British face sprint challenge
British face sprint challenge
Last Updated: 3:28am BST 23/05/2007
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Tyson Gay has already run 19.97. Fellow American Jeremy Wariner opened his 400 metres season with 44.66 which was a good time for Jeremy but far from his usual out-of-this-world form. He followed that with a very easy 44.02 in Osaka to remind us who he is. Wariner is my client but my other client and another member of the US team, Darold Williamson, also had a great showing with a 44.68 for second in that race.
While 44.68 is a great time for so early in the season it only ranks fourth on the list for the 400m this year. Gary Kikaya, who races for the Democratic Republic of Congo, started fast with a 44.60 but the biggest surprise so far is the return of 2000 Olympic 400m hurdles champion Angelo Taylor, who is old enough that he actually ran on the US 4x400m relay with me in 1999. Taylor clocked 44.35 two weeks ago in Atlanta. With Kerron Clement and Bershawn Jackson running as well as they both are in the 400m hurdles I anticipate Taylor will opt for the flat 400 at the US championships next month. Wariner has automatic entry into the 400m as reigning world champion, which means the US can take four 400m runners to the World Championships in Osaka, which gives Taylor an even better shot at making the 400m team.
The top college athlete this year and probable next US star has to be Walter Dix, who’s been very impressive with consistent wins at 100m and 200m and running 10.11 and 20.13. Dix and his coach have tried to dispel all speculation that he will turn professional this year by announcing he will continue his education at Florida State University. But they didn’t say if he would continue to compete for the university’s track team. Should he win the 100m and 200m at the upcoming NCAA collegiate championships, as he is favored to do, I don’t see any good reason for not turning professional.
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Allyson Felix had an impressive clocking in the 400m in Doha a few weeks back, running 50.47 after running 11.27 in the 100m. Like Wariner, as reigning world champion she has automatic entry in the 200m in Osaka. She may attempt to make the 400m team and try for a double. Sanya Richards has long talked of a championship 200/400 double, but Sanya has yet to start her season due to illness and injury in the off season. A late start plus no automatic entry into the world championships in either event means she would have to first run both events at the US Championships. There’s no doubt that if anyone can have her ready, it’s her coach and mine, Clyde Hart. Natasha Hastings is a collegiate athlete coached by Curtis Frye, who developed, Allen Johnson and Terrence Trammell, among others.
Hastings has quickly made herself known, breaking Richards’ indoor collegiate 400m record.
The Jamaicans aren’t just sitting back watching the Americans. Usain Bolt has tested his ability at 400 meters early this year with fair results so far running 45.28 earlier this month. The 200 is definitely his better event and always will be. It has reported he is considering doubling in the 200 and 400 at some point but I think this would be a stretch for him. The Jamaicans have find a new female sprint star in Kerron Stewart, currently competing on the collegiate circuit in the US.
She leads the world right now with the fastest time at 200 meters.
This looks to be a very difficult year in the sprints for the Brits and the rest of the world as the depth that the Americans and Jamaicans have enjoyed in the past seems to be only increasing.