Compiled by Globe Staff, 09/15/2000

100
WHEN: Sept. 23
US ENTRIES: Marion Jones, Inger Miller, Chryste Gaines
WHAT TO LOOK FOR: Jones hasn't lost a 100 final since late 1997. Barring a false start, here's where Mrs. Jones gets gold medal No. 1

200
WHEN: Sept. 28
US ENTRIES: Jones, Miller, Nanceen Perry
WHAT TO LOOK FOR: Miller is desperate to prove she would have beaten Jones in last year's world championships had Jones not gone down in the semi with back spasms, but she won't make her case here.

400
WHEN: Sept. 25
US ENTRIES: Latasha Colander-Richardson, Michelle Collins, Monique Hennagan
FAVORITES: 1. Cathy Freeman, Australia; 2. Fali Ogunkoya, Nigeria; 3. Ana Guevara, Mexico
RECORDS: World, Marita Koch, East Germany, 47.60; Olympic, Marie Jose-Perec, 48.25; US, Valerie Brisco, 48.83
WHAT TO LOOK FOR: There's enormous athletic, patriotic, and political pressure on Freeman, an Australian aborigine, but the '96 silver medalist should prevail. Perec, the two-time champion, has been ill with Epstein-Barr virus for much of the last four years and despite hooking up recently with Koch's old coach, is doubtful for the medal stand.

800
WHEN: Sept. 25
US ENTRIES: Hazel Clark, Jearl Miles Clark, Joetta Clark Diggs
FAVORITES: 1. Ludmila Formanova, Czech Republic; 2. Natalya Tsyganova, Russia, 3. Maria Mutola, Mozambique
RECORDS: World, Jarmila Kratochvilova, 1:53.28; Olympic, US, Miles Clark, 1:56.40
WHAT TO LOOK FOR: Mutola is always supposed to win major championships and seldom does, so the nod goes to hot-commodity Formanova. Miles Clark is the likeliest American to crack the top 10, and yes, they're all related.

1,500
WHEN: Sept. 30
US ENTRIES: Shayne Culpepper, Suzy Favor Hamilton, Marla Runyan
FAVORITES: 1. Svetlana Masterkova, Russia; 2. Gabriele Szabo, Romania; 3. Favor Hamilton
RECORDS: World, Qu Yunxia, China, 3.50.46; Olympic, Paula Ivan, Romania, 3.53.96; US, Mary Decker Slaney, 3.57.12
WHAT TO LOOK FOR:: With Regina Jacobs out, defending champion Masterkova becomes favorite to repeat.

5,000
WHEN: Sept. 25
US ENTRIES: Elva Dryer, Amy Rudolph, Anne Marie Lauck
FAVORITES: 1. Gabriela Szabo, Romania; 2. Ayelech Worku, Ethiopia; 3. Sonia O'Sullivan, Ireland
RECORDS: World, Jiang Bo, China, 14:28. 09; Olympic, XXXXXX,; US, Regina Jacobs, 14:52.49.
WHAT TO LOOK FOR: Szabo, who will probably go for a 1,500-5,000 double, is likely to prevail at the longer distance, although O'Sullivan will be trying hard to overcome the disappointment of coming up empty in Atlanta.

10,000
WHEN: Sat., Sept. 30
US ENTRIES: Deena Drossin, Jen Rhines, Libbie Hickman
FAVORITES: 1. Gete Wami, Ethiopia; 2. Paula Radcliffe, Great Britain; 3. Derartu Tulu, Ethiopia
RECORDS: World, Wang Junxia, China, 29:31.78; Olympic, Fernanda Ribeiro, Portugal, 31:01.63; US, Lynn Jennings, 31:19.89
WHAT TO LOOK FOR: Biggest question mark is how well Loroupe, known for remarkable recoveries, is able to bounce back from the marathon. For the US, Hickman and Drossin have been setting personal bests at shorter distances and one or the other could break into the top eight, though a medal would depend on a fairly slow pace.

MARATHON
WHEN: Sept. 24
US ENTRY: Christine Clark
FAVORITES: 1. Tegla Loroupe, Kenya; Eri Yamaguchi, Japan; Lidia Simon, Romania
RECORDS: World, Loroupe, 2:20:43; Olympic, Joan Benoit, US, 2:24:52; US, Benoit, 2:21:21
WHAT TO LOOK FOR: Cooler-than-usual Olympic weather plays into speedster Loroupe's hands, but the hills don't: the Kenyan sensation prefers flat courses. If race unfolds more slowly and strategically, look for three-time Boston Marathon and defending Olympic champ Fatuma Roba to join the mix. It's still Loroupe's race to lose, but with plans to double at 10,000 meters beginning three days later, she can be forgiven for dropping out if she's not in contention at 20 miles.

