On the Scene in Daegu -- 10 Events You Must Not Miss

(ATR) Yelena, Semenya, Usain, oh my! ATR's Karen Rosen runs down the 10 events you must not miss at the athletics world championships beginning Saturday in Daegu, South Korea.

Men's 100 Meters

The much-hyped showdown between the "World's Fastest Man" and the world's fastest man this yearis officially off. Former world record holder Asafa Powellran a world-leading 9.78 seconds at the end of June –a full one-tenth of a second faster than defending world and Olympic champion Usain Boltran in his early efforts this season –but withdrew from the event Thursday citing a groin injury sustained earlier this month at a London meet. Tyson Gay, the American record holder and runner-up two years ago, is also out due to injury, making yet another 100m/200m double that much more achievable for Bolt.

Women's 200 Meters

As if going against two-time Olympic champion Veronica Campbell-Brown of Jamaica isn't enough on her plate, three-time world champion Allyson Felix of the U.S. will attempt a rare 200/400 double. Felix may have tired legs since the three rounds of the 400 come first on the Daegu schedule. "Will be very difficult," she tweeted, "but first step to accomplishing greatness is trying." Felix would be the first woman to achieve such a feat at the IAAF Worlds. France's Marie-Jose Perec won double gold at the 1996 Olympics. Felix must also contend with Shalonda Solomon, who won the U.S. trials with a world-leading 22.15 seconds.

Men's 110-Meter Hurdles

History's three fastest men – Dayron Robles of Cuba, Liu Xiang of China and David Oliver of the U.S. – are all in top form. IAAF general secretary Pierre Weiss points to this as "THE potential race of the championships." Robles, who holds the world record of 12.87 seconds, has never won at the IAAF Worlds. In Berlin, on the one-year anniversary of his Beijing Olympic gold, he was injured in the semis and had to be helped off the track. Liu and Oliver were injured and missed the event completely. Oliver ran a world-leading time of 12.94 seconds on the same day Liu ran the second-best time of 13 flat.

Men's 800 Meters

By the end of July, world record holder David Rudisha of Kenya had run four of the seven fastest times of the season and was the only man under 1:43. Rudisha, who broke a 12-year-old world record last year before lowering it to the current mark of 1:41.01, would shatter history by going under 1:41. His main rival has been Abubaker Kaki of Sudan, who says Rudisha's record runs "have put fire in my belly." The pair have had thrilling duels that are reminiscent of Sebastian Coe and Steve Ovett, including last year in Oslo.

Women's 800 Meters

Controversy followed Caster Semenya of South Africa around the track in Berlin when she won the world title with a time of 1:55.45 – and then flexed her muscles – and it could certainly swirl around her again. Amid inquiries about her gender, Semenya was suspended from competition. Upon her return, she has looked invincible in some races, but not up to speed in others. Russian runners, led by Mariya Savinova, and Jamaica's Kenia Sinclair have been the top contenders at the two-lap distance. Savinova was the 2010 world indoor champion as well as a finalist in this event in Berlin.

Women's 100-Meter Hurdles

Olympic silver medalist Sally Pearson of Australia has the world-leading time of 12.48 seconds and will run the 100 meters as well. Pearson became the first Australian woman since 1968 to win three national championships at the same event when she added the 200 title. U.S. champ Kellie Wells (12.50 seconds) hopes triumph on the track will help her start a foundation for battered women and abused children. "People don't listen to the girl in fifth or sixth place who is not making teams," she says. "They listen to the person who is successful." And don't forget Olympic champion Dawn Harper of the U.S.

Women's 5,000 and 10,000 Meters

Training partners at home,Linet MasaiandVivian Cheruiyotof Kenya will battle for top honors in Daegu. Cheruiyot, who won the 5,000 meters in Berlin two years ago, will try to repeat as champion and add the 10,000 title for good measure. She'll have to go through Masai, the defending world champion in the 10K. Cheruiyot won the 10,000 at the national championships with a time of 31 minutes, 55.08 seconds while Masai skipped the race to work on her speed for the shorter distance. "I think I am in good shape to double in Daegu," says Cheruiyot.

Men's 400 Meters

There are two controversial entrants in this event – for two entirely different reasons. Oscar Pistorius, the "Blade Runner" who races on prosthetic devices, has posted a time of 45.07 seconds. This will be a major test for him against able-bodied runners prior to the 2012 Olympics. LaShawn Merritt, the defending world and Olympic champion, served a 21-month drug ban after he used a male enhancement product. He missed the U.S. trials because of the suspension but made the World Championships roster as reigning champ and is appealing his ban ahead of the London Games. Athens 2004 gold medalist Jeremy Wariner is out with a foot injury.

Women's Pole Vault

An over-confident Yelena Isinbayeva no-heighted two years ago in Berlin. Though she promptly went out and set her 27th world record at 5.06 meters (16 feet, 7¼ inches), Isinbayeva was so unnerved by poor performances she skipped the 2010 outdoor season. Returning to the sport after a year off, she will try to add to her tally of two Olympic and five World Championships golds (three outdoor and two indoor). Olympic silver medalist Jenn Suhr of the U.S., who vaulted a world’s best 4.91m (16, 1¼), did not compete in Berlin because of an Achilles injury.

Men's Shot Put

Dylan Armstrong of Canada, who finished fourth in the Beijing Olympics, has the top mark of the year at 22.21 meters (72 feet, 10¼ inches). He is closely followed by three formidable American veterans: 2005 world champion Adam Nelson, 2007 world champ Reese Hoffa and 2009 champ Christian Cantwell. Cantwell is known for saving his best for last. He won in Berlin on his final throw of 22.03m (72, 3½), beating Olympic champ Tomasz Majewski with the heave. A year earlier in Beijing, Majewski won Olympic gold, but Cantwell grabbed the silver on his final throw. Of course, Armstrong's Canadian record throw was also on his last attempt.

Compiled in Daegu by Karen Rosen.

All pictures are from Getty Images.

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