Olympic Track and Field TV Schedule: Total Viewing Guide to Classic Event

During the 2008 Beijing Olympics, the primary image most of us associated with the event was the swimming pool and Michael Phelps displaying his numerous gold medals. 

We tend to focus on the events that are generating the most headlines and creating the most buzz, but the heart of the Olympics has always been in track and field.

Dating back to the ancient beginnings of the Olympics, the sprints and the races were key, and they remain the focal point of today's Olympic games. 

We'll witness star power, such as Jamaica's Usain Bolt and Tyson Gay, but we'll also get a look at the up-and-coming stars of tomorrow. 

If you want to follow the action, read on for viewing dates and times, as well as key events to keep an eye on.

Key Events 

Men's 100-Meter Dash Final

Usain Bolt holds the world record for the 100-meter dash (9.58 seconds) as well as the Olympic record (9.69). 

Bolt will likely dominate this event, but he's one of the top athletes in London and is someone you must watch on the track. 

Look for him to set a new 100-meter Olympic record at some point in London. 

Date: Sunday, August 5

Time: 4:50 p.m. ET

Men's 200-Meter Dash Final

Usain Bolt holds both the world record and the Olympic record for the 100-meter dash, and the same can be said for the 200-meter dash. 

In 2008, Bolt set a new Olympic record in Beijing at 19.30 seconds, but was able to top that in 2009 when he ran it in 19.19. 

Once again, Bolt will be looking for not only a gold medal, but also a new Olympic record. 

Date: Thursday, August 9

Time: 3:55 p.m. ET

Men's Decathlon

Ashton Eaton is a first-time Olympian who could make major noise in the men's decathlon.

During the Olympic Trials, Eaton was able to to beat Roman Sebrle's world record of 9,029 points after scoring 9,039.

The decathlon is a long event with many factors, so it's not as predictable as the 100-meter dash. There's more room for error.

But if Eaton can have a repeat performance, he could be a new record holder.   

Date: August 8 - August 9

Time: 5:10 a.m. - 4:54 p.m. (August 8), 4:00 a.m. - 4:41 p.m. (August 9)

Women's 200-Meter Dash Final 

Allyson Felix was able to win a gold medal in Beijing in 2008 after running the 4x400-meter relay, but now she'll be looking to win a solo medal. 

Felix ran the 200-meter dash in 21.69 seconds during the trials, and another sub-22.00 finish in the final round will basically seal the victory. 

Felix will be competing against USA teammates Carmelita Jeter and Sanya Richards-Ross, so even if she falls short, it should be an event that brings another gold medal to the United States. 

Date: Wednesday, August 8

Time: 4:00 p.m. 

TV and Live Streaming

TV: NBC Sports Network (Complete Schedule at NBC)

Live Streaming: NBC Olympics 

Complete Track and Field Schedule 

(Dates and times according to schedule at NBC)

