Tokyo Olympic Preview

Running events begin this week in Tokyo for the Olympics. This week we are preparing you to enjoy Olympic running more than ever.  

Schedule (by final) of distance races

*Tokyo is 13 hours ahead of US EST (here’s a link to the schedule, times are listed in local venue time)

• Friday, July 30: Men’s 10,000m
• Monday, August 2: Men’s 3,000m Steeplechase, Women’s 5,000m
• Tuesday, August 3: Women’s 800m
• Wednesday, August 4: Women’s 3,000m Steeplechase, Men’s 800m
• Friday, August 6: Men’s 5,000m, Women’s 1500m
• Saturday, August 7: Women’s Marathon, Women’s 10,000m, Men’s 1500m
• Sunday, August 8: Men’s Marathon

Preview of Events

Men’s 10,000m

Final on Friday on July 30 (26 men entered)

General Info

• Olympic history: The first men’s 10,000m was contested in 1912. In that year, there was a semifinal. Modern day Olympics the 10,000m goes straight to finals.
• Modern fact: “With two-time winner Mo Farah missing from the field, a new Olympic men’s 10,000m champion will be crowned in Tokyo for the first time since 2012.” according to World Athletics.

Runners to watch

Joshua Cheptegei of Uganda

• This is the second Olympics for the 24-year-old Cheptegei, who finished sixth in the 10,000m and eighth in the 5000m in Rio.
• 2019 World 10,000m champion in Doha
• World Record Holder in both the 5k and 10k distances

Jacob Kiplimo of Uganda

• U20 cross-country title at age 16
• Silver at the 2019 World Cross Country Championships
• World half-marathon champion in 2020.
• According to the IAAF, Jacob announced his goal (not specifically for the Olympics) is to break the 10,000m world record.

Yomif Kejelcha of Ethiopia

• World Silver in Doha
• Multiple Diamond League wins 

Moh Ahmed of Canada

• 4th in 5,000m in Rio at the 2016 Olympic Games
• Doubled in Doha for the World Championships finishing 4th in the 5,000m and 6th in the 10,000m
• He is running in both for the Olympic Games as well.

Rodgers Kwemoi of Kenya

• 4th at the World Championships in Doha

Team USA

Woody Kincaid 

• Winner of the US Olympic Trials
• Bowerman Track Club
• Fellow running podcaster published by Citius Mag

Grant Fisher 

• Grew up in Grand Blanc Michigan where his greatness in running began. He won 2 national cross country champions (known as Footlocker).
• He was an NCAA champ for Stanford in the 5,000m
• Bowerman Track Club

Joe Klecker

• On running club, OAC
• Olympic Legacy
• Joe’s mom  Janis represented the United States of America in the marathon at the 1992 Olympic Games in Barcelona. His father Barney was a long-distance runner and has held the US record for the 50-mile ultramarathon.

*Ugandan teammates Cheptegei and Kiplimo are both attempting the 5000m-10,000m double in Tokyo as well as US teammates Grant Fisher and Woody Kincaid. 

Men’s 3,000m Steeplechase

3 preliminary heats on Friday, July 30 (46 athletes in the field)

Finals will be Monday, August 2

General Info

• Olympic History: The steeplechase made its first Olympic appearance at the 1900 Summer Olympics, which had men’s races over two distances: one of 2500 metres and another of 4000 metres.
• Modern Fact: Men’s steeplechase in recent history was a Kenyan-dominated event until 2016. 
  • Since Rio, aside from Kenya’s Conseslus Kipruto, who won gold in the Rio games as well as London and Doha world championships, medal positions have been wide open.
  • Taking out Kipruto as well as 2-time medalist Evan Jager (USA), the medal stand is considered to be as vulnerable as it’s ever been in recent history
  • *there were NO Ethiopians in the Rio final, and this year, Ethiopia boasts the strongest team

Runners to watch

Lamecha Girma of Ethiopia

• First, some controversy around this as noted on a Letsrun thread… 
• Silver at the World Championships in Doha in a time of 8:01, the Ethiopian record
• World rank #1
• Current world leader with a time of 8:07 from his victory at the Monaco Diamond League
• Showed in Monaco that he can race, BUT remember what happened in that event? Hard to know what would have happened if Benjamin Kigen would not have shut down after the miscount… 

Benjamin Kigen of Kenya

• Since we’re on the topic…
• World rank #4
• 6th in Doha
• Clearly ready to race after Monaco (and has 3 Diamond League victories since 2018, so definitely able to win big races)

Soufiane El Bakkali of Morocco

• Perhaps the likeliest threat historically…
• World rank #2
• 4th in Rio, 2nd in London, 3rd in Doha
• ONLY athlete in the field to medal in more than one championship
• 8 Diamond League victories in his career
• *Clearly the safest bet for a medal of some kind, but gold? It’s the one medal he doesn’t have yet.

