British Golden Hopes in Edmonton! (Athletics in General)

Member Name: ross1979

Product:	Athletics in General
Date:	02/08/01 (30 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Speed, Action

Disadvantages: Drugs controversy

The 8th IAAF World Athletics Championships are being held at Edmonton in Canada from Friday. For those of you who are interested in the slightest, I will give you a few of the British medal hopes and my opinion on their chances.

Certainly, the feeling in the British camp will be positive with a number of athletes expected to medal and even to win.

In the 100m, American Maurice Greene will start out as outstanding favourite as he tries to get his 3rd world championship gold medal. However, Dwain Chambers was 4th in the Olympics in Sydney and hopes to upset the form books. The Briton, with a pb of 9.98, has shown consistantly good form this year and is a good bet for one of the minor medals.

Both athletes also run in the 200m. Chambers recently showed his ability in this event with a spectacular win in Crystal Palace. This is the weaker of Greene's events and fellow Brit Christian Malcolm will also be up there challenging for the honours. Unfortunately, Olympic silver medalist Darren Campbell will not start. However, with this event wide open, expect at least one British Medalist.

in the 400m, Mark Richardson is on the comback trail after considering quitting forever while trying to clear his name of a drugs accusation. He may lack a little sharpness, but his performance at the AAAs and at Crystal Palace put him in the frame as a contender for the medals, especially with no Micheal Johnson to compete against..

Unfortunately, Welshman Iwan Thomas's chances fare less well. He sneaked the qualifying time at the last minute and to make the final must be his only goal. With European, Commonwealth and World Cup titles in his favour and two injury hit years counting against him, it will be a struggle for the popular man.

The triple jump is perhaps the most exciting event for the men. Jonathon Edwards has been on impressive form this year and is expected to have a duel with Christian Olsson of Sweden,
who is now regarded as the world number 2. Edwards may be approaching the end of his superb career, but the world record holder will still start as favourit and is definately my tip for gold. In fact, dont count out other british medals here, since Larry Achike and Philips Idowu are both world class performers also.

Sydney hero Dean Macey will have a strong bid for a Decathlon medal. However,
world record holder Roman Sebrle starts as favourite and Olympic champion Erki Nool of Estonia will also be tuff to beat. He showed us he had guts last time, lets hope he can do it again.

For Britain?s women, Paula Radcliffe will be aiming to capture the medal she deserves in the 10,000m by beating her two fiercest rivals. She has always been outkicked in major championship finals, but the gutsy world cross country champion will be out to make things different this time.

However, she will need to get an early lead over Ethiopia's Derartu Tulu and Gete Wami if she does not want a sense of deja vu. Her finishing speed is improving and all of Britain will be hoping she can do it this time.

Middle distance star Kelly Holmes will be hoping to put her injury worries aside and take a much deserved world title. Depsite injury last year, she came away with a brilliant bronze in the 800m at the Olympics. She is fast improving this year, and will hope to go a couple better. However, Olympic champion Maria Mutola will start as firm favouite in the 800m and there will be stiff opposition in the 1500m also. One thing is certain though, she will give 100%.

Another heading to Edmonton facing an uphill battle is Olympic champion Denise Lewis in the Heptathlon. The World Champs is the only title to elude her and France?s Eunice Barber will prove mightly tuff opposition this time round.

British hopes are high of beating the seven medal total of Seville in 1999. Britain and Northern Ireland finished eleventh, with jus
t one gold, four silver and two bronze medals

We all expect more in Edmonton - lets hope they deliver!

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