After greatperformances by England’s athletes at the Commonwealth Games (with Scotland alsosuccessful) and Team GB above France on the Euros’ medals table, is the futurereally as rosy as it seems for Britain as we head into the 'cycle' of World Championshipsand Olympics over the next two years? Here we look at the women who could begoing home with silverware on the global stage.
One of themost encouraging aspects of the Euros was surely the massive strides (quiteliterally) being made by the British female sprinting squad. In winning the 4 x100m final they set a new National Record and are a predominantly young teamwith several options around the make up of the quartet, so expectations arehigh that they will improve over the next few years.
They will need to thoughas the Jamaicans and Americans will provide a far tougher challenge at theglobal level.
In theindividual sprint events, Jodie Williams medalled at both Glasgow and Zurich inthe 200m so would seem to be a potential finallist at the Worlds next year.However, she witnessed first hand the progress she may need to make to get onthe rostrum globally, as Schippers beat her convincingly at the Euros andsimilarly Okagbare at the Commonwealths. Throw in Allyson Felix and Tori Bowiefrom America and Fraser-Pryce from Jamaica and the challenge increases.However, the world listings show four British women in the top twenty (BiancaWilliams, Dina Asher-Smith and Anyika Onuora also feature), so GB should have afew chances from within them.
GB seem less likely to medal globally in the100m, but Ashleigh Nelson and Desiree Henry are fast improving and Asha Philipseems to be back on track, so competition for GB placings should help them toclose on the world's best.
ChristineOhuruogu is a proven major champs athlete over 400m and will defend her worldtitle next year, with one of her big rivals, Montsho likely to be banned.
Inthe twilight of her career, if she can benefit from her relaxed season thisyear, then another medal may be possible. Her late decision to compete in theEuros clearly reflected the dip in standards over 400m in Europe this year(only two in the top 20 world times), but the rest of the world is a differentmatter. Old foes Richards- Ross (sub 50 secs) and Williams-Mills havemaintained their form, with America's McCorory flying with 49.48 secs.
Goingthrough the rounds is a different matter though, so never discount the Brit,especially if she can match her 49.41 secs best. A fully fit Ohuruogu wouldalso boost 4 x 400m chances, as would the return of Perri Shakes Drayton shouldshe regain form after a season out through injury.
Lynsey Sharpseems to have grown in stature over the 800m this season with medals at bothmajor Games, behind two of the world's best in Sum and Arzamasova. Her frontrunning efforts at the Euros were particularly refreshing, offering alternativerace options, but her favoured late charge seems more suited to the worldstage, especially now that her best time is under 1:59. Jess Judd could also featurein major finals if she can have a solid winter and lower her times.
The hurdlesraces seem to offer further medal chances going forward, with Tiffany Porterhaving finally taken a major title at the Euros and going close to the Olympicchampion in Glasgow in the 100m hurdles, to add to her bronze at the lastWorlds. Over the longer 400m distance, Eilidh Child seems to be gaining inconfidence as she took the Euros title. A global medal may not be far off.
Depending onhow fully they regain their fitness, Olympic champion Jessica Ennis-Hill (postmaternity break) and Katarina Johnson- Thompson (injury) would seem likelycontenders at the Worlds and Olympics in the heptathlon, with the promisingdouble World Junior champion (heptathlon and high jump), Morgan Lake waiting inthe wings.
It may be too early for Lake in the senior ranks, but her time willno doubt come. 'KJ' may also have chances in the long jump, should she opt todouble up, in addition to Shara Proctor.
LauraWeightman is another to have medalled in both Games this summer in the 1500m.Under Steve Cram's masterful eye, she has improved both her times and herracing brain to take the chances offered to her in those finals. The Eurosespecially had a classy field at the front, with both Hassan and Aregawi amongthe top five on times this year. The challenge will be to go even faster andhope that another medal opportunity arises. Scotland's Laura Muir has runquicker than Weightman, but will need to draw on her finals' disappointments ifshe is to feature in future major champs.
In thedistance events where the Kenyans and Ethiopians dominate the listings andgenerally the major championships themselves, Britain have both veteran JoPavey and youngster Emilia Gorecka in the top twenty over 5km, but they trailsome 30 seconds behind on season's bests so a finals’ place at the Worlds wouldseem their initial target. Julia Bleasdale ranks sixth best in the 10km thisyear, but is almost a minute behind world leader Kipyego of Kenya.
The field events lookunlikely to yield many medals for Britain in the immediate future,although Goldie Sayers could repeat herEuros’ final in the javelin. A return to her best would be required to go closeto a medal, but would be a fitting reward for her years of effort in the event.Holly Bleasdale won bronze at the World Indoors in the pole vault, but missedthe outdoors through injury.