2012 Bislett Games Preview: Bolt vs Powell, Great Women's 1500m, Bekele in 5000m, Dream Mile
By LetsRun.com
June 5, 2012
The Samsung Diamond League's fifth stop will take place on Thursday (earlier we said Wednesday) in Oslo at the ExxonMobil Bislett Games before stop #6 takes place Saturday in NYC.
For a casual sports fan, the meet is all about the matchup of Asafa Powell and Usain Bolt at 100 meters. For the LetsRun.com fan, the meet features a fantastic women's 1500 which includes the top 4 in the World in 2012 including American Morgan Uceny and Ethiopian sensations Abeba Aregawai and Genzebe Dibaba, plus Kenenisa Bekele in the 5000m, the "Dream Mile" with Asbel Kiprop, and Sally Pearson's European debut in the hurdles. And then Bolt vs Powell caps it all off.
We break down the mid-d and distance action first (in the order that they occur) before getting to the men's 100 and then the rest of the events.
You can see the start times of the actual events below (all times Eastern)
11:30am | 400m hurdles national event | Women | Entry list/ Results | ||
11:30 |
|
Discus Throw Women | Women | Entry list/ Results | Standings |
11:40 | 400m hurdles national event | Men | Entry list/ Results | ||
11:50 | 400m national event | Men | Entry list/ Results | ||
11:55 | 400m national event | Women | Entry list/ Results | ||
12:00 noon | 800m national event | Men | Entry list/ Results | ||
12:10 | 200m national event | Men | Entry list/ Results | ||
12:20 | 1500m national event | Women | Entry list/ Results | ||
12:35 |
|
Triple Jump Men | Men | Entry list/ Results | Standings |
12:50 |
|
Shot Put Men | Men | Entry list/ Results | Standings |
12:55 | 1500m national event | Men | Entry list/ Results | ||
1:00 |
|
Pole Vault Men | Men | Entry list/ Results | Standings |
1:05 | 110m hurdles national event | Men | Entry list/ Results | ||
1:20 |
|
100m hurdles 1 heat | Women | Entry list/ Results | |
1:30 |
|
100m hurdles 2 heat | Women | Entry list/ Results | |
1:55 |
|
High Jump Women | Women | Entry list/ Results | Standings |
2:05 |
|
400m hurdles | Men | Entry list/ Results | Standings |
2:10 |
|
Long Jump Women | Women | Entry list/ Results | Standings |
2:15 |
|
400m Women | Women | Entry list/ Results | Standings |
2:25 |
|
3000m steeple Women | Women | Entry list/ Results | Standings |
2:26 |
|
Javelin Men | Men | Entry list/ Results | Standings |
2:40 |
|
200m Women | Women | Entry list/ Results | Standings |
2:45 |
|
5000m Men | Men | Entry list/ Results | Standings |
3:05 |
|
1500m Women | Women | Entry list/ Results | Standings |
3:15 | 100m Women | Women | Entry list/ Results | ||
3:25 |
|
100m hurdles final | Women | Entry list/ Results | Standings |
3:35 |
|
ExxonMobil Dream Mile | Men | Entry list/ Results | Standings |
3:50 |
|
100m Men | Men | Entry list/ Results | Standings |
Reminder: We've already changed the schedule to show the times for you toEastern time. US visitors, the meet will be broadcast live on Universalsports.com starting at 2 pm (free if you get the television channel on directv, payment required otherwise, those with a UK ip address can watch free on BBC online).
Women's 1500: "Dream" 1500m Highlights Oslo
Oslo may be known for its Dream Mile, but the women's 1500m is the "dream" mid d event this year as it features the top four 1500m runners in the world by time in 2012 including World #1 from 2011, America's Morgan Uceny.
Headlining this year's field is the young Ethiopian Abeba Aregawai who stunned everyone by running 3:56.54 last week in Rome, to defeat the previously unbeatable Genzebe Dibaba who had already run 3:57.77 this year. Second place in Rome ahead of Dibaba was Helen Obiri in 3:59.68. Three women went sub 4:00 in Rome. Realize no woman in the world did it in 2011.
The top ranked 1500m runner in the World last year was the USA's Morgan Uceny. Uceny was a respectable fourth in Rome in 4:01.59. Her first sub 4:00 1500m here would set her up nicely for the Olympic Trials, but she already enters the Trials as the clear #1 in the US in 2011. Uceny's training partner Anna Pierce, a former sub 4:00 runner, is in the field looking for a spark before the Trials after only running 4:07.81 at Pre.
