Sunday, August 5, 2012

Olympic Women's 100 Meters

The 100 meter dash is track's marquee event. The winner claims their status as fastest in the world, and with the field that was assembled for this one on Saturday night, it really would be true.

With no surprises in the semi-finals, all the favorites were through to the final. Back to defend her title was Shelly Ann Fraser Pryce of Jamaica, who stunned the world 4 years ago in Beijing, winning the title. She's the female version of Usain Bolt - personality-wise, at least. Always smiling, always relaxed, but when she's in the blocks, she's ready to go.

But her path to the title was not going to be easy. She'd have to beat teammate Veronica Campbell Brown, and Blessing Okagbare of Nigeria, who has looked strong these past few weeks. On top of that, the entire American contingent of Carmelita Jeter, Tianna Madison, and Allyson Felix, was determined to sweep the podium, if possible.

100 meter races are tough to write about, because what can you say? Ready, set, go...and less than 11 seconds later the race is done. The tactics of a 10k aren't there, and there generally aren't "moves" to be made. Instead it comes down to your start, your drive phase, and then whether you fade or not towards the end.

Before the race I called Jeter as medaling, but not winning, and said Felix would finish 5th. Well, that's pretty much what happened. Fraser Pryce defends her title, becoming just the third woman in history to win the event twice, and Jeter held off VCB for 2nd. Madison and Felix were 4-5 (both in new Personal Bests, 10.85 and 10.89), and Trinidad and Tobago's Kelly-Ann Baptiste was 6th. Murielle Ahoure of the Ivory Coast was 7th, and Blessing Okagbare was last in 11.01.

RESULTS

GOLD: Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce, 10.75
SILVER: Carmelita Jeter, 10.78
BRONZE: Veronica Campbell-Brown, 10.81

AMERICANS

2. Carmelita Jeter
4. Tianna Madison
5. Allyson Felix

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