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


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