100 HURDLES
WHEN: Sept. 27
US ENTRIES: Gail Devers, Melissa Morrison, Sharon Jewell
FAVORITES: 1. Devers; 2. Glory Alozie, Nigeria; Morrison
RECORDS: World, Yordanka Donkova, Bulgaria, 12.21; Olympic, Donkova, 12.38; US, Devers, 12.33
WHAT TO LOOK FOR: Devers, two-time Olympic champ at 100 meters, didn't make the US team this time in that event and it's just as well: she's been hurdling better than ever and will have a clear shot at finally winning hurdles gold without the sprint distraction.

400 HURDLES
WHEN: Sept. 27
US ENTRIES: Sandra Glover, Kim Batten, Tonja Buford-Bailey
FAVORITES: 1. Glover; 2. Irina Privalova, Russia; 3: Nezha Bidouane, Morocco
RECORDS: World, Batten, 52.61; Olympic, Deon Hemmings, Jamaica, 52.82; US, Batten, 52.61
WHAT TO LOOK FOR: Privalova, the 1992 100-meter bronze medalist, is the mystery. A recent convert to the hurdles, she has the raw speed to win if she can muster enough technique to avoid bashing the barriers.

20K WALK
WHEN: Sept. 28
US ENTRIES: Michelle Rohl, Yueling Chen, Debbi Lawrence
FAVORITES: 1. Liu Hongyu, China; 2. Wang Yan, China; 3. Kerry Saxby-Junna, Austria
RECORDS: World, Olimpiada Ivanova, Russia, 1:26:48; Olympic, none (new event); US, Rohl, 1:31:51
WHAT TO LOOK FOR: The favorites went 1-2-3 at last year's world championships so are as good a bet as any, especially Liu, Hongyu, but there are a couple of Russians and Italians who could change things. Yueling Chen,????? now an American citizen who recently received permission from China to compete for the US, won the (discontinued) 10K walk gold medal in 1992.

HEPTATHLON
WHEN: Sept. 24
US ENTRIES: DeDee Nathan, Shelia Burrell, (BOTH FIRST NAMES cq) Kelly Blair-LaBounty
FAVORITES: 1. Denise Lewis, Great Britain; 2. Eunice Barber, France; 3. Sabine Braun, Germany
RECORDS: World, Jackie Joyner-Kersee, 7,291 points; Olympic, Joyner-Kersee, 7,291; US, Joyner-Kersee, 7,291
WHAT TO LOOK FOR: Defending champion Ghada Shouaa of Syria has competed little since 1996 owing to a bad back; worse, Barber pulled out of a Labor Day-weekend 100 meters with a bad thigh, jeopardizing what should have been a great battle between Barber and Lewis. for the gold.

TRIPLE JUMP
WHEN: Sept. 24
US ENTRY: Nicole Gamble
FAVORITES: 1. Iva Prandzheva, Bulgaria; 2. Tatyana Lebedyeva, Russia; 3. Cristina Nicolau, Romania
RECORDS: World, Inessa Kravets, Ukraine, 50 feet 10 inches; Olympic, Kravets, 50-3; US, Sheila Hudson, 47 3
WHAT TO LOOK FOR: Injuries have taken a toll on top competitors the past couple of years, leaving the picks for gold and silver the class of the field.

POLE VAULT
WHEN: Sept. 25
US ENTRIES: Stacy Dragila, Kellie Suttle, Mel Mueller
FAVORITES: 1. Dragila; 2. Anzhela Balakhonova, Ukraine; 3. Suttle
RECORDS: World, Dragila, 15 feet 2 inches; Olympic, none (new event); US, Dragila, 15-2. WHAT TO LOOK FOR: Making its Olympic debut, women's pole vault is already among the hottest events in the sport. Part of that is thanks to the tireless efforts of Dragila to promote the discipline; her hard work and talent should pay off in the first-ever gold medal. But Balakhonova pushed her to the brink at last year's world championships, so the contest could be gripping. Home-country favorite Emma George, who was Dragila before Dragila, will be there but unlikely to contend.

DISCUS
WHEN: Sept. 27
US ENTRIES: Seilala Sua, Suzy Powell, Kristin Kuehl
FAVORITES: Nicoletta Grasu, Romania; Franka Dietzsch, Germany; Natalya Sadova, Russia
RECORDS: World, Gabriele Reinsch, East Germany, 252 feet; Olympic, Martina Hellmann, East Germany, 237-2; US, Carol Cady, 216-10.
WHAT TO LOOK FOR: Sua has chance of becoming first American since 1984 to break into the top eight, but will need a big American record to do it.

