(Allyson Felix looking to win Olympic 200 Gold)
(SI Photo)
It is finally here. The Olympic Games 2012 in London. Every four years the sport of track and field is on display in the greatest athletic competition in the world. For the sport of track and field this meet is where legends are made. This when we saw Flo-Jo, Evelyn Ashford, Michael Johnson, Carl Lewis, Hicham El-Geroug, Maria Mutola, Quincy Watts, Maurice Greene, Usain Bolt, Merlene Ottey, Gail Devers and countless others. This is the opportunity to permanently right yourself into the history books. The past few World Championships has helped to fuel a highly competitive meet.
100 Meter Hurdles
This event is one of my favorite events to watch female athletes. Solid technique is required to become a champion in this event however unlike the men this event requires serious speed from the women. Very few female hurdlers have been able to win this event on the Olympic Games level without world class sprint speed.
In 2008 Dawn Harper of the United States shockingly upset the favorite LoLo Jones to win the event in 12.54. Jones race ended in heartbreak after being the leader of every hurdle then clipping the final hurdle to stumble to 7th. Harper has yet to claim the world number 1 ranking since her gold medal in Beijing 2008, but she has been able to medal at the world championships. Last season in Daegu she earned a bronze medal clocking in at 12.47 her personal best. This season Harper is a candidate for the Olympic Gold medal buy winning the U.S Olympic Trials title. Nonetheless Sally Pearson of Australia is the one to beat.
In 2008 Pearson a young 22 year-old finished second by Harper to earn the silver medal. In 2011 Pearson took the world number 1 ranking from LoLo Jones and did not slow down. At the World Championships in Daegu the star clocked in at 12.28, the fourth fastest time in world history and better than the American record of 12.33 set by Gail Devers in 2000.
100 Meter Dash
As expected the queen of the sprint world will likely be decided by the two dominant sprint powers of the world, USA and Jamaica. After a jaw-dropping sweep in the women's 100 meter's in 2008 Jamaica's sprint queen Shelly Ann Fraser-Pryce returns. Pryce set a Jamaican record clocking in at 10.70 at the Jamaican Olympic Trials. The always consistent Veronica Campbell-Brown of Jamaica continued her world class consistency in the 100 meter dash finishing second and would like to avenge herself after missing the team in 2008.
Although Campbell-Brown has been the most consistent sprinter at every World Championships including a gold medal at the Indoor World Championships this year she seems to be out of it for the gold. The race is expected to come between Carmelita Jeter of the United States and Pryce. No other American female sprinter can keep up with Jeter, Pryce or Campbell-Brown. Still, you should not count out Campbell-Brown she is always capable of great performances.
200 Meter Dash
Allyson Felix of the United States and Campbell-Brown of Jamaica have dominated this event together since 2004. No other female sprinter has won either the World Championships in 2005, 2007, 2009, 2011 or the Olympic Games in 2004 and 2008 besides those two. Felix owning three world titles in '05,'07' and '09 while Campbell-Brown has the titles for the previous two Olympic Games and the World Championships in 2011.
At the Olympic Trials Felix proved this may finally be her time to win the Gold medal away from Campbell-Brown. Felix ran a very strong race that ended with a new trials record time of 21.68. Felix's time is the fastest time ran at this distance since 1997 when Marion Jones ran 21.65. No other female athlete has been under 22 seconds this season. Campbell-Brown barely made the Jamaican team, Pryce is new to the event and Jeter does not have the strength to finish. This event has Allyson Felix all over it.
400 Meter Dash
Sanya Richards-Ross of the United States has been the most famous female 400 meter runner since Ana Guevara of Mexico. Like Guevara, Ross is lacking an individual gold medal. Due to a string of injuries she has not been able to completely put together a healthy season. In 2009 she earned her first individual title clocking in at 49.00, just 0.30 seconds shy of her American record 48.70. In 2011 she was returning from a injury plagued 2010 season, Ross had her moments but was unable to medal at the World Championships.
This season however, those injuries seem like a distance memory. Her time of 49.28 at the U.S. Olympic Trials reminded us of the Sanya Richards-Ross of old. With only one defeat to her name Ross seems in prime position to finally earn an Olympic Gold Medal individually. Her prime competition will come from 2011 World Champion Amantle Montsho of Botswana, Novlene Williams of Jamaica and world number 1 of Antonina Krivoshapka of Russia.
400 Meter Hurldes
Melaine Walker of Jamaica and Lashinda Demus of the U.S. have been rivals for many years. Both had phenomenal high school seasons, collegiate seasons and now professional seasons. Walker is the defending Olympic Champion but has been behind a surging Demus in recent years. Last season capped off Demus's best season in her history. Setting an American record with 52.47, the third fastest time in history. Walker will need a personal best to beat Demus and claim the gold.
4x100 Relay
This is event was once dominated by the United States. In 2000 the Bahamas changed all that. The Golden girls upset the strong US team with phenomenal passing and a strong anchor in Debbie Ferguson. The US has not won the Olympic Gold medal since 1996. This has all been due to poor exchanges. This year we hope to be different after being disqualified in 2008 due to a dropped baton.
Jamaica has perhaps the best group of sprinters in Kerron Stewart, Sherone Simpson, Pryce and Campbell-Brown. The US should provide a challenge with Tianna Madison, Felix, Jeter and Jeneba Tarmoh. However the recent mishap in Monaco should serve as a warning that they need to practice more.
4x400 Relay
I really wish I could say that the US are the favorites but they are not. The usually consistent Russians are the clear favorites to win this event. Russia has three current female athletes running under 50 seconds. No other country in the world can say that. They have very solid core of 400 runners that includes a few athletes who run at the 50 second level. Other than Ross the only female athlete from the US with a personal best under 50 seconds in DeeDee Trotter. This event will be a challenge like in 2008. The US is counting on a strong relay leg from Allyson Felix and youngster Francena McCrory.
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