THE SIDELINES : Coe to Run 800 Meters in London

Sebastian Coe was named today to run the 800 meters at an international meet in London on Friday in what could be his last track appearance.

Coe, who will be 33 later this month, said last week that he would announce on Thursday whether he would extend his career to include next January’s Commonwealth Games in Auckland. There has been speculation that the double 1,500-meter Olympic champion and the man who has held the world record in the 800 meters since 1981 will retire to embark on a political career.

Coe on Friday will get his hoped-for rematch with his Abdi Bile, who beat him at the World Cup. Bile turned down an offer to race Coe at Crystal Palace and instead will run the mile.