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Olympic Trials preview – men’s track

A look ahead to the men’s track events at this weekend’s Olympic Trials in Birmingham

Posted on June 21, 2012 by
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Dai Greene (Mark Shearman)

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Aviva 2012 Trials – Birmingham, June 22-24

BBC 2 & online, Saturday June 23: 16:45-18:30.
Sunday June 24: 17:00-19:00.
Timetable and live results

100m

UK rankings. A standard – 10.18. B standard – 10.24.
Heats: Fri 17:00. Semis: Sat 16:52. Final: Sat 18:17.

With more than 25 sub-10.30 performers, no other event has so many potential qualifiers, but many of the big names aren’t in their best form. Don’t be fooled that one of those, Dwain Chambers, is only ranked eighth this year. He has been unlucky with weather conditions and with his experience and temperament, most of his rivals still expect him to make the top two and make his return after his Olympic ban.

The fastest man this year, Adam Gemili, didn’t run the 100m at Bedford last weekend but showed he is in great shape with a 20.61 200m PB. If he runs he will be favourite, though the 2010 runner-up, James Dasaolu – who, as usual, has raced lightly – will also be close along with 2004 relay gold medallist Mark Lewis-Francis.

200m

UK rankings. A standard – 20.55. B standard – 20.65.
Heats: Sun 15:00. Final: Sun 18:20.

The four Olympic ‘A’ qualifiers look evenly matched on paper with just a tenth of a second between them this year but European silver medallist Christian Malcolm is the undoubted class with Olympic fifth places in both 2000 and 2008.

James Alaka is the fastest but as he is US-based, he’s had the best conditions and needs to back up his American times in the UK. Third-ranked Richard Kilty hasn’t raced since April but intends to compete.

James Ellington, the fourth Brit with the ‘A’ standard this year, should also be competitive, as should Delano Williams – the youngster who recently switched from Turks & Caicos in the hope of representing Great Britain at the Olympics.

400m

UK rankings. A standard – 45.30. B standard – 45.90.
Heats: Sat 14:10. Final: Sun 17:22.

A dozen sub-46 performers chase three places and four of them have the A qualifier. Martyn Rooney is the big favourite having run three sub-45s in his last three races.

Indoor Trials winner Nigel Levine has won his two outdoor races and improved greatly this year and should also qualify automatically. Conrad Williams has also improved this summer though he could be hard pressed to match his Geneva time of 45.08. European silver medallist Michael Bingham looks well short of his 2010 form and competition will be fierce even outside the top three with relay places, and a potential Olympic medal, also on offer.

800m

UK rankings. A standard – 1:45.60. B standard – 1:46.30.
Heats: Sat 15:20. Final: Sun 18:38.

Three athletes have the ‘A’ standard but world indoor medallist Andrew Osagie is the form athlete. In each of his four outdoor races he has bettered his pre-2012 PB and Olympic standard and his selection is a formality.

Former trials champion Michael Rimmer isn’t in his best form, though the other ‘A’ qualifier, Gareth Warburton, has produced his two fastest ever times this June. The other potential qualifier is European under-23 bronze medallist Mukhtar Mohammed who has the B standard and could be ready for a breakthrough.

1500m

UK rankings. A standard – 3:35.50. B standard – 3:38.00.
Heats: Fri 20:25. Final: Sat 18:05.

The focus will be on world 5000m champion Mo Farah who is top ranked while new star Ross Murray is getting attention but it is the third-ranked Andy Baddeley who should be favourite after being unbeaten at 1500m this summer.

With Farah using this race for sharpening, a third spot on the team is available but a 3:35.50 might be beyond the other contenders. It will also be interesting to see how the US-based runners fare. Defending champion James Shane has been injured and is an unlikely participant.

5000m

UK rankings. A standard – 13:20.00. B standard – 13:27.00.
Final: Sun 16:05.

Four athletes have the ‘A’ standard but Mo Farah, Chris Thompson and Thomas Farrell aren’t entered. The most recent ‘A’ standard setter, Nick McCormick, will just need a top-two place to secure an Olympic spot.

10,000m

UK rankings. A standard – 27:45.00. B standard – 28:05.00.
Final: Fri 20:05.

Controversially, this race will be dominated by seven Africans. All eyes will be on double Olympic champion Kenenisa Bekele who still needs to impress the Ethiopian selectors. His brother, Tariku, has thus far shown better form in 2012, as has a third Ethiopian, Gebre Gebremariam.

The leading Briton may finish outside the top eight and English National cross-country champion Keith Gerrard starts favourite. James Walsh will be out to defend his UK title and should give Gerrard a good race. Some way back, British juniors David Vernon and Luke Traynor will chase the 29:50.0 qualifying time for Barcelona.

3000m steeplechase

UK rankings. A standard – 8:23.10. B standard – 8:32.00.
Final: Sat 16:35.

Events such as these – where, realistically, there is just one spot up for grabs for someone with a ‘B’ standard – are arguably even more brutal than the events with three spots open to the numerous ‘A’ standard athletes.

Defending UK champion Luke Gunn and multiple Commonwealth finalist Stuart Stokes are very evenly matched, both having dipped under 8:30 this year and with just 0.10 separating them at the top of the UK rankings. A fast race will help Gunn get a second current ‘B’ standard and reduce the risk of a surprise winner. Rob Mullett and James Wilkinson could both be in contention though.

110m hurdles

UK rankings. A standard – 13.52. B standard – 13.60.
Heats: Sun 15:35. Final: Sun 18:48.

This will be the final event of the Olympic Trials and is set to be one of the most competitive. Very little separates Andy Pozzi and Lawrence Clarke – both training partners under Malcolm Arnold. Clarke leads the UK rankings with 13.33, but Pozzi has the head-to-head advantage at 3-1 to Clarke this year.

European champion Andy Turner has not been in as good form as last year and could find himself scrapping it out for the third spot on the team, along with two-time world finalist William Sharman, another from the Arnold stable.

400m hurdles

UK rankings. A standard – 49.50. B standard – 49.80.
Heats: Fri 18:55. Final: Sat 17:13.

Just four years ago Britain didn’t send anyone to the Beijing Olympics in this event. Now it’s the highest-quality event in the country with five athletes having achieved the ‘A’ standard.

World champion Dai Greene is, of course, the favourite, but after minor knee surgery during the winter he has not been at his best this year. Training partner Jack Green appears to be a solid bet to grab one of the two automatic spots, but the more interesting race will be the one for third – a battle that will be between Nathan Woodward, Rick Yates and Rhys Williams.

» The latest issue of Athletics Weekly, out today, features an in-depth preview to this weekend’s Aviva 2012 Trials.

3 Responses to “Olympic Trials preview – men’s track”

  1. Ray Eaton says:
    June 21, 2012 at 12:05

    Good luck to all the athletes competing at the Trials, this weekend. If all our stars come through the event unscathed, and some other athletes can get those all-important Olympic "A" and "B" qualifying marks, then it will have been a successful meeting, for UK Athletics.

    Reply
  2. Kevin O'Neill says:
    June 21, 2012 at 13:01

    These will probably be the most competitive trials for many a long year and I cannot wait. I just hope the majority of contenders are fit and well and there aren't too many withdrawals or disasters. The sprints and hurdles look the most exciting events for the men.

    Reply
  3. John Alford says:
    June 22, 2012 at 14:05

    Good luck to everyone chasing Olympic places at the UK trials this weekend. Other athletes are well capable of getting A or B qualifying standards. If this happens then UK Athletics will have another succesful meeting under its belt.

    Reply

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