NOT AN EASY ROAD IN LONDON THIS SUMMER
The Olympics are less than 100 days away and already the excitement is building. Increasingly, Jamaicans are starting to think that London 2012 is going to bring success to Jamaica similar to what was accomplished in Beijing, China (11 medals including six gold) four years ago. But while I do hope that Jamaica will do as well, I know for certain that it will not be as easy.
For the past few years or so Jamaica’s sprinters have dominated their American counterparts and many pundits expect that current trend to continue into London this summer. However, there are some things that should be noted. Last year at the World Championships in Daegu, South Korea, the Americans hit back. Shelly Ann Frazer Pryce, the defending Olympic champion and the 2009 World champion, relinquished her world crown to Carmelita Jeter in Daegu, South Korea last year. The 26-year-old Jamaican superstar has not been herself since winning in Berlin in 2009 but there are indications that she could be on her way back to full fitness by this summer. It will be interesting to see what she produces on the track en-route to London.
Veronica Cambpbell Brown has been leading the charge of the Jamaican women since 2009. Since she finished fourth in Berlin, she has been the fastest Jamaican but not even her rise has been able to keep Jeter at bay. Jeter, now supremely confident after claiming two gold medals in Daegu, will be hard to beat in London and I suspect that if she is to be beaten it will require a time not yet run by a Jamaican woman to win gold in London.
Jeter will also be a threat in the 200 metres, an event in which she secured the silver medal last year in Daegu, despite being a novice in the event at the global level. The Americans also have Alyson Felix who will undoubtedly prepare different for London this year and renew her rivalry with Jeter and two-time champion VCB in the race for the title this summer. Sherone Simpson is also expected to return to her 2006 form by this summer but will it be enough to help Jamaica keep the Olympic title?
Melaine Walker and Kaliese Spencer will lead Jamaica’s challenge in the 400 metres hurdles. Providing both women are healthy, Jamaica could medal in London but Lashinda Demus buoyed by her win in Daegu last summer will be harder to beat. Shericka Williams, who has not been in the best of form over the past two seasons, but is reportedly returning to good health. Her troubles, however, will be on the track where Sanya Richards is back to full fitness following a disastrous season last year and the battle for the Olympic crown will be joined by Amantle Monthsho, Felix, as well as Dee Dee Trotter and the dangerous Russians. If she gets back to her best, Williams could grab a medal but she will have to be at her best to do so.
On the men’s side of things, once Bolt is healthy he should defend his titles and Yohan Blake and Asafa Powell will represent Jamaica well. Blake as world champion is no longer an up and comer, he has arrived and his 9.82 runs last season and the astonishing 19.26-second run in Brussels suggests that he will be in the thick of things this summer. However, the Americans are on their way back.
Justin Gatlin is the World Indoor Champion and has run 20.11 so far this season, and while his times are impressive I dont believe he will contend for a medal as the sprinting world is now a little beyond his very best. However, Walter Dix has continued to show improvement as has Richard Thompson from Trinidad. As it stands right now there will be three Jamaicans, three Americans, one Frenchman and a Trinidadian in the men’s 100m finals. Bolt and two others will be on the podium but who will those two be.
In the 200m it is again Bolt’s race to lose – which he wont. The question is who will be there with him.
Jermaine Gonzales represents Jamaica’s best shot at an individual medal in the 400metres for men. Like last year in Daegu where he fell short of a medal by 0.01 seconds, Gonzales faces a stacked field in London. The Borlee brothers from Belgium, Chris Brown from the Bahamas, Rondell Bartholomew and World Champion Kirani James from Grenada and the dangerous American pair of Jeremy Wariner and LaShawn Merritt. Gonzales will have to be better than his previous best of 44.40s to even begin to think of a medal.
The sprint relays are going to be even more competitive than ever before. The American men can field a team of Tyson Gay, Gatlin, Dix and one other, perhaps Mike Rodgers or Darvis Patton. Whoever they choose, they will be a bigger threat to Jamaican than ever before but Jamaica will triumph once the baton makes it way around. On the women’s side, it will be closer than it was last year. Simpson, Stewart, Frazer-Pryce and VCB should be in better shape than they were last year and if that is the case the race could go down to the wire.
It will be hard for Jamaica’s men to medal in the mile relay. Three other runners will have to step up big time to help Gonzales. If they don’t Jamaica will not see the podium in that event. The women should fare better but the Americans and the Russians will prove too strong.
So before we start flying off the handle about how many medals Jamaica will win, we need to put things in perspective. We need to realize that we want these medals badly but there are others who want them even more.
