EUGENE (from our correspondent) – There are a total of 49 sets of medals in the game, for the first time the athletes receive them right on the field after the end of their competition, before the ceremony. And also increased financial rewards. The new champions will receive $70,000, with a bonus of $100,000 in the event of a world record. And there would be a few adepts… What disciplines will be the most focused on at Hayward Field?
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200 m men
Sure, the 100m is traditionally the royal sprint discipline, but in the post-Bolt era, it is looking for a stable ruler. And so maybe a double distance will offer a more interesting fight. Defending gold medalist Noah Lyles against rising star Erriyon Knighton, who has already lowered his time to 19.49s this year when he just won the US championship in Eugene. “I haven’t finished my work yet,” declared the 18-year-old as he became the fourth fastest man in history. In addition, the Americans Fred Kerley and Kenny Bednarek, or the Canadian Olympic champion Andre de Grasse, who is not shining this year yet.
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Men’s bar
A duel is not expected here, except for the one that will go down in history. This year, Swede Armand Duplantis pushed his indoor world record to 620 cm, during the last race before traveling to Eugene, he also jumped a historic outdoor maximum of 616 cm at home in Stockholm. He has the Olympic gold, but he still lacks the world title. “I have the form for gold and maybe I’ll show something special,” he promises. Defending gold medalist Sam Kendricks will not start due to injury, so the home fans will chase the silver medalist from Tokyo, Chris Nielsen. Other medal contenders? Brazilian Thiago Braz or Filipino EJ Obiena.
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Ball of men
Another race with record potential. Three years ago in Doha, the battle of the strongmen was one of the highlights. Ryan Crouser even has two Olympic golds and a world record, but the world title still eludes him. Two hours away from his native Boring, he will be the main favorite, his historical maximum of 23.37 m can also be shaken. Crouser’s compatriot Joe Kovacs is defending the gold, New Zealander Tom Walsh will also want to speak in the battle for victory.
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100 m women
A Jamaican stage like Tokyo? Is not excluded. Shelly Ann Fraserová-Pryceová already won the Olympics in Beijing 2008 and London 2012, yet she is the fastest this year with a time of 10.67 seconds. Shericka Jackson is a tenth behind her in this year’s tables, the last two Olympics were dominated by Elaine Thompson-Herah, who made no secret of her ambitions to attack Florence Griffith-Joyner’s 34-year-old world record. Among the compatriots, the legendary Flo Jo will try to disrupt the Jamaican supremacy, Abby Steiner and Melissa Jefferson, the controversial star Sha’Carri Richardson did not make it to the team.
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Women’s 400m Hurdles
The last time Sydney McLaughlin raced at Hayward Field, it was a world record. “Every time I come to this stadium, I feel that something special is going to happen. And I still have a lot to improve,” she declared after running a time of 51.41 s. She is the clear favorite over the hurdles, the European record holder from the Netherlands Femke Bolová or the former world record holder Dalilah Muhammadová representing the USA will be waiting for her possible hesitation.
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