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Okagbare ranks number three in women's sprint events
NIGERIA'S new Queen of the Tracks, Blessing Okagbare, was yesterday ranked the third best in the world and a medal prospect in the lOOmetres race of the London 2012 Olympics following her superlative performance at the LOndon Grand Prix and the Samsung Diamond League just few weeks to the Olympics.
Reigning champion Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce produced the fastest 100m clocking of her life with a 10.70 national record at the Jamaican Trials. Although she hasn't had the most consistent season, if she gets it right in London she will be almost unbeatable.
World champion Carmelita Jeter started the season well and won the US Trials, but she was beaten in London by Nigeria's Blessing Okagbare. The long jump specialist seems to be rounding into form at the right time, also winning in Monaco with a 10.96 PB. World bronze medallist and Tianna Madison -another former long jumper - have both been consistent among the world's best this year.
Form guide: 1 Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce (JAM), 2 Carmelita Jeter (USA), 3 Blessing Okagbare (NGR), 4 Kelly-Ann Baptiste (TRI) and 5 Tianna Madison (USA).
In the 200m, Allyson Felix has won three world 200m titles, but Olympic gold is one that has so far eluded her over the distance. She is in supreme form this year though and went to fourth on the world all-time list with 21.69. Along with Felix, Carmelita Jeter and Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce are set to double up and could both win medals in the 200m
Two-time Olympic champion Veronica Campbell-Brown started the season in solid form but was only third at the Jamaican Trials and was beaten in Lucerne by Charonda Williams, an American who didn't even make the US Trials final.
Form guide: 1 Allyson Felix (USA), 2 Carmehta Jeter (USA), 3 Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce (JAM), 4 Veronica Campbell-Brown (JAM) and 5 Murielle Ahoure(CiV).
In the 400m: Sanya Richards-Ross is out to win the elusive Olympic 400m title and seems more than capable, but her CV is peppered with disappointments at major championships. Should she falter again, defending champion Christine Ohuruogu is one of several athletes who will be ready to pounce, having produced her best ever early-season form this year.
World champion Amantle Montsho will also be strong, along with world leader Antonina Krivoshapka and leading sub-50 Jamaican Novlene Williams-Mills.
Form guide: 1 Sanya Richards-Ross (USA), 2 Christine Ohuruogu (GBR), 3 Amantle Montsho (BOT), 4 Antonina Krivoshapka (RUS) and 5 Novlene Williams-Mills (JAM).
100m hurdles: Excluding a DNF from last year, Sally Pearson suffered her first defeat in the 100m hurdles for two years when she was beaten by USA's Kellie Wells at the London Diamond League. But that could be just the motivation the world champion needs ahead of the Games.
Reigning Olympic champion Dawn Harper won the highly-competitive US Trials, while 2009 world champion Brigitte Foster-Hylton is back in form. Also keep an eye out for Turkey's Nevin Yanit, the dark horse of the competition who could get very close to the medals.
Form guide: 1 Sally Pearson (AUS), 2 Kellie Wells (USA), 3 Dawn Harper (USA), 4 Brigitte Foster-Hylton (JAM) and 5 Nevin Yanit (TUR).
400m hurdles: The most open of all the women's sprinting events, this will feature the reigning Olympic champion, the current world champion and the past two European championships, but none of them have set themselves apart this season. Russia's Natalya Antyukh leads the world with 53.40 and is a sub-53 runner at best.
Defending champion Melaine Walker has gone sub-53 at the past three global championships, so don't be fooled by her 54.44 season's best Perri Shakes-Drayton looked every bit the potential medallist with her decisive 53.77 victory over a loaded field in London. World champion LaShinda Demus can never be counted out, while European champion Irina Davydova has been consistent Form guide: 1 Natalya Antyukh (RUS), 2 Melaine Walker (JAM), 3 Perri Shakes-Drayton (GBR), 4 LaShinda Demus (USA) and 5 Irina Davydova (RUS).
