Three more gold for Bolt »

Although playing second fiddle to the women at major championships in recent years, Jamaica's men have always made their presence felt at the world level. With the amazing Usain Bolt in the spotlight, a lot of eyes will be focused on Jamaica's men in Berlin.

In Osaka, the men captured three silver and one bronze for four medals. This year, they are again expected to capture four medals but this time the quality will be much better.

Bolt should capture two individual gold medals and play an important role in the team's winning the 4x100m.

The men's 100m should be the highlight of the championships. Three of the fastest men in the world will be on show. Jamaica's Usain Bolt, the world record holder, will clash with defending champion Tyson Gay of the United States and former world record holder, Asafa Powell of Jamaica.

Bolt ran an amazing 9.69 seconds in Beijing last year to break his own 9.72 world record and could take this event to another level. Gay, who is determined to defend his title successfully, is the world leader with his 9.77 clocking in Rome. Gay, who had a slight groin injury, has dismissed Powell twice so far this season. But can he stop Bolt?

Bolt who has clocked a season best 9.79 seconds in unfavourable conditions in Paris is at number two in the world but given the ease with which he has beaten his opponents, it will be hard to stop him.

1. Usain Bolt (Jam) 2. Tyson Gay (USA) 3. Asafa Powell (Jam)

200m

The Usain Bolt/Tyson Gay rivalry is expected to continue here. Gay defeated Bolt two years ago to win the title. With the 100 metres already decided, this could add more meaning to this event as, once again, Gay, with 19.58 seconds, is the world leader.

Bolt, also the world record holder in this event, is ranked number two following his 19.59 in Lausanne. Two years ago, he was very compe-titive in the final before Gay found something extra in the latter stages to move away.

Despite his good record, Gay should once again play second fiddle to Bolt.

1. Usain Bolt (Jam) 2. Tyson Gay (USA) 3. Alonso Edwards (Panama)

400m

Like the women's event, a new men's champion will be crowned. Two-time champion Jeremy Wariner of the United States is not expected to stop the in-form Lashawn Merritt, his countryman who has clocked 44.50 seconds twice this season to be the world leader. Unlike last championships where they swept all the medals, the United States will not do so this time around as the Bahamas' Chris Brown, after a series of fourth-place finishes at major championships, should get the bronze. Jamaica's Ricardo Chambers could make the final as - except for the top three - the other 400 metres runners this year have not been consistent.

1. Lashawn Merritt (USA) 2. Jeremy Wariner (USA) 3. Chris Brown (Bah)

In Beijing last year, the United States made a clean sweep of the medals in this event and will be hoping to do the same this year. Defending champion Kerron Clement, with a season best 48.09 seconds, has not looked himself this year but he always does well at the big occasions and could win once again.

Several weeks ago, Jamaica's Isa Phillips, who is ranked number three on the world list with 48.05 seconds, looked a cinch for a medal, but after competing in too many races he looked tired and failed to sparkle in Monaco. Veteran Jamaican Danny McFarlane, who clocked a season best 48.13 seconds for third, defeated Phillips for the first time this season.

Olympic champion Angello Taylor seems to be struggling this year while Puerto Rico's Javier Culson is in good form and should be competitive in Berlin.

Despite being beaten in his last encounter, the American Bershawn Jackson, who fell at the United States National Championships two years ago and failed to make it to Osaka, should make up for that and win the gold this time around. It will be close for the other medals with defending champion Clement, Phillips, McFarlane, L.J. van Zyl, Taylor and Culson battling here.

1. Bershawn Jackson 2. Kerron Clement 3. L. J. van Zyl

4x100m

With three members of last year's world record-breaking team in Usain Bolt, Asafa Powell and Michael Frater back in the line up there is no stopping Jamaica. In Beijing last year, Jamaica raced to a new world mark of 37.10 seconds with little or no competition. After seeing a local club team which included Usain Bolt and Yohan Blake racing to a world leading 37.46 at Crystal Palace in July, Jamaica could challenge their world record mark.

The United States, the defending champion who have a season best 37.92 seconds at the Penn Relays in April, should not be counted out, while the likes of Trinidad, Japan and Great Britain will make the event very interesting.

1. Jamaica 2. USA 3. Trinidad

4x400m

THE United States should win at a canter as their line-up includes the two fastest men in the one-lap event in Lashawn Merritt and Jeremy Wariner. The other medals are up for grabs.

1. USA 2. Great Britain 3. Poland  

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