The shining lights of Crystal Palace
It's a simple question, but it's one which is actually quite difficult to answer: Where will Britain's medals come from at the IAAF World Athletics Championships in Berlin next month?
In recent weeks there's been a succession of medical bulletins with key athletes either struggling with injury or out of this summer's showpiece altogether.
Marathon runner Mara Yamauchi, who was second in London this year, Olympic bronze medallist Tasha Danvers and heptathlete Kelly Sotherton will all be left behind with one ailment or another. And they're not alone in spending more time on the treatment table than on the track.
Christine Ohuruogu, Nicola Sanders, Goldie Sayers, Lisa Dobriskey and Martyn Rooney have all had a frustrating season so far with setbacks that have threatened to end their season. Tim Benjamin has simply quit altogether because his body can't take it any more while there's still no word from France on Paula Radcliffe's immediate future.
It seems that Charles Van Commenee's first significant championships as head coach are in danger of being jeopardised with his team ravaged by injury.
Photo: Rob Cox
It's hardly the ideal build-up for Britain but there were some positive signs at the Aviva Grand Prix at Crystal Palace. This was the last chance to impress the selectors with the team named on Tuesday. So far, only a handful of athletes have booked their passage to Berlin because they won their event at the trials in Birmingham and have got the all-important qualifying standard. The rest face an anxious wait to see if they've done enough to get the nod.
So who is set to impress and could even bring home a medal for Britain?
The outstanding contender wasn't even in London over the past two days.
Heptathlete Jessica Ennis is completing her preparations at more low-key events this week, but will soon take centre stage as Britain's best hope of a gold medal.
The 23-year-old missed the Olympics in Beijing, but has leapt to the top of the world rankings on her return and is red-hot favourite. Kelly Sotherton is convinced her former rival will take the title: "She's a very strong athlete in fantastic shape."
The fact that Ennis opens with her two strongest events, the 100m hurdles and the high jump, could set her on the way to something special.
Christine Ohuruogu was at Crystal Palace, but as a guest of the sponsors because of a slight hamstring injury. The Olympic champion seemed relaxed and remains determined to defend the title she won in Osaka two years ago.
"Get me on the start line with my race head on and I won't leave any stone unturned," she said.
Ohuruogu has proved she's a championship performer and can't be discounted. Whether she can hold off Sanya Richards to take gold remains to be seen.
With an Olympic silver medal to his name, Phillips Idowu is certainly in the frame. 5 Live pundit Steve Backley believes the triple jumper is more than capable of winning a medal but has reservations about his current form.
"His last two outings have looked less than convincing," said Backley.
Idowu endured a mixed evening with three fouls to finish third behind American Brandon Roulhac, who jumped a career best of 17.33.
He's as laid back as most Jamaicans but Germaine Mason hates to lose and a silver medal from Beijing is proof of that. He competes for Britain now, of course, and is hitting form at the right time after, guess what, an injury! He cleared 2.31m to go joint fifth in the world.
"It just seems he's coming right at the perfect time," added a suitably impressed Backley.
Michael Bingham might not be a household name, but Backley has tipped him for a possible medal. The American-born athlete ran a season's best to win the men's 400m in 45.03secs and could sneak into the mix. He'll certainly be key to Britain's relay prospects in the 4x400m, along with Rooney and Robert Tobin.
Photo: Rob Cox
There were also notable performances from Jemma Simpson in the women's 800m and Chris Tomlinson in the men's long jump. Simpson in particular believes she's made a significant breakthrough and can challenge the best in the world. "Previously, I felt like I was running everyone else's race," she said, "now I feel like I'm running my own race and it's working for me."
Elsewhere, there was a welcome return for a few familiar faces and just in the nick of time Nicola Sanders won the women's 400m after missing the trials through injury.
The silver medallist in Osaka is making a timely comeback and is confident she can make up for lost training and competition. Lisa Dobriskey has hardly raced this year due to a catalogue of injuries but forced the selectors to sit up and take note with a strong run in the 1500m. She finished fourth in Beijing and the selectors will surely place their faith in her again.
Goldie Sayers is likely to make the team in the javelin. She nearly called time on her season this week because of a back injury, but came close to 60m at Crystal Palace which should secure her a place on the team.
It'll be interesting to see the final make-up of the British team for Berlin when it's revealed on Tuesday. Britain won four track-and-field medals in Beijing and in reality it's likely to be an equally small number this time round as well.
It remains a team in development and the true test will come in London in 2012. But, for now, Ennis will be one of the first to start in Berlin and, if all goes to plan, she could well take gold to give Britain the perfect platform - and then who knows what might follow?
I'm 5 Live's athletics reporter and will be trackside with all the stories behind the scenes, the injuries and intrigue, the gossip and glory.
