DESTINY IN DOHA 2019
2019 DESTINY IN DOHA
How Many Medals?
Aer a modest four‐medal haul in London two years ago and the rerement of the incomparable Usain Bolt, fans look cauously toward Doha and the 17th IAAF World Championships. Thankfully, the signs are good. Led by sprint greats Shelly‐Ann Fraser‐Pryce, Elaine Thompson and hurdler supreme Omar McLeod, Jamaica is trending toward a performance that make London a dusty mem‐ ory. If the signs speak truth, the team will return home with more than 10 medals . WOMEN’S 100 The 32‐year‐old Fraser Pryce looked sharper on the European circuit unl her September 6 loss to Dina Asher‐Smith of Britain in the Brussels Diamond final, but Thompson was a smidge ahead at the naonal championships with both sharing the remarkable me of 10.73 seconds. Aside from Asher‐Smith, keep an eye out for defending champion Tori Bowie in the rival lanes. The American has been flirng with her first love, the long jump, but she could be peak‐ ing for the 100 right on me.
HUBERT LAWRENCE
While Jamaica’s Akeem Bloomeld (right) was not an automatic selection due to his absence at trials, his fast times in the summer make him a beneciary of sub-par times by top men at nationals. The going will be tough for the Jamaican since Americans Norman (left) and Kerley (centre) appear to have the rst two spots sewn up.
Kerley, who have recently swapped wins, but Gardiner and Bloomfield could have the beang of US number‐three Nathan Strother who was miles off his 44.23 best in Brussels on September 6. Bloomfield, 44.40 in London, and Demish Gaye, the Pan‐Am Games runner‐up, could give Jamaica two men in the final for only the second me in World Championships history. On the eve of the championships, Grenada’s 2011 champion Kirani James bounced back from injury to clock 44.47 seconds. He’ll be in the thick of it.
1. Ajee Wilson 2. Natoya Goule 3. Hanna Green
1. Danielle Williams 2. Kendra Harrison 3. Nia Ali
easily with 2017 runner‐up Salwa Eid Naser of Bahrain second. Jackson will bale US champion Shakima Wimbley for the bronze.
1. Chrisan Coleman 2. Jusn Gatlin 3. Akani Simbine
100-METRE HURDLES With the Diamond Trophy in hand and the fastest me of the year at 12.32 seconds, Danielle Williams is the favourite. Three steady races in the Qatari capital will give her a gold medal to match the one she collected in 2015. World record holder, American Ken‐ dra Harrison, has decelerated since her convincing US Championships win and won’t catch Williams.
110-METRE HURDLES With 2 coaching changes and an extended version of his usual mid‐ season slump behind him, McLeod might just defend his tle success‐ fully. His last two races – 13.21 in Birmingham and 13.07 in Budapest – represent a significant improve‐ ment. Cuban‐turned‐Spaniard Orlando Ortega is always in the running, but 2015 winner Sergey Shubenkov is a mystery for now. McLeod crashed into the Russian on June 16 in Rabat and his recovery has been slow. The two fastest men in the world, Grant Holloway and Daniel Roberts, 12.98 and 13.00 respecvely, are a long way past their brilliant NCAA epic in early June and shouldn’t fac‐ tor.
WOMEN’S 200 With world number‐one Shaunae Miller‐Uibo doing only the 400, Olympic champion Thompson has an easier road here, but it won’t be easy. Asher‐Smith has generally been world number‐two and has recently beaten the Jamaican. Two‐me defending champion Dafne Schippers has the fastest personal best at 21.63 seconds, compared to 21.66 for Thompson and 21.85 for Asher‐Smith but the Dutchwoman’s form has been modest, keeping her off the podium’s top step.
1. Shaunae Miller‐Uibo 2. Salwa Eid Naser 3. Shericka Jackson
MEN’S 400 Miller‐Uibo’s compatriot Steven Gardiner and Jamaica’s Akeem Bloomfield will race to intercept a possible US sweep. No‐one will trouble Michael Norman and Fred
1. Shelly‐Ann Fraser‐Pryce 2. Elaine Thompson 3. Dina Asher‐Smith
1. Michael Norman 2. Fred Kerley 3. Kirani James
MEN’S 100 Though Bolt is gone, four of the top five from London return, with 2011 winner Yohan Blake among them. Chrisan Coleman, the 2017 runner‐up, has beaten a doping rap and should win, having been the world’s fastest man for three sea‐ sons running. A US sweep was on tap unl Diamond League 100/200 winner Noah Lyles chose to run only the longer race for Doha. A late injury concern for 2005 and 2017 winner Jusn Gatlin will give hope to the trio of Akani Simbine, Britain’s Zharnel Hughes and Blake.
WOMEN’S 800 With Caster Semenya, Francine Niyonsaba and Mary Wambui illegi‐ ble for the me being, Natoya Goule has a far beer chance to win a medal. Her 2019 results are up and down as she perhaps searches for a race strategy that will pay dividends. However, as shown by her naonal record of 1 minute 56.15 seconds, the 2018 Commonwealth bronze medallist has the wheels. In fact, among those who are eligible, only Wilson and Goule have run under 1.58.
1. Dina Asher‐Smith 2. Elaine Thompson 3. Dafne Schippers
1. Omar McLeod 2. Orlando Ortega 3. Sergey Shubenkov
WOMEN’S 400 2015 bronze medal winner Shericka Jackson is fourth‐fastest this year, but it appears that only two of the three women ahead of her naonal championships winning personal best of 49.78 seconds will race in Doha. Fresh from a stunning 21.74‐ second 200, Miller‐Uibo should win
ANA
MEN’S LONG JUMP Tajay Gayle has hardly put a foot wrong in 2019. A personal best of 8.32 and the Pan‐Am Games silver behind Juan Miguel Echevarría of‐ Cuba make him a strong medal can‐
USA’s Christian Coleman is favoured in the 100
Elaine Thompson has the year’s fastest time, 10.73
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