Countdown to National Championships - Ennis-London to top tough 100m hurdles field

by Raymond Graham, Freelance Writer

STAR SPORTS continues its countdown to the June 27-29 National Championships with a look at the women's 100 metres hurdles.

As usual the women's 100 metres hurdles will once again be one of the most popular events at the National Championships and fans will be on the edge of their seats as a blanket finish is expected.

Four of the island's stalwarts in Lacena Golding-Clarke, Vonette Dixon, Brigitte Foster-Hylton and Delloreen Ennis-London are set to have a battle royal as this could be their final Olympic Games. Chances are that a rising star in Nickeisha Wilson could join them. Wilson, known more for her performances in the 400m hurdles indicated in April that she will be attempting both hurdles events at the National Championships.

The four veterans have been at the top for a very long time and although Ennis-London with a leading time of 12.54 seconds and Foster-Hylton, 12.56, have been the leaders this season this is no indication that it will be a "two-horse" race. Since recording those times both been below their best and Dixon (12.71), Clarke-Golding (12.83) and Wilson (12.85) should pose serious challenges.

Top three face off

In Berlin two weeks ago the top three faced each other with Dixon coming out best. She placed fourth as Foster-Hylton trailed in last, while Ennis-London failed to finish as she fell at the seventh hurdle. Since then, Ennis-London came back to finish ahead of Dixon at the Oslo Golden League meet where she was fourth in 12.71, just four hundredths of a second ahead of Dixon who was fifth in 12.75.

Two days later at the Nike Prefontaine meet in Oregon, Golding-Clarke looked extremely smooth when she finished a close third in a wind-aided 12.65 seconds as once again Foster-Hylton finished at the back of the field in 12.75 seconds.

Wilson who has a wind-aided 12.63 will be competing at the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) Division One Outdoor Championships this week and this will give some hint on her current form.

Based on form however, the defending champion, Ennis-London, a bronze medallist in Osaka last year is given the edge to retain her national title with the next two places up for grabs.

Dixon has shown her best form in years and although she has always been an underdog she has always produced at the National Championships and with her recent good form she is tipped to take the runner-up spot with Golding-Clarke, Foster- Hylton and Wilson fighting it out for the final spot.

Former national champion Foster-Hylton who missed most of last season due to injury has not looked her usual self and will have to show tremendous improvement if she hopes to finish in the third spot as Golding-Clarke has the psychological edge going into the championships.

If Wilson makes it through the NCAA Championships injury-free she could create a problem for the selection committee by finishing in the top three as she is favoured to do likewise in the 400 metres hurdles.

This event is worth miles going to see as it could be the last championships for the veterans as there are some rising stars on the horizon and come next year it will be more difficult.

Prediction: 1. Delloreen Ennis-London 2. Vonette Dixon 3. Lacena Golding- Clarke 4. Brigitte Foster-Hylton.

ON FRIDAY: Men's 400 metres.