Athlete | DATE OF BIRTH | Nation | PB | SB |
---|---|---|---|---|
05.07.1990
|
ETH
|
3:56.54
|
3:56.54
|
|
08.02.1991
|
ETH
|
3:57.77
|
3:57.77
|
|
16.08.1976
|
ESP
|
4:00.20
|
4:04.64
|
|
20.11.1983
|
SVK
|
4:08.86
|
4:30.95
|
|
07.12.1980
|
MAR
|
3:59.35
|
4:01.69
|
|
13.01.1986
|
RUS
|
4:09.69
|
4:09.69
|
|
07.08.1981
|
NOR
|
4:02.20
|
4:06.09
|
|
25.08.1983
|
UKR
|
4:01.73
|
4:16.51
|
|
13.12.1989
|
KEN
|
3:59.68
|
3:59.68
|
|
31.03.1984
|
USA
|
3:59.38
|
4:06.11
|
|
05.02.1985
|
POL
|
4:03.50
|
4:04.48
|
|
17.08.1989
|
GBR
|
4:02.54
|
4:09.50
|
|
10.03.1985
|
USA
|
4:00.06
|
4:01.59
|
Men's Mile: Asbel Kiprop Headlines Dream Mile
No offense to adidas and it's attempt to call the high school mile at the adidas Grand Prix the "Dream Mile", but as far as we're concerned there is one Dream Mile in the World and it is the one in Oslo (although Wikipedia has a different take).
A "Dream Mile" in today's era had better have the best miler in the world in it, and this year's Dream Mile has Asbel Kiprop. The Olympic and World Champion Kiprop is coming off of his third Prefontaine Bowerman Mile victory and will be going for his third Dream Mile victory. Kiprop has lost one mile in his life, last year's Prefontaine, where he spotted the field a ton at the bell, before moving up to finish third.
Kiprop is the class of the field here as world #2 Silas Kiplagat is not running and 2009 World Champion Yusuf Kamel has pulled out. Prefontaine runner up Mekonnen Gebremedhin of Ethiopia is in the field as is Caleb Ndiku who led into the stretch at Pre.
The Dream mile has a tremendous British tradition with Seb Coe, Steve Ovett, and Steve Cram all setting World Records in the mile at Oslo. Brit Andrew Baddeley is running well again in 2012 and had the best performance of his career in Oslo, his 3:49.38 win here in 2008. James Magut, the winner of the "B" heat at Pre, steps up in class here, and Aussie youngster Ryan Gregson will be looking for some pre-Olympic momentum in his European test. Gregson was way back in a decent time in Doha (3:33.92 - 11th) on May 11 but dead last in Morocco on May 27th (3:48.39).
Analysis: We expect Kiprop to win every 1500/mile he runs now and this one is no different.
Athlete | DATE OF BIRTH | Nation | PB | SB |
---|---|---|---|---|
20.06.1982
|
GBR
|
3:49.38
|
3:54.29
|
|
06.08.1988
|
KEN
|
3:50.43
|
3:50.43
|
|
16.11.1994
|
QAT
|
|
|
|
09.03.1980
|
KEN
|
3:50.53
|
3:56.17
|
|
11.10.1988
|
ETH
|
3:49.70
|
3:50.17
|
|
26.04.1990
|
AUS
|
3:52.24
|
3:53.86
|
|
24.02.1991
|
NOR
|
4:02.18
|
4:02.18
|
|
30.06.1989
|
KEN
|
3:48.50
|
3:49.40
|
|
16.01.1985
|
KEN
|
|
|
|
27.11.1984
|
KEN
|
3:48.28
|
3:53.04
|
|
13.05.1982
|
MAR
|
3:50.22
|
3:52.12
|
|
20.07.1990
|
KEN
|
3:54.16
|
3:54.16
|
|
09.10.1992
|
KEN
|
3:49.77
|
3:50.79
|
|
01.01.1987
|
KEN
|
|
|
|
18.04.1984
|
ETH
|
3:54.73
|
3:54.73
|
Men's 5000: The Bekele Brothers Take on Moses Kipsiro, Dejen Gebremesekel & A Ton of Others
A big an talented field that results in this race being an interesting one from a LetsRun.com perspective.
So many plot lines with the biggest being that Kenenisa Bekele continues to try to race himself back into form.
Bekele improved at Pre. Will that continue here? How he stacks up against his brother Tariku, who won the Ethiopian Trials at 10,000 in Hengelo, will give Galen Rupp fans an idea as to how Rupp would stack up against Tariku right now.
But those two probably aren't even favored as this field is loaded.
