Exxon Mobil Bislett Games: Bohdan vs Mutaz, Preview by EME News

Bohdan Bondarenko, photo by PhotoRun.net

Mutaz Barshim, photo by PhotoRun.net

The Exxon Mobil Bislett Games is in its fiftieth year! The meet takes place on 11 June and here is how EME News handicaps the meet!

High jump to highlight 50th anniversary
OSLO (NOR): The jubilee 50th edition of Exxon Mobil Bislett Games is sold out and promised to have top weather. Men high jump with Javier Sotomayor as special guest and Steinar Hoen as meet director with the landing pit positioned in the best possible way should be the highlight. But also Genzebe DibabaÂ´s World record attempt, men steeple and Dream mile with Ayanleh Souleiman and Asbel Kiprop going for sub 3:50.

Event by event

Men

200 m: Jobodwana has the top time, Lemaitre with increased shape, Kilty with first race 2015 at the distance after series of 100 m PBÂ´s.

400 m: Top Europeans clashing: Rooney and Hudson-Smith against Maslak, dark horse improved Gardiner of Bahamas.

Dream Mile: Souleiman wants to win again, should improve the WL. But Kiprop is against this plan. And S. Kiplagat is also a winning-type.

Steeple: Another version Kemboi vs Birech, they can attack WL 8:01.71 and MR 8:01.83.

HJ: The event of the day. First this years clash Barshim vs Bondarenko. But also Drouin, Kynard and Ukhov. MR 237 back from 1989 should go.

LJ: Rutherford has the shape, Menkov wants to attack and triple star Taylor should not be underestimated.

DT: Usual Polish duel Malachowski-Urbanek? Or Christoph Harting in his DL debut to attack.

Women

100 m: Bislett debut for VCB but Ahoure is the years co-fastest. First sub 11 here since 2009?

1500 m: Seyaoum is the favorite, but Aregawi is improving with every race. After fast 5km debut first 1500 of 2015 for Kipyegon.

5000 m: Genzebe and her World record attack. The mark comes from Bislett and from her older sister Tirunesh. You cannot ask for more symbols.

100H: Stowers full of motivation after Birmingham false start. Rollins, Talay ready to change her plans. MR 12.49 a good possibility.

400H: Spencer is the Diamond Girl, but Adekoya comes with WL at Asian Champs and Hejnova improves with every race.

TJ: Ibarguen needed a big leap to beat Koneva in Eugene. Time for revenge here for the Russian.

SP: As in past years Adams, now Schwanitz rules this event. Hard to beat. She can improve 20.26 MR.

JT: Very open contest. Mothers coming into shape. Spotakova on Monday 63, Obergfoll wins in Eugene, but Viljoen leads the lists and Gleadle is also in shape.

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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