Other notable mentions:

• Getnet Wale (of Ethiopia): 4th in Doha, 9th in London
• Djilali Bedrani (of France): World rank #7, 5th in Doha

• Abraham Kibiwot (of Kenya): world rank #6, 7th in Doha
• Hillary Bor (of USA): world rank #8, 8th in Doha, 7th in Rio (didn’t make final in London) (Check out our episode with Hillary Bor on the A to Z Running Podcast about championship racing)

Team USA:

• Benard Keter: first team USA steeple appearance, unknown entity at this level
• Mason Ferlic: first team USA steeple appearance, unknown entity at this level

Women’s 5,000m

2 preliminary heats on Friday, July 30 (39 women entered)

Final on Monday, August 2

General Info

Olympic History: Prior to 1996, women had competed in an Olympic 3000 metres race since 1984.

Modern fact: 

Runners to Watch

Hellen Obiri of Kenya

• Hellen won silver at the 2016 Olympics in Rio
• She won gold at the London World Championships in the event
• Hellen won gold at the World Championships in Doha
• A Mother Runner
• Entered in both the 5,000m and 10,000m

Sifan Hassan of the Netherlands

• 5,000, on paper, is actually her weakest event
• Sifan Hassan won both the 1500 and the 10,000m at the 2019  World Championship in Doha
• Sifan is entered in the 1500m, the 5,000m, AND the 10,000m

Gudaf Tsegay of Ethiopia 

• Gudaf Tsegay won silver in the 5k at the 2019 World Championships in Doha
• Her husband Hluf Yihdego is her coach
• Entered in the 5,000m and 10,000m
• Indoor 1500m WR

Senbere Teferi of Ethiopia 

• 2nd at the 2015 World Championships in China in the 5,000m

Ejgayehu Taye of Ethiopia

• 6th on the all-time list

Eilish McColgan of Great Britain

Trending fast. Just seized the British record in the 5,000m

Team USA

Elise Cranny

• The U.S. Olympic Trials champion
• Bowerman Track Club
• Great quote on the Olympic website, “You can’t be constantly shaken by a bad workout, and you also have to keep it fun, joyful, and exciting. Focus on what you’re doing well and what’s allowing you to grow and take steps forward.” 

Karissa Schweizer 

• 2nd fastest woman in U.S. history in the event behind American Record Holder, and teammate, Shelby Houlihan. 
• “I always have to call my grandpa the night before [a competition]. I always have to wear my hair a certain way. I always say a quick prayer, but it can’t be before I get out, it has to be when I’m out on the line. I have to do a certain stretch.”
• Karissa’s grandfather Frank is her inspiration in the sport. He was an All-American D2 runner. He coached cross country for 40 years. 

Rachel Schneider

• Rachel is a first time Olympian
• She is engaged to Mike Smith, famous coach Galen Rupp and NAU to ⅘ of the cross country titles
• She is a very versatile runner with the 5th fastest mile of all time by a U.S. athlete,  10th in the 10,000m and she is 11th in the 5,000m.

Women’s 800m

6 preliminary heats on Friday, July 30 (47 women entered)

3 semifinal heats on Saturday, July 31

Final on Tuesday, August 3

General Info

Runners to watch

Athing Mu of USA

• This one might be contentious, but SERIOUS threat for a medal
• Least experienced of just about everyone in the field

Ajee’ Wilson of USA (Check out our episode with Ajee’ Wilson on the A to Z Running Podcast)

• World ranked #1
• 2-time world bronze medalist (London, Doha)
• 4 Diamond League victories in 2019 (7 total)

Rose Mary Almanza of Cuba

• World rank #12
• Recent Diamond League victory (Stockholm)
• 1:56 PR is recent

Other notable mentions:

• Keely Hodgkinson and Jemma Reekie (of Great Britain): Fast times and great contest
• Natoya Goule (of Jamaica): world #2 with a mid-1:56 season best
• Halimah Nakaayi (of Uganda): world #3, Doha champ, BUT hasn’t looked in champ form this summer
• Raevyn Rogers (of USA): world #4, silver medal in Doha, in personal best form.

