Rojo's Roundup: Track and Field World Championships

Next weekend's IAAF Outdoor Track and Field World Championships in Berlin are rivaled only by the Summer Olympics in pageantry, passion and global interest. In the final days before such an event, many stories are unfolding.

This edition of Rojo's Roundup features several items pertaining to those very World Championships.

Here's a comprehensive look at each event, previewing the expected finalists with the stories behind the stories:
http://berlin.iaaf.org/news/kind=109/index.html

An American's perspective on which events will shape the future of a USA squad trying to find its way back to prominence on the world stage:

http://theviewfromthefinishline.blogspot.com/2009/08/ten-american-stories-to-watch-in-berlin.html 

The latest Usain Bolt/Tyson Gay hype:
http://news.theage.com.au/breaking-news-sport/bolt-gay-set-for-berlin-showdown-20090810-eevc.html

"It's unusual for me to lose, and I don't know how to come second." Those are the words of Russian vault queen Yelena Isinbayeva after a rare second-place finish at the recent London Gran Prix. She's out to prove it was just a fluke.
http://www.timesofoman.com/innercat.asp?detail=27159

A look back at the origins of the IAAF World Championships:
http://www.earthtimes.org/articles/show/280777,athletics-worlds-moves-on-from-pioneers-lewis-and-bubka

In addition to the tribute Berlin will pay to Jesse Owens, Team USA will honor the hero of the 1936 Summer Olympics with a special patch on their uniforms:
http://www.shannonrowbury.com/blog/

Remember...NBC and Versus will televise the World Championships. Check local listings.