The World Athletics Championships starts tomorrow in Eugene, Oregon, with competition expected to be fierce in several events. Based on performances leading up to the meet, the following are the likely top three in selected events.
WOMEN
100m
Following a medal sweep last year at the Olympic Games , another sweep looks on the cards again as Jamaica’s top three women, Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce, Shericka Jackson and Elaine Thompson Herah, head the World Athletics performance list for 2022.
While a sweep looks likely, the order of finish is more difficult to predict. While Jackson and Thompson Herah will be looking for their first wins in the event at these championships, Fraser-Pryce is the defending and four-time champion. With her bullet start, she should not be caught, and a sub-10.6 winning time looks likely.
Top 3
1. Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce 2. Shericka Jackson 3. Elaine Thompson Herah
200m
All three Jamaican women will also be involved in the 200m and they will be hoping for another sweep. Thompson Herah, with 21.53 seconds at last year’s Tokyo Olympics, and Jackson, 21.55 at the recent National Championships, are the two fastest women alive in the event. Both Thompson Herah and Fraser-Pryce are yet to go under 22 seconds this season.
Jackson is the favourite to win here, but could be pressed all the way by American Abby Steiner, the world’s number two, in the event. A month ago, she had double success on the same track after winning at the NCAA Division 1 Championships and the American National Championships, where she clocked a personal-best 21.77.
Top 3
1. Shericka Jackson (Jam) 2. Abby Steiner (USA) 3. Elaine Thompson Herah (Jam)
400m
A toss-up here between the Olympic champion Shaunae Miller-Uibo of The Bahamas and silver medallist Marileidy Paulino of the Dominican Republic. Both have gone sub-50 seconds this season. Miller-Uibo, however, has not impressed and Paulino, with a world-leading 49.49 seconds, looks set to go all the way. It will be very close for the bronze medal. American Talitha Diggs, who has also gone sub-50 seconds, along with Jamaica trio of Charokee Young, another sub-50 seconds athlete, along with teammates Candice McLeod and Stephenie McPherson, will be in a real battle.
Top 3
1. Marileidy Paulino (Dom Rep) 2. Shaunae Miller-Uibo (Bah) 3. Talitha Diggs (USA)
800m
An easy win is expected here for American Athing Mu.
Top 3
1. Athing Mu (USA) 2. Keely Hodgkinson (GBR) 3. Ajee Wilson (USA)
100m hurdles
One of the most difficult events of the championships to call. It may require the photo-finish camera to decide all three medallist in what is expected to be a very competitive event. The world record of 12.20 seconds is in danger. Olympic champion Jasmine Camacho-Quinn of Puerto Rico is given the slight edge for gold.
Top 3
1. Jasmine Camacho-Quinn (PR) 2. Kendra Harrison (USA) 3. Britany Anderson (Jam)
400m hurdles
A world record is on the cards here. American Sydney McLaughlin looks set for something super special and could go as low as 51.2 seconds in the event. Femke Bol of the Netherlands is in fine form and has gone sub-53 seconds this season and should be second. Defending champion Dalilah Muhammad of the United States is yet to compete this season, and this could open the way for Jamaica’s Janieve Russell to get a bronze medal.
Top 3
1. Sydney McLaughlin (USA) WR 2. Femke Bol (NED) 3. Dalilah Muhammad (USA)
4x100m Relay
No stopping the Jamaican quartet of Kemba Nelson, Elaine Thompson Herah, Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce and Shericka Jackson; and a world record is possible here.
Top 3
1. Jamaica WR 2. USA 3. Great Britain
4x400m Relay
With the USA expected to insert Mu, McLaughlin and Steiner in their team for the finals, they will win on a canter here.
Top 3
1. USA. 2. Jamaica 3. Great Britain
Triple jump
Two-time world champion and World record holder Yulimar Rojas of Venezuela is unbeatable. A close battle for the silver and bronze.
Top 3
1. Yulimar Rojas (VEN) 2. Shaneika Ricketts (Jam) 3. Keturah Orgi (USA)
MEN
100m
Jamaica’s Yohan Blake, the 2011 World champion, and countryman Oblique Seville, with season’s best 9.85 and 9.86 seconds, respectively, will be hoping to give the country its first medal in this event since Usain Bolt won bronze in 2017. The United States are very strong here with four fast representatives.
Top 3
1. Fred Kerley (USA) 2. Trayvon Bromell (USA) 3. Christian Coleman (USA )
200m
Another medal sweep for the USA, where the teenager Erriyon Knighton, the world’s number one, will seek to avenge his close defeat to countryman Noah Lyles at the USA National Championships.
Top 3
1. Erriyon Knighton (USA) 2. Noah Lyles (USA) 3. Fred Kerley (USA)
400m
The strength of the USA in the sprints will be on show here once again, as Michael Norman will go all the way .
Top 3
1. Michael Norman (USA) 2. Champion Allison (USA) 3. Kirani James (Gren)
110m hurdles
With a powerful foursome, this could be another sweep for the USA. However, standing in their way is Jamaica’s Hansle Parchment, the Olympic champion. The defending champion Grant Halloway of the United States, after his defeat to Parchment in Tokyo, will return to winning ways here. The world leader is fellow American Devon Allen with 12.84 seconds. He is the only man under 13 seconds in the event this season.
Top 3
1. Grant Halloway (USA) 2. Hansle Parchment (Jam) 3. Trey Cunningham (USA)
400m hurdles
With the Olympic champion and World record holder Karsten Warholm troubled by injury, this should pave the way for Brazil’s Alison dos Santos to give his country their first win at these championships in the event.
Top 3
1. Alison dos Santos (Braz) 2. Rai Benjamin (USA) 3. Trevor Bassitt (USA)
4x100m Relay
A three-way battle among the United States, Jamaica and Great Britain .
Top 3
1. USA 2. Jamaica 3. Great Britain