Women’s 3,000m Steeplechase

3 preliminary rounds on Sunday, August 1 (44 women entered)

Final on Wednesday, August 4

Runners to watch

Winfred Mutile Yavi of Bahrain

• 4th in the Steeplechase in Doha

Gesa Felicitas Krause of Germany

• She won bronze medals in steeplechase at both the 2015 and 2019 World Championships
• Holds the German National Record

Beatrice Chepkoech of Kenya

• The favorite to win.
• 2019 World Champion

Hyvin Kiyeng

• Silver in Rio for the 2016 Olympics
• 3rd at the 2017 World Championships in London
• Has a PR of 9-flat
• 2015 World Champion

U.S. Team

Emma Coburn

• Bronze medalist at the 2016 Olympic Games in Rio
• 2019 World Championship silver medalist
• 2017 World Champion 

Courtney Frerichs

• American Record Holder of 9-flat
• 2017 World Championship silver medalist

Val Constein

• New Olympian
• Trains with Jenny Simpson
• Was not a stand out college athlete, according to an interview with Women’s running, but she has made a lot of good decisions post-collegiately 
• Val has set 4 personal bests in 2021, the Olympic Trials was a 6sec PR. Trending faster!

Men’s 800m

6 preliminary heats on Saturday, July 31 (49 men entered)

3 semifinal heats on Sunday, August 1

Final on Wednesday, August 4

General Info

Modern fact: A new champion will be crowned in Tokyo for the first time since 2012, with two-time winner David Rudisha not returning to defend his title, and a number of athletes could take the step up to succeed the Kenyan great. (World Athletics) 

​​Amel Tuka

• Nickname “Tato”
• He competed in karate at national level.
• Personal best: 1:42.51
• 2nd at the 2019 World Championships in Doha
• 3rd at the 2015 World Championships in Beijing

Nijel Amos of Botswana

• Nijel owns the WU20R of 1:41.73
• 2nd at the 2012 London Olympics

Pierre-Ambroise Bosse of France

• 2017 800m World Champion in London
• 4th at the Olympics in Rio in 2016

Giles Elliot of Great Britain

Oliver Hoare of Australia (Check out our episode with Oliver Hoare on the A to Z Running Podcast.)

U.S Team

Isaiah Jewitt

• “I am a person that is going to fight until the end, I’m not a person that is going to give up. If I do make mistakes, which I do all the time, I’m going to get back up and I’m going to fight again because that is who Isaiah Jewett is.”
• After he made the US team for the 2020 Olympic Games at the 2020 US Olympic Trials in Eugene, OR, United States of America, that night he had to complete a 10-page university essay that was due at midnight despite him requesting an extension. “I did not get the extension. In her [his professor’s] defence it was out of her hands, because it’s the programme that gives the extension. You know that night that I made it to the Olympics, I was grinding until 23:50 to turn in that paper.

Bryce Hoppel

• Bryce was 4th at the 2019 World Championships in Doha.
• He was also 4th at the 2019 Pan Am Games in Lima

Clayton Murphy

• U.S. Olympic Trials Champion
• Bronze Medalist at the 2016 Olympic Games in Rio
• Part of the 4x800m World Relays Team for USA in 2017
• His wife Ariana Murphy is a professional sprinter. 

Men’s 5,000m

2 preliminary heats on Tuesday, August 3 (43 men entered)

Final on Friday, August 6

General Info

• In Doha, 2019 champs, Ethiopians had their way with the field, finishing 1st, 2nd, and 4th. BUT NONE of those men are running the 5,000m in Tokyo.

Runners to watch

Jakob Ingebrigsten (of Norway)

• World rank #4
• In the last 18 months, has broken nearly every Norwegian and European record he has attempted between 1500 and 5000
• BUT, his recent illness disruption (back in June) is exactly the kind of thing that breaks momentum… (but looked strong at Monaco)

Mohamed Katir (of Spain)

• World rank #3
• On FIRE this summer, and momentum matters here
• Including 2 Diamond League victories

Joshua Cheptegei (of Uganda)

• World rank #8
• Defending world champ (Doha)
• In 2020, broke 3 world records including the legendary 5000 and 10000
• BUT not looking in champ form this summer (running slower and getting beat)

Other notable mentions:

