Men's 200m - The half-lap dash is being billed as a "rematch" between Tyson Gay and Walter Dix. A few weeks ago in Eugene, Dix outlasted a rusty Gay, in his first race back from injury, by .04 seconds.
Predictions:
1. Gay - He is more race-sharp than in Eugene, has surely gained confidence in his hamstring, and is the "hunter" after being beaten by Dix earlier this year. He will come out on top, but barely. 19.66.
2. Dix - He will be ready for the challenge and will run well, but it won't be enough. 19.72
3. Yohan Blake (JAM) - Ran a 9.95 PB in the 100m last week. In sprinting, momentum, confidence, and swagger are huge. Blake has more of those right now than any of the other challengers.
Men's 1500m - The metric-mile field has arguably the top-4 Americans at the distance entered - Manzano, Lomong, Lagat, and youngster Andrew Wheating. They will face a tough international field that includes the worlds best at this distance, Olympic Champion Asbel Kiprop. While my 200m picks were pretty "safe," I'm going out on a limb here.
Predictions:
1. Amine Lallou (MAR) - Ran 3:50 at Pre, 3:32 at Laussane, and has 1:43 800m speed. I think he will outkick the likes of Kiprop and Augustine Choge (KEN), who will run just off the shoulder of the pacer most of the way. 3:31.78
2. Kiprop - I still believe he's the world's best at this distance, but he will be out leaned after running near the front most of the race. 3:31.89
3. Wheating - Yes, you read it right. I think the American will use his trademark kick to catch all but Lallou and Kiprop and will run a huge personal best of 3:32. He's on a roll, baby.
Women's 800m
This field has a nice mix of veteran 800m runners who are arguably past their prime, and young half-milers who are improving rapidly. Again, the field is loaded with Americans, including the top 3 ranked 800m runners in the U.S. this year - Alysia Johnson, Pheobe Wright, and Maggie Vessey, and the top U.S. half-miler from 2009, Anna Pierce. I give the nod to the young stars in this race.
Predictions:
1. Johnson - Ran a PB 1:57.85 last week, and has been consistently cementing herself as a world-class force in this event. I don't see a let-up coming anytime soon. 1:57.60.
2. Kenia Sinclair (JAM) - Is one of those veterans who may be past her prime, but she has run well this year (1:58.32), and has experience and pride in her court. 1:58.08.
3. Vessey - She won this meet last year in her lifetime best of 1:57.84. She has not run nearly as fast since, but has been consistent enough to make me think she can pull off another solid performance in Monaco. BTW - She is "supposedly" dating American 800m star Nick Symmonds - who is running in the men's 800m in Monaco also. 1:58.12.
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