be focusing on the 5000m this year mainly part of his age – 37 years old. Yet don’t let his age fool you. I still have him as my favorite to win the 5000m at the trials. Still has great turnover and cadence for his age the only runner to pose him a threat would be Galen Rupp. The question is for Lagat; will he be able to take home his first Olympic Gold at London?
Galen Rupp- Galen Rupp has come into a league of his own in the last two years. He’s set the American record in the 10000m; in addition, for those who only think he is strictly a long distance runner, he has 3:34 speed in the 1500m. As truth be told, he has some wheels! Galen will be doubling at the Olympic Trials.
Lopez Lomong- Lopez is fairly new to the event but it is where he has the best chance of going to London. For those who didn’t know, Lopez is one of the Lost Boys of the Sudan and escaped imprisonment as a young child. What a dream it would be for him to return to the Olympics in the Red, White, and Blue. Lopez can do it in this event with his past history in the 800m and 1500m.
10000m:
Galen Rupp- As mentioned earlier, Galen is doubling in both the 5 and 10km on the track. He gives America hope in the 10000m and will try to be the first American to bring home a medal in the event since 1964. Unfortunately for American track fans, Ethiopians and Kenyans always dominate this event. A personal best in the 10000m will be needed for contention at the Olympics.
Matt Tegenkamp- Getting up there with age but still very well rounded, Tegenkamp knows that his best shot of making the team will be at this distance. He was once ranked as 10th best in the world in the 5000m, however that was 5 years ago. Currently holds the fifth best American time in the 5km.
Dathan Ritzenhein- Ritz barely missed the marathon team by placing 4th overall. He was also 8 seconds off of the Olympic “A” standard and thus is looking to redeem himself here in the 10km. Ritz was also the onetime American Record holder in the 5000m with a 12:56.
110m Hurdles:
Aries Merritt- With a personal best of 13:09 back in 2007, Merritt has been without a PR for a while now. Still one of the top hurdlers America has to offer, Merritt most recently got the gold at the World Indoor Champions by edging out Liu Xiang in the 60m hurdlers with a 7.44.
David Oliver- The man with the Dwight Howard shoulders, Oliver had a remarkable 2010 Diamond League season. Some of his accolades include American record holder in the event and reigning Olympic bronze medalist. However, he has had somewhat of a lackluster 2012 season. Exactly right now is the time to get things fixed and I believe David Oliver will.
Jason Richardson- No one expected Jason Richardson to come out with the gold at Daegu last summer. No credit getting taken away from him because Richardson is a top notched hurdler and is very young still. He will be heading into the event with a personal best of 13.15 seconds.
400m Hurdlers:
Bershawn Jackson- Batman Jackson, as some like to call him, has a lot of experience in this event. Jackson has a personal best of 47.30 and a 2008 Olympic Bronze Medal in the event. With this lineup in the 400m hurdlers, the top three finishers can go anyway.
Jeshua Anderson- The former Washington State Cougar comes into the trials with a PB of 47:93. Not quite as fast as Jackson but the thing is Jeshua Anderson is only 22 years old. He also is entering the trials with the fastest entry time. I’m curious to see how he performs under the biggest stage in his career.
Angelo Taylor- My last spot to make the Olympic team goes to Angelo Taylor. The 33-year-old veteran has had a quiet but solid career. With Gold dating all the way back to Sydney and the most recent Beijing Olympics, look for Taylor to squeak in and make the team with his experience. It also helps that he is coming into the trials with the 2nd top time with a 48:71.
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