• Jacob Kiplimo (of Uganda): also a fiery last 12 months, including beating key players in fast races; double is not a problem for him
• Paul Chelimo (of USA): US champ, Rio silver, London bronze, that finish at trials… 
• Getnet Wale (of Ethiopia): somewhat unknown coming from steeple specialization, but ran 12:53 to win Ethiopian trials
• Mo Ahmed (of Canada): hasn’t finished worse than 6th since 2016, bronze in 2019

US Team:

• Grant Fisher: finishing speed like a champ, doubling up
• Woody Kincaid: same assets as Fisher, same liabilities

Women’s 1500m

3 preliminary heats on Monday, August 2 (46 women entered)

2 semifinal heats on Wednesday, August 4

Final on Friday, August 6

Runners to watch:

Gabriela Debues-Stafford from Canada

• In 2019, she broke numerous national records for Canada: the indoor mile and 5,000 metre records; the outdoor 1,500 metre, mile and 5,000 metre records. She added the indoor 1,500 metre record in 2020
• In 2021, by breaking the 1:59 barrier at the Portland Track Festival, Gabriela became one of only three women in the world to have gone sub 1:59 /3:57 / 14:45.

Laura Muir from Great Britain

• 7th at the 2016 Olympics in Rio
• She has won many Diamond League races
• She was 4th in the 1500m and 6th in the 5000m at the 2017 World Championships in London

Faith Kipyegon from Kenya

• Faith is the 2016 Olympic Champion
• Silver medalist at the 2019 World Champs in Doha
• 2017 World Champion in London
• Runner up at the 2015 World Championships in Beijing 
• Multiple diamond league champion

Sifan Hassan

• As part of her triple
• Sifan is ranked #1 in the world
• Sifan is the 2019 World Champion in BOTH the 1500m and 10,000m 
• Mile WR, 5k women’s only WR, and previous 10,000m WR
• 15 Diamond League victories since 2014, most of them mile or 1500

U.S. Team

Elle Purrier St. Pierre

• 2021 U.S. Olympic Trials Champion
• Starting at about 5:00 or 6:00, she would milk between 30 and 40 cows before going to school
• 3:58.03 Lifetime and season best
•  Elle is the U.S. indoor mile & 2 mile record holder

Cory McGee

• 2011 Pan Am Junior Champion in the 1500m
• 4 Podiums (including the trials) at US Championships
• Trains with Team Boss

Heather Maclean

In 2019 Heather dropped 9 secs from her previous personal best in the 1500m

7th at the USA championship in 2019

Women’s Marathon

Final on Saturday, August 7 (87 women entered)

Brigid Kosgei

• Olympic Debut
• Marathon World Record Holder in the event in a time of 2:14:04, beating the previous by 1 minute 24 seconds
• Brigid won the 2018 and 2019 Chicago Marathons and the 2019 and 2020 London Marathons

Ruth Chepngetich

• 2019 World Champion
• 3rd at the London Marathon (outkicked by Sara Hall)
• 2:17:08
• Half Marathon World Record: 1:04:02, beat the previous world record by 29 secs

Lonah Chemtai Salpeter

• Kenyan-Israeli runner
• 6th fastest marathoner in the world’s history, 2:17:45
• She’s won a handful of marathons including the 2020 Tokyo Marathon

Team USA

Aliphine Tuliamuck

• U.S. Olympic Trials Champion
• New mom post 2020 OLympic Trials Marathon
• Training is looking great, running long steady state runs in 5:40 pace

Molly Seidel

• Runner up at the trials in her Olympic Debut
• Further improved her time at the London Marathon, 2:25:13
• Apparently plays the Ukulele and Banjo

Sally Kipeygo

• At the 2012 London Olympics, Sally was 4th in the 5000m and 2nd in the 10000m
• 2nd at the World Championships in 2011
• Sally was also runner up at the 2016 New York Marathon 

Women’s 10,000m

Final on Saturday, August 7 (31 women entered)

General Info

• Women’s world record fell twice in a few days span this summer (remember Hassan and Gidey)
• Last time world record was set was Almaz Ayana at Rio in a solo gold medal run (dragged everyone through a blazing fast race)
• Hassan doing the triple (5000, 1500, 10000) changes things, too
• Much anticipated duel here! Hassan vs. Gidey

Runners to watch

Sifan Hassan (of the Netherlands)

• World rank #1
• 2-time champ in Doha (1500, 10,000)
• World record 29:06 (broken later)
• But that triple?

