Welcome! Introduction to the Guide to the Universe VI

Coach Cullen’s Guide to the Universe VI

Event Analyses

and

Fearless Picks and Predictions

of the

Track and Field Events of the 2012 Olympic Games

by Mark Cullen

 © 2012, All Rights Reserved

www.trackerati.com

on_your_mark@comcast.net

Welcome to edition #6 of this guide, which began in 1988 when the Summer Olympics started in Seoul in late September and I wanted to show my cross country runners that there was more to the sports world than Michael Jordan – or, for that matter, the men’s 100m. While the fun of this guide is the picks, for me it’s just as much about giving an accurate sense of each event.

References are as follows:

 Major Meets are Olympic Games and World Championships:

’00 – Sydney Olympics

’01 – Edmonton Worlds

’03 – Paris Worlds

’04 – Athens Olympics

’05 – Helsinki Worlds

’07 – Osaka Worlds

’08 – Beijing Olympics

’09 – Berlin Worlds

’11 – Daegu Worlds

World list refers to the yearly top 25 in each event as determined by each competitor’s top mark of this season going into the Games.

Diamond League refers to the 14 major meets held on the international circuit every year.

You can follow my event previews two ways on my blog at www.trackerati.com. First, I'm posting my entire preview of all 47 events. Then, I’ll post each event as it happens. For example, on August 8 the four finals are the women’s long jump, 400m hurdles, 200m, and the men’s 110m hurdles – so I’ll post those four on that day for easy and timely reference.

Also, I’ll post a complete list of sources.

Feel free to contact me at my email: on_your_mark@comcast.net, or to post a reply here.

I’m a 1975 graduate of the University of Oregon; I began running in Bill Bowerman’s beginning jogging class in the fall of 1971, a week after he had been named Head Coach of the US Olympic Track and Field team. I coached track and field for 13 years and cross country for 26, and served as president of the Washington State Cross Country Coaches Association. I‘ve been privileged to attend 4 Olympic Trials, 6 World Championships and one Olympics – Montreal in 1976.

In Track and Field News’ 1988 preview of the men’s javelin in ’88, they summarized all of this

by saying, “(but) really, anyone could win – and we like the suspense.” Have fun!

Have a terrific Olympics, everyone! Best regards from Seattle. On your Mark…