The first day of the Decathlon was very good for two Americans.  Both Brian Clay and Trey Hardee were.  Right now they would be favored for first and third.  Two veteran favorites, Azalea, Oregon's Tom Pappas and Dmetriy Karpov were not able to complete the first day.  Another medal favorite Andrei Krauchanka of Belarus had a very good first day and is likely to challenge Brian Clay if he falters.  World record holder and defending champion Roman Sebrle had a bad day and will struggle to medal. 

In the women's long jump Brittney Reese will challenge the favorites and is likely to medal with a good chance to get gold.  Naide Gomes of Portugal has been dominant this year but so had Idowu in the triple jump and he finished second.  Maurren Maggi of Brazil has a lot of talent and jumped well at the Pre meet.  Ex-Duck Grace Upshaw will attempt to medal in what is probably her final Olympics (33 in September).  The three time US champion will try to improve on her best international championship finish of seventh in 2005. 

The men's Pole Vault is a disappointment for Washington's Brad Walker.  The '07 World champion and top ranked by Track and Field News did not clear a height in qualifying.  The US has won two straight Gold medals and veteran Trials champion Derek Miles will try to keep the US streak of Gold medals going that is currently at two.  Three Russians qualified for the final including the favorite, 22 year-old, Evgeniy Lukyanenko.  He had defeated Walker twice this year and would have been the favorite if Walker had made the final.  Steven Hooker of Australia is also vaulting well and was ranked #1 two years ago. 

The women's 5,000 meters will once again showcase the Ethiopians who have now surpassed the Kenyans for distance running superiority.  Tirunesh Dibaba just recently set the world record but is doubling back from the 10,000 win. If defending Olympic champion and '07 World Champion Meseret Defar is running like last year she is the favorite to win.  Teammate Meselech Melkamu is favored to finish third but it is hard to count out '07 World Silver medallist Vivian Cheruiyot. Shalane Flanagan will try to come back after a pr bronze medal performance in the 10,000, Portlander Kara Goucher will also try to return after a pr in the 10k and Jen Rhines, seventh at last year's worlds and coached by ex-Duck Terrance Mahon, is the freshest of the group and hopes to improve on last year's performance. 

The women's and men's 4x100 meter relay should be dominated by the Jamaicans after the Americans dropped their batons.  The men will likely get a world record with the amazing Usain Bolt and former world record holder Asafa Powell.  The Jamaicans would have been the favorites even with the Americans in the race but now there will be no competition. The Russians and  British are the favorites on the women's side to medal behind Jamaica.  Trinidad and Tobago and Canada are likely to medal on the men's side.