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
RUN TOGETHER, RUN FOR MANCHESTER HALF MARATHON & 10K SUNDAY 20 MAY 2018 ENTRIES NOW OPEN. SIGN UP AT GREATRUN.ORG/MANCHESTER
Change language