Atletismo

Daegu, Korea – Six titles will be up for grabs on the fourth day of action at the IAAF World Championships, Daegu 2011, with centre stage reserved for 800m phenom David Rudisha’s quest for his first World title.

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Rudisha was already clearly the future of the event when he failed to advance from the semi-finals in Berlin two years ago. Underscoring his talent, the 22-year-old Kenyan has broken the 800m World record twice and hasn’t lost a race since. He brings a 23-meet win streak to the line this evening.

Expect the tall, powerful Masai to lead from the front and his challengers to give chase and try to hold on as long as they can. His fiercest rival remains Abubaker Kaki of Sudan, who’s raced Rudisha close on several occasions. If they’re both near their best, the Championships record of 1:43.06, set by Kenyan Billy Konchellah in 1987, could finally fall.

Can Isinbayeva return to gold (and beat the Daily Programme curse)?

Yelena Isinbayeva has faced and tackled obstacles before, so you can expect her to put up a fierce fight to regain the World Pole Vault title she so famously lost two years ago. The world has narrowed the gap on the popular 28-year-old Russian, leaving this a fairly wide-open contest.

Jen Suhr of the U.S. is the world leader at 4.91m, but will be bringing a back problem with her to the final. Anna Rogowska, the defending champion, is near her best with a 4.85m to her credit.

Isinbayeva will arrive at the stadium to find yet another challenge: having to face the Daegu 2011 Daily Programme curse. She graces the cover today, following Steve Hooker (Day 1), Usain Bolt (Day 2), and Dayron Robles (Day 3).

Can Ennis hold on?

Briton Jessica Ennis is hoping to follow in the footstep of Decathlon winner Trey Hardee, who despite a few setbacks, managed to defend his title on Day Two. Ennis, who is also the European champion, didn’t put up quite the numbers she was hoping to yesterday, but did manage to piece together a 151-point lead over Russian Tatyana Chernova.

But the Russian’s second day is stronger than her first – and stronger than what Ennis is generally capable of, too – promising that the Heptathlon competition will come down to the wire – literally – in the 800m finale tonight.

Can anyone stop Merritt?

Should Ennis succeed, Lashawn Merritt will aim to become the sixth winner from Berlin 2009 to successfully defend their title. Judging from the first two rounds, the American Olympic champion will to difficult to topple. After a scorching 4.35 in the opening round – the fastest opening round run ever at a global championships – Merritt looked well within himself in yesterday’s semis, where he again was the fastest at 44.76.

The other main contenders are all from the Caribbean, led by Jamaican Jermaine Gonzales, Bahamian Chris Brown and young Kirani James from Grenada. But they’ll have to put the numbers of their careers to tackle the American.

Likewise, Milcah Chemos will be carrying the target on her back in the women’s 3000m Steeplechase. The Kenyan is well ahead of the field both on paper and on the track this season. Her primary foes are familiar ones: compatriots Mercy Njoroge and Lydia Rotich, and Ethiopian Sofia Assefa.

The men’s Discus Throw title is the only infield event up for grabs, in the most literal sense. An evenly matched field leaves the contest wide open with reigning champion Robert Harting, former champion Virgilijus Alekna, and Pole Piotr Malachowski all in the hunt.

Semi-final and qualifying action

There were no surprises in yesterday morning’s opening rounds in the men’s and women’s 400m Hurdles, but things are expected to get particularly interesting in this evening’s semis which open competition on the track.

The evening also features the semis in the women’s 1500m which will give a strong indication of how prepared Bahrain’s two-time defending champion Maryam Jamal really is.

The morning sessions includes the qualify rounds in the men’s High Jump and 1500m, and women’s Javelin Throw and 5000m. In the latter, Kenya’s red-hot Vivian Cheruiyot begins her title defence pursuit and to add the crown to her 10,000m title won on Sunday.

Bob Ramsak for the IAAF

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