London 2017 | Ja's women can bank on four medals in London

TWO years ago at the IAAF World Championships in Beijing, China, Jamaica walked away with 12 medals seven gold, two silver and three bronze to finish second on the medals table, behind Kenya with 16.

It was a steady improvement by the country as two years before in Moscow, it was a third place finish with nine medals six gold, two silver and one bronze.

Jamaica will be hoping to again finish in the top three, but this time around, their task will be more difficult as the team will be without stalwarts such as Veronica Campbell Brown and Shelly Ann Fraser-Pryce, who were on the podium two years ago.

Usain Bolt, who won gold in the 100 and 200 metres will only be doing the 100m while Thompson who got silver in the 200m will only be doing the 100m this time around.

Gleaner Sports will look at the medal chances at next week's meet and in this first report we will look at selected events and the medal chances for the women who got seven medals in Beijing

100m

Elaine Thompson has been in blazing form all season and is set to win her first World title. Josee Marie Talou of Cote d'Ivoire has improved tremendously, but Thompson, who has gone 10.71 and 10.78 seconds so far this season and who has won 14 consecutive 100m races, looks set to continue her winning ways. A sub 10.7 is on the cards. Talou, America Tori Bowie and Dafne Schippers of the Netherlands will fight out for the other two medals.

Top Three

1. Elaine Thompson (Jam)

2. Marie-Josee Talou (CIV)

3. Dafne Schippers (Ned)

200m

World leader Bowie clocked 21.77 seconds in a fast race in Eugene Oregon where she defeated Shaunae Miller-Uibo of the Bahamas and Thompson.

Bowie rarely runs the event and struggled to finish third at the USA Trials. Something may have gone wrong, but she could be waiting for this big opportunity.

Defending champion Schippers is yet to break 22 seconds this season and had to pull out all the stops to get the better of Talou at the Lausanne Diamond League where she won in 22.10 but is given the edge in the event.

100M Top Three

1. Dafne Schippers (Ned)

2. Marie Josee Talou (CIV)

3. Torie Bowie (USA)

400m

A clash here of the two past global champions. Allyson Felix of the United States, the defending champion, will take on Rio Olympic champion, Shaunae Miller-Uibo.

Miller-Uibo, who dived to the line to get the verdict over Felix last year in Brazil, has been in fantastic form all season and has gone sub-50 seconds four times with her best of 49.77 seconds when winning at the Shanghai Diamond League meet. With her 200m speed improving big time this season she will be hoping to go all the way.

Felix looked quite relaxed when posting a world leading 49.65 seconds in her second 400m this season in London, the same track where she will compete next week and is given the nod here to retain her title.

It will be close for the third spot. Jamaica's Shericka Jackson, the bronze medallist at the past two global meets, has not shown great form going into the Championships but she normally performs on the big day.

Top Three

1. Allison Felix (USA)

2. Shaunae Miller-Uibo (Bah)

3. 3. Phyllis Francis (USA)

100m hurdles

American world record holder Kendra Harrison with 12.20 seconds has looked human in her past two races where she scored close wins over her rivals. At the Monaco Diamond League she was given the win in a very very close affair in 12.51 over countrywoman Sharika Nelvis (12.52). Fortunately for Harrison she will not have the Diamond League leader Nelvis to contend with as she failed to make the USA team.

However Harrison may have to reproduce her season's best of 12.28 if she hopes to win her first world title.

Defending champion, Jamaica's Danielle Williams, is peaking well and she has looked the part in her last two races. The veteran Sally Pearson of Australia has been rounding into good form but is inconsistent and going the rounds could be too much for her.

Harrison is given the edge but if she puts a foot wrong then defending champion Williams will be there to get gold again.

100M Hurdles

1. Kendra Harrison (USA)

2. Danielle Williams (Jam)

3. Christina Manning (USA)

400m Hurdles

It will be a sweep of the medals for the United States. The Americans have dominated the event this season with three of them going sub 53 seconds - Olympic champion, Delilah Muhammad with 52.64 seconds, followed by Shamier Little 52.75 and Kori Carter 52.96 seconds.

Muhammad stopped in Lausanne and may have injury concerns, but if she reports in the right frame of mind, will be right there. Carter looked good in Monaco when winning impressively in 53.26 where she easily got the better of Little.

Unfortunately for Jamaica, their best athlete in the event this season, Janieve Russell, will have to watch the race from the outside as she had her worst showing at the National Senior l Championships where she could only manage fourth.

Top Three

1. Delilah Muhammed

2. Shamier Little

3. Kori Carter

4x100m

After winning at the World Relays in the Bahamas in April, Jamaica will be hoping to successfully defend the title they won two years ago in Beijing. The United States had a mishap in the Bahamas and will be difficult to beat.

In Monaco with a team minus Bowie, they won in a season's best of 42.34 seconds.

At the Penn Relays Jamaica won in 42.25 and with Thompson expected to be an anchor they could continue their dominance over the Americans. However, for Jamaica, it will be very interesting to see which four (Thompson plus three others) make up the team. Hopefully, Thompson will get the baton in striking distance of her opponents.

Top Three

1. USA

2. Jamaica

3. Trinidad and Tobago

4x400m

THE United States who lost to Jamaica two years ago will win here.

With three athletes in their line up going sub-50 seconds this season, they are the overwhelming favourites to get gold and should do so easily.

Top Three

1. USA

2. Jamaica

3. Ukraine

With some luck, Jamaica could get an additional two medals, through Jackson in the 400 metres and Kimberly Williams in the triple jump.

Final Tally

Jamaica one gold, three silver medals.