After America's terrible performance in the field events in the 2008 Olympics, the US team has rallied to put together much stronger performances in 2009. But aside from a couple of names, including male long jumper Dwight Phillips, the American public won't have any clue whom to root for in many events.
The women's long jump is a great example. Americans Brittney Reese and Funmi Jimoh are having great seasons, and have very realistic shots at medaling in Berlin. Reese, 5th in Beijing, has the best wind-legal jump in the world this year at 7.06m. Jimoh isn't far behind, sitting in third at 6.96m.
But competition will be fierce from Portugal's world indoor champ Naide Gomes, Brazil's Olympic champ Maurren Maggi, Russian world champ Tatyana Lebedeva, Nigerian Olympic medalist and NCAA competitor Blessing Okagbare and Estonian fire cracker Ksenija Balta.
There is great potential drama in this event. In 2007, the Russians took spots 1-2-3, while Brittney Reese was the USA's top finisher in 8th. Many of the same women will be back in 2009, with the US team hoping to get a medal or two away from the Russians this time.
LRC Predictions: Gold: Tatyana Lebedeva RUS Silver: Brittney Reese USA Bronze: Maurren Maggi BRA 4th: Naide Gomes POR
Women's Long Jump Statistics By LRC Coaching Guru John Kellogg
7.06 Brittney Reese (USA) (#3 all-time USA) 5th in 2008 Olympic Games, 8th in 2007 World Championships
6.99 Naide Gomes (POR) PR 7.12 (2008) Gold medal in 2008 World Indoor Championships, bronze medal in 2006 World Indoor Championships, silver medal in 2006 World Cup, 4th in 2007 World Championships
6.96 Funmi Jimoh (USA) (#8 all-time USA) 12th in 2008 Olympic Games
6.93 Tatyana Lebedeva (RUS) PR 7.33 (#8 all-time) (2004) Gold medal in 2006 World Indoor Championships, gold medal in 2004 World Indoor Championships, gold medal in 2003 World Championships, gold medal in 2001 World Championships, silver medal in 2008 Olympic Games, silver medal in 2007 World Championships, silver medal in 2001 World Indoor Championships, silver medal in 2000 Olympic Games, bronze medal in 2004 Olympic Games, gold medal in 2006 World Cup, 4th in 1999 World Championships
6.92 Elena Sokolova (RUS)
6.91 Olga Kucherenko (RUS)
6.90 Maurren Maggi (BRA) PR 7.26 (1999) Gold medal in 2008 Olympic Games, silver medal in 2008 World Indoor Championships, bronze medal in 2003 World Indoor Championships, silver medal in 2002 World Cup, 6th in 2007 World Championships, 7th in 2001 World Championships, 8th in 1999 World Championships, 9th in 2001 World Indoor Championships
6.89 Hyleas Fountain (USA)+
6.87 Karin Mey Melis (TUR) PR 6.93 (2008)
6.83 Melanie Bauschke (GER)
6.82 Viktoriya Molchanova (UKR)
6.82 Irina Meleshina (RUS) PR 7.27 (2004) Silver medal in 2004 Olympic Games, bronze medal in 2008 World Indoor Championships
6.81 Bianca Kappler (GER) PR 6.90 (2007) 5th in 2007 World Championships, 9th in 2004 Olympic Games
6.80 Darya Klishina (RUS)
6.79 Ksenija Balta (EST) PR 6.87i (2009)
6.73 Blessing Akagbare (NGR) PR 6.91 (2008) Bronze medal in 2008 Olympic Games
6.72 Brianna Glenn (USA) 9th in 2002 World Cup
6.72 Lyudmila Kolchanova (RUS) PR 7.21 (2007) Silver medal in 2007 World Championships, gold medal in 2006 World Cup
No mark in 2009 Tatyana Kotova PR 7.42 (#5 all-time) (2002) Gold medal in 2003 World Indoor Championships, gold medal in 1999 World Indoor Championships, silver medal in 2005 World Championships, silver medal in 2004 World Indoor Championships, silver medal in 2003 World Championships, silver medal in 2001 World Championships, silver medal in 2001 World Indoor Championships, bronze medal in 2007 World Championships, bronze medal in 2004 Olympic Games, gold medal in 2002 World Cup, 4th in 2000 Olympic Games