2007 world championship bronze medallist Moses Kipsiro of Uganda, who ran well for third in the 3000 in Shanghai, will make his 5000 debut on the year and should contend. Plus last year's bronze medallist at world's, Dejen Gebremeskel, who won Carslbad earlier this year, will make his outdoor track debut here as well.
There is a lot of other top talent in this race that hasn't been in top form so far this year. 2004 and 2008 Olympic 10,000 silver medallist Sileshi Sihine was third at the Ethiopian 10,000 Trials and seemingly is off the team assuming Kenenisa Bekele is running so he'll need to impress here if he's going to end up in the 5000. Kenya's Lucas Rotich, who beat Rupp in the 10,000 last year after world's but was only 6th in the Kenyan Trials at Pre, seems to be on the upswing as he was only 11th in the Shanghai 3000. 2011 10,000 bronze medallist Imane Merga, who was just 9th in the 10,000 Ethiopian trials, is also running. 2009 world championship bronze medallist James Kwalia of Qatar also is entered but he only ran 7:51 in Shanghai.
Villanova alum and assistant Adrien Blincoe of New Zealand also is running.
LRC Analysis: We're sure Mr. Alberto Salazar will be paying close attention to the results in this race as it has big Olympic 10,000 and 5,000 implications.
Athlete | DATE OF BIRTH | Nation | PB | SB |
---|---|---|---|---|
27.05.1990
|
ETH
|
13:00.46
|
13:06.84
|
|
13.06.1982
|
ETH
|
12:37.35
|
13:01.48
|
|
28.02.1987
|
ETH
|
12:52.45
|
12:59.25
|
|
30.03.1983
|
KEN
|
13:42.4h
|
13:42.4h
|
|
04.11.1979
|
NZL
|
13:10.19
|
13:23.73
|
|
03.05.1989
|
NOR
|
13:28.07
|
13:34.72
|
|
12.06.1984
|
QAT
|
12:54.58
|
|
|
28.01.1994
|
ETH
|
|
|
|
22.03.1981
|
GER
|
13:26.69
|
13:32.08
|
|
24.11.1989
|
ETH
|
12:53.56
|
12:55.89
|
|
11.05.1994
|
ETH
|
13:11.00
|
13:11.00
|
|
25.08.1986
|
RSA
|
13:25.09
|
13:25.98
|
|
02.09.1986
|
UGA
|
12:50.72
|
13:09.17
|
|
31.08.1990
|
ETH
|
13:00.15
|
13:00.15
|
|
24.06.1989
|
ERI
|
13:04.55
|
13:16.53
|
|
15.10.1988
|
ETH
|
12:53.58
|
12:54.21
|
|
03.02.1988
|
KEN
|
|
|
|
01.01.1982
|
KEN
|
13:21.96
|
13:22.86
|
|
16.04.1990
|
KEN
|
12:55.06
|
13:00.02
|
|
29.01.1983
|
ETH
|
12:47.04
|
12:57.86
|
|
20.01.1993
|
ETH
|
13:16.30
|
13:21.27
|
Women's 3000 Steeple
The results in the steeple in Shanghai and Eugene have been the same up front.
Kenya's Milcah Chemos one.
Ethiopia's Sofia Assefa two.
That shouldn't come as a surprise as Chemos was undefeated early last year as well before she got third at world's. They square off here again.
LRC Analysis: The margin of victory at Pre - 1.76 seconds - was bigger than Shanghai - 1.02 seconds - so we expect Chemos to win again.
Athlete | DATE OF BIRTH | Nation | PB | SB |
---|---|---|---|---|
29.04.1992
|
ETH
|
9:20.37
|
9:41.71
|
|
14.11.1987
|
ETH
|
9:15.04
|
9:15.45
|
|
06.03.1990
|
ETH
|
9:15.84
|
9:15.84
|
|
20.01.1987
|
ETH
|
9:20.23
|
9:37.18
|
|
26.02.1986
|
KEN
|
9:08.57
|
9:13.69
|
|
23.08.1984
|
KEN
|
9:22.66
|
9:22.66
|
|
31.12.1980
|
NED
|
9:55.44
|
9:55.44
|
|
03.08.1992
|
GER
|
9:32.74
|
9:34.76
|
|
25.11.1990
|
GBR
|
9:44.80
|
9:48.09
|
|
10.06.1986
|
KEN
|
9:16.94
|
9:26.50
|
|
08.08.1988
|
KEN
|
9:18.03
|
9:31.09
|
Men's 100: Usain Bolt versus Asafa Powell Round II
A Jamaican named Usain Bolt is in this race. He supposedly is pretty good and pretty entertaining as well. He is fresh off his 9.76 win over Asafa Powell in Rome. They get a rematch here. Credit to Bolt and Powell for racing twice this year before the Jamaican Trials. Let's hope that this time when Powell is beaten he runs through the line because if he does he'll likely get another 9.8 clocking.
