Olympic Track and Field 2012 Schedule: Event Listings, TV Coverage & More

Often considered the premier sport of the Summer Olympics, the track and field events are set to get under way, and the schedule is certainly jam-packed in London. Countless races and field disciplines will be contested, so every Olympic fan is going to get their fill of track and field by the time London 2012 comes to an end.

The Americans are typically dominant as far as track and field goes, but the Jamaicans will obviously be worth watching in the speed events, and China has put together a competitive overall team as well. The possible story lines are essentially endless due to the wide array of competitions, and that should make for some interesting viewing.

Here is your complete guide to following all of the track and field action, including a full event listing, television viewing times and athletes to look out for in London.

Where: Olympic Stadium in London, England

When: Friday, Aug. 3 - Sunday, Aug. 12

Watch: NBC, MSNBC, NBC Sports Network

Live Stream: NBCOlympics.com

Event Listing/TV Viewing (all times ET)

Friday, Aug. 3

5 a.m.      Men's Shot Put - Qualification                                

5:05 a.m. Women's Heptathlon                                               

5:05 a.m. Women's Heptathlon - 100m Hurdles                     

5:25 a.m. Women's Triple Jump - Qualification                      

5:29 a.m. Women's Heptathlon - 100m Hurdles                     

5:40 a.m. Women's 100m - Preliminaries                               

6:15 a.m. Women's Heptathlon - High Jump                                           

6:15 a.m. Men's 400m Hurdles - Round 1                              

6:20 a.m. Men's Hammer Throw - Qualification                     

6:50 a.m. Men's 400m Hurdles - Round 1                                              

7 a.m.      Women's 400m - Round 1                                      

8 a.m.      Men's Steeplechase - Round 1                                

2 p.m.      Women's Heptathlon - Shot Put                                              

2:05 p.m. Women's 100m - Round 1                                      

2:10 p.m. Women's Discus Throw - Qualification                                  

2:50 p.m. Men's Long Jump - Qualification                            

3:05 p.m. Men's 1500m - Round 1                         

3:30 p.m. Men's Shot Put - Final                                             

3:45 p.m. Women's Heptathlon - 200m                                  

4:13 p.m. Women's Heptathlon - 200m                  

4:25 p.m. Women's 10,000m - Final

*Can be viewed 10 a.m. - 10:30 a.m. (NBC), 11:30 a.m. - 12 p.m. (NBC), 4:25 p.m. - 5 p.m. (NBC), 8 p.m. - 12 a.m. (NBC tape delay)

Saturday, Aug. 4

5 a.m.      Men's 100m - Preliminaries                                    

5:05 a.m. Women's Heptathlon - Long Jump                                          

5:20 a.m. Women's Pole Vault - Qualification                                        

5:35 a.m. Men's 400m - Round 1                                           

6:35 a.m. Women's Steeplechase - Round 1                                           

6:40 a.m. Women's Heptathlon - Javelin Throw                                     

7:30 a.m. Men's 100m - Round 1                                           

12 p.m.    Men's 20km walk                                   

2 p.m.      Men's 400m Hurdles - Semifinals                                           

2:30 p.m. Women's Discus Throw - Final                                               

2:35 p.m. Women's 100m - Semifinals                                   

2:55 p.m. Men's Long Jump - Final                                        

3:05 p.m. Women's 400m - Semifinals                                   

3:35 p.m. Women's Heptathlon - 800m                                  

4:15 p.m. Men's 10,000m - Final                                            

4:55 p.m. Women's 100m - Final

*Can be viewed 11:15 a.m. - 11:45 a.m. (NBC), 1:30 p.m. - 2 p.m. (NBC), 4:15 p.m. - 5 p.m. (NBC), 4:45 p.m. - 6 p.m. (MSNBC), 8 p.m. - 12 a.m. (NBC tape delay)

