2008 Olympics - written by Tim Mattingly

Sprints
Team USA has dominated sprints in the past and this year should be no exception. We have a strong group of sprinters going to Beijing that should provide some exciting races and even bring home some medals.

100m
Female USA Qualifiers:

1. Muna Lee – PR 10.85
2. Torri Edwards – PR 10.78
3. Lauryn Williams – PR 10.88

All three qualifiers have been doing well in races and have a good shot at making it to the finals with a strong possibility of winning medals. Jamaican Veronica Campbell should provide some tough competition though.

Male USA Qualifiers:

1. Tyson Gay – PR 9.77 also American Record
2. Walter Dix – PR 9.93
3. Darvis Patton – PR 9.89

Tyson Gay is the one to watch in this event. Asafa Powell and Usain Bolt of Jamaica should keep the race very close but Tyson has the ability to win the gold. Also, look for Walter Dix and Darvis Patton to also make the finals and place fairly high.

100m Hurdles
Female USA Qualifiers:

1. Lolo Jones – PR 12.45
2. Damu Cherry – PR 12.44
3. Dawn Harper – PR 12.58

Lolo Jones has a good chance of winning a medal this year after a great Olympic trials performance and winning the 2008 World Indoor Championships in the 60m hurdles. Damu Cherry and Dawn Harper may need to dig deep if they want to make it to the finals.

110m Hurdles
Male USA Qualifiers:

1. David Oliver – PR 12.95
2. Terrence Trammell – PR 12.95
3. David Payne – PR 13.02

All Three qualifiers have been running well this year and placed high in the World Outdoor Championships last year. Expect them to make a good run at the finals and give Lui Xaing a something to worry about.

200m
Female USA Qualifiers:

1. Allyson Felix – PR 21.81
2. Muna Lee – PR 22.36
3. Marshevet Hooker – PR 22.55

Allyson Felix finished second in the 2004 Olympics and finished first in the 2007 World Outdoor Championships, so look for her to be among the top finishers this year. Muna Lee and Marshevet Hooker have a small chance of making the finals depending on how they have progressed since the Olympic trials.

Male USA Qualifiers:

1. Walter Dix – PR 19.68
2. Shawn Crawford – PR 19.79
3. Wallace Spearmon - PR 19.65

Shawn Crawford won the gold in the 2004 Olympics so he will be defending his title. And just like in the 100, expect all three qualifiers to make the finals and potentially win some medals.

400m
Female USA Qualifiers:

1. Sanya Richards – PR 48.70 also American Record
2. Mary Wineberg – PR 50.24
3. DeeDee Trotter – PR 49.64

Once again, all three qualifiers should be making the finals and have a shot at taking home medals. This race is going to come down to who runs the best race and who wants it more.

Male USA Qualifiers:

1. LaShawn Merritt – PR 43.96
2. Jeremy Wariner – PR 43.45
3. David Neville – PR 44.61

Jeremy Wariner won the gold in the 2004 Olympics so he will be defending his title. Wariner will have a really good chance to win the gold again this time around, but expect it to be a very close race between him and Merritt. Also, Neville is capable of making it to the finals and may surprise some people with his performance.

400m Hurdles
Female USA Qualifiers:

1. Tiffany Ross-Williams – PR 53.28
2. Queen Harrison – PR 54.60
3. Sheena Tosta – PR 52.95

Sheena Tosta placed 4th in the 2004 Olympics, but has been getting slower over the past few years. This time around Tiffany Ross-Williams looks to lead USA in this event, with Harrison and Tosta having a harder time making it to the finals.

Male USA Qualifiers:

1. Bershawn Jackson – PR 47.17
2. Kerron Clement – PR 47.24
3. Angelo Taylor – PR 47.50

Bershawn Jackson and Kerron Clement are two of the best male 400m hurdlers right now and they should definitely be in contention for medals. Angelo Taylor also has a decent shot at getting into the finals, but don’t expect much more from him.

Middle Distance
Team USA has always been lacking a little bit when it comes to middle distance, but this year we have a few weapons on our team that could go all the way.

800m
Female USA Qualifiers:

1. Hazel Clark – PR 1:57.99
2. Alice Schmidt – PR 1:58.75
3. Kameisha Bennett – PR 1:59.99

All three qualifiers may have a hard time making it to the finals in the 800m. Hazel Clark has the best chance if she runs a great race.

Male USA Qualifiers:

1. Nick Symmonds – PR 1:44.10
2. Andrew Wheating – PR 1:45.03
3. Christian Smith – PR 1:45.47

Nick Symmonds has an amazing kick, and it may be a surprise to many people watching the Olympics as to how far he goes. He is definitely one to watch this summer. Andrew Wheating and Christian Smith will have to run extremely well in order to make it to the finals.