SHOT PUT
WHEN: Sept. 28
US ENTRIES: Connie Price-Smith, Jesseca cqCross, Teri Tunks
FAVORITES: 1. Astrid Kumbernuss, Germany; Svetlana Krivelyova, Russia; Larisa Peleshenko, Russia
RECORDS: World, Natalya Lisovskaya, Soviet Union, 74 feet 3 inches; Olympic, Ilona Briesenick, East Germany, 73-6; US, Ramona Pagel, 66-2
WHAT TO LOOK FOR: There hasn't been a US medalist in 40 years and almost certainly won't be this time, either, although four-time Olympian Price-Smith has the best US shot of breaking into the top eight.

HAMMER
WHEN: Sept. 29
US ENTRIES: Dawn Ellerbe, Amy Palmer, Jesseca Cross
FAVORITES: 1. Mihaela Melinte, Romania; 2. Olga Kyzenkova, Russia; 3. Ellerbe
RECORDS: World, Melinte, 249 feet 7 inches; Olympic, none (new event); US, Ellerbe, 231-2
WHAT TO LOOK FOR: A battle between Melinte and Kyzenkova. Beyond that, the bronze is up for grabs and Ellerbe could be in the hunt.

LONG JUMP
WHEN: Sept. 29
US ENTRIES: Marion Jones, Dawn Burrell, Shana Williams
FAVORITES: 1. Fiona May, Italy; 2. Tatyana Kotova, Russia; 3. Jones
RECORDS: World, Galina Chistyakova, Soviet Union, 24 feet 8 inches; Olympic, Jackie Joyner-Kersee, 24-3 US, Joyner-Kersee, 24-7
WHAT TO LOOK FOR: Sorry, everyone. As consistent as she is in the sprints, that's how erratic Jones is in this event. While capable of uncorking the jump of her life, and unlikely to be swayed by the pressure, Jones hasn't been jumping all that well this year and is up against the best in May and a surging up-and-comer in Kotova. Tally so far: Two gold, one bronze, two events remaining, the Strive for Five over.

HIGH JUMP
WHEN: Sept. 30
US ENTRIES: Karol Damon, Erin Aldrich, Amy Acuff
FAVORITES: 1. Inga Babakova, Ukraine; Hestrie Cloete, South Africa; 3. Yelena Yelesina, Russia
RECORDS: World, Stefka Kostadinova, Bulgaria, 6 feet 10 inches; Olympic, Kostadinova, 6-8; US, Louise Ritter, 6-8
WHAT TO LOOK FOR: Not much from the US this time around. Keep an eye open for Dora Gyoffry, the Harvard jumper competing for Hungary.

4 x 100 RELAY
WHEN: Sat., Sept. 30
US ENTRIES: Marion Jones, Inger Miller, Gail Devers, Chryste Gaines, Carlette Guidry, Tori Edwards, Nanceen Perry
FAVORITES: 1. US; 2. Bahamas; 3. Jamaica
WHAT TO LOOK FOR: US will be going after its fifth straight gold, and with the baton practice it's already taken added to its speed, should succeed. Jones anchors way to third gold medal.

4 x 400 RELAY
WHEN: Sat., Sept. 30
US ENTRIES: Jearl Miles Clark, Marion Jones, Latasha Colander-Richardson, Michelle Collins, Monique Henderson, Monique Hennagan, Mikele Barber, Andrea Anderson
FAVORITES: 1. US; 2. Russia; 3. Nigeria
RECORDS: World, Soviet Union, 3:15.17; Olympic, Soviet Union, 3:15.17; US,3:15.51
WHAT TO LOOK FOR: Perhaps the toughest women's event to call. Deep Russian squad could beat the US as easily as the other way around, and the Nigerians could be tough, but if Jones - who has run the distance only once this year because she hates it, but is the second-fastest woman in the world for 2000 behind Cathy Freeman - is anchoring with a fifth gold on the line, you want to bet against her?

JAVELIN
WHEN: Sat., Sept. 30
US ENTRIES: Lynda Blutreich (only US qualifier)
FAVORITES: 1. Trine Hattestad, Norway; 2. Osleidys Menendez, Cuba; 3. Tatyana Shikolenko, Russia
RECORDS: World, Hattestad, 227 feet, 11 inches; Olympic, none (new style of javelin as of 1999 erased records); US, Blutreich, 192-3
WHAT TO LOOK FOR: The joyous Hattestad looks unstoppable. Blutreich, who as Lynda Lipson grew up in Lynn and excelled in softball for Bishop Fenwick, needs a miracle to make the final.