21.08.1986
|
JAM
|
9.58
|
9.76
|
|
26.09.1985
|
ITA
|
10.13
|
10.33
|
|
07.07.1981
|
JAM
|
9.99
|
9.99
|
|
01.06.1976
|
GBR
|
10.06
|
10.14
|
|
04.09.1982
|
GBR
|
10.04
|
10.33
|
|
14.05.1986
|
RSA
|
10.06
|
10.06
|
|
23.11.1982
|
JAM
|
9.72
|
9.88
|
|
28.06.1987
|
CAN
|
10.15
|
10.29
|
Other Events
Women's 100 Hurdles: Sally Pearson Headlines
The best hurdler in the world in Sally Pearson will take on all-comers including Lolo Jones who was terrible in Rome (hit first hurdle and bit it) as well 2011 world's runner-up Danielle Carruthers who wasn't much better (7th).
Athlete | DATE OF BIRTH | Nation | PB | SB |
---|---|---|---|---|
28.05.1986
|
BEL
|
12.94
|
13.09
|
|
22.12.1979
|
USA
|
12.47
|
12.87
|
|
07.07.1988
|
USA
|
12.68
|
12.68
|
|
28.01.1986
|
GBR
|
12.79
|
12.81
|
|
16.11.1987
|
CAN
|
12.73
|
12.79
|
|
07.01.1993
|
NOR
|
14.29
|
14.29
|
|
05.08.1982
|
USA
|
12.43
|
12.90
|
|
26.08.1982
|
CAN
|
12.49
|
12.64
|
|
16.10.1991
|
SWE
|
13.80
|
13.88
|
|
13.03.1982
|
NZL
|
13.10
|
13.23
|
|
09.11.1992
|
FIN
|
13.28
|
13.28
|
|
19.09.1986
|
AUS
|
12.28
|
12.49
|
|
27.01.1992
|
NOR
|
13.21
|
13.57
|
|
13.11.1987
|
GBR
|
12.56
|
12.65
|
|
27.07.1989
|
SUI
|
12.62
|
12.62
|
|
18.06.1987
|
NOR
|
12.74
|
13.39
|
Women's High Jump
US indoor champ Chaunte Lowe, who was third last week at Pre, headlines.
Athlete | DATE OF BIRTH | Nation | PB | SB |
---|---|---|---|---|
13.09.1982
|
KAZ
|
1.99
|
1.88
|
|
17.01.1990
|
NOR
|
1.95
|
1.95
|
|
01.04.1979
|
ESP
|
2.02
|
1.93
|
|
10.01.1984
|
GER
|
2.06
|
1.92
|
|
16.02.1978
|
BEL
|
2.05
|
1.96
|
|
10.03.1987
|
SWE
|
1.94
|
1.91
|
|
07.04.1986
|
NOR
|
1.93
|
1.88
|
|
12.01.1984
|
USA
|
2.05
|
2.00
|
Women's Long Jump
2011 world championship outdoor silver medallist Olga Kucherenko headlines and will take on 2011 indoor runner-up Janay Deloach of the US.
Athlete | DATE OF BIRTH | Nation | PB | SB |
---|---|---|---|---|
12.10.1985
|
USA
|
6.97
|
6.79
|
|
05.11.1985
|
RUS
|
7.13
|
7.03
|
|
16.09.1988
|
GBR
|
6.84
|
6.84
|
|
13.07.1981
|
LAT
|
6.92
|
6.64
|
|
21.03.1985
|
NOR
|
6.68
|
6.60
|
|
23.07.1986
|
RUS
|
6.95
|
6.95
|
|
10.05.1990
|
SRB
|
6.78
|
6.37
|
|
10.11.1984
|
RUS
|
7.01
|
5.82
|
Men's 400 Hurdles
Brit Dai Greene was the world champion last year but he has a lot to prove in this meet where Puerto Rico's Javier Culson, the 2012 world leader at 48.00, is the man to beat.