1500m
Female USA Qualifiers:

1. Shannon Rowbury – PR 4:00.33
2. Erin Donohue – PR 4:05.55
3. Christin Wurth – PR 4:05.00

This is going to be a tough race for the three qualifiers, who may not even make the final. Shannon Rowbury has the best chance and could possibly make it to the final, but not much further than that.

Male USA Qualifiers:

1. Bernard Lagat – PR 3:26.34
2. Leonel Manzano – PR 3:35.29
3. Lopez Lomong – PR 3:37.07

Look for Bernard Lagat to finish this race on top. He is capable of running and winning from any position in the pack, and he won the 2007 World Outdoor Championship. Also, look for Lomong and Manzano to possibly make the final heat.

3000m Steeplechase
Female USA Qualifiers:

1. Anna Willard – PR 9:27.59
2. Lindsey Anderson – PR 9:39.95
3. Jennifer Barringer – PR 9:22.72 also American Record

This will be the first time that the women’s 3000m steeplechase is run at the Olympics. Anna Willard and Jen Barringer have both set American Records in the last few months and have a good chance at making the final heat in the 3000m steeplechase.

Male USA Qualifiers:

1. Anthony Famiglietti – PR 8:17.91
2. William Nelson – PR 8:21.47
3. Joshua McAdams – PR 8:21.36

The men’s 3000m steeplechase has been primarily dominated by Kenyans and this year should be no different, but there is a good chance that one, two, or even all of our qualifiers could make it to the final. Out of the three, Anthony Famiglietti should be seen as the biggest threat, and is best known for his front running style.

Distance
With the air quality in Beijing, expect the longer races to be much more tactical than normal. This opens up more opportunities for American runners and should create some very close distance events.

5000m
Female USA Qualifiers:

1. Kara Goucher – PR 14:55.02
2. Jennifer Rhines – PR 14:55.18
3. Shalane Flanagan – PR 14:44.80 also American Record

The preliminary heats of the 5000m will be close, but all three qualifiers should be able to get into the final. Judging by the way Shalane Flanagan has been running lately, she should place fairly high in this even with Kara Goucher and Jen Rhines finishing around the middle of the pack.

Male USA Qualifiers:

1. Bernard Lagat – PR 12:59.22
2. Matt Tegenkamp – PR 13:04.90
3. Ian Dobson – PR 13:15.33

Bernard Lagat, just as in the 1500m, should be in contention for the gold in this even as well. He won the 5000m at the 2007 World Outdoor Championships, and has been running very well this year. His biggest competition in the 5000m should be Kenenisa Bekele of Ethiopia who holds the world record in 12:37.35. Also look for Matt Tegankamp and Ian Dobson to possibly make the final but fall short of a medal.

10000m
Female USA Qualifiers:

1. Shalane Flanagan – PR 30:34.49 also American Record
2. Kara Goucher – PR 31:17.72
3. Amy Begley – PR 31:43.60

Shalane Flanagan has been running extremely well and broke the American Record only three months ago. Expect her to place high in this event and possibly come away with a medal if the race goes in her favor. Kara Goucher and Amy Begley should do fairly well and finish above the middle of the pack.

Male USA Qualifiers:

1. Abdi Abdirahman – PR 27:16.99
2. Galen Rupp – PR 27:33.48
3. Jorge Torres – PR 27:42.91

There is only one heat each for the male and female 10000m run, so all the qualifiers will be in the final. Although their chances of taking a medal are slim, the three American qualifiers should finish rather high in this race compared to the 2004 Olympics. The favorites this year look to be the three Ethiopian entrants Kenenisa Bekele the world record holder in the 10000m (26:17.53), Haile Gebrselassie the world record holder in the marathon (2:04:26), and Sileshi Tadesse.

Marathon
Female USA Qualifiers:

1. Deena Kastor – PR 2:19:36 also American Record
2. Magdalena Lewy Boulet – PR 2:30:19
3. Blake Russell – PR 2:30:32

Deena Kastor finished third in the 2004 Olympics and has since set a new American Record in 2006. She looks to bet the top USA runner and could even place higher than she did in Athens four years ago. Look for Magdalena Lewy Boulet and Blake Russell to finish around the middle of the pack or better.

Male USA Qualifiers:

1. Ryan Hall – PR 2:06:17
2. Dathan Ritzenhein – PR 2:11:07
3. Brian Sell – PR 2:10:47

With the world record holder in the marathon skipping this event because of the air quality, there will be more opportunities for new, emerging runners to place higher than they would have otherwise. We have a really strong male marathon team this year and it will be interesting to see how Ryan Hall does in his first Olympic appearance. Expect Hall to make a good run for the gold with Ritzenhein and Sell following not too far behind.

Relays

4x100m Relay
Both the male and female teams of the 4x100m relay are extremely talented and won the 2007 World Outdoor Championships. This should be a close race for first place between the USA and Jamaica for both the male and female teams.

4x400m Relay
The male and female teams, just like the 4x100m relay, won the 2007 World Outdoor Championships. Expect them to compete at the same level during the Olympics and take home the gold.