It’s the final night on the track in Rio -- the men’s marathon goes off on Sunday morning -- and middle-distance fans are in for a treat. Medals will be awarded in the men’s 1500 meters and 5,000 meters, the women’s 800, and the men’s and women’s 4x400 relays. There will also be medals in the men’s javelin throw and the women’s high jump.
Olympic track and field 2016 schedule: Mo Farah goes for 2nd gold, 4x400 relays close out track in Rio
The Olympic track schedule closes out with a night of middle-distance events and one last chance to watch Allyson Felix go for gold.
Mo Farah headlines the action as he attempts to win his second gold medal of the games, and fourth overall, by defending his 5,000-meter title. Farah won double gold in London in the 10,000 and 5,000, and kicked off Rio by winning the 10,000 even though he fell just over 3,000 meters into the race. Farah is the heavy favorite, but American Bernard Lagat could challenge. Lagat, 41, wasn’t even supposed to make the U.S. team, but shocked with a 52-second final lap to win the U.S. Olympic Trials.
Kate Grace is the top U.S. woman in the 800, and she has an outside shot of winning a medal. Grace is the daughter of Kathy Smith, famed for her workout videos in the 1980s. Grace will face Caster Semenya of South Africa, who has been in the spotlight due to “intersex conditions.” Semenya should win and could even break the world record in the event.
In the men’s 1500 meters, the favorite is Asbel Kiprop, the lengthy Kenyan who won gold in 2008. His biggest challenge will likely come from Taoufik Makhloufi of Algeria, who won gold in 2012 when Kiprop struggled with an injury. Matthew Centrowitz gives Team USA a good chance at a medal. He was fourth in London, and won bronze in the world championships in 2011 and silver in 2013. He won the U.S. Olympic Trials in July, and has looked very fit through the first two rounds of the 1500 in Rio.
The 4x400-meter relays close out the night. Team USA should have a shot at gold in both events thanks to Allyson Felix on the women’s side and LaShawn Merritt on the men’s side. Felix came up just short of gold in the individual 400 thanks to a well-timed, and perfectly legal, dive by Shaunae Miller of the Bahamas.
Vashti Cunningham will jump for a medal in the women’s high jump. Cunningham is the daughter of NFL great Randall Cunningham, and, at 18, has a bright future in front of her. There won’t be any United States athletes in the final of the men’s javelin throw, as all three American participants fell far short in the qualifying round.
All of the action will be on NBC. Here’s the timeline:
Schedule for Saturday, Aug. 20
All times Eastern and medal events are in bold. All events broadcast on NBC and NBCSN.
Evening session (online stream)
7:30 p.m. - Women’s high jump: Final
7:55 p.m. - Men’s javelin throw: Final
8:00 p.m. - Men’s 1500 meters: Final
8:15 p.m. - Women’s 800 meters: Final
8:30 p.m. - Men’s 5,000 meters: Final
9:00 p.m. - Women’s 4x400m relay: Final
9:35 p.m. - Men’s 4x400m relay: Final
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