Today is a big day for Oregon resident athletes.  Portland resident and 2007 10,000 meter World Championship bronze medallist Kara Goucher will try to repeat her performance and medal at the Olympics.  She looks like she is a better runner this year.  Shalane Flanagan is running extremely well and is still the world leader for an under-run event after running an American Record 30:34.49 earlier this year at the Stanford Invite.  Portland resident Amy Yoder-Begley has run extremely well and pr'd by 1:30 over her pr from past years. 2x defending world champion Tirunesh Dibaba will likely work with 2x international medallist sister Ejegayehu to crush the competition, including teammate Mestawat Tufa and 2007 Turkish world silver medallist Elvan Abeylegesse. 

The 100 meter heats and semi-finals will get a lot of press.  World Champion Tyson Gay needs to show he is healthy after his hamstring strain at the Olympic Trials.  A healthy Gay is a solid challenger for 6-6 phenom and world record holder Usain Bolt of Jamaican who has never won a world championship in his best race over 200 meters.  Jamaican Asafa Powell had been the world record holder over the past few years but has never won an Olympic or World  championship medal until last year.  A healthy Walter Dix may surprise everyone.  He ran a wind-aided 9.80 for second at the Olympic Trials but is still rounding into shape after being injured during the spring.  He could potentially win this race. 

Shot Put should be an American sweep but for some reason all three never have it together on the same day.  Reese Hoffa has been the best over the last year plus and should win gold.  Adam Nelson sometimes looks unbeatable but World and Olympic competitions he only gets silver.  A recent discovery that he has a displaced rib will limit his effectiveness in the Games and may cost him a medal.  It is a surprise that Christian Cantwell even made this competition but if he is at his best he could win this.  Injuries and head issues have slowed him.  Jamaican and ex-Florida State Seminole Dorian Scott has thrown a pr 21.45m to make his fourth on the World list.  Russians and eastern Europeans usually throw well in big competitions and there are a few that experts are favoring. 

The Heptathlon starts today also and the rarely contested event has American Hyleas Fountain as the world leader at 6667.  Expected favorite and defending champion Carolina Kluft essentially sited boredom (at 25) for not defending her championship.  Lyudmila Blonska of the Ukraine was second at last year's World Championships with a mark of 6832 and is probably the favorite.  2007 world Bronze Medallist Kelly Sotherton of Great Britain has kept a low profile this year but should compete for a medal and may have a surprise pr like Fountain did at the Olympic Trials. 

I will be very interested to see how women's 3,000 meter steeplechasers Anna Willard and recent American record setter Jenny Barringer do in the steeple heats.  There times of 9:22.73 and 9:22.76 (12th and 13th on world lists) are starting to be competitive on the world scene.  It would be good to see these youngsters race against much faster competitors.

OTC Elite's Nicole Teter will compete against Mutola in the 4th heat of the women's 800 meters.  She is the sixth seed but is a wily competitor. The first three plus next six fastest qualify.  Let's hope that two Oregonians make it out of that heat.