Olympic Track and Field 2012: Analyzing Favorites of Saturday's Top Events

Here we are, with the athletics events off and running in the 2012 London Olympics, and there will be several fantastic athletes gunning for gold on Saturday.

Whether you are a fan of the sprints, the long-distance competitions or women's discus throw, it's all here for you on Saturday in London.

Let's take a look at the favorites for each top event on Day 8 of the 2012 London Olympics.

Note: Favorites according to Bovada

Women's Discus Throw

Sandra Perkovic, Croatia

Sandra Perkovic became the youngest European champion in women's discus throw in 2010, but was suspended in June 2011 for testing positive for performance-enhancing drugs.

Despite testing negative in the women's discus throw that month, her mark of 69.99 meters was erased, which would have been the best mark in the last 12 years in the event.

Perkovic bounced back this year, however, capturing gold in the event in the 2012 Helsinki European Championships. 

Men's Long Jump

Mitchell Watt, Australia

Mitchell Watt has soared since appeared in his first major championship in the 2009 World Championships.

Watt finished in third place in that event and he's gone on to win a bronze in the 2010 World Indoor Championships and a silver in the 2011 World Championships.

He finished the 2011 season with four of the top five long jumps in the world.

Women's Heptathlon 800m

Jessica Ennis, Great Britain

Jessica Ennis won the gold medal in the heptathlon in the 2010 European Championships and the 2011 World Championships.

In the 2012 London Olympics, Ennis has placed first in the 100-meter hurdles (setting a British record) and the 200 meters in the event.

With an entire country on her side, look for Ennis to capture the 800 meters when all is said and done.

Men's 10,000m

Mo Farah, Great Britain

Great Britain isn't going to catch the United States and China in total Olympic medals this year, but the country sure has some contenders in track & field.

Beyond Ennis, Great Britain also has Mo Farah, who is largely favored in the men's 10,000 meters.

Farah not only won the gold medal and silver medal in the 5,000 meters and 10,000 meters respectively in the 2011 World Championships, he won gold in the 10,000 meters in the 2010 European Championships.

Women's 100m

Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce, Jamaica

The reigning Olympic champion in the women's 100 meters, Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce also won the 100 meters in the 2009 World Championships.

Fraser-Pryce is back for more in 2012, ready to contend with a strong field, and she won her heat in 11 seconds flat.

Get ready for some fireworks on Saturday between Fraser-Pryce and U.S. star Carmelita Jeter.

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