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2008 Beijing Olympic Preview: Men’s 200 Meters

Posted August 10th, 2008 at 10:17 PM by Jesse Squire

Section: News & Results, Track & Field, Olympics

Men’s 200 Meters
The Schedule: heats and quarterfinals, Monday Aug 18; semifinals, Tuesday Aug 19; finals, Wednesday Aug 20
The Americans: #3 Wallace Spearmon, #4 Walter Dix, #14 Shawn Crawford
The Contenders: #1 Usain Bolt (JAM), #6 Brian Dzingai (ZIM), #8 Brendan Christian (ANT), #11 Richard Thompson (TRI), #12 Marlon Devonish (GBR)
The Stats: Records, 2008 List, 2007 Worlds, 2004 Olympics
The Medal Picks: T&FN - Bolt, Dix, Crawford; SI - Bolt, Dix, Crawford
The Story: Bolt is getting attention for his 100 record, but this is almost assuredly his best event. With Tyson Gay failing to make the US team due to injury, this is expected to be little more than a coronation.

Spearmon and Dix, however, has PRs that indicate they may be able to challenge the Jamaican. Considering that Bolt will have to run eight rounds in six days, and his commitment to hard training has at times been questioned, the upset is possible. Spearmon will only run the 200 which gives him an advantage there. If Bolt loses, however, I see Walter Dix as the man to do him in. While Dix also has double-duty on his plate, he is a bull-strong runner who never wears down as much as his opponents. Just fourth in the NCAA 100, he came back to win the 200 later in the meet, and similarly won the Trials 200 after a heavy week of racing. He is a smart runner who manages his efforts well and has that rarest of qualities in sprinters: belief in delayed gratification.

If you can find a casino sports book offering odds on the Olympics, take Dix to win. A quick check of online betting odds has him anywhere from 9:1 to 11:1, but the reality is more like 3:1 or less. You heard it here first.

Note: Athletes’ rankings refer to TheFinalSprint.com’s World Points Standings, and medal picks come to us from Track & Field News and Sports Illustrated, respectively.