USA wins the Women's 4x100m Relay Final (© Getty Images)
Expect another 'battle royal' between USA and Jamaica as the sprint heavyweights clash with baton in hand.
If last year’s World Championships in Osaka are anything to go by there is precious little between the two nations as the USA edged Jamaica to the gold by just 0.03 in this event and determining the winner in Beijing is no easy task.
The strength in depth of Jamaican women’s sprinting was revealed in their national 100m final in June when the top four women all dipped below 10.90. Kerron Stewart blitzed to victory in 10.80 from Shelly-Ann Fraser (10.85), Sherone Simpson (10.87), and Veronica Campbell-Brown 10.88.
The USA will be desperate to wrestle the title back as they bid for a first women’s 4x100m Olympic gold since 1996.
Their powerful squad includes US champion Muna Lee, 2003 World champion Torri Edwards and 2005 World gold medallist Lauryn Williams, and with the likes of World Indoor 60m champion Angela Williams and World 200m champion Allyson Felix to throw into the mix, they will present Jamaica with the stiffest of examinations.
Belgium took a shock bronze at last year’s World Championships but even with European 100m champion Kim Gevaert in their team it is difficult to see a repeat performance.
Russia sit second behind the USA on the world lists after recording 42.80 to win the European Cup and always produce a well-drilled quartet. Great Britain are chasing a first Olympic medal in this event for 24 years and their squad includes recently minted British record holder Montell Douglas (11.05) and World Indoor 60m silver medallist Jeanette Kwakye.
The Ukraine (43.03) and Italy (43.04) also have respectable season’s best and the Belarus team, which won a 2005 World championship bronze and boast Olympic 100m champion Yuliya Nesterenko in their ranks, will also be a threat.
Steve Landells for the IAAF
