STARS MIGHT BE MISSING BUT THERE STILL WILL BE A LOT TO SEE IN MOSCOW

Veronica Campbell Brown, Sherone Simpson, Blanka Vlasic,  Jessica Ennis, Caster Semanya, David Rudisha, Tyson Gay,Yohan Blake and Asafa Powell. This is a list of track and field’s who’s who who will not be competing in Moscow during the 14th IAAF World Athletic Championship in Moscow that gets underway this weekend. Injury and provisional suspensions will keep this elite list of athletes away from the eager eyes of fans of the sport for the eight days of competition that will determine who are the best track and field athletes in the world.

Based on the relative lack of interest from so-called fans of the sport because of the shortage of star power and those who have been disheartened by the latest drug scandal that has smeared the reputation of some of our beloved athletes and further tainted the sport, it it might suggest that these championships will not be among the memorable but is that really the case?

As far as I am concerned, there are more than enough stars still in Moscow to make it very interesting. First and foremost, as long as Usain Bolt is in Moscow the championships will be worth watching. Yes, Blake and Gay will not be there to challenge Bolt but in reality we all know that Bolt, when in the best of shape, does not compete against the field. He competes against the clock.

Word is that after struggling for most of the season, Bolt is close to being in the very best shape for these championships and there is even talk of world records. Personally, I can’t wait to see which ones will go.

But the “Tall Man” as Bolt is called by celebrated track and field statistician and analyst Hubert Lawrence, is not the only attraction. Shelly Ann Frazer Pryce who has won three gold medals in the 100m in her last four championships, goes for her second world championship title and even though there are many who believe she will not be challenged, I am here to tell you that these championships could very well offer her her toughest competition yet. Not only is Carmelita Jeter back, the defending world champion – based on information we are getting – will only be competing in the 100m. So all her energy will be focused on defending her title. Jeter who suffered a quadricep injury in Shanghai ran a sharp 10.93 in London a couple of weeks ago and looks to be in shape to go even faster, she will be hard to dethrone.

Jeter aside, the biggest threat to SAFP’s bid to win her second world title, is a 23-year-old lady from Nigeria, who I believe could very well be the next superstar in  track and field. Blessing Okagbare is – whether we want to admit it or not –  a very serious threat. 10.75 (w), 10.93, 10.86 and 10.79 are just some of the times she has delivered this season and she has beaten everybody on the circuit this year. Shelly will have to be prepared to run 10.6s to keep the 5’11″ Nigerian at bay, but then we know the Pocket Rocket is almost a sure thing to deliver.

The match up between the world’s two best 400-metre runners is also worth going all the way to Moscow to see. Leshawn Merritt and Kirani James is going to be a memorable one, with each inflicting defeat on the other this season. Who will emerge the winner in Moscow? My money is on the super-talented Grenadian who at 20 years of age, has won everything there is to win already and who I believe will have too much for the American.

Also in that event, the bronze medal is up for grabs and I believe that a Jamaican could very well sneak in and grab it. Javere Bell and Javon ‘Donkey Man’ Francis are two of our emerging stars and with the time that they have had to prepare for these championships since they finished 1-2 at the national championships in June, they have been training hard and training well and perhaps both of them will deliver strong and encouraging performances which could result in a medal.

On the female side Stephanie McPherson, running injury free for the first in a few years, is the fourth fastest woman in the world this year. Her 49.92 suggests that she could surprise the Russians and the Americans and medal in Moscow. We wish her the very best.

Warren Weir is also going to deliver in Moscow. I believe he will run times over the 200m that many of us never believed  he is capable of. He is a fearless competitor and he will push Bolt over the deuce and secure at least a Jamaican 1-2 in the event. That should also be an exciting affair as Nickel Ashmeade and Jason Livermore could also make it a 1-2-3-4 affair. It is possible.

Then of course, there are the relays which will provide their usual excitement, especially on the men’s side where with Blake, Frater and Powell absent makes us vulnerable to the Americans, who have their own concerns with Tyson Gay and Ryan Bailey out of their team. However, veteran Michael Frater believes we have enough talent to go 37.1 or faster which should be good enough to defend our title won in Daegu, two years ago.

So, if you are a fan of stars go ahead and miss the world championships, but if you are a fan of the sport there will be a lot to see and remember this of the Jamaican athletes missing from the championships, only one,  Yohan Blake had the potential to win gold.