Campbell takes gold as Powell remains injured

Veronica Campbell is on top of the world 100m
rankings.

Wednesday,  August 31, 2005

Jamaican sprinter Veronica Campbell has taken over the number one position on the IAAF rankings for the Women’s 100 metres. This was quite an achievement for Campbell, who moved up from third position in the previous rankings. She overtook reigning World Champion in the 100 metres Lauryn Williams, who had been lying in second place, and knocked Christine Arron of France off the top spot. This is the second serious blow that Campbell has landed on Arron, after also ending Arron’s shot at the Golden League jackpot earlier.

However, there is a downside to Campbell’s performances in the 100 metres. As she has focussed primarily on the shorter event at recent meets, she has sacrificed her number one position in the 200 metres to reigning World Champion Allyson Felix of the USA.

It was however not all bad news for Jamaica in the women’s 200 metres rankings, as Aleen Bailey made her return to the rankings in 13th position.

In the women’s triple jump rankings, Trecia Smith also slipped to second position after being overtaken by Russia’s Tatiana Lebedeva. The Russian is the only athlete left in the hunt for the $1 000 000 jackpot for athletes who manage to win their event in all six of the IAAF Golden League meetings.

In spite of his injury-driven sabbatical from competition, Asafa Powell is still in the number one position in the men’s 100 metres rankings. However, his position is becoming ever more precarious, as archrival Justin Gatlin keeps on moving closer to Powell with every passing meet. Gatlin has been unbeatable in the 100 metres since he became World Championship, and the rate at which he has been closing the gap between himself and Powell would make it seem only a matter of time before he takes over the number one ranking. There is currently a mere two points separating the two sprinters, and unless Powell gets back to the track, and winning, very soon, his days in the lead are numbered.

Other movers for Jamaica includes Kemel Thompson, who moved from sixth to fifth in the men’s 400 metres hurdles rankings, and James Beckford, who moved from tenth to ninth in the men’s long jump rankings.
Michael Frater has dropped down one position from sixth to seventh in the men’s 100 metres rankings, with Dwight Thomas maintaining his ninth position.

Usain Bolt has dropped one position from fifth to sixth in the men’s 200 metres rankings.

Omar Brown has also dropped one position from 11th to 12th in the same event, but Chris Williams more than made up for that by climbing from 21st to 13th.

Brandon Simpson maintained his third position in the men’s 400 metres rankings, with Michael Blackwood also maintaining his fifth position in the same event. Other Jamaicans on the 400 metres rankings include Davian Clarke (12th) and Sanjay Ayre (18th).

In the 110 metres hurdles for men, Maurice Wignall maintained his sixth position.

Danny McFarlane also maintained his ninth position in the 400 metres hurdles rankings, while Dean Griffiths slipped one position from 19th to 20th.

In the women’s 100 metres, Sherone Simpson dropped one position from fifth to sixth, while Aleen Bailey maintained her ninth position. Tanya Lawrence dropped two positions from 12th to 14th.

In the women’s 200 metres, Beverly McDonald dropped one position from 18th to 19th.

In the women’s 400 metres, Lorraine Fenton dropped one position from 14th to 15th.

In the women’s 800 metres, Kenia Sinclair maintained her ninth position.

In the 100 metres hurdles for women, Brigitte Foster-Hylton maintained her third place, while Delloreen Ennis-London mover up one position from fifth to joint fourth. Lacena Golding-Clarke also maintained her 11th position, and Vonette Dixon her 16th position.

In the women’s 3000 metres steeplechase, both Korine Hinds and Mardrea Hyman dropped one position to fifth and sixth positions respectively.

Elva Goulbourne maintained her tenth position in the women’s long jump.
At this late point of the season, the event rankings become much more important than usual, as it is these rankings that are used to determine which athletes receive invitations to the season-ending IAAF World Finals. Only the top eight athletes in every event are invited. This means that, for those athletes who are close to eighth position, every last point counts.

At present, Jamaica has a couple of athletes who are certain to receive invitations. Whether all of them will be able to take up the invitation is however another question.

On the men’s side, Asafa Powell, Usain Bolt, and Brandon Simpson are certain to receive invitations, with Maurice Wignall, Michael Blackwood, Kemel Thompson, and Michael Frater also in with a good chance. James Beckford also has a chance, although he will have to improve on his current ninth position in the long jump rankings.

The Jamaican women are lead by Veronica Campbell, who has assured invitations to the 100 metres and 200 metres. Other certain invites are going to Trecia Smith, Brigitte Foster-Hylton, and Delloreen Ennis-London. Others in with a very good chance are Sherone Simpson, Aleen Bailey, Koreen Hinds, and Mardrea Hyman. Kenia Sinclair and Elva Goulbourne also have outside chances of receiving invitations.

This should give Jamaica very strong representation in the event, which showcases only the very best in world athletics.

The event will take place in Monaco from 9 to 10 September.

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