Mo Farah winning London 5,000 meters,

photo by PhotoRun.net

Mo Farah thrilled a nation in London when he became the first British distance runner to double at the 5,000 meters and 10,000 meters. Under the watchful eye of Coach Alberto Salazar, in a joint project with UK Endurance’s then mentor Ian Stewart, Farah and his training partner, Galen Rupp, went gold and silver in the 10,000 meters and Mo came back and won a tough 5,000 meters with a sug four minute last mile!

How will he fair in Moscow? Here is Alfons Juck’s predictions. Alfons Juck is our daily commentator on all the news on athletics that is fit to publish, and we thank the director of the Ostrava Golden Spike for his daily contributions. What you find below are Alfons’s predicitons on Moscow. You will find mine in this very space on Friday, once I get my sea legs, so to speak, in Moscow.

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MOSCOW EVENT BY EVENT PREVIEW (SHORT)

MOSCOW (RUS): This is the traditional EME NEWS short preview. It is written in a short version without any guarantee. Just a view in simple fashion. We want apologize to all future medalists whom we did not mention. There will be many of course. And champions too, last time in 2011 we did not mention (even a country was not mentioned) in similar preview following future winners: Jeylan, Wojciechowski, Storl, De Zordo and women J. Simpson, Demus, Li Yanfeng, Lysenko.

Event by event preview

Men

100 m: Usain do not remember Daegu. Behind him attacking Gatlin and Carter.

200 m: Bolt show. WhatÂ´s the time?

400 m: One of the top duels: James vs Merritt. The head-to-head reads: 5:2 for the title defender.

800 m: Aman in one man show. Or Solomon with Symmonds attacking in Dave Wottle style?

1500 m: Fast or slow. Asbel Kiprop is the man to beat.

5000 m: Mo not that easy. Ethiopians waiting from behind Alamirew and Gebrhiwot.

10 000 m: Another one for Mo. But do not forget Gebremeskel.

Marathon: This looks like an Ethiopian affair. Desisa. Tola. Kebede. Who can beat them?

Steeple: Kemboi plans his usual wait and see game. Will he perform his dance? Young Conseslus and French MMB not to forget.

110mH: Merritt peaks in right time. Caribbeans attacking (Parchment, Ortega, Brathwaite).

400mH: This is open. Very tricky. Culson at the end of the day?

HJ: Bondarenko over 240, who can go with him or can he go Soto heights?

PV: Air Lavillenie is the top issue here. Can he confirm the 607 from indoors.

LJ: Home fans waiting for Menkov.

TJ: Two times â€žT” like Tennnessee. Tamgho vs Taylor. Are we forgetting Pichardo and Greco?

SP: Whiting goes for sure, Hoffa wants to
attack. What about the shape of Majewski and Storl.

DT: Harting issue, Wierig and Malachowski attacking.

HT: Pars against rest of the world, but should be ok.

JT: Vesely leads the action, Pitkamaki also in top shape.

Dec: Germans leading the lists, but Eaton and Hardee wants to be top two.

20 kmw: Ruzavin and Strelkov the home favorites, Japanese and Chinese waiting for their chance.

50 kmw: Kirdyapkin or Tallent, or Barrondo (but needs better technique). Very open.

4×100 m: Jamaica with anchor like Bolt can win everything.

4×400 m: This looks clear for US. Bahamas, Jamaica, Britain attacking.

Women

100 m: Shelly-Ann if no mistake looks good, 8 sub 11 runners behind her and ready.

200 m: Shelly-Ann for a double, but could Allyson increase her shape in right time? Here world lead a possibility.

400 m: Montsho wants to defend and leads the lists, but Krivoshapka will be also ready.

800 m: Savinova as safe bet. There will be great fight for the other medals.

1500 m: What was very open last time, has now clear favorite in Aregawi. Only very-very slow final could give a chance for the others.

5000 m: When Ethiopian stars will split, this one should go to Defar.

10 000 m: Tirunesh never lost a track race at this distance, this will be number 11. Of course, if Defar will not run.

Marathon: Here Kenya with better chances than men. Title defender Edna Kiplagat (+Kabuu) against Oly winner Gelana (+Tadesse+Hailu).

Steeple: Zaripova is ready even for a world record. Chemos and Chepkirui for the rest of the medals.

100mH: Rollins on the paper, experience on side of Harper and Pearson.

400mH: All looks for Hejnova, PSD is closing, former champs Antyukh and Demus know how to peak in right time.

HJ: Chicherova vs. Barrett. But surprise could come from Shkolina.

PV: This will be a special battle Jenn vs Yelena. Or the third (Silva) will be laughing?

LJ: Crowd wants Klishina. Reese is logical favorite. What about Okagbare and her tough programme.

TJ: Time for Colombia (Ibarguen). Never won gold at this event. First 15 of the year?

SP: Valerie for 4th title in a row. Kolodko, Schwanitz, Carter, Gong for remaining medals.

DT: Unbeaten Perkovic is the clear choice. Only Barrios and Muller can make it tough for her.

HT: Lysenko will be ready, Wlodarczyk and Heidler are also having their plans. Surprise from USA?

JT: Obergfoll lost only one competition but Abakumova wants to defend on home soil.

Hep: This is a totally open affair. For some Eaton-Theisen, for some Melnychenko, for some Germans, for some Benelux power (Thiam, Schippers). Also Tyminska with enough experience.

20kmw: Lashmanova vs. Kaniskina. Youngster vs. top champion.

4×100 m: This looks like one for USA ahead of Jamaican and Ukraine. If no baton problems.

4×400 m: Here again USA vs Jamaica, but Russia will jump-in. We will see how they will use short sprinters and hurdlers.

Author

Larry Eder
Larry Eder has had a 52-year involvement in the sport of athletics. Larry has experienced the sport as an athlete, coach, magazine publisher, and now, journalist and blogger. His first article, on Don Bowden, America's first sub-4 minute miler, was published in RW in 1983. Larry has published several magazines on athletics, from American Athletics to the U.S. version of Spikes magazine. He currently manages the content and marketing development of the RunningNetwork, The Shoe Addicts, and RunBlogRun. Of RunBlogRun, his daily pilgrimage with the sport, Larry says: "I have to admit, I love traveling to far away meets, writing about the sport I love, and the athletes I respect, for my readers at runblogrun.com, the most of anything I have ever done, except, maybe running itself." Also does some updates for BBC Sports at key events, which he truly enjoys. Theme song: Greg Allman, " I'm no Angel."
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