Campbell-Brown

Two years ago in Osaka, Japan, Jamaica's women captured six of 10 medals garnered by the team while at the Beijing Olympic Games last year. of the 11 medals reaped by Jamaica, the females accounted for eight.

The aim of this article is to predict the likely medallists in selected events, especially those in which Jamaicans will be participating.

Like they did in Osaka two years, ago, the Jamaican women are expected to reap six medals once again - two gold, three silver and one bronze.

100m

Stewart

After the Beijing sweep last year all eyes will be on the nation's sprinters once again as the country will have four representatives and will be hoping for another sweep.

Three of the country's female sprinters are highly ranked. Kerron Stewart (10.75) is the world leader ahead of Shelly-Ann Fraser (10.88) with Veronica-Campbell-Brown at number five with 10.96 seconds.

A very close and competitive event, as the Jamaicans should get great competition from the likes of Carmelita Jeter of the United States (US) along with Trinidad's Kelly-Ann Baptiste and the Bahamas pair of Debbie Ferguson-McKenzie and Chandra Sturrup.

Campbell-Brown will be seeking to make it two in a row as she is the defending champion but could find it very difficult this time around to get among the medals, as Olympic champion Fraser, along with world leader Stewart and Jeter, look the likely medallists.

The American who could prevent a Jamaican sweep has regained her early form following an impressive run in her last meet where she clocked 10.92 seconds in a head wind. A surprise bronze medal winner two years ago, she could go all the way.

Jamaica's top two sprinters are, however, expected to fight for the gold here and the result could go either way, as Stewart who finished seventh two years ago and who has clocked six sub-11 seconds so far this season is in the best form of her life and, after easily defeating Fraser the last time they met, will be hard to beat.

1. Kerron Stewart (Jam) 2. Shelly-Ann Fraser (Jam) 3. Carmelita Jeter (USA)

200m

Two-time Olympic champion Veronica Campbell-Brown will be seeking her first World Championship win in this event where she is expected to have a keen battle with defending champion America Allyson Felix.

Felix will, in fact, be looking to make it three-in-a-row and will start favourite following an impressive season best and world-leading 21.88 seconds done at the Stockholm Super Grand Prix.

Campbell-Brown, who is expected to compete in four tough rounds of 100 metres before the start of the half-lap event will have to be at her very best as Felix looks unbeatable. The Jamaican, with a season best 22.37 seconds, and who is ranked number three in the world so far, behind Felix and the Bahamian Debbie Ferguson-McKenzie, will have to reproduce her Beijing form where she clocked 21.74 seconds to win the gold.

The Jamaican is a gutsy campaigner and could use her early speed to get away from the American who is a very dangerous finisher.

1. Allyson Felix (USA) 2. Veronica Campbell-Brown (Jam) 3. Debbie Ferguson-McKenzie (Bah)

400m

Richards

There will be no stopping Sanya Richards this year as she is to set break her jinx of not winning at a major championships. Like previous years she has been the most dominant female 400 metres runner going into a major championships.World leader with 49.23 seconds and five sub-50 seconds so far this season, she has changed her front-running tactics and she will not be beaten.

Following her surprise silver in Beijing last year, Jamaica's Shericka Williams has been consistent all season and with a season-best 49.98 seconds could improve dramatically, and if there is any one in the line up to upset Richards it could be her.

National champion Novlene Williams-Mills, who came so close two years ago in winning the gold before fading in the last 10 metres to end up with the bronze, could be among the medals but she is very inconsistent and will have to improve on her season-best 50.05 seconds to be among the medals.

Surprise gold medallist in Osaka and Beijing last year, Great Britain's Christine Ohuruogo will be hoping to defend her title successfully but this time the odds are against her as she has shown no signs this season that she will reproduce her two Championship runs.

1. Sanya Richards (USA) 2. Shericka Williams (Jam) 3. Antonina Krivoshapka (Russia)

100m hurdles

This is undoubtedly one of the most competitive events at the World Championships.

It is very difficult to call the medallists here as any three of eight expected finalists could be among the medals as it is going to be a cracker of an event and it could take the photo-finish camera to decide all eight placings.

Australia's Sally McLellan could be the only athlete outside of the US, Canada and Jamaica in the final and following her silver medal in Beijing last year could use her early speed and go all the way.

The Canadian Priscilla Lopez-Schliep, who was the bronze medallist in Beijing, has been in impressive form in her last two meets. Americans Damu Cherry and Dawn Harper and Jamaica's Brigitte Foster-Hylton have also all gone sub-12.6 seconds so far this season.

Jamaican veterans Delloreen Ennis-London and Foster-Hylton will be hoping to be among the medals in what is expected to be a cliffhanger. Difficult to call but McLellan is given the edge. She could use her early speed to get away from the field.

1. Sally McLellan (Aus) 2. Dawn Harper (USA) 3.Priscilla Lopez-Schliep (Can)

400m Hurdles

Williams

Jamaica's Melaine Walker, the Olympic champion, is hitting top form after a slow start this season and will be hoping to add the World Championship title to her kitty. She will, however, have to do something which she has never done so far in her career and that is to defeat the American Lashinda Demus who is on top of her game at the moment.

Demus, who finished second at the 2005 World Championships, has beaten Walker twice this season with ease with her last win being very impressive as she clocked a world leading and career best 52.63 seconds in Monaco. Walker who has a season best 54.20 seconds will have to reproduce her Beijing form where she clocked 52.64 seconds if she is to deny the American.

1. Lashinda Demus (USA) 2. Melaine Walker (Jam) 3. Josanne Lucas (Tri)

4x100m

Following their mishap in Beijing last year, it will be difficult to stop Jamaica this time around. Two years ago they were beaten by the US in a close finish but with a line-up to include three sub-11 seconds ladies they are overwhelming favourites here and the German Democratic Republic's world record of 41.37 seconds set in Canberra, Australia, in 1985, is in danger.

Once the athletes are used in their right order and there are no mishaps they could be the first female team to go sub-41 seconds.

1. Jamaica 2. USA 3. Russia

4x400m

Felix

Even with two athletes under 50 seconds, and four more under 51 seconds Russia will find it difficult to deny the defending champions, the US.

Led by world leader Sanya Richards and the versatile Allyson Felix, and with expected 400 metres hurdles champion Lashinda Demus in their line-up, they could challenge the world record of 3:15.17 set in Seoul in 1988 by the USSR team.

Jamaica and Great Britain should fight out for the bronze with Jamaica getting the edge as Novlene Williams-Mills and Shericka Williams will make the difference.

1. USA 2. Russia 3. Jamaica.