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London 2012 Olympics: Women’s sprint events form guide

100m

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Reigning champion Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce produced the fastest 100m clocking of her life with a 10.70 national record at the Jamaican Trials. Although she hasn’t had the most consistent season, if she gets it right in London she will be almost unbeatable.

World champion Carmelita Jeter started the season well and won the US Trials, but she was beaten in London by Nigeria’s Blessing Okagbare. The long jump specialist seems to be rounding into form at the right time, also winning in Monaco with a 10.96 PB. World bronze medallist and Tianna Madison – another former long jumper – have both been consistent among the world’s best this year.

Form guide

1 Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce (JAM)
2 Carmelita Jeter (USA)
3 Blessing Okagbare (NGR)
4 Kelly-Ann Baptiste (TRI)
5 Tianna Madison (USA)
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200m

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Allyson Felix has won three world 200m titles, but Olympic gold is one that has so far eluded her over the distance. She is in supreme form this year though and went to fourth on the world all-time list with 21.69. Along with Felix, Carmelita Jeter and Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce are set to double up and could both win medals in the 200m.

Two-time Olympic champion Veronica Campbell-Brown started the season in solid form but was only third at the Jamaican Trials and was beaten in Lucerne by Charonda Williams, an American who didn’t even make the US Trials final.

Form guide

1 Allyson Felix (USA)
2 Carmelita Jeter (USA)
3 Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce (JAM)
4 Veronica Campbell-Brown (JAM)
5 Murielle Ahoure (CIV)
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400m

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Sanya Richards-Ross is out to win the elusive Olympic 400m title and seems more than capable, but her CV is peppered with disappointments at major championships. Should she falter again, defending champion Christine Ohuruogu is one of several athletes who will be ready to pounce, having produced her best ever early-season form this year.

World champion Amantle Montsho will also be strong, along with world leader Antonina Krivoshapka and leading sub-50 Jamaican Novlene Williams-Mills.

Form guide

1 Sanya Richards-Ross (USA)
2 Christine Ohuruogu (GBR)
3 Amantle Montsho (BOT)
4 Antonina Krivoshapka (RUS)
5 Novlene Williams-Mills (JAM)
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100m hurdles

Entries | Stats | Rankings
Excluding a DNF from last year, Sally Pearson suffered her first defeat in the 100m hurdles for two years when she was beaten by USA’s Kellie Wells at the London Diamond League. But that could be just the motivation the world champion needs ahead of the Games.

Reigning Olympic champion Dawn Harper won the highly-competitive US Trials, while 2009 world champion Brigitte Foster-Hylton is back in form. Also keep an eye out for Turkey’s Nevin Yanit, the dark horse of the competition who could get very close to the medals.

Form guide

1 Sally Pearson (AUS)
2 Kellie Wells (USA)
3 Dawn Harper (USA)
4 Brigitte Foster-Hylton (JAM)
5 Nevin Yanit (TUR)
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400m hurdles

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The most open of all the women’s sprinting events, this will feature the reigning Olympic champion, the current world champion and the past two European championships, but none of them have set themselves apart this season. Russia’s Natalya Antyukh leads the world with 53.40 and is a sub-53 runner at best.

Defending champion Melaine Walker has gone sub-53 at the past three global championships, so don’t be fooled by her 54.44 season’s best. Perri Shakes-Drayton looked every bit the potential medallist with her decisive 53.77 victory over a loaded field in London. World champion LaShinda Demus can never be counted out, while European champion Irina Davydova has been consistent.

Form guide

1 Natalya Antyukh (RUS)
2 Melaine Walker (JAM)
3 Perri Shakes-Drayton (GBR)
4 LaShinda Demus (USA)
5 Irina Davydova (RUS)
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4x100m relay

Entries | Stats | Rankings
Jamaica fielded a full-strength team at last year’s World Championships and set a national record of 41.70, but it was still not enough to defeat the USA.

Despite disappointment at the Europeans, Ukraine could well be a danger. Germany won the recent European title, while Russia won’t want to surrender their Olympic title without a fight.

Form guide

1 USA
2 Jamaica
3 Ukraine
4 Russia
5 Germany
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4x400m relay

Entries | Stats | Rankings
This often comes down to a three-way battle between USA, Russia and Jamaica – and this year is no different. Russia boast the best aggregate times, but USA always seem to have the edge on the day.

Jamaica aren’t as strong as they usually are and could be vulnerable to an attack from host nation Great Britain, the world indoor champions.

Form guide

1 USA
2 Russia
3 Jamaica
4 Great Britain & NI
5 Ukraine
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» All of the above are bite-sized versions of AW‘s Olympic Games preview. For the full version – including rankings, features, stats and predictions – get the latest copy of Athletics Weekly, out now.

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