Women’s 100 promises to be highlight of World Champs

FANS WILL not have to wait long to witness the most eagerly anticipated event of the Budapest World Athletics Championships, as the Women’s 100 metres final is down to be contested on Monday’s third day of the meet.

In what will be a clash of the ages, a massive showdown is expected in the blue riband women’s event.

The four fastest women in the world, led by Jamaica’s Shericka Jackson, with a season’s and personal best, 10.65 seconds, will headline the most-talked-about event leading into the Championships.

Jackson, the silver medallist in the event a year ago in Eugene, Oregon, will be hoping to go one place better, but will have to fend off the challenges of defending champion and countrywoman, Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce, the United States’ Sha’Carri Richardson, and the Ivory Coast’s Marie-Josée Ta Lou.

Despite two defeats in the event this season, Jackson, who has shown great improvement in her starts and who is known for her excellent top-end speed, could win her first of two events of the Championships.

All season, she seems not to have come out of first gear and could be holding back for the big show, which could be frightening for her rivals. She will be gunning for her first of two wins, as she is also the overwhelming favourite in the 200 metres where she is the defending champion.

In what is her first major championships, a very busy Richardson, with five wins and one defeat this season and a best of 10.71 seconds, is in fantastic form and could go all the way. She has found a new lease on life with her trademark mid-race acceleration returning unhindered. Her starts have been found wanting, however, and could be the spoke in her wheel.

The bridesmaid in the event over the years at these championships, Ta Lou, after silver in London and bronze in Doha, and who had to settle for seventh last year, will be hoping for her first success. Taking orders from a new coach, Ta Lou, with a season’s best of 10.75, done in Oslo, has looked a more complete sprinter this season.

Her starts have been exceptional all season and she could use this to her advantage and finally score the biggest win of her career.

Defending champion, Fraser-Pryce, will be gunning for her sixth title in the event but, this time around, she will not carry the favourite tag. Because of a late start to her season on account of a knee injury, she has only competed twice this season in the event, scoring wins in Madrid in 10.83 and Luzern in 10.82. She will have to go faster if she wants to retain her title.

The 36-year-old will definitely be under pressure, and a lack of races going to the championships could go against her.

There is also the unbeaten Julien Alfred of St Lucia who, along with Dina Asher-Smith of Great Britain, should add some flavour to this event as both are great starters and could use this to give the major contenders a scare.

Alfred, with a season best 10.83 seconds, is undefeated, relegating Richardson to the only occasion she hasn’t won this season.

Asher-Smith, a silver medallist in the event in Doha, with a season’s best of 10.85, will be hoping for another great start in her bid for an upset win.

It could take a time quicker than 10.6 seconds to decide this one.