From the Olympics to the World Championships, Allyson Felix of the US and Veronica-Campbell-Brown (VCB) of Jamaica have engaged in head-to-head battles in the 200m. The prowess of both ladies goes a long way back to their junior days, and they are as highly competitive as much as they are passionate about what they do. In their senior years, Felix has captured World Championships gold three times and VCB has copped Olympic gold twice in the event.
However, in the 2011 World Championships, Felix decided to add the 400m to her repertoire, in addition to doing double duties on both relays. This year, too, 100m power sprinter Carmelita Jeter decided to jump into the fray by competing in the sprint double, forcing VCB to face fierce competition on two fronts. Not only did VCB have to challenge Felix for the 200m crown, but she had to ward off the ambitious Jeter, the most impressive short sprinter over the last two seasons.
As things turned out, VCB showed she’s no push-over and defeated both of her American rivals to capture her first World 200m title, after being defeated by Jeter in the 100m.
On Friday in Belgium, Jeter struck in the 100m again, showing that her Worlds victory was no fluke. She beat the Jamaican sprint champion, Campbell-Brown in the event with 10.78secs to the latter’s 10.85, and took home the Diamond League $40,000 prize money and trophy, for topping the points standing with a superior record of victories in both sprints.
Jeter has never competed in the Olympic Games. In fact, in 2008, when she was 28 years old, she failed to make the finals at the US Trials. However, she competed in the 100m at the World Championships twice before 2011, taking bronze in 2007 and 2009.
All things considered, Jeter will be a formidable foe for all and sundry in London next year. But things might not be so easy for her in the 100m. A fit Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce of Jamaica (the defending champion) and her compatriots VCB and Kerron Stewart, as well as Lauryn Williams (US), assuming they are in top shape, are guaranteed to make the going quite a challenge for Jeter, who is the second fastest woman in history behind Florence Griffith Joyner with a personal best 10.64secs clocking. Incidentally, unlike her main rivals from Jamaica, Jeter has not suffered any injury in at least three years.
One thing is certain, Carmelita Jeter, who will be 32 in November, is not going away. "I have to get to those Olympic Games," the 2011 World Champion has told the media. "That's very important to me." Her statement of determination shows how much the London Olympics mean to her.