Letesenbet Gidey (of Ethiopia)

• World rank #2
• Current WR in 29:01
• Also holds current WR in 5,000m
• Silver in Doha (behind Hassan)
• Likes to finish fast, negative split, good look for a championship race

Helen Obiri (of Kenya)

• World rank #4
• 5th in Doha
• Always a contender in any distance

Emily Sisson (of USA)

• World rank #11
• 9th in London, 10th in Doha
• Looks to be in her best form ever

Other notable mentions:

• • Gudaf Tsegay (of Ethiopia): WR indoor 1500 and only recently focusing on 10,000m
  • Susan Krumins (of the Netherlands): world rank #7, 5th in London, 7th in Doha (14th in Rio)

• Konstanze Klosterhalfen (of Germany): world rank #13, bronze in Doha 5,000m

US Team

• In addition to Sisson…
• Karissa Schweizer: has great finishing speed, can run a fast time, ran in Doha 5,000m
• Alicia Monson: also new to the international stage. (Check out our episode with Alicia Monson.)

Men’s 1500m

3 preliminary heats on Tuesday, August 3 (50 men entered)

2 semifinal heats on Thursday, August 5

Final on Saturday, August 7

General Info

• This event is often the BIGGEST offender of the “tactical championship race” stigma
• When Centro won in 2016, it was painfully slow and tactical (worse even than usual), but many in Tokyo have demonstrated a willingness to make it a fast race (could change things!) 

Runners to watch

Timothy Cheruiyot of Kenya

• World rank #1
• Defending champ (Doha), silver in London
• Running on momentum and a chip on his shoulder
• Can win in different ways

Jakob Ingebrigsten of Norway

• World rank #2
• Can kick from any pace
• Not much different to say like 5000 except that if he found his full rhythm again… look out!

Matthew Centrowitz Jr.  of USA

• If we were writing this in May, he wouldn’t be on the list
• June and July proved he’s in his best form (NOTE: ran a mile PR of 3:49 in a paced time trial meet)

Marcin Lewandowski of Poland

• World rank #3
• Bronze in Doha
• Looking very fit and competitive this summer, but not quite gold medal look

Other notable mentions:

• • Way too many names should be included here…

• Stewart McSweyn of Australia: world #5, highly competitive this summer, can race anyone

• Ayanleh Souleiman of Djibouti: world #7, 4th in Rio, not on top of his game lately

• • Taoufik Makhloufi of Algeria: Doha silver, Rio silver, but this year?

• Cole Hocker of USA: has not lost a championship race in 2021 (NCAA indoor, outdoor, USA trials), possible he can outkick anyone

Men’s Marathon

Final on Sunday, August 8 (107 men entered)

General Info

• Olympic marathons are interesting races…
• World rankings: 21 of the top 100 are NOT Kenyan or Ethiopian…
• Very hot race, rarely ever considered a fast contest

Runners to watch

Eliud Kipchoge (of Kenya)

• Of course… but this should not be considered the obvious gold (all careers wane, and the likelihood is high that his is beginning to do so)
• Still, unmatched historically in the marathon: 8 majors wins (in a row) plus an Olympic gold (Rio) in that mix and a world record marathon by over a minute (ignore those 2 experimental races)

Sisay Lemma (of Ethiopia)

• World rank #6
• 3rd at 2020 Tokyo, 3rd at 2019 Berlin

Lawrence Cherono (of Kenya)

• World rank #3
• 2019 Chicago winner, 2nd at 2020 Valencia

Lelisa Desisa (of Ethiopia)

• world #10 
• gold at Doha, 2nd at 2019 Boston

Other notable mentions:

• Bahir Abdi (of Belgium): 2nd at 2020 Tokyo, 5th at 2019 Chicago

• El Hassan El Abbassi (of Bahrain): 2nd 2018 Valencia
• Kaan Kigen Ozbilen (of Turkey): 2nd at 2019 Rotterdam, 2nd at 2019 Valencia

US Team:

• Galen Rupp: bronze at Rio, consistently strongest American in championship races
• Jacob Riley: highest ranked on the team, 9th at 2019 Chicago (Check out our episode with Jake Riley on the A to Z Running Podcast) 
• Abdi Abdirahman: Veteran of the sport. 9th at 2019 New York and previously podium at New York. Many major championships and wins.  (Check out our episode with Abdi Abdirahman on the A to Z Running Podcast.)

Interested in a training plan and/or coaching? We offer personalized support to help you achieve your goals!

KEEP LISTENING