Standing directly outside the International Olympic Museum in Lausanne, it's hard to ignore the two poles and bar towering in front of you. The bar is raised to 2.45m, the world record high jump cleared by Cuban Javier Sotomayor in 1993. That record could be threatened this week. Ukrainian Bohdan Bondarenko cleared 2.41m in Lausanne last month, the highest leap since 1994 and about 44cm above his head. The 23-year-old then got giddy and set the bar at 2.47m after clearing 2.38m at the London Diamond League meet but failed both attempts. Watch out for Qatar's Mutaz Essa Barshim, too. The 22-year-old cleared 2.40m in June.
Women's 400m hurdles
Friday, 4.45am
Hurdlers probably don't get the kudos they deserve - perhaps the average observer just sees the obstacles as irritants which obstruct pure speed. There's skill to be observed getting a rhythm and maintaining it while exhaustion engulfs the muscles over 400m. The 110m race can tend to provide more dramatic entertainment because clatter one and it can be 'dominoes'. A solid duel could be in store in the 400m event with Czech Zuzana Hejnov, a five-time winner this season, against Brit Perri Shakes-Drayton and a strong American contingent.
Men's javelin
Sunday, August 18, 2.35am
If there's an event derived directly from evolution, it's spear-chucking. Man needed to eat, so he sharpened a stick and threw it at beasts. Then it made the Olympics where a technique combining balance, speed, rhythm and power is a treat to watch. You also get a few Neanderthal grunts thrown for added value. One thrower to watch is Finn Tero Pitamaki, who injured long jumper Salim Sdiri in 2007. Sdiri survived a hole being torn in his liver and a puncturing of his right kidney when Pitkamaki let a stray throw go at a meet in Rome. Pitkamaki, Russian Dmitri Tarabin and Czech Vitezslav Vesely should lead the field in Moscow. New Zealander Stuart Farquhar might feature in the final.
Men's 1500m final
Monday, August 19, 1.25am
New Zealand has more Olympic 1500m medallists than in any other track event but none in 30 years of world championship meets. Jack Lovelock, Peter Snell, John Davies, Rod Dixon, John Walker and now Nick Willis are part of New Zealand sporting folklore. Willis has a chance to add New Zealand's first world championship medal but has battled a nagging calf injury this season. An important occasion also took precedence. Willis and wife Sierra welcomed son Lachlan to the world on American Independence Day (July 4). Complicating track matters is Kenya's Asbel Kiprop, the man Willis finished behind at the Beijing Olympics. He has run a 3m 27.72s to tune up for Moscow, making him fourth fastest in history for the event. With Silas Kiplagat, Nixon Chepseba and Bethwell Birgen in the field, Kenya could crowd the podium. Still, the sight of a seemingly languid Kenyan strike force moving out to seize control of a race on the last lap tends to make compelling viewing.
