(Left: Usain Bolt, Right: Yohan Blake)
What a toss up. That's the feeling I get when I think about the men sprinting events. Each event has multiple potential winners and great stories behind each of them.
100 Meter Dash
This has always been the main event of the Olympics. Who is the world's fastest human? In the past the world title was dominated by the US. With the recent development of Jamaican sprint stars there has been a strong challenge against that. Usain Bolt, Yohan Blake and Asafa Powell could complete an American sweep. The US does not have as much depth as they did in the past. Justin Gatlin and Tyson Gay will have to carry the torch for Team USA, youngster Ryan Bailey does not have the top end speed to keep up with the talented core of Jamaicans. Also competing in the race is Richard Thompson and Keston Bledman of Trinidad and Tobago.
Bolt has looked more human in the past two seasons compared to 2008 and 2009 when he set the world on fire with his rip roaring speed. Yohan Blake is the next in line for Jamaica and seems to have better habits than that of his country men. He has been more focused and is out to prove that his win over Usain Bolt at the Olympic Trials was not a fluke. Justin Gatlin is also a guy to keep an eye on, Gatlin won the 2004 Olympic Gold Medal his 9.80 at the US Olympic Trials was nothing to sneeze at especially since it cold and wet that night. Bolt will still enter as the heavy favorite but there are plenty of others in the race that can defeat him.
200 Meter Dash
Compared to last season the times have been a little bit pedestrian. The current top time is 19.80 ran by Blake. This event in my opinion maybe the most open event yet.
Without Justin Gatlin, Tyson Gay and Walter Dix the US is very thin in event and have only one true athlete capable of earning a medal. Wallace Spearmon who has been on the American sprint scene since 2005 with his 20.10 indoor world record. In 2004 he finished 2nd behind Usain Bolt but was disqualified for stepping outside his lane. Spearmon has been on a path for a redemption and has generated some positive marks this season. His 19.82 ran the US Olympic Trials was barely wind-aided and would have converted to 19.83 without the wind. Blake is the favorite in this event and has not lost to anyone all year, it will take a season's best to defeat a charging Usain Bolt and upset minded Wallace Spearmon.
400 Meter Dash
My personal favorite event. The US hopes to continue the winning streak in this event that has lasted since 1984 took a serious hit. At a meet prior to the Olympic Games defending champion Lashawn Merritt slightly tweaked his hamstring. Merritt believes he will be ready for the Olympics but a hamstring issue is not an injury you can return from quickly.
NCAA Champion Tony McQuay will have to carry the flag for team USA. Teammate Bryshon Nellum is a long shot to medal and Kirani James the defending World Champion just became the heavy favorite to win it all. Another young talent Luguelin Santos from the Dominican Republic has the second best time behind Merritt. It looks as if the US dominance in the 400 is in serious jeopardy.
110 Meter Hurdles
Aries Merritt has been the world's most consistent hurdler this season. Merritt claimed the 2012 World Indoor Title and has beaten Liu Xiang of China and Dayron Robles of Cuba. Xiang and Robles have dominated the event in recent years but with Merritt's 12.93 performance three times this season, he may be the man to beat. Fellow US teammate Jason Richardson claimed the World Championship title last summer in Daegu and has also dipped under 13 seconds this season.
400 Meter Hurdles
In this event it is quite possible that Angelo Taylor could win his third Olympic Gold Medal. He will face a strong challenge from the hometown hero in and defending World Champion in David Greene and this years number one performer Javier Culson of Puerto Rico. Culson has been on fire this season but will see the best of Taylor, Greene and the talented 2009 World Champion Kerron Clement.
Clement has been seriously underrated. After having multiple surgeries and injuries he has been out of the world scene as of late. He returned back to his coach Mike Holloway, the man who coached him to an indoor world record in the open 400 meters back at the University of Florida. His personal best of 47.24 puts who amongst the best ever but a gold medal is seriously needed in his legacy. Clement made the Olympic team by hundredths of a second but do not count him out of contention just yet.
4x100 and 4x400 Relay
This will be US vs Jamaica as was always meant to be. Jamaica has dominated the US since 2008 and does not appear to be looking back. Jamaica currently has the world's best time and will be looking to run 36 seconds and set a new world record, but without Asafa Powell there chances of winning are severely dim.
In the 4x400 relay the US is heavy favorites as usual with a solid core of athletes are capable of running sub 45 and some capable of running sub 44. The final two medal positions are currently up for grabs between Cuba, Trinidad and Tobago, Bahamas, host Great Britain and South Africa. This race will require all four legs of Team USA to split a personal best to continue the streak.
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