WHEN the Berlin Championships get going this weekend, all Jamaicans will be hoping that their country's athletes will dominate the sprints like they did in Beijing last year when the team won gold in the men's and women's 100 and 200 metres and the men's 4x100 metres.
The highly anticipated clash between Jamaica and the United States never materialised in the 4x100 metres relays as the latter failed to make the final of both the male and female teams. The Jamaican women had their problems in the final and failed to finish as well.
With less than six days to go to the championships, the United States female 4x100 metres quartet of Lauryn Williams, Allyson Felix, Muna Lee and Carmelita Jeter has thrown down the gauntlet to the Jamaican team, as yesterday in their final preparation at an international meet in Cottbus, Germany, they raced to an impressive world-leading time of 41.58 seconds to beat their 'B' team into second place with 42.23 seconds. Trinidad and Tobago, without Kelly-Ann Baptiste, finished fifth in 44.01 seconds.
Based on form so far this season, the Jamaica team was the favourite for the event but the time recorded by the United States is the fastest time by a female quartet since 1987 in Rome. In 1987, it was Florence Griffiths Joyner who led a US team to that time.
More than likely, the quartet, which ran in Cottbus will be the same one the US will field in Berlin, as Lee who was injured just after their National Championships is back to fitness.
Times clocked
The US men also warmed up for Berlin as the quartet of Terrence Trammell, Mike Rodgers, Shawn Crawford and Darvis Patton clocked 37.85 seconds to win. Only the Usain Bolt led Racers team which clocked 37.46 seconds in London has gone faster.
At the same meet, there were second-place finishes for three Jamaicans who are members of the squad to Berlin. Lerone Clarke who was called up as a late replacement as a backup in the 4x100 metres relay clocked 10.26 seconds in the 100 metres. Rogers won that event in 10.14 seconds.
Jamaica's Mario Forsythe ended fifth in 10.38 seconds.
Ramone McKenzie, a replacement for Marvin Anderson in the 200 metres, was a runner up in the half-lap event in 20.92 seconds, as Brazil's Ricardo Viena won in 20.79 seconds.
The other Jamaican finishing second this weekend was 400 metres hurdler Josef Robertson, who clocked 50.63 seconds, as Cuba's Omar Cisnero was victorious in 50 flat.