U.S.A
100 METER DASH (MEN and WOMEN)
The women of the United States claimed their first 100 meter gold medal in the World Championship since 2005 when then Lauryn Williams claimed the title. Carmelita Jeter stormed the track to a victory in a time of 10.90 into a headwind. Jeter will remain the American and World favorite to claim the Olympic gold medal. Other American sprinters such as Marshevet Myers and Williams will add to the country's depth. Veronica Campell-Brown and defending Olympic gold medalist Shelly Ann Fraser of Jamaica represent a strong contingent from their country.
The future for the American women in this event is very bright as well. Young trackstar Octavius Freeman is a name many Americans know because of her 11.16 performance as junior into a headwind. Legally that could have been a sub 11 second performance. Expect that from her this outdoor season as she looks to add to a strong Central Florida University track team.
The men have some work to do. Jamaica has a strong change with all athletes healthy to possibly sweep the 100 meters with American Tyson Gay in the field. I strongly doubt that it will happen but the Americans no longer enter into this event as the favorite. Jamaicans Usain Bolt, Yohan Blake and Asafa Powell have taken the event by the throat. American Walter Dix is one of the better championship performers performing well at major championships. Expect for Dix to contend for a podium spot, it may just not be the top spot. Gay may give the Jamaicans a real run since he is the last person to have beaten Bolt.
The future looks bright for America in this event. Unfortunately so does Jamaica. Young talents such as Jazeel Murphy, Dexter Lee and Kemar Bailey-Cole look to keep the country strong. However the Americans have some strong youth in Marvin Bracy, Prezel Hardy, Keenan Brock and Sean McLean. One thing is for certain the rivalry between the countries is going to continue to remain competitive.
200 Meter Dash
This recently has become the United States weakest sprint event. In 2003-2005 the United States swept this event at all major championships. In 2007 Jamaica began to reemerge in the event with Bolt. He took the event by storm at the 2008 Olympics, he returned to dominance this past season with a time of 19.40 at the World Championship. However a few weeks later Yohan Blake made his presence known with the 2nd fastest time of all time in 19.26. Tyson Gay nor Walter Dix have been able to go under 19.4 while both Jamaicans have.
The future in this event is very bright. McLean, Hardy Brock had solid junior seasons and will look to make a name for themselves in the event. Jamaica does not have serious threat in this event but that does not mean that Murphy or Bailey-Cole could become that.
The American women have performed well in this event and will continue to do so. After an exhausting 400 meter race, Allyson Felix almost earned her fourth World title in the event when at the line she was outlasted by Veronica Campbell-Brown of Jamaica and fellow American Jeter. With Felix solely focusing on 200 at the 2012 Olympics there is no reason why she cannot win gold. This event is a very bright spot for the United States.
Octavius Freeman is also the future in the event as well along with Jessica Davis, Aurieyall Scott and Jeneba Tarmoh. The United States will continue to produce solid 200 meter runners. Anthonique Strachan of the Bahamas and Dafne Schippers of the Netherlands will be future stars in the event as well.
400 Meter Dash
Sanya Richards-Ross is solely responsible for the emergence of the female American quarter miler that had been long extinct. There was no serious threat in the 400 for American women from 1996-2004. Richards changed that by winning a World Championship gold medal in 2009. Richards has dealt with injury the past two seasons and towards the end of this season dipped back under 50 seconds. With a solid season of training, Richards-Ross can still claim the top spot. She will have to contend with Amantle Montsho of Botswana.
The future looks bright in this event for the United States with young stars Diamond Dixon and Ebony Eutsey. Chris Ann Gordan and Olivia James of Jamaica are reason why the country can be truly optimistic about their future.
The 400 has been the United States most dominant event. The United States won every championship from 1991 on the event. Jeremy Wariner returned to top form in 2010 with a time of 44.13. The time was far from his personal best of 43.45 set in 2007. However Wariner has gone through coaching changes and a myriad of injuries. Injury plagued his season this year and had to cancel the remaining portion. Lashawn Merritt the defending champion returned after a drug ban to finish second to young superstar Kirani James. This is the first time in decades that the United States looks vulnerable in this event. A healthy Wariner can win the Olympic Gold medal.
The future for this event is very bright for the United States. Arman Hall, Lajerald Betters, Tavaris Tate, Joshua Mance and Tony McQuay will help lead the future for American quarter milers. However James of Grenada is the future of the event. At just 19 years of age, James has a personal best of 44.36. That time is 2nd only to Steven Lewis for a junior record.
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Although this season was not a solid season for American sprinters with the excellent talent at the youth level America will stop remain at the top of the sprinting world. However we must convince our young men to think track and not always football. We can no longer talk down about Jamaica or question their talent when you see the phenomenal performances of their youth at their Championship Meet. Expect for them to be our main rival and except the fact that we have one.