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30 Responses to “NOT AN EASY ROAD IN LONDON THIS SUMMER”
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I will definitely be watching the women in London this summer. I hope VCB makes the 100M squad as she needs to win another medal in this event at the Olympic games. Will Sandie Ross regain her form to beat Monthsou/Felix and win the 400M? I will never forget her attitude at the medal stand after copping the bronze in Bejing….she was not a happy camper. And let us not forget Caster Semenya from south Africa in 800 meters. This will be her first Olympics with her new coach, the great 800M runner, Maria Mutola.
jamaican s athlete are going with god as there couch to london every one will be well and able to achive there goal and make there country proud no matter which way it goes we are a very small country and dont have to prove too much more to the world that we are a force to recon with so dry your eyes and wipe your tears jamaicam’s will be around for years
An ambiguous article that is neither saying yea nor nay, so what’s its purpose?? Jamaica will dominate the olympics in the sprints again, just like in Beijing. Either Balke or Bolt will win the 100M and 200M; that is it will be a 1-2 for Jamaica, so that’s already 4 medals – 2 gold and 2 silver. The men will win the 4×100 and place 3rd in the 4×400; that’s another 2 medals or a total of 6 from the men – 3 gold, 2 silver and 1 bronze.
On the women’s side VCB will win the 100M and Fraser will place 3rd. VCB will win the 200M and Simpson will place 2nd. JA will win the 4×100 and place 3rd in the 4×400; a total of 6 medals -3 gold, 1 silver and 2 bronze.
In total JA as a minimum will win 12 medals – 6 gold, 3 silver and 3 bronze.
Add to the 12 medals another gold and bronze for the women’s 400M hurdles and Jamaica’s total will medal count will be 14, thereby surpassing the Beijing accomplishment. This is Jamaica’s jubilee year of self-government and all of our athletes will be mindful of this as they go out to give their homeland a great milestone gift of medals.
Add to the 12 medals another gold and bronze for the women’s 400M hurdles and Jamaica’s total medal count will be 14, thereby surpassing the Beijing accomplishment. This is Jamaica’s jubilee year of self-government and all of our athletes will be mindful of this as they go out to give their homeland a great milestone gift of medals.
A balanced article which Jamaicans should consider while dreaming of a gold rush
This will be a good year for Jamaican Athletes, knowing that last year many of them were injured. Shellyann will be back in good form, so is Stewart and Simpson. I don’t think Jeter will be having it easy this time around.
Lets not count our chickens before they are hatched. We must learn to cslm down and be modest in victory lest we misuse our source of energy in the wrong way and invite more scorn and derision from those who already bear ill-will towards us. Peace.
Carmelita over VCB in the 100.
Add American Ryan Bailey to the 4×100 and 100 flat races.
I think Veronica should just concentrate on the 200 thats where we stand a good chance if she is fresh. Leave the 100 to Shelly-Anne, Kerron, etc. Only doing da 200 VCB will also be fresh 4 da 4 x 100. Ppl r talking like this thing is easy , they all 1st have 2 make da team – so every aspect of this is a step by step process, so everyone needs to be HUMBLE.
Furthermore ole London is not like any other place, its not uncommon to have autumnlike summer where da conditions are cold and wet. So my STRONG ADVISE to everyone is “Dont count ur chickens b4 they’re hatched”, and b4 honour is humility, so people – please be HUMBLE.
If Penn Relays any indicator of Olympppics then Jamaica in trouble. I know all our top guns did not run at Penn Relays but neither were Tyson Gay and other top Americans
While watching Jamaica’s women 4×1 relay at the Peen Relays, there was an uncanny similarity to womens 4×1 during Beijing Olympics where Sherone fumbled the baton change to Kerron. During the relays yesterday, at Penn, there was a fumbled baton exchange, between, guess who, Sherone and Kerron again!!!! Coaches, take note.
So Messengjah, you think the other athletes from around the world give two hoots about whether its our 50th anniversary or not? Jamaica has been dominant in the sprints for all of four years. The Americans are on the way back. Jeter, Felix, Solomon, McCorory and others will have a big say. You forget that in the women’s 400metres, we are not guaranteed any medal. Ohurugu has shown a return to form, so has Sanya Richards, and World Champion Amantle Montsho as well as Allyson Felix can shut all our women out of the 400m. So your ideal 14 medal scenario could very well be busted.
I wish all the Jamaicans athletes good luck and hope they all stay healthy.
Messengjah,
You’re very confident of your predictions. However, as well noted by others, my American compatriots and others, will have a major role to play in London. Nothing can be taken for granted. The USA has been subdued by the Ja sprint success of late. However, it was a necessary evil, in my opinion, because a few of the USA elite athletes had lost respect for the sport (I mean the doping cheats who were caught). The sport needed purging. Nevertheless, Gatlin has redeemed himself and is poised to complete his marred career on a high note. Don’t count out the resurging Spearmon who just may be in the thick of things, along with another up & comer, Harry Adams, who ran a 20.10 into a -1.1 wind. I’m confident that the USA men can mount a serious challenge for the gold in the 4×1. The 4×4 is OURS to lose. The USA ladies want the 4×1 WR back in the USA – where it belongs. Daegu and the ’11 & 12 Penn Relays proved the Ja ladies are too out of sync with each other. They need some serious practice and prayer. Simpson & Stewart both performed at Penn like they had smoked too much of the reefer pipe. Thunder- Thighs, Campbell-Brown, should have been present as an opportunity was missed to get in some much-needed work. Again, the USA will be in the thick of things, bar injury, so keep that in mind when you make bold predictions.
