Raymond Graham, Gleaner Writer
Clockwise from top: ( L - R ) Bolt, Campbell-Brown
Powell, Foster-Hylton
LOCAL track and field fans are eagerly awaiting the start of the Beijing Olympics, as the country is expected to have its best ever haul in the individual events.
The Games is set to start on August 8, but for local fans, the real Games begin a week later with track and field on the 15th.
At the last Games in Athens four years ago, the country mined three individual medals with Veronica Campbell-Brown winning gold in the 200 metres and bronze in the 100 metres, and Danny McFarlane taking silver in the men's 400 metres hurdles.
Possible medal standings
Results leading into this year's event indicate that this tally will be easily surpassed as Jamaica appear set to win 12 individual medals.
Among the females Jamaica could medal in the 100m, 200m, 100m hurdles, 400m and 40 m hurdles, while among the men, Jamaica look poised to win silverware in the 100, 200, 400m hurdles and decathlon.
Undoubtedly, Campbell-Brown would have been a cinch for the women's 100 metres based on her form this season. The only time she was defeated in this event was at the National Championships where she finished fourth. Since then she has moved from strength to strength, but unfortunately the bronze medallist four years ago will not line up in this event in Beijing. She along with Aleen Bailey and Sherone Simpson saw three Jamaicans in the finals and come this time around Jamaica should have three finalists again.
Great chances
Shelly Ann Frazer, Simpson and national champion Kerron Stewart have chances to medal and Jamaica should at least get two, with Frazer and Stewart favoured.
Campbell-Brown, the defending Olympic 200 metres champion, looks ready to defend her title. With three successive sub-22 second runs and with her focus now heavy on the half-lap event, she could go all the way. Her main danger, Allyson Felix of the United States, has not looked herself this year.
However, if she regains her form of 2007 where she destroyed all at the World Championships, she could turn the table this time on Campbell-Brown, following her silver medal in Athens.
Stewart, who lost narrowly to Campbell-Brown, is a dangerous competitor and if she gets a good start she could upstage the top two.
Simpson, based on her last run, is coming into her own and could spoil the party. If the Jamaicans get clicking they could make a clean sweep of the medals.
After her disappointment in not taking the gold at the World Championships last year, Novlene Williams-Mills will get another chance, but this time her task is much harder. The United States' Sanya Richards is one of the biggest favourites for a gold medal among the females and she should win her first gold at a major meet by taking the 400.
Williams-Mills will have world champion Christine Ohuruogu of Britain, her teammate Nicole Saunders, along with the Russian pair of Yulia Gushchiana and Tatyana Firova to contend with. Based on experience, Williams- Mills, should be among the medals.
High hopes
National 100 metres hurdles champion Brigitte Foster-Hylton and runner-up Delloreen Ennis-London, will be hoping to give Jamaica two medals in the women's event. Both are very experienced and are in good form.
The United States' Lolo Jones and Damu Cherry, who are world leaders with 12.45 seconds, along with Sweden Susanna Kallur, Spain Josephine Onyia and the improved Sally McLellan of Australia, stand in the way, but at least one of the Jamaicans should medal.
At the 1996 Atlanta Olympics, Jamaica got its first Olympic gold when Deon Hemmings took the 400 metres hurdles. Jamaica could get their second gold in this event as Melaine Walker and Nickeisha Wilson are strong contenders.
In one of the weakest fields to assemble at a major meet, with the withdrawal of world champion Jana Rawlinson of Australia and world record holder Yulia Pechenkino of Russia due to injuries, and with world leader Lashinda Demus of the United States not making it to the Games, any number can play.
Walker has beaten all her main contenders - Tiffany Willliams of the United States and Poland's Anna Jesein - on a regular basis and will start the favourite. Wilson, who was fourth at last year's World Championships, could also surprise while Russia's Ekaterina Bikert, China Xiaoxiao Huanng and the United States' Queen Harrison, should not be taken lightly. With this moderate field, both Jamaicans should medal.
Bolt will not lose again
Despite losing to former world record holder Asafa Powell in his last 100 metres event, Usain Bolt will not lose again. After losing several metres at the start, Bolt, showing excellent top-end speed, just failed by one-hundredths of a second to overhaul Powell, who for the first time actually dipped at the finish line in the 100 metres as he was begging for the tape.
The men's 100 will be one of the most exciting events at the Games as world champion Tyson Gay, along with his team-mate Walter Dix, the Trinidadian trio of Darrell Brown, Richard Thompson and Marc Burns and The Bahamas' Derrick Atkins, are strong contenders.
However, it will be hard denying Bolt and hopefully Powell can hold off Gay and company for the silver as Jamaica should get two medals.
200m outcome
The 200 metres it will be a cinch for Bolt and following four rounds in the 100 metres, it will be very interesting to see if he could record another sub 19.7 seconds as he goes for the double. This is the easiest event to call at the Games and all others will be competing for silver and bronze.
McFarlane has looked better and better and although it will be very tough, he could surprise and win a medal in what is expected to be his final Olympic Games.
The other Jamaican with a medal chance is decathlete World silver medallist, Maurice Smith. He came close to taking the gold but was denied due to an injury with his elbow, which affected his javelin throw. This time around it will be much tougher, but based on his form and on his confidence last year he could be among the medallists.