© MMIX~RS~q~RS~~RS~z~RS~30~RS~)
Comments
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boooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo
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what about Dwain Chambers ?
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Mo Farah may be in with a decent outside chance of a medal.
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I agree with Henderbean, Mo looked very classy over the weekend.
Philips Idowu seemed to be struggling with his run up but still came 2nd so who knows what he will do if he can sort that out.
It was a great event over the 2 days, with the addition of the carnival that now follows Usain Bolt. He has single handedly brought a huge sense of excitement back into athletics and it sends a tingle down the spine to see him destroy such a classy field. I hope Gay is fit for a quality head to head in Berlin.
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I'm going to stick my neck out and back Lisa Dobriskey for a medal. She is a strong finisher, great competitor and you can't ruler her out of any race.
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I think anyone who is tipping Mo Farah for a medal is going to be seriously disappointed. I like the guy, and think he is one of the top distance runners in EUROPE, however, on the world stage against the Africans, he will be left for dead. Sorry!!!
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Sonja - I doubt Jess will do too well in the 110mH - perhaps the 100mH, though?? ;)
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Here's an alternative outlook. British Athletics stinks. Asafa Powell explained it in a nutshell. The Brits are far to lazy and that is why there will be very few medals and i wouldn't be surprised to see zero golds. I used to watch athletics whenever i could. Now i only watch it to see if Bolt breaks another record...
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On current form I can only see one individual medal being won at these World Championships.
However, with 3 weeks to go the likes of Orhurugu and Idowu have the opportunity to find the form that will make them medal contenders.
I would predict that the medals will come from the following:
Jessica Ennis - Gold - Heptathlon
Christine Ohuruogu - Silver/Bronze - Women 400m
Philips Idowu - Silver/Bronze - Triple Jump
Mens 4 x 400m - Relay (Outside Jamica and US we have good depth)
Paula Radcliffe - Gold/Silver/Bronze - If Fit - Womens Marathon
I believe we may get a number of potential finalists including:
Emily Freeman - Womens 200m
Nicola Sanders - Womens 400m
Andy Turner - Mens 110m Hurdles
Greg Rutherford/Chris Tomlinson - Long Jump
Germaine Mason - Men High Jump (potential medalist)
Jemma Simpson/Jenny Meadows - Womens 800m
Steph Twell (if selected)/ Lisa Dobrisky/Charlene Thomas/Hannah England (if selected) (all 3 are potential medalists - really depend on the tatics of the race)
Andy Baddley - Mens 1500m - (potential medalist - depends on his tatics)
Simeon Williamson/Dwain Chambers (if selected) - Mens 100m
Helen Clitheroe - Women Steeplechase
Mo Farah - Mens 5000 - (potential medalist - racing against Ethiopians and Kenyans will be tough)
David Greene - Mens 400mh
Elidh Child/Sheiks Drayton - Woments 400mh
Goldie Sayers - Womens Javelin (potential medalist)
Womens 4 x 400m (potential medalists)
Mens 4 x 100m (potential medalists)
Michael Bingham - Mens 400m
Kate Denison - Womens Pole Vault
I think the outlook for the future is looking very healthy and I hope these Championships are a building process for
Finally five or six medals would be a decent return.
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If you read this Sonja, have a look http://www.bbc.co.uk/dna/606/A54937731
I'm interested if you think outside the seniors who competed in Crystal Palace and the rest of the meets of the year whether some talented juniors could be good enough to feature in the World Championships now or in the future.
Would be good to get more blog views on talented young athletes who have done well in junior championships this year.
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i really think the mens relay team might have a ''chance'' of 3rd if you take out Craig Pickering. Hes dropped the baton more timees than anyone in history! I would be really upset if that were to happen again!
Again i dont understand why Toby Sandeman did not run an indivudual 200m at the Aviva grand prix?????
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I hope the British selectors don't shoot themselves in the foot by leaving out Chambers. If not individually, he should be put in our relay team. I trust they won't send Pickering, whose form of late leaves much to be desired.
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Dwain Chambers will run in the 100m and 200m at the World Championships in Berlin next month after being named in Great Britain's 60-strong squad.
The 31-year-old joins Birmingham trials winner Simeon Williamson and Tyrone Edgar in the 100m.
Christine Ohuruogu will defend the 400m title she won in Osaka two years ago, despite struggling with injury.
Lisa Dobriskey and Steph Twell join Charlene Thomas in the 1500m while Paula Radcliffe goes in the marathon.
Radcliffe, along with UK 20km walk champion Johanna Jackson, had been pre-selected.
Olympic 400m champion Ohuruogu, won the trials in Birmingham but she is facing a race to be at her peak for the defence of her world title in Germany.
