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Olympics Betting: Women's Athletics Preview - Day Two - US trio go for 100m gold

Jack Houghton talks us through the action on day two of the women's athletics. Questions of the day include whether backing Yelena Isinbayeva is equivalent to buying money and whether Sanya Richards is too short for the 400m title.

Women's Shot Final

The most likely winner of the shot - which sees qualifying rounds and the final on Saturday - is Belarus' Ostapchuk. With a PB of 21.09, she has thrown further than any of her rivals, peppering the 20m+ mark this year in setting season's bests. World Champion, New Zealand's Vili, beat Ostapchuk to that title in Osaka and Mikhnevich has got closest to her this year in terms of distance thrown. But the prices all look about right and no bet is recommended.

Women's Pole Vault
At [1.09], backing Yelena Isinbayeva to win the Pole Vault could be seen as buying money. The best woman vaulter in history, she is the winner of eight major championships and holds the world record. Only misfortune or poor judgement can cost her the gold medal; but with the memory of Sergey Bubka no-heighting when absolutely dominant in Barcelona in 1992, I'd rather watch than invest.

Women's 100m

Torri Edwards is the fastest in the World this year, with her 10.78 in the semi-finals of the US Trials. But she was beaten in the final at Eugene, by a slow starting Muna Lee. That looked like a coming-of-age performance to me, and I would recommend a 2pts bet on Lee at [8.4]. The Jamaican trio of Stewart, Simpson and Fraser look strong this season having posted three of the top ten fastest times during their trials in Kingston. Kerron Stewart won that race and looks worth a saver bet of 1pt at [4.0].

Women's 400m

Sanya Richards heads the Betfair market at [1.43], but looks short to me. The dominant 400m runner in 2006, she suffered from illness early in the 2007 season and failed to qualify for the US team in the 400m. She seems to have bounced back in 2008, winning the US Trials comfortably and delivering four of the top ten World best times this year. However, two athletes have run quicker than her so far - Montsho and Felix - and her winning time in those US Trials in Eugene would not have got her a medal at last year's World Championships. A case can be made for a number of her rivals - including the Briton's Ohuruogu and Sanders - and the competition just looks more competitive than the betting suggests. I'm not sure who will win it, but the value call is a 2pts lay of Richards at [1.43].

Summary of advice:

Event Bet Selection Stake Odds
Women's 100m Back Muna Lee 2pts [8.4]
Women's 100m Back Kerron Stewart 1pt [4.0]
Women's 400m Lay Sanya Richards 2pts [1.43]