Raymond Graham, Gleaner Writer

AFTER dominating the sprint events at the Beijing Olympics last year, Jamaican athletes are hoping to continue the trend in Berlin and once again the rivalry between them and the United States will take centre stage as the Americans will be seeking to make amends.

One of the events that track and field fans were looking forward to in Beijing was the women's 4x100 metres relay, but this did not materialise as the United States failed to reach the final after dropping the baton, while Jamaica also had problems as in the final the exchange between Sherone Simpson and Kerron Stewart was botched and the team failed to finish.

For track and field fans it was a big disappointment as experts were predicting a world record here by Jamaica, after their runners had finished 1-2-2 in the 100 metres and 1-3 in the 200 metres.

Jamaicans on fire

While the Jamaicans have been on fire this season with three athletes clocking sub-11 seconds. Stewart (10.78) and Olympic champion Shelly-Ann Fraser (10.88) posted the two fastest times in the world and with Veronica Campbell-Brown (10.96) getting back to form after an early-season injury, they had been given the favourites tag to win the gold and break the world record once the baton is passed around successfully.

However, in the past two weeks, things have changed as the defending champions, the United States, gave signals that they will not be giving up their crown that easily as the quartet of Lauryn Williams, Allyson Felix, Muna Lee and Carmelita Jeter sped to a world-leading 41.58 seconds in their final preparation, as their 'B' team was second in 42.23 seconds.

The winning time is the eighth fastest ever by a female squad and was the fastest in over 22 years by a United States quartet.

While this quartet is the likely team the United States will run in Berlin, the Jamaica line-up is unknown but will have to improve on its season best of 42.77 seconds done by Brigitte Foster-Hylton, Sheri-Ann Brooks, Stewart and Fraser at the Penn Relays in April.

While this was not the country's strongest team, many will be asking if the country can stop the United States.

Record chase

To beat the United States, the Jamaicans will have to surpass their national record of 41.73 seconds done five years ago in Athens. On paper, the Jamaicans have the strongest team but with so many distractions recently and with little practice done in the relays, this could come to haunt the Jamaicans as their main rivals have been competing regularly. Before their world- leading mark, they clocked 42.39 seconds at the London Grand Prix Meet, minus Lee as Marshavet Hooker ran the third leg then.

There are doubts surrounding Brooks' participation in the relay and her absence could be a severe blow for Jamaica as she is an excellent relay runner. Stewart, Fraser and Campbell-Brown are much better than any three on the United States team. The member could be a problem, however, as both Aleen Bailey and Simone Facey have not shown their 'A' game this season and this could be where the United States take advantage of Jamaica.