The 25-year-old has struggled for form and fitness over the summer and a hamstring niggle forced her withdrawal from last week's London Grand Prix at Crystal Palace.
Nicola Sanders, who won silver behind Ohuruogu two years ago in Osaka, missed the trials through injury, but returned to form with victory in south London last Friday.
The winner of each event at the trials earlier this month was guaranteed selection, as long as they had achieved the 'A' qualifying standard, with two more places up for grabs.
Head Coach Charles van Commenee said: "We are on a long term journey to 2012, but we can't wait three years for the medals and performances, I want to see both in Berlin and then more next year and the year after until we get to London.
"This is our first staging post on our toughest ever journey."
Also heading to the German capital for the 15-23 August meet are European Indoor 3,000m gold medallist Mo Farah and Olympic high jump and triple jump silver medallists Germaine Mason and Phillips Idowu.
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AVIVA GREAT BRITAIN AND NORTHERN IRELAND TEAM
MEN
100m: Dwain Chambers (Belgrave); Tyrone Edgar (Newham & Essex Beagles); Simeon Williamson (Highgate)
200m: Chambers; Marlon Devonish (Coventry Godiva) Toby Sandeman (Thames Valley);
400m: Michael Bingham (Trafford) Martyn Rooney (Croydon), Robert Tobin (Basingstoke & Mid Hants);
800m: Michael Rimmer (Liverpool Pembroke & Sefton);
1500m: Andy Baddeley (Harrow), Tom Lancashire (Bolton);
5000m: Mo Farah (Newham & Essex Beagles)
110mH: Gianni Frankis (Newham & Essex Beagles), Andy Turner (Sale)
400mH: David Greene (Swansea), Rhys Williams (Cardiff)
4x100m: Harry AkinesAryeetey (Sutton & District), Devonish, Edgar, Rikki Fifton (Victoria Park & Tower Hamlets), Craig Pickering (Marshall Milton Keynes), Williamson
4x400m: Bingham, Chris Clarke (Marshall Milton Keynes), Nigel Levine (Bedford & County), Rooney, Tobin, Conrad Williams (Kent)
High Jump: Germaine Mason (Birchfield)
Pole Vault: Luke Cutts (Dearnside), Steve Lewis (Newham & Essex Beagles)
Long Jump: Greg Rutherford (Marshall Milton Keynes), Chris Tomlinson (Newham & Essex Beagles);
Triple Jump: Larry Achike (Shaftesbury) Nathan Douglas (Oxford), Phillips Idowu (Belgrave);
Shot: Carl Myerscough (Blackpool, Wyre &Fylde)
Javelin: Mervyn Luckwell (Marshall Milton Keynes);
WOMEN
200m: Emily Freeman (Wakefield)
400m: Christine Ohuruogu (Newham & Essex Beagles), Nicola Sanders (Windsor, Slough, Eton & Hounslow)
800m: Jenny Meadows (Wigan), Marilyn Okoro (Shaftesbury), Jemma Simpson (Newquay & Par);
1500m: Lisa Dobriskey (Ashford), Charlene Thomas (Wakefield), Stephanie Twell (Aldershot, Farnham & District);
3000mSC: Helen Clitheroe (Preston);
Marathon: Paula Radcliffe (Bedford & County)
20k Race Walk: Joanna Jackson (Redcar)
100mH: Sarah Claxton (Woodford Green & Essex Ladies), Jessica Ennis (City of Sheffield),
400mH: Eilidh Child (Pitreavie), Perri Shakes- Drayton (Victoria Park & Tower Hamlets);
Pole Vault: Kate Dennison (Sale);
Javelin: Goldie Sayers (Belgrave);
Hammer: Zoe Derham (Birchfield)
Heptathlon: Ennis; Louise Hazel (Birchfield)
4x100m: Emma Ania (Shaftesbruy Barnet), Montell Douglas (Blackheath & Bromley), Jeanette Kwakye (Woodford Green & Essex Ladies), Joice Maduaka (Woodford Green & Essex Ladies), Anyika Onuora (Liverpool), Laura Turner (Harrow AC)
4x400m: Vicky Barr (Rugby & Northampton), Lee McConnell (Shaftesbury Barnet), Ohuruogu, Okoro, Sanders, Shakes- Drayton,
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Thoughts?
No real surprises there really, doubt Chambers will do anything in the 200m but meh. The recent 1500m women dilemma seems to have been solved with Hannah England seemingly missing out. Surprised to see no-one was picked for the 100m womens team. Is there any point for the really team to be there methinks?
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Really enjoy your blog! I thought you might be interested to read my blog, which is also about Athletics, because my most recent post is also about Britain's hopes for Berlin.
http://thestartinggun-rorymac94.blogspot.com/
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