Odyssey to Oregon

2022 ODYSSEY TO OREGON

and 2019 World Championships with the same personal best time – 53.74 seconds. Sydney McLaughlin, Muhammad and spindly Dutchwoman Femke Bol took all the medals last year. However, if Muhammad’s recent injury is serious, the reliable Janieve Russell, the 2016 and 2021 Olympic finalist, could move up. TRIPLE DOUBLE FOR SHANIEKA? When the sensational Yulimar Rojas steps onto the runaway, you automatically think, ‘world record and gold medal’. Jamaica’s Shanieka Ricketts has to ignore the Venezuelan and focus on herself. Her first jump beyond 15 metres wouldn’t hurt. At press time, her 2022 best was 14.43 metres, good for number 6 on the yearly performance list. WHO SHOT THE SHERIFF? Like Ricketts, 2019 World shot put runner‐up Thomas‐Dodd is the 6th best performer this year with a throw of 19.53 metres. With three ladies past 20 metres and World Indoor champion Auriel Dongmo of Portugal at 19.68, Thomas‐Dodd will have to fire on all cylinders to medal. In Doha, she had a disqualified

NCAA Champion Lamara Distin has a legitimate shot at the heights for this year’s World Athletics Championships.

throw that landed on the 20‐ metre line. The World final would be a great moment to reproduce it. WORLD RECORD RELAY? 10 years ago, Americans Tianna Bartoletta, Allyson Felix, Bianca Knight and Carmelita Jeter set a super 4x100 record of 40.82 seconds. Had COVID‐19 not eliminated Jamaica’s usual team camp and the allied baton practice, Brianna Williams, Thompson‐Herah, Fraser Pryce and Jackson might have broken it last year in Tokyo. With young Kemba Nelson, second at the Nationals in 10.88 seconds, they can run at it again in Eugene. In the 4x400, Jamaica will arrive in Eugene with gold from the

World Indoor Championships in March. The Americans missed the medals in that meet but will be much, much stronger outdoors and as it was in Doha and Tokyo, Jamaica and Poland will battle for the silver. DISCUS HISTORY FOR LAWRENCE? If conditions allow Shadae Lawrence to reach her lifetime best of 67.05 metres earlier in the discus final, it could unsettle people the way Tajay Gayle did in the 2019 men’s long jump. HIGH JUMP HOPES HIGH The Russia‐Ukraine conflict has ruled out the brilliant Mariya Lasitskene and leaves a medal up for grabs. Lamara Distin, the NCAA indoor and outdoor champion, could reach for it. Led by Fraser‐Pryce, the ladies won 8 of the team’s 12 medals in Doha and with Thompson‐ Herah at top speed, the figure was 7 of 9 in Tokyo. The trend will continue in Eugene with a possible 100‐metre medal sweep, at least 1 in the 200 and two in the relays almost certain. Add a podium place in the 100‐ metre hurdles and the shot; the result is the familiar picture of Jamaican women stepping up at the World Championships.

The Olympic champions are favourites again.