Sunday, Aug. 5

6 a.m.      Women's Marathon                                 

2 p.m.      Women's 400m Hurdles - Round 1                                         

2:05 p.m. Men's High Jump - Qualification                                             

2:35 p.m. Women's Triple Jump - Final                                  

2:45 p.m. Men's 100m - Semifinals                                        

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

3:20 p.m. Men's Hammer Throw - Final                                 

3:40 p.m. Men's 400m - Semifinals                                        

4:10 p.m. Women's 400m - Final                                            

4:25 p.m. Men's Steeplechase - Final                                      

4:50 p.m. Men's 100m - Final

*Can be viewed 6 a.m. - 9 a.m. (NBC), 7 p.m. - 12 a.m. (NBC tape delay)

Monday, Aug. 6

5 a.m.      Men's Discus Throw - Qualification                                       

5:05 a.m. Women's 100m Hurdles - Round 1                                         

5:45 a.m. Women's Shot Put - Qualification                                           

5:50 a.m. Men's 800m - Round 1                                           

6:45 a.m. Women's 1500m - Round 1                                    

2:00 p.m. Women's Pole Vault - Final                                     

2:15 p.m. Women's Shot Put - Final                                        

2:20 p.m. Women's 200m - Round 1                                      

3:15 p.m. Women's 400m Hurdles - Semifinals                                      

3:45 p.m. Men's 400m Hurdles – Final

4:05 p.m. Women's Steeplechase - Final                                 

4:30 p.m. Men's 400m - Final

*Can be viewed 10 a.m. - 10:30 a.m. (NBC), 1:15 p.m. - 1:45 p.m. (NBC), 4:30 p.m. - 5 p.m. (NBC), 8 p.m. - 12 a.m. (NBC tape delay) 

Tuesday, Aug. 7

5 a.m.      Women's Javelin Throw - Qualification                                  

5:10 a.m. Men's 110m Hurdles - Round 1                                              

5:45 a.m. Men's Triple Jump - Qualification                                           

5:55 a.m. Women's 5000m - Round 1                                    

6:50 a.m. Men's 200m - Round 1                                           

2 p.m.      Men's High Jump - Final                                         

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

2:15 p.m. Women's 100m Hurdles - Semifinals                                      

2:45 p.m. Men's Discus Throw - Final                                    

2:55 p.m. Men's 800m - Semifinals                                        

3:25 p.m. Women's 200m - Semifinals                                   

4 p.m.      Women's 100m Hurdles - Final                                              

4:15 p.m. Men's 1500m - Final

*Can be viewed 10 a.m. - 10:30 a.m. (NBC), 11:45 a.m., 12 p.m. (NBC), 12:30 p.m. - 1 p.m. (NBC), 8 p.m. - 12 a.m. (NBC tape delay)

Wednesday, Aug. 8

4 a.m.      Men's Decathlon                                     

5 a.m.      Women's Hammer Throw - Qualification                                

5 a.m.      Men's Pole Vault - Qualification                                             

5:10 a.m. Men's Decathlon - 100m                                         

5:45 a.m. Men's 5000m - Round 1                                         

6:10 a.m. Men's Decathlon - Long Jump                                

6:35 a.m. Women's 800m - Round 1                                      

7:50 a.m. Men's Decathlon - Shot Put                                     

1 p.m.      Men's Decathlon - High Jump                                 

2:05 p.m. Men's Javelin Throw - Qualification                                       

2:15 p.m. Men's 110m Hurdles - Semifinals                                           

2:45 p.m. Women's 1500m - Final                                          

2:45 p.m. Women's 1500m - Semifinals                                 

3:05 p.m. Women's Long Jump - Final                                   

3:10 p.m. Men's 200m - Semifinals                                        

3:45 p.m. Women's 400m Hurdles - Final                                              

4:00 p.m. Women's 200m - Final                                            

4:15 p.m. Men's 110m Hurdles - Final                                   

4:30 p.m. Men's Decathlon - 400m

*Can be viewed 10:45 a.m. - 11 a.m. (NBC), 1:15 p.m. - 2 p.m. (NBC), 4:30 p.m. - 5 p.m. (NBC), 8 p.m. - 11:05 p.m. (NBC tape delay)