Friday, August 3

4:00 a.m.     Men's Shot Put - Qualification                   

4:05 a.m.     Women's Heptathlon                               

4:05 a.m.     Women's Heptathlon - 100m Hurdles                                    

4:25 a.m.     Women's Triple Jump - Qualification                                      

4:40 a.m.     Women's 100m - Preliminaries                                  

5:15 a.m.     Women's Heptathlon - High Jump                                           

5:15 a.m.     Men's 400m Hurdles - Round 1                                 

5:20 a.m.     Men's Hammer Throw - Qualification                                     

6:00 a.m.     Women's 400m - Round 1                                           

7:00 a.m.     Men's Steeplechase - Round 1                                  

1:00 p.m.     Women's Heptathlon - Shot Put                                               

1:05 p.m.     Women's 100m - Round 1                                           

1:10 p.m.     Women's Discus Throw - Qualification                                   

1:50 p.m.     Men's Long Jump - Qualification                                               

2:05 p.m.     Men's 1500m - Round 1                                

2:30 p.m.     Men's Shot Put - Final                                   

2:45 p.m.     Women's Heptathlon - 200m                                     

3:25 p.m.     Women's 10,000m - Final                                             

Saturday, August 4

4:00 a.m.     Men's 100m - Preliminaries                                        

4:05 a.m.     Women's Heptathlon - Long Jump                                          

4:20 a.m.     Women's Pole Vault - Qualification                                         

4:35 a.m.     Men's 400m - Round 1                                  

5:35 a.m.     Women's Steeplechase - Round 1                                           

5:40 a.m.     Women's Heptathlon - Javelin Throw                                    

6:30 a.m.     Men's 100m - Round 1                                  

11:00 a.m.   Men's 20km walk                                            

1:00 p.m.     Men's 400m Hurdles - Semifinals                                             

1:30 p.m.     Women's Discus Throw - Final                                   

1:35 p.m.     Women's 100m - Semifinals                                       

1:35 p.m.     Women's 100m - Semifinals                                       

1:55 p.m.     Men's Long Jump - Final                                               

2:05 p.m.     Women's 400m - Semifinals                                       

2:35 p.m.    Women's Heptathlon - 800m                                     

3:15 p.m.    Men's 10,000m - Final                   

3:55 p.m.    Women's 100m - Final                                   

Sunday, August 5

5:00 a.m.     Women's Marathon                                      

1:00 p.m.     Women's 400m Hurdles - Round 1                                           

1:05 p.m.     Men's High Jump - Qualification                                               

1:35 p.m.     Women's Triple Jump - Final                                      

1:45 p.m.     Men's 100m - Semifinals                                              

2:15 p.m.     Men's 1500m - Semifinals                                            

2:20 p.m.     Men's Hammer Throw - Final                                     

2:40 p.m.     Men's 400m - Semifinals                                              

3:10 p.m.     Women's 400m - Final                                   

3:25 p.m.     Men's Steeplechase - Final                                         

3:50 p.m.     Men's 100m - Final                                         

Monday, August 6

4:00 a.m.     Men's Discus Throw - Qualification                                          

4:05 a.m.     Women's 100m Hurdles - Round 1                                           

4:37 a.m.     Women's 100m Hurdles - Final                                  

4:45 a.m.    Women's Shot Put - Qualification                                            

4:50 a.m.     Men's 800m - Round 1                                  

5:45 a.m.    Women's 1500m - Round 1                                         

1:00 p.m.     Women's Pole Vault - Final                                         

1:15 p.m.     Women's Shot Put - Final                                            

1:20 p.m.     Women's 200m - Round 1                                           

2:15 p.m.     Women's 400m Hurdles - Semifinals                                       

2:45 p.m.     Men's 400m Hurdles - Final                                         

3:05 p.m.     Women's Steeplechase - Final                                  

3:30 p.m.     Men's 400m - Final                                  

Tuesday, August 7

4:00 a.m.     Women's Javelin Throw - Qualification                                  

4:10 a.m.    Men's 110m Hurdles - Round 1                                 

4:45 a.m.    Men's Triple Jump - Qualification                                             

4:55 a.m.    Women's 5000m - Round 1                                         

5:50 a.m.    Men's 200m - Round 1                                  

1:00 p.m.     Men's High Jump - Final                                               

1:05 p.m.     Women's Long Jump - Qualification                                        

1:15 p.m.     Women's 100m Hurdles - Semifinals                                       

1:45 p.m.     Men's Discus Throw - Final                                          

1:55 p.m.     Men's 800m - Semifinals                                              

2:25 p.m.     Women's 200m - Semifinals                                       

3:00 p.m.     Women's 100m Hurdles - Final                                  

3:15 p.m.     Men's 1500m - Final                                       

Wednesday, August 8

3:00 a.m.     Men's Decathlon                                      

4:00 a.m.     Women's Hammer Throw - Qualification                                              

4:00 a.m.     Men's Pole Vault - Qualification                                

4:10 a.m.     Men's Decathlon - 100m                                              

4:45 a.m.     Men's 5000m - Round 1                                

5:10 a.m.     Men's Decathlon - Long Jump                                   

5:35 a.m.     Women's 800m - Round 1                                           

6:50 a.m.     Men's Decathlon - Shot Put                                        

12:00 p.m.   Men's Decathlon - High Jump                                    

1:05 p.m.     Men's Javelin Throw - Qualification                                         

1:15 p.m.     Men's 110m Hurdles - Semifinals                                             

1:45 p.m.     Women's 1500m - Final                                

1:45 p.m.     Women's 1500m - Semifinals                                     

2:05 p.m.     Women's Long Jump - Final                                        

2:10 p.m.     Men's 200m - Semifinals                                              

2:45 p.m.     Women's 400m Hurdles - Final                                  

3:00 p.m.     Women's 200m - Final                                   

3:15 p.m.     Men's 110m Hurdles - Final                                         

3:30 p.m.     Men's Decathlon - 400m                                        

Thursday, August 9

3:00 a.m.     Men's Decathlon - 110m Hurdles                                             

3:30 a.m.     Women's High Jump - Qualification                                         

3:55 a.m.     Men's Decathlon - Discus Throw                                              

5:35 a.m.     Men's 4x400m Relay - Round 1                                 

6:55 a.m.     Men's Decathlon - Pole Vault                                    

12:30 p.m.   Men's Decathlon - Javelin Throw                                             

1:20 p.m.     Men's Triple Jump - Final                                             

1:30 p.m.     Women's 800m - Semifinals                                       

2:00 p.m.     Men's 800m - Final                                         

2:20 p.m.     Women's 4x100m Relay - Round 1                                           

2:55 p.m.     Men's 200m - Final                                         

3:00 p.m.     Women's Javelin Throw - Final                                  

3:20 p.m.     Men's Decathlon - 1500m                        

Friday, August 10

1:00 p.m.     Men's Pole Vault - Final                                

1:10 p.m.     Women's 4x400m Relay - Round 1                                           

1:35 p.m.     Women's Hammer Throw - Final                                              

1:45 p.m.     Men's 4x100m Relay - Round 1                                 

2:05 p.m.     Women's 5000m - Final                                

2:40 p.m.     Women's 4x100m Relay - Final                                  

2:55 p.m.     Women's 1500m - Final                                

3:20 p.m.     Men's 4x400m Relay - Final                                         

Saturday, August 11

3:00 a.m.     Men's 50km walk                                            

11:00 a.m.   Women's 20km walk                                     

1:00 p.m.     Women's High Jump - Final                                         

1:20 p.m.     Men's Javelin Throw - Final                                         

1:30 p.m.     Men's 5000m - Final                                       

2:00 p.m.     Women's 800m - Final                                   

2:25 p.m.     Women's 4x400m Relay - Final                                  

3:00 p.m.     Men's 4x100m Relay - Final           

Sunday, August 12

5:00 a.m.     Men's Marathon