Athlete | DATE OF BIRTH | Nation | PB | SB |
---|---|---|---|---|
25.07.1984
|
PUR
|
47.72
|
48.00
|
|
21.10.1988
|
GER
|
48.72
|
50.76
|
|
03.03.1990
|
RSA
|
48.14
|
48.91
|
|
13.12.1986
|
USA
|
48.46
|
49.07
|
|
15.12.1991
|
TRI
|
48.26
|
48.89
|
|
06.10.1991
|
GBR
|
48.98
|
49.45
|
|
11.04.1986
|
GBR
|
47.88
|
48.96
|
|
26.01.1986
|
GBR
|
49.06
|
49.39
|
Women's 400
2011 world champion Amantle Montsho will look to bounce back from her loss to Sanya Richards Ros at Pre. Natalya Antyukh, who won bronze in the 400 hurdles last year, is also in the field.
Athlete | DATE OF BIRTH | Nation | PB | SB |
---|---|---|---|---|
26.06.1981
|
RUS
|
49.85
|
50.73
|
|
26.03.1978
|
USA
|
49.64
|
51.26
|
|
18.12.1989
|
FRA
|
51.60
|
51.60
|
|
16.10.1982
|
JAM
|
51.40
|
51.40
|
|
19.01.1990
|
SWE
|
51.58
|
51.58
|
|
04.07.1983
|
BOT
|
49.56
|
49.62
|
|
23.06.1982
|
GBR
|
49.65
|
52.33
|
|
17.09.1985
|
JAM
|
49.32
|
51.24
|
Men's Pole Vault
Renaud Lavillenie had little trouble with last year's world champ Pawel Wojciechowski in Rome last week. 2012 world leader Björn Otto is also in the field.
Athlete | DATE OF BIRTH | Nation | PB | SB |
---|---|---|---|---|
19.06.1986
|
CUB
|
5.90
|
5.60
|
|
03.05.1983
|
FRA
|
5.75
|
5.52
|
|
04.08.1983
|
BRA
|
5.80
|
5.70
|
|
13.12.1981
|
SWE
|
5.80
|
5.60
|
|
18.09.1986
|
FRA
|
6.01
|
5.90
|
|
02.04.1983
|
UKR
|
5.82
|
5.72
|
|
02.08.1988
|
POL
|
5.85
|
5.72
|
|
27.06.1986
|
GER
|
5.90
|
5.72
|
|
16.10.1977
|
GER
|
5.90
|
5.83
|
|
06.06.1989
|
POL
|
5.91
|
5.62
|
Men's Javelin
This is going to be a big event for the locals as two-time Olympic champ Andreas Thorkildsen of Norway will take on 2011 world champion Matthia De Zordo as well as 2012 world leader of Stuart Farquhar of New Zealand.
Athlete | DATE OF BIRTH | Nation | PB | SB |
---|---|---|---|---|
01.01.1989
|
TUR
|
85.60
|
85.60
|
|
21.02.1988
|
GER
|
88.36
|
81.62
|
|
15.03.1982
|
NZL
|
86.31
|
86.31
|
|
21.06.1977
|
GER
|
84.88
|
80.63
|
|
23.07.1987
|
FIN
|
85.70
|
83.74
|
|
19.12.1982
|
FIN
|
91.53
|
78.86
|
|
01.04.1982
|
NOR
|
91.59
|
84.72
|
|
05.01.1982
|
LAT
|
90.73
|
84.65
|
|
27.02.1983
|
CZE
|
86.45
|
85.67
|
|
11.11.1988
|
UZB
|
82.67
|
82.67
|
Women's 200
A weak field with no one in the top 15 from 2012 in it.
Athlete | DATE OF BIRTH | Nation | PB | SB |
---|---|---|---|---|
11.02.1983
|
JAM
|
22.70
|
23.32
|
|
30.12.1979
|
GBR
|
22.50
|
23.15
|
|
02.08.1987
|
UKR
|
22.68
|
22.72
|
|
12.08.1984
|
JAM
|
22.00
|
22.73
|
|
16.04.1984
|
JAM
|
21.99
|
22.79
|
|
24.06.1989
|
USA
|
22.58
|
23.04
|
|
27.03.1987
|
USA
|
22.55
|
22.73
|
Women's 100
A weak field as the #1 person is only ranked 20th on the year.
Athlete | DATE OF BIRTH | Nation | PB | SB |
---|---|---|---|---|
22.05.1985
|
NGR
|
11.03
|
11.21
|
|
11.02.1983
|
JAM
|
11.05
|
11.33
|
|
24.01.1986
|
GBR
|
11.05
|
11.61
|
|
03.03.1988
|
NOR
|
11.16
|
11.16
|
|
30.12.1979
|
GBR
|
11.17
|
11.21
|
|
02.08.1987
|
UKR
|
11.21
|
11.22
|
|
24.06.1989
|
USA
|
11.13
|
11.22
|
|
27.03.1987
|
USA
|
11.14
|
11.22
|
|
|
|