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So, some of us proud track and field fans are now predicting a 1-2-3-4 for Jamaica next month? Indeed?
By now I should have my inclination towards objectivity (as in “balance” and preference for seeing “both sides of the picture”) stamped firmly in everyone’s mind, so here goes:
First, a 1-2-3-4 finish is certainly not impossible at the level of the IAAF World Championships, as the USA men demonstrated in the 200-meter race at the 2005 Helsinki World Championships. (Nevertheless, does anyone here seriously think that the USA is going to repeat this ever again?)
However, regarding predictions of a 1-2-3-4 win for Jamaica in the women’s 100-meter dash in August, we need to realize that it’s most likely NOT going to happen this year!! Jamaica does not have a monopoly on excellent sprinters, and we’d better realize that other elite women will be aiming for medal performances as well. For example, do we think that a natural fighter like Lauryn Williams is going to allow herself to be pushed by Jamaica into fifth position this year after suffering the ignominy of being pushed into fourth position in Beijing by the Jamaican trio?
So, while I expect the most serious fight for the 100-meter dash medals to probably come from Kerron Stewart, Shelly-Ann Fraser and Veronica Campbell-Brown, thereby making a 1-2-3 finish distinctly possible, I suggest we all forget about a complete 1-2-3-4 sweep by Jamaica! Quite simply, it won’t happen! (Also, how do we know that all four Jamaican women will make it into the finals?)
Before I look at some statistics, let me say that strange things can happen, and we have only to glance back at Friday’s Grand Prix event in Rome to see an example. Do we realize that the Bahamian sprinter, Chandra Sturrup, will be 38 years old in two months from now? Did anyone expect a 10.99-second run from this “old woman” at this twilight stage of her career? Granted, the rounds will be a bit difficult for a 38-year-old to handle, but my point is that in track and field, expect the unexpected.
I cannot prophecy, so I’ll have to do the next best thing, that is, look at some stats. Here is something to consider of Jamaica’s Sheri-Ann Brooks and three of her most dangerous competitors:
Sheri-Ann Brooks: While Shelly-Ann, Kerron and Veronica are regular sub-11 sprinters nowadays, 26-year-old Sheri-Ann Brooks has so far not gone below the 11-second barrier during her career. Her PB, which she ran two years ago, is 11.05 in the 100-meter dash. Her best time so far this year is 11.16 while that of last year was marginally better, 11.14.
Kelly-Ann Baptiste: As I said in a previous post, Trinidad & Tobago’s Kelly-Ann Baptiste had no burdensome NCAA events this year, and so we’ll be seeing a much fresher athlete next month! Her PB, which she ran this year in Trinidad, is 10.94 seconds. Her season-best performance last year was 11.06 seconds. Kelly-Ann can mess things up for our Jamaican sprinters! Do not write this Trinidadian off!
Carmelita Jeter: At 30 years old, Jeter ran her PB of 10.96 this year, but prior to that she had run 10.97 last year, and 11.02 in 2007. In addition, until the most recent Grand Prix meets in Lausanne and Rome, she had been the dominant sprinter for 2009. Her “bad” race last Friday resulted in a splendid 11.01 performance!
Lauryn Williams: Like Veronica Campbell-Brown, Lauryn Williams is a “big-meet performer” in the truest sense! Anyone who has followed her career since her gold medal performance in Kingston in 2002, but even more importantly since the 2004 Olympic Games in Athens will realize that Lauryn is not someone to be taken lightly!! Like Sherri-Ann, Lauryn is just 26, and her PB in the 100-meter dash (which she ran four years ago) is 10.88 seconds. Lauryn has not been particularly impressive this year, as her season’s best is 11.11, while last year she ran 10.90 and in Osaka (2007) she ran 11.01 seconds.
By now I should have my inclination towards objectivity (as in “balance” and preference for seeing “both sides of the picture”) stamped firmly in everyone’s mind, so here goes:
First, a 1-2-3-4 finish is certainly not impossible at the level of the IAAF World Championships, as the USA men demonstrated in the 200-meter race at the 2005 Helsinki World Championships. (Nevertheless, does anyone here seriously think that the USA is going to repeat this ever again?)
However, regarding predictions of a 1-2-3-4 win for Jamaica in the women’s 100-meter dash in August, we need to realize that it’s most likely NOT going to happen this year!! Jamaica does not have a monopoly on excellent sprinters, and we’d better realize that other elite women will be aiming for medal performances as well. For example, do we think that a natural fighter like Lauryn Williams is going to allow herself to be pushed by Jamaica into fifth position this year after suffering the ignominy of being pushed into fourth position in Beijing by the Jamaican trio?
So, while I expect the most serious fight for the 100-meter dash medals to probably come from Kerron Stewart, Shelly-Ann Fraser and Veronica Campbell-Brown, thereby making a 1-2-3 finish distinctly possible, I suggest we all forget about a complete 1-2-3-4 sweep by Jamaica! Quite simply, it won’t happen! (Also, how do we know that all four Jamaican women will make it into the finals?)
Before I look at some statistics, let me say that strange things can happen, and we have only to glance back at Friday’s Grand Prix event in Rome to see an example. Do we realize that the Bahamian sprinter, Chandra Sturrup, will be 38 years old in two months from now? Did anyone expect a 10.99-second run from this “old woman” at this twilight stage of her career? Granted, the rounds will be a bit difficult for a 38-year-old to handle, but my point is that in track and field, expect the unexpected.
I cannot prophecy, so I’ll have to do the next best thing, that is, look at some stats. Here is something to consider of Jamaica’s Sheri-Ann Brooks and three of her most dangerous competitors:
Sheri-Ann Brooks: While Shelly-Ann, Kerron and Veronica are regular sub-11 sprinters nowadays, 26-year-old Sheri-Ann Brooks has so far not gone below the 11-second barrier during her career. Her PB, which she ran two years ago, is 11.05 in the 100-meter dash. Her best time so far this year is 11.16 while that of last year was marginally better, 11.14.
Kelly-Ann Baptiste: As I said in a previous post, Trinidad & Tobago’s Kelly-Ann Baptiste had no burdensome NCAA events this year, and so we’ll be seeing a much fresher athlete next month! Her PB, which she ran this year in Trinidad, is 10.94 seconds. Her season-best performance last year was 11.06 seconds. Kelly-Ann can mess things up for our Jamaican sprinters! Do not write this Trinidadian off!
Carmelita Jeter: At 30 years old, Jeter ran her PB of 10.96 this year, but prior to that she had run 10.97 last year, and 11.02 in 2007. In addition, until the most recent Grand Prix meets in Lausanne and Rome, she had been the dominant sprinter for 2009. Her “bad” race last Friday resulted in a splendid 11.01 performance!
Lauryn Williams: Like Veronica Campbell-Brown, Lauryn Williams is a “big-meet performer” in the truest sense! Anyone who has followed her career since her gold medal performance in Kingston in 2002, but even more importantly since the 2004 Olympic Games in Athens will realize that Lauryn is not someone to be taken lightly!! Like Sherri-Ann, Lauryn is just 26, and her PB in the 100-meter dash (which she ran four years ago) is 10.88 seconds. Lauryn has not been particularly impressive this year, as her season’s best is 11.11, while last year she ran 10.90 and in Osaka (2007) she ran 11.01 seconds.
Paul Marin -19 is one thing, 20 is a whole other matter. It gets even worse if they win the UCL. *groan*. 
05/18/2011.MU fans naah cough, but all a unuh a vomit?-Lazie 1/11/2015
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