@Messenjah you seemed to be have an angry personality, as was displayed in your unkind descriptors for VCB. Chill, and try to enjoy the beauty of life rather than being so angry
It is true that the weather in London can be unkind.To those who say that Jamaica might be in trouble,keep in mind the same goes for competitors from other countries.If our athelets remain healthy they will not dissapoint.Just keep heart and wish our team the best.They are well trained and will perform with distinction .Do not panic my fellow Jamaicans,all will be well!The performance of our sprinters will be mind boggling.They are moving along at the right pace and will peak at the right time.That is the trick that confronts the coaches,not make them peak too early.Much luck to our team!
Exciting. The fever is warming up. My fellow Jamaicans let us be humbly confident. David slew Goliath, so we can we! Let’s just get connected as David did.
Are we forgetting Tyson Gay? You notice how quiet he is. This guy will be a real threat to Usain and Blake. I think he is quietly training for a massive comeback.
We will not get the same medals like Beijing. The girls are obviously not in the same form. We will have to fight hard and grind out whatever medals we can get. The US is going to be a major factor this year.
I am very worried for our team. Who will make the team is another question. After the trials and the teams are picked, I will make my official analysis because we all know thay the trials are going to bring some upset both for Jamaica and USA
I am fearing the worst but praying for the best. No one wants to come out and say the truth, but fact is Jamaica finally has been getting the medals we have deserved for YEARS (we have a proud sprint history finally rewarded in the last 4 or 5 years) because the Americans were finally caught cheating. (America, who will carry on bad until they take away a poor little gymnast’s gold medal for taking cough medicine the night before! Yet yu hardly heard anything when a whole BUNCH of their medallists were caught red handed! Shameful!) The best technology money can buy should by now have developed a new set of undetectable drugs, that the poor IOC doesn’t have the funding to keep up with. So I fear the Americans will be back on top. Of course we want the best possible result – the deserved result – but no matter what I am proud of our hard-working, honest and dedicated athletes – in every event we enter – how ever many medals they bring home. I hope they know they have our love and support.
Much luck to all our athletes,Hope they are concentrating on their training and not reading the reports from the grim reapers. Shellyann frazer had an operation before the world championship,most people have forgotten about that. All our athletes work hard and should be praised and encouraged, not called thunder thigh or put down in any other way. Shellyann frazer Price know when to peakand so does all the others, the only person I am not sure of is Sherone Simpson
Lala,
Clearly, as the lone American posting, one must respond to your American-bashing comments. One understands that your hate-mongering was the result of smoking too much of Chris “Dudus” Cokes’ product. Nevertheless, my compatriots will and have redeemed themselves quite admirably. Recall most of our drug cheats have paid handsomely, as they should. Gatlin’s 4-yr-ban, Jones’ imprisonment; Pettigrew’s suicide, taught some valuable lessons. On the upside, Gatlin is performing, this time, drug-free, very well. His 9.87 win over Powell’s runner-up 9.88 last week in Doha says he’s back. The potential 4×1 team of perhaps Rodgers or Bailey, Gatlin, Gay & Dix, has the potential to challenge JAM & the WR because quite simply folk, our baton passing is far superior. JAM could win; they are the prohibitive favorites, but it won’t be a cake-walk either. The women (LOL), I’ll leave that one alone. Finally, I admire the JAM athletic prowess of late. Mostly, all of your athletes, save for the minstrel-like antics of Bolt & Blake (although they have turned it down a notch)have behaved and performed quite admirably. I wish them all well. However, recognize, the USA is back!
Bolt may not even beat Gay or Dix or Gatlin… Blake may not medal in the 100. Powell is a head case…US will go 36.9 in the relay…
Jamaica its over! Your reign on top was short like midgets
Good luck to Jamaica in London, may God bless u all. Lots of luv.
Ken,
Your attempted personal attack on me is a joke. Am I supposed to be offended by you calling one felon’s name, when your country has produced so many over the years? . Let’s not go there. Just stick to the sports. AT least you got the list of drug cheats correct (though not nearly complete).I’ll ignore your thinly vailed racist comment about Bolt and Blake because you are clearly, well, as you are and just laugh at your silliness.
Thanks for the chuckle (really)
david and ken, america has a chance at what?! last time i remembered from 2008 the mens side drops the baton and the fastest time USA ran a time from 2008 till now is 37.97s and until last yr the USA womens team finally won during that relay gold drought so dont fool yourself plz and do us a favor and bolt may not beat bolt?? lol tyson is fast but he takes too much effort to run 9.7s and gatlin can hardly run 9.8, Dix cant even beat asafa when he’s injured (as proven last yr) USA’s legacy is reduced to dust when compared to jamaica
gay ,gatlin or dix at line #5
the sprints and the relays will be dominated by the jamaicans the americans and the trinidadians