Thursday, Aug. 9

4 a.m.      Men's Decathlon - 110m Hurdles                                           

4:30 a.m. Women's High Jump - Qualification                                        

4:55 a.m. Men's Decathlon - Discus Throw                                            

6:35 a.m. Men's 4x400m Relay - Round 1                                             

7:55 a.m. Men's Decathlon - Pole Vault                                  

1:30 p.m. Men's Decathlon - Javelin Throw                                            

2:20 p.m. Men's Triple Jump - Final                                       

2:30 p.m. Women's 800m - Semifinals                                   

3 p.m.      Men's 800m - Final                                 

3:20 p.m. Women's 4x100m Relay - Round 1                                        

3:55 p.m. Men's 200m - Final                                 

4 p.m.      Women's Javelin Throw - Final                                               

4:20 p.m. Men's Decathlon - 1500m

*Can be viewed 12 p.m. - 12:45 p.m. (NBC), 8 p.m. - 12 a.m. (NBC tape delay)

Friday, Aug. 10

2 p.m.      Men's Pole Vault - Final                                          

2:10 p.m. Women's 4x400m Relay - Round 1                                        

2:35 p.m. Women's Hammer Throw - Final                                            

2:45 p.m. Men's 4x100m Relay - Round 1                                             

3:05 p.m. Women's 5000m - Final                                          

3:40 p.m. Women's 4x100m Relay - Final                                              

3:55 p.m. Women's 1500m - Final                                          

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

*Can be viewed 8 p.m. - 12 a.m. (NBC tape delay)

Saturday, Aug. 11

4 a.m.      Men's 50km walk                                   

12 p.m.    Women's 20km walk                                              

2 p.m.      Women's High Jump - Final                                    

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

2:30 p.m. Men's 5000m - Final                                               

3 p.m.      Women's 800m - Final                                            

3:25 p.m. Women's 4x400m Relay - Final                                              

4 p.m.      Men's 4x100m Relay - Final

*Can be viewed 4 a.m. - 8 a.m. (NBC Sports Network), 12 p.m. - 2 p.m. (NBC Sports Network), 8 p.m. - 12 a.m. (NBC tape delay)

Sunday, Aug. 12

6 a.m.      Men's Marathon

*Can be viewed 6 a.m. - 9 a.m. (NBC)

Athletes to Watch

Usain Bolt

As was the case in Beijing, Jamaican sprinter Usain Bolt is sure to be the main focus of the track and field events. Bolt was a triple gold winner in 2008 and will try to turn the trick again in 2012 as he will compete in the 100-meter dash, 200-meter dash and 4x100-meter relay.

Bolt was absolutely dominant in Beijing and didn't have to necessarily put forth his best effort to win, but he will likely need to be better and more focused in London.

Bolt faces a tough test from countryman Yohan Blake in 100-meter and 200-meter events, as well as rejuvenated American Tyson Gay in the 100. The Americans will also send out a strong team in the relay, so it isn't inconceivable to think that Bolt could be shut out in terms of golds.

It will be extremely intriguing to watch and could be the headline of the entire Olympic Games.

Ashton Eaton

Defending Olympic decathlon gold medalist Bryan Clay failed to qualify for the London Games as American teammate Ashton Eaton set a world record at the U.S. trials.

Eaton will have a chance to win gold in what has been a signature event for Team USA over the years. Eaton is a heavy favorite to win the competition, but nothing is for certain in the Olympics.

He will face plenty of stiff competition from across the globe, but if Eaton wins, then he will have earned the title of world's greatest athlete.

Perhaps the decathlon isn't as glamorous as it was when Bruce Jenner won gold in 1976, but it is probably the most grueling competition that will be contested in London, and Eaton is the one in driver's seat.

Lolo Jones

American Lolo Jones entered Beijing as the favorite to win gold in the 100-meter hurdles, but she clipped a hurdle late while leading and failed to reach the podium. She has suffered through injuries since then but bounced back and managed to qualify for London.

This may be the last Olympic shot for the 29-year-old Jones, and while two American teammates are actually favored to fare better than her, she has the will and desire to thrive.

After what happened in Beijing, I have to believe that a medal of any color would be of great consolation to Jones. She is one of the most interesting and popular athletes in these Olympic Games, so there will be many fans cheering her on.

Winning an Olympic medal would be a great payoff for her, but just being in London has to make her feel validated after going through so much.

Follow @MikeChiari on Twitter