2009 triple jump world standings have been dominated by Cubans for much of the year. Reigning world champion Yargelis Savigne (left) will enter the championships as a huge favorite.
2007 runner-up Tatyana Lebedeva will captain a Russian squad that also includes Nadezhda Alekhina, owner of the world's best mark in 2009 thanks to her performance at the Russian Championships. Alekhina's story is remarkable, as she has found the fountain of youth at age 31 to record a personal best in one of track and field's toughest events by over half a meter in 2009! She is just one of many Russian women to come through with huge marks in the 2009 Russian Championships.
Françoise Mbango Etone of Cameroon is the 2-time reigining Olympic champion, but she usually doesn't bring her best to the WCs. Many other former WC and Olympic medalists will compete, including Hrysopiyí Devetzí (Greece), Yamilé Aldama (Sudan) and Anna Pyatykh (Russia).
Cuba's Mabel Gay could make the final and medal, giving Cuba two good shots at the top.
Most likely what we'll see in Berlin is a showdown between the Russians, Savigne, and the 2008 champion Mbango Etone.
How about the Americans? The US trio of Shakeema Welsch, Erica McLain and Shani Marks lag a bit behind the best of the world, but are some of the best triple jumpers in American history.
LRC Predictions: Gold: Yargelis Savigne CUB Silver: Anna Pyatykh RUS Bronze: Tatyana Lebedeva RUS 4th: Yamilé Aldama SUD
Women's Triple Jump Statistics By LRC Coaching Guru John Kellogg
15.14 Nadezhda Alekhina (RUS)
15.00 Yargelis Savigne (CUB) PR 15.28 (#6 all-time) (2007) Gold medal in 2008 World Indoor Championships, gold medal in 2007 World Championships, silver medal in 2005 World Championships, 5th in 2008 Olympic Games, 5th in 2006 World Indoor Championships
14.67 Anna Pyatykh (RUS) PR 15.02 (2006) Silver medal in 2006 World Indoor Championships, bronze medal in 2005 World Championships, 4th in 2007 World Championships, 4th in 2003 World Championships, 4th in 2003 World Indoor Championships, 8th in 2008 Olympic Games, 8th in 2004 Olympic Games
14.64 Ekaterina Kayukova (RUS)
14.62 Athanasía Pérra (GRE)
14.59 Mabel Gay (CUB) PR 14.66 (2007) 5th in 2003 World Championships, 9th in 2004 World Indoor Championships
14.48 Yamilé Aldama (SUD) PR 15.29 (#5 all-time) (2003) Silver medal in 2004 World Indoor Championships, silver medal in 1999 World Championships, bronze medal in 2006 World Indoor Championships, bronze medal in 2006 World Cup, bronze medal in 1998 World Cup, 4th in 2005 World Championships, 4th in 2000 Olympic Games, 5th in 2008 World Indoor Championships, 5th in 2004 Olympic Games, 6th in 1997 World Indoor Championships, 7th in 1999 World Indoor Championships
14.44 Alsu Murtazina (RUS)
14.43 Dana Veldáková (SVK) PR 14.51 (2008) 8th in 2006 World Indoor Championships, 12th in 2007 World Championships
14.43 Trecia Smith (JAM) PR 15.16 (= #10 all-time) (2004) Gold medal in 2005 World Championships, gold medal in 2006 Commonwealth Games, bronze medal in 2002 Commonwealth Games, 4th in 2006 World Indoor Championships, 4th in 2004 Olympic Games, 4th in 2004 World Indoor Championships, 8th in 2001 World Championships, 11th in 2008 Olympic Games, 4th in 2006 World Cup
14.42 Christina Bujin (ROU)
14.40 Tatyana Lebedeva (RUS) PR 15.36i (#3 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 2000 Olympic Games, silver medal in 2001 World Indoor Championships, bronze medal in 2004 Olympic Games, gold medal in 2006 World Cup,
silver medal in 2002 World Cup, 4th in 1999 World Championships
14.40 Viktoriya Gurova (RUS) PR 14.85 (2008) 7th in 2008 Olympic Games, 10th in 2005 World Championships
14.18 Hrysopiyí Devetzí (GRE) PR 15.32 (#4 all-time) (2004) Silver medal in 2008 World Indoor Championships, silver medal in 2004 Olympic Games, bornze medal in 2008 Olympic Games, bronze medal in 2007 World Championships, bronze medal in 2004 World Indoor Championships, silver medal in 2006 World Cup, 5th in 2005 World Championships, 8th in 2003 World Championships
13.97 Erica McLain (USA) PR 14.20i (#6 all-time USA) (2008)
13.92 Shakeema Welsch (USA) PR 14.17 (#7 all-time USA) (2008)
13.86 Toni Smith (USA)+ PR 13.99 (2008)
13.83 Françoise Mbango Etone (CMR) PR 15.39 (#2 all-time) (2008) Gold medal in 2008 Olympic Games, gold medal in 2004 Olympic Games, silver medal in 2003 World Championships, silver medal in 2003 World Indoor Championships, silver medal in 2001 World Championships, gold medal in 2002 World Cup, silver medal in 2002 Commonwealth Games, 6th in 2004 World Indoor Championships, 10th in 2000 Olympic Games
