Beijing Olympics: Women’s 800m Preview
Posted by Jimmie R. Markham | August 9, 2008
In my Beijing Medal Predictions, I have changed my choices for silver and bronze in the women’s 800m. I had thought all Russians were suspended but as it turns out only Yelena Soboleva has been. Tatyana Andrianova (RUS) will win the silver and Svetlana Klyuka (RUS) will take bronze.
That being said, I do have my suspicions about both athletes. It just seems too coincidental that they’ve both set PRs during the same season that the Russian team is being accused of systematic doping and have the 3rd and 4th fastest times in the world during a season that has produced some incredible times in the event. Even so, they haven’t been suspended, so they will be running in Beijing. I won’t be rooting for them, but they will probably finish 2nd and 3rd.
World champion Janet Jepkosgei may finally round into form at the right time. Even if she does, she’ll need to produce a PR to make it onto the awards stand. Maria Mutola is definitely a sentimental favorite, but she doesn’t stand much of a chance in Beijing. She is in Brett Favre territory in 2008. She probably should have retired while she was on top. Now, like Favre, she just needs to do whatever it takes to not embarrass herself. I’m predicting a 6th place finish (at best) for her while at the same time I’m hoping she proves me completely wrong. Pamela Jelimo will win gold and she will finish the season with the fastest time in the world once they scrub Soboleva’s times from the books. Nobody else in the race will come within 10 meters of the top 3. Here is the list of all potential finalists:
| Athlete | Nation | SB | PB |
| Pamela Jelimo | KEN | 1:54.97 | 1:54.97 |
| Tatyana Andrianova | RUS | 1:56.00 | 1:56.00 |
| Svetlana Klyuka | RUS | 1:56.64 | 1:56.64 |
| Tetiana Petlyuk | UKR | 1:58.38 | 1:57.34 |
| Marilyn Okoro | GBR | 1:58.45 | 1:58.45 |
| Lucia Klocová | SVK | 1:58.51 | 1:58.51 |
| Janeth Jepkosgei | KEN | 1:58.52 | 1:56.04 |
| Hasna Benhassi | MAR | 1:58.54 | 1:56.43 |
| Anna Rostkowska | POL | 1:58.72 | 1:58.72 |
| Yuliya Krevsun | UKR | 1:58.75 | 1:57.63 |
| Élodie Guégan | FRA | 1:58.93 | 1:58.93 |
| Kenia Sinclair | JAM | 1:59.00 | 1:57.88 |
| Zulia Calatayud | CUB | 1:59.18 | 1:56.09 |
| Elisa Cusma Piccione | ITA | 1:59.22 | 1:58.63 |
| Maria de Lurdes Mutola | MOZ | 1:59.24 | 1:55.19 |
| Brigita Langerholc | SLO | 1:59.57 | 1:58.41 |
| Hazel Clark | USA | 1:59.82 | 1:57.99 |
Topics: Beijing Medal Predictions, Beijing Previews, Blog, Doping/Performance Enhancement, Middle Distance, Olympic Games |