Atheltics Weekly

IAAF WORLD CHAMPS 2017
USA AND JAMAICA GOLD FIGHT
4x100m RELAY
SINCE USA won the 2005
title in Helsinki, world 4x100m
gold has only been won by an
American or Jamaican quartet.
While both teams have recently
undergone some changes and
the event is, of course, highly
unpredictable, it is those two
Jamaica: sprint relay favourites
Event statistics
World record: 40.82 USA
Champs record: 41.07 Jamaica
Defending champion: Jamaica
British interest: Asher-Smith, Henry,
Humphreys, Hylton, Neita, Philip,
Williams
AW prediction: 1 Jamaica; 2 USA;
3 Germany
History: USA with six golds and
Jamaica with four have dominated
this event though the latter’s Beverly
McDonald has the most individual
medals with six.
nations which look set to again
finish on top.
The US squad includes
200m world leader Tori Bowie,
while the Jamaican team might
be missing Shelly-Ann Fraser-
Pryce and Veronica Campbell-
Brown but it includes Olympic
100m and 200m champion
Elaine Thompson.
The GB team will very much
be looking to make an impact,
particularly with the advantage
of being on home soil. The
British record-breaking quartet
which bagged Olympic bronze
in Rio – Asha Philip, Desiree
Henry, Dina Asher-Smith and
Daryll Neita – all feature in the
squad and Asher-Smith is
finding form following her injury
earlier this year.
The host nation could gain
another global medal but are
likely to face a challenge from
others such as IAAF World
Relays winners Germany. JW
MORE HOST NATION MEDAL CHANCES
4x400m RELAY
EVEN before the team steps
on to the track, Great Britain
will have gained three 4x400m
medals following a series of
reallocations happening earlier
on in the championships.
Christine Ohuruogu formed
part of each of those teams
but will not run in London as
the two-time world 400m gold
medallist and 2008 Olympic
champion is absent from a
global GB senior team for the
first time since her debut at the
2004 Olympics in Athens.
The GB squad will hope
to continue its medal-winning
ways in this event, with British
champions Zoey Clark and
Eilidh Doyle joined by Emily
Diamond, Anyika Onuora,
Laviai Nielsen and Perri
Shakes-Drayton.
It again looks to be a battle
between USA and Jamaica
for the top two spots, with
Novlene Williams-Mills having
anchored Jamaica to world
Jamaica
defends its
title against
United
States and
the host
nation,
Great
Britain
victory for the first time since
Edmonton 2001 at the Beijing
championships two years ago,
though USA turned the tables
in Rio.
Allyson Felix is another
athlete bringing great
Event statistics
World record: 3:15.17 USSR
Champs record: 3:16.71 USA
Defending champion: Jamaica
British interest: Clark, Diamond,
Doyle, Nielsen, Onuora, Shakes-
Drayton
AW prediction: 1 USA; 2 Jamaica;
3 GBR
History: USA are the most successful
nation and Jearl Miles-Clark, with
three golds and three silvers has the
most medals. Sanya Richards-Ross
won four golds and a silver. Novlene
Williams-Mills could win her sixth
medal – she currently has one gold
and four silvers.
experience in the US squad,
while the Jamaican team also
includes Shericka Williams.
Other medal contenders are
Bahamas, with Olympic 400m
champion Shaunae Miller-Uibo,
and Poland. JW
5 2 A T H L E T I C S W E E K L Y