World championships Day 1 preview

The first day of competition at the 2013 IAAF World Championships in Moscow is a big one for Canadian distance runners.

Women’s Marathon, 6 a.m. ET

Up-and-coming Canadian marathoners Lanni Marchant, Canadian Running‘s current cover girl, and Krista DuChene will be mixing it up with the best in the women’s marathon. Both have shown remarkable progressions and build-ups this year, so it’ll be exciting to see how they perform on the world stage. As for race favourites, sub-2:20 runner Edna Kiplagat of Kenya is back to defend her world championships title from 2011, but she’ll be up against countrywoman Lucy Kabuu, who has a slightly faster PB of 2:19:34, and speedy Ethiopians Tiki Gelana and Aberu Kebede.

Men’s 10,000m Final, 10:55 a.m. ET

This race promises to be epic from a Canadian and international perspective. Watch out for Canadian Olympians Cam Levins and Mo Ahmed, who will be in tough against Olympic champ Mo Farah of the U.K. and Ethiopians Dejen Gebremeskel, Abera Kuma, Imane Merga and world record holder Kenenisa Bekele, as well as American Galen Rupp. Levins hung with the leaders until the final lap of the 10,000m final in the London Games, and was apparently not feeling well that day, so who knows what he’s capable of pulling off when he’s 100 per cent on. Ahmed is also showing improvement of late and could very stick with the lead pack for much of the race.

Men’s 800m Heats, 3:20 a.m.

With a recent PB of 1:45 of the 800m, Speed River athlete Anthony Romaniw of Hamilton, Ont. has a very good shot at advancing.

Men’s Decathlon, various times

Canada’s Damian Warner will be competing in four events on Day 1.