Athletics / Robin Adams / 15 August 2009 / Leave a comment

Bob Adams takes a close look at the fields for two principal finals on day one in Berlin...

"Reese Hoffa is the reigning world champion and may push Majewski all the way for the gold."

Tomasz Majewski is a born winner and the Olympic shot put champion can add to his medal haul with victory from the thrower's circle on Day One of the World Athletics Championships in Berlin.

At [2.94] Majewski doesn't represent any real value, but it is impossible to find any alternatives to the talented Pole.

American Christian Cantwell has a PB in excess of Majewski's but that was set over five years ago and he looks to be a light of former years. At [5.3] Cantwell is too long to lay in the straight win market, but he may be worth laying in the match-up with Majewski, where he features at [2.1] against the Olympic Champion's [1.02].

I feel Cantwell [2.0] is also a lay in the head-to-head with compatriot Reese Hoffa [1.73]. Hoffa is the reigning world champion and may push Majewski all the way for the gold. Cantwell may also miss out on a podium finish as Andrey Mikhnevich from Belarus and young tyro Dan Taylor will represent better value once this market picks up momentum.

The other principal final on Day One is the men's 10,000 metres. I have already covered this race in depth on these pages, but it has been interesting to see how hot favourite Kenenisa Bekele really is as the market has become more liquid. At [1.18] he is well clear of second favourite Micah Kogo [8.8]. In the market excluding Bekele, I will be amazed if Abebe Dinkesa is allowed to go off at the long odds offered unmatched at the moment. The 28-year-old has a best time of around 26.30 and I'll be trying to get the best price possible. Dinkesa is also value in the podium finish market at [5.0].

Tags: 000 metres final, 10, Robin Adams, Shot Putt final, Tomasz Majewski, World Championship Athletics Betting