(BEIJING, August 22) -- Seven gold medals will be decided on day eight of the Athletics competition at the Beijing 2008 Olympic Games at the National Stadium. The clash between Ethiopian distance greats Meseret Defar and Tirunesh Dibaba in the Women's 5000m final is likely to be a highlight of Friday's action.
Women's 5000m - Final
Reigning Olympic and world champion Defar was the fastest qualifier for the Women's 5000m final after an impressive run of 14:56.32 in her heat.
Main rival and world record holder Dibaba won her heat in 15:09.89, setting up a much-anticipated battle between the two distance greats.
Other contenders for a medal include Beijing 2008 10000m silver medalist Elvan Abeylegesse of Turkey and Gulnara Galkina-Samitova of Russia, who set a world record in the Women's 3000m Steeplechase on Sunday, August 17.
Men's 50km Walk - Final
With reigning world champion Nathan Deakes of Australia absent because of a hamstring injury, France's Yohan Diniz is a slight favorite to take gold after he won the silver medal behind Deakes at the 2007 World Championships.
Alex Schwazer of Italy will be Diniz's main rival and has been in good form in 2008, finishing third at the world race walking challenge in Russia.
Denis Nizhegorodov of Russia will be out to improve on his silver medal at the Athens 2004 Olympic Games.
Men's Pole Vault - Final
Reigning world champion Brad Walker of the United States was knocked out of the competition after failing to clear his opening height in the qualifying round.
The door is open for Steve Hooker of Australia, Evgeny Lukyanenko and Igor Pavlov of Russia to fight it out for the gold.
Women's Long Jump - Final
Reigning world and Olympic champion Tatyana Lebedeva of Russia will hope to add to her silver medal from the Women's Triple Jump.
Carolina Kluft of Sweden, the reigning Olympic and three-time world champion in the Heptathlon, is still in the hunt for her first major Long Jump title since deciding to concentrate on the event.
Naide Gomes of Portugal, the 2008 world indoor champion, along with Brittney Reese of the United States and Maurren Higa Maggi of Brazil, will also be in contention for a medal after promising performances in the qualifying round.
Men's 4 x 100m Relay - Final
The anticipated showdown between sprinting giants the United States and Jamaica will not happen after the US relay team failed to finish their heat, dropping the baton on the third change.
Athens 2004 champions Great Britain will not have an opportunity to defend their title after they were disqualified in heat one.
Jamaica has never won an Olympic gold medal in this event, but with the likes of Usain Bolt and Asafa Powell in their team, they have a big opportunity to make history in Beijing.
Trinidad and Tobago posted the fastest qualifying time of 38.26 seconds.
Women's 4 x 100m Relay - Final
Jamaica posted the fastest qualifying time of 42.24 to advance to Friday night's final.
Athens 2004 silver medalists Russia, and Belgium, the reigning world bronze medalists, also looked impressive in their heats.
Like the Men's 4 x 100m Relay team, the highly fancied US women's team also dropped the baton on the third change and was disqualified.
Men's Decathlon - 110m Hurdles, Discus Throw, Pole Vault, Javelin, 1500m
At the conclusion of day one, Bryan Clay of the United States was in prime position for the gold medal with 4,521 points. The 2005 world champion led the competition after every event, winning the 100m and Long Jump.
Defending champion Roman Sebrle of the Czech Republic climbed from 27th position to fifth after five events.
Athens 2004 bronze medalist Dmitriy Karpov of Kazakhstan pulled out of the competition after limping across the line in the 100m with a heavily strapped thigh. Tom Pappas of the United States withdrew after the Long Jump when he was in 12th place.
Men's 4 x 400m Relay - Round one
The United States have dominated the Men's 4 x 400m Relay in the Olympic Games, winning 15 out of a possible 21 Olympic titles.
The US trio of LaShawn Merritt, Jeremy Wariner and David Neville took a clean sweep in the Men's 400m, and will be a force to be reckoned with.
The Bahamas, who won the silver medal at the 2007 World Championships in 2:59.18, should again be prominent.
Poland finished third at the 2007 World Championships with 3:00.05 and also have the potential to be among the medals winners.
Women's 4 x 400m Relay - Round one
The United States have won two of the past three Olympic titles as well as the 2007 World Championships gold. Sanya Richards and Deedee Trotter will be their strongest runners.
Rivals Russia won silver at Athens 2004 but went one better at the 2005 World Championships, claiming gold.
Jamaica, led by Novelene Williams and individual 400m silver medalist Shericka Williams, also look a medal chance.
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