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

Olympic Trials: Women's 200m

Allyson Felix Crushes, Carmelita Jeter and Sanya Richards-Ross Qualify in 2nd Event

The US is so deep at the 200m for women, the final could very well have been the final at the Olympic games. Tianna Madison, Jeneba Tarmoh, Bianca Knight, and Kimberlyn Duncan could all have made the team for almost any other country, but will not be competing in London because of the devastatingly fast legs of Allyson Felix, Carmelita Jeter, and Sanya Richards-Ross.

In wet conditions, Allyson Felix blew the doors off of everyone, blazing the first 50m and increasing her lead on the straightaway. Her time of 21.69 seconds was a personal best and Trials record (wind +1.0m/s = legal), and she won the race by .42 ahead of Carmelita Jeter. Jeter was the winner in the 100m a week ago, and Richards-Ross of course won the 400m. Ross became the first American woman to pull off the 400/200 double.

Felix broke the Trials record of 21.77 set by the great Florence Griffith-Joyner in 1988, and became the 4th fastest woman at the distance in history.

Winning the award for Most Awkward Commentating were the staff of NBC, as both Lewis and Dwight cornered Felix and Tarmoh immediately following their race to ask about their decision regarding the 100m tiebreaker. Both women graciously deflected the question, saying that they had not discussed it yet but would likely do that tonight or tomorrow. As of right now there has been no decision made, but the duo's coach, Bobby Kersee, has said that they will not run earlier than Tuesday if it is a run-off scenario.

Personal opinion: Felix doesn't stand a chance in the 100m, at least not for gold, and likely not for a medal at all. The field is too deep. Focus on the 200m, and save yourself the couple of races. Run the 4x100m. Give the spot to Tarmoh.

Women's 200m results (usatf.org)

1 Allyson Felix Nike 21.69 M

2 Carmelita Jeter Nike 22.11

3 Sanya Richards-Ross Nike 22.22

4 Kimberlyn Duncan L S U 22.34
5 Jeneba Tarmoh Nike 22.35
6 Tianna Madison Saucony 22.50
7 Bianca Knight adidas 22.60
8 Aurieyall Scott U C F 22.68

Olympic Trials: Women's 200m Semifinals

Normally I wouldn't make a big deal out of a semi-final, but did you see this?

2 Allyson Felix Nike 22.30 Q +0.8 [22.297] 0.234
3 Jeneba Tarmoh Nike 22.30 Q +3.4 [22.298] 0.169

Alright so they didn't run in the same heat, but how weird is it that Allyson Felix and Jeneba Tarmoh - who literally are still tied in the 100m from the other day - ran the SAME DAMN TIME. Once again they were calculated down to the thousandth of a second, and this time it was Felix given the nod by 1/1000. Of course, Tarmoh had a monster tailwind, while Felix's was at least legal, but look at the reaction times. Felix is going to have to get a better start if she's going to beat her training partner, Tarmoh, in the final!

And meanwhile Sanya Richards-Ross crushes her heat in 22.15. Pretty interesting for someone so focused on the 400m to have the fastest time in the world this year for 200m. Carmelita Jeter finished 2nd to Felix in their heat and was the slowest of the qualifiers. Kimberlyn Duncan of LSU advances, as did Bianca Knight and Tianna Madison, who made the 100m team.

 Charonda Williams, Lauryn Williams, LaShaunte'a Moore, and Under Armour's Natasha Hastings were non-qualifiers.

200m semifinals results (usatf.org)

1 Sanya Richards-Ross Nike 22.15 Q
2 Allyson Felix Nike 22.30 Q
3 Jeneba Tarmoh Nike 22.30 Q
4 Tianna Madison Saucony 22.33 Q
5 Bianca Knight adidas 22.34 q
6 Kimberlyn Duncan L S U 22.37 Q
7 Aurieyall Scott U C F 22.56 q
 8 Carmelita Jeter Nike 22.64 Q