World Athletics Championship Betting: Vlasic can jump to it

Athletics / Bob Adams / 02 September 2011 / 1

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Bob's backing Blanka for gold

"Vlasic can beat Chicherova and may even face a tougher challenge from the in-form Yelena Slesarenko [3.5] who I fancy to podium in the 1-2-3 market."

Bob Adams selects the best bets from the track and field as the World Athletics Championship enters its final two days...

The World Championships are beginning to really heat up with a whole plethora of exciting finals on Saturday. In the men's javelin final, Andreas Thorkildsen [1.34] is the only thrower in the field to reach over 90m this year. A throw of that length should make it a formality for the talented Norwegian. There's certainly no value in the javelin competition or seemingly in the men's 200m final, in which defending champion Usain Bolt [1.08] should collect the gold, provided his false start in the final of the 100m has not played on his mind. Bolt did look back to his best in the semi-finals and much deserved compensation can be gained today.

In the women's finals, Australia's Sally Pearson [1.41] is another runner who looks nailed on for gold in the 100m hurdles and providing there are no upsets in the semis, Pearson should be mounting the podium to confirm her superiority at some time this afternoon.

Looking for value on this penultimate day is not easy with plenty of short priced athletes having excellent chances of winning their events. However, the women's high jump competition is a market I'm keen to take an interest in. Russia's Anna Chicherova [1.67] has received a great deal of support following her massive 2.07m leap in Cheboksary in July, which puts her just two centimetres behind the world record of the great Stefka Kostadinova which was set back in 1987. No doubt Chicherova [1.67] is the woman to beat but a glance back through her championship record reveals a marked lack of gold medals. I have some doubts about her temperament in the heat of a major athletics final.

I have no such doubts about the elegant Croatian Blanka Vlasic [3.55] the current World indoor and outdoor champion. Vlasic's career is peppered with gold and she is chasing a third successive one in these World Championships. The 27-year-old is an outstanding competitor and only missed an Olympic gold in Beijing on the count-back, having equalled the winning leap of Belgium's Tia Hellebaut. She can beat Chicherova and may even face a tougher challenge from the in-form Yelena Slesarenko [3.5] who I fancy to podium in the 1-2-3 market.

The men's 1500m final is a match between the two Kenyans: Silas Kiplagat [2.4] and Asbel Kiprop [2.76]. Kiprop, the reigning Olympic champion, is the man to beat and his greater experience should be invaluable. Fourth in Berlin two years ago, when he contested both the 800m and 1500m, Kiprop has decided to concentrate on the longer event and he looked comfortable in the semi-finals. I was also impressed by the Kiwi Nick Wills [5.0] in the 1500m semis. He's been ultra-consistent this year and is certainly respected in an event that has long been dominated by African athletes.

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Sergey | 02 September 2011

Vlasic got serious injury before the Champs. She will compete, but will not fight for the gold. Reccomended - Lay Vlasic