OLYMPICS /
Newsmaker
Super showdowns at the Beijing Olympics
China Daily/The Olympian
Updated: 2008-08-04 09:08
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Kenenisa Bekele and Bernard Lagat. [Agencies]
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5,000m: Bernard Lagat v Kenenisa Bekele
Lagat is attempting to emulate Hicham El Guerrouj's feat of four years ago in landing the 1,500m and 5,000m double. However, it will be a tall order, none more so than in this event with Bekele standing in his way.
400m: Sanya Richards v Christina Ohuruogo
Ohuruogo may be the world and Commonwealth champion but Richards is still seen as the dominant force in the event. Indeed, Richards has beaten the Briton three times after the world championships last year.
800m: Janeth Jepkosgei v Pamela Jelimo
It is an extraordinary statistic that no Kenyan female athlete has won a track and field gold but in these two they probably have the fireworks to end that barren run.
World champion Jepkosgei has seen her No 1 status usurped by the young pretender Jelimo, who has trounced her every time they have met this year.
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Meseret Defar v Tirunesh Dibaba. [Agencies]
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5,000m: Meseret Defar v Tirunesh Dibaba
Defar would look to have the upper hand being the reigning Olympic champion and with Dibaba having to come off her 10,000m, which is run before the shorter distance race.
However, Dibaba claimed bragging rights in June in Oslo when she broke the world record.