RIO FORM GUIDE
MEL WATMAN LOOKS AT THE PROSPECTS FOR THE WOMEN’S CHAMPIONS FROM 2012 AHEAD OF RIO
MARK SHEARMAN
HOW THE WOMEN’S CHAMPIONS HAVE FARED SINCE 2012
What do Francoise Mbango (right), Jackie Joyner-Kersee (below) and Yelena Isinbayeva (below right) have in common? See panel below
HOW MANY of the reigning champions will hold on to their crowns in Rio? The male gold medallists were assessed in the July 7 issue, and here is a brief resumé of how the women have fared since London 2012 (ages at time of Rio Games).
Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce JAM: (100m; 29) 2012 – 10.70; 2013 – 10.71; 2014 – 11.01; 2015 – 10.74. 1st 2013 World 100 & 200m; 1st 2014 World Indoor 60m; 1st 2015 World 100m. Merit ranked No.1 in 2015 ahead of Dafne Schippers. Following recovery from injury has raced at 100m at only three meetings this year, placing 8th in Eugene in 11.18 (English Gardner won in 10.81), winning in Kingston in 11.09 and placing a distant second (10.93) to Elaine Thompson (10.70) in the Jamaican Championships.
Allyson Felix USA: (200m; 30) 2012 – 21.69; 2013 – 22.30 & 21.85w; 2014 – 22.02; 2015 – 21.98 (& 49.26 400m). dnf 2013 World; 1st 2015 World 400m. Merit ranked No.3 at 200m behind Dafne Schippers & Elaine Thompson; No.1 at 400m ahead of Shaunae Miller. A cautious start to 2016 after injury: outdoors just two low-key races at 400m prior to the US Trials where she won the 400m in a world leading 49.68 but her dream of an Olympic double was ended when, by a margin of 1/100th, she failed to win a place on the 200m team.
Sanya Richards-Ross USA: (400m; 31) PB prior to 2012: 48.70 (2006). 2012 – 49.28; 2013 – 51.43; 2014 – 49.66; 2015 – 49.95. Merit ranked no 4 in 2015 behind Allyson Felix, Shaunae Miller & Francena McCorory. Her only completed 400m race this year was finishing 7th in the Pre Classic in 52.16 and she pulled up injured in her heat at the Trials. A great career is over.