Brief T&F viewing guide

Are you watching the Olympics?  Here is my brief guide to events of interest:

1.) Women’s 800 m Final, Tuesday 8/2 5:25 am Pacific

Thanks in part to the banning of XY athletes with untreated testosterone levels, the women’s 800 m is back, and the US has a new star, Athing Mu.  She was breathtaking in the semis, and I can’t wait to see how she does in the final.  Mu is only 19, and I can’t remember the last time I was this excited about a US middle distance runner.  If you have a chance to watch the semi, it’s worth your time.

Mu is the daughter of Sudanese immigrants, and one of seven children.  I can’t understand why she hasn’t been getting more press.

2.) Women’s 3000 m Steeplechase final, Wednesday 8/4 @ 4:00 am Pacific

Emma Coburn has an Olympic bronze and a gold and silver in this event from the world championships.  She’s one of the US’s best (and only) chances for a long-distance medal.  The steeplechase is also kind of interesting to watch if it’s new to you.  It’s a long distance event with a water pit and hurdles.

3.) Women’s 1500 m final, Friday August 6 @ 5:50 am Pacific

Sifan Hassan is trying to achieve an unprecedented triple – the 1500, 5000 and 10,000.  (The word “unprecedented” is wildly and annoyingly and inaccurately overused.  But this actually IS unprecedented, in the sense that it’s never been done.  The last similar achievement was winning three track golds in 1952.  Hassan fell in the 1500 qualifiers but got through anyway.  I highly suggest you watch that race and also check out the final.  In addition, Elle Purrier of the US has a real chance at a medal.  Here’s a link to the qualifier.

4.) Women’s 10,000 m final, August 7 at 3:45 AM Pacific

The 10,000 m final is always a brutal race.  It’s also an amazing race that usually includes top performers from all over the globe.  Long distance running (unlike even sprints or soccer) requires no particular wealth or privilege, and so it’s arguably the most competitive sport there is.  It’ll be a long shot for Emily Sisson to medal here, but it’ll be a great race regardless.

5.) Women’s Marathon August 6th, 3:00 pm Pacific

The marathon will be in Hokkaido this year to avoid the heat, but it’ll still be scorching.  The Olympic marathon is always unpredictable.  The big money marathons during the year tend to be flat and fair-weathered.  You usually get a more interesting race at the Olympics as a result.

6.) Women’s High Jump – August 7th, 3:35 AM Pacific

If you’ve never watched a high jump competition, you should definitely check it out.  It’s incredible to watch these very tall skinny athletes fly over the bar.  The Russians and Eastern Europeans and former Soviet states tend to be the best at this event, but it’s fun watching every athlete progressively try to reach higher levels.  Mariya Lasitskene, the favorite from Russia, is shown.