MOSCOW // The first day of the World Athletics Championships holds more interest than usual, with two of the biggest stars lined up for action after a doping-tainted run-up to competition.
Britain's Mo Farah is odds-on favourite to claim gold in the men's 10,000-metre run, and Jamaica sprint star Usain Bolt faces his first outing at Luzhniki Stadium in the heats for the 100m.
The day's other final comes in the women's marathon, featuring the defending world champion Edna Kiplagat of Kenya against the reigning Olympic champion Tiki Gelana of Ethiopia, who is looking for a first marathon title for her country.
Farah was one of the faces of the London Olympics after he claimed double gold in the 5,000m and 10,000m.
The Somali-born 30 year old has not run more than 25 laps of the track since his triumph on home soil last August, but he seems in prime form to go one better than at Daegu, South Korea two years ago.
Dropping down distances to hone his speed, Farah surprised many observers by claiming a European record in the 1,500m at Monaco this season. His time of three minutes, 28.81 seconds, was the sixth-fastest ever run and a European record.
Ethiopia's Ibrahim Jeilan, the defending world champion, did not compete at London and has been overtaken somewhat by his teammates, notably the Olympic 5,000m silver medallist Dejen Gebremeskel and the duo of Abera Kuma and Imane Merga - fifth and third at Daegu.
The 100m, with the semi-finals and final to be run tomorrow, seems Bolt's to lose. He was disqualified at Daegu after a calamitous false start in the final and now-injured teammate Yohan Blake took gold.
The field for the high-profile event has been diminished, however, after the positive doping tests for America's Tyson Gay and Jamaica's Asafa Powell.
Justin Gatlin, the 2004 Olympic champion and double sprint gold medallist in the 2005 worlds, claimed bronze at the London Olympics following a four-year drugs ban, and seems most likely to stage an upset of Bolt. He has one victory over the Jamaican this year in the 100m, at Rome.
Ashton Eaton is the man to beat in the decathlon that begins Saturday with five events. The 25-year-old American is the world-record holder as well as London 2012 gold medallist.
He will be looking to go one better than his silver medal at Daegu, where teammate Trey Hardee won gold.
"My preparation feels good," said Eaton, who has been described by Bolt as the best athlete in the world. "Physically, I actually feel a little more worn down from last year. It does take a toll on your mind and your body. But I would say I'm ready to go."
FIVE TO WATCH
Allyson Felix, United States
The graceful style of the lissom American belies a fiercely competitive nature while becoming one of the dominant forces in women’s sprinting. At 27, she has won eight world golds and four Olympic golds. She is in Moscow for one reason: to reclaim the 200m title she lost in 2011 to Veronica Campbell-Brown, sidelined this time after a positive drugs test. Felix likely also will run in the 4x100m and 4x400m relays.
Yelena Isinbayeva, Russia
The self-proclaimed queen of the pole vault could not have scripted her send-off to track and field any better, with a nostalgic finale on home soil. The two-time Olympic champion, double world gold medallist and world-record holder is 31, but only the foolhardy would rule her out of the medal running.
Asbel Kiprop, Kenya
With David Rudisha out with an injury, Kenya looks to Kiprop to carry the flag in the 1,500m. In Monaco, this year, Kiprop ran the fourth-fastest 1,500m recorded, finishing just ahead of Britain’s Mo Farah, who set a European record.
James Dasaolu, Great Britain
The Briton did not concentrate on sprinting until age 18, but at 25 he is in fine form, clocking a personal best of 9.91 seconds in the 100m at the British Trials. Only Linford Christie has run faster in a GB vest. With several top sprinters out on drug bans, he has a shot to be on the podium with, presumably, Usain Bolt.
Bohdan Bondarenko, Ukraine
Bolt aside, the best bet for a world record at the meet might be the Ukrainian high jumper, 23, who represents a threat to Javier Sotomayor’s record of 2.45m, which has stood since 1993. In Lausanne this year, Bondarenko cleared 2.41m, third best all-time.
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