The American women figure to be dominant in 2015. Olympic champion Allyson Felix headlines the sprint squads in the 4x1 and 4x2, while Sanya Richards-Ross and Francena McCorory are the key pieces in the 4x4. Team USA is simarily strong in the distance events, as Chanelle Price, Ajee Wilson, and Shannon Rowbury are just a few of the names competing in the 4x8 and DMR.

 

FloTrack will be in Nassau, Bahamas this weekend providing full coverage of this unique event! Here’s a look at the women’s events, along with our predictions:

 

The American ladies dominated World Relays in 2014, winning four of the five events, and carrying Team USA to the Golden Baton. The expectations are the same if not higher for the 2015 group, as the change from the 4x1500 to the DMR should improve the chances of the U.S. beating Kenya and sweeping all five.

Team USA had no problem distancing themselves from Jamaica in 2014.

An improved 4x100 team will embark on the Bahamas with similar plans of world domination. Team USA beat Jamaica by a sizable margin last year (41.88 to 42.28) with the help of a faulty hand-off in the final exchange, so understandably the Jamaicans have brought in the experienced Veronica Campbell-Brown and her 18 international medals to tighten the screws that were loose a year ago. VCB instantly makes Jamaica better, having run a #4 100m of 2014 (10.86) last summer.

 

Fortunately for the Americans, they too have brought in the reinforcements. Allyson Felix brings her 17 international medal experience to the Bahamas, as well as her status as one of the best relay runners in the world. Felix recently split sub-50 in the 4x400 at Mt. SAC, a good sign that she is strong at the beginning of the season. 

 

Tianna Bartoletta and Jeneba Tarmoh were on the winning relay in 2014, and they both return in 2015. Bartoletta had an outstanding indoor season that culminated with a USATF title in the 60m (7.08). 

 

PREDICTION: 1. USA 2. Jamaica 3. Trinidad and Tobago

 

4x200 (Saturday, 9:36pm EST)

 

The Americans and Jamaicans are predictably the teams to watch in this event, after surprise 2014 runner-up Great Britain mysteriously decided not to field a team this year. After beating Jamaica, and very nearly upsetting Team USA, Team GB couldn’t even put a four ladies on the track? Pathetic. 

 

Anyways, this is another race that figures to be close between the two best sprint countries in the world. Jamaica was a massive disappointment last year in finishing third, but they’ve restocked their roster to make sure that doesn’t happen again. VCB will do double duty in the 4x1 and 4x2, while Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce returns to anchor, giving Jamaica a wealth of experience. 

 

The core of Team USA returns in their title defense, that being Kimberlyn Duncan, Tawanna Meadows, and Shalonda Solomon. 17-year-old pro Kaylin Whitney is also on the roster, and has been impressive in her first month and a half as a pro after winning gold in the 200m at World Juniors last summer. Given her limited experience, Whitney may not run in the final, but she ran a very strong leg last weekend at Penn Relays in the 4x1. Whitney (along with Jenna Prandini) is the future of USA sprinting.

Olympic champion Allyson Felix will compete in her first World Relays

Oh, and did we mention that Olympic gold medalist Allyson Felix is doubling back in the 4x2? Her 21.69 speed will put Team USA on top. 

 

PREDICTION: 1. USA 2. Jamaica 3. Bahamas

 

4x400 (Sunday, 8:12pm EST)

 

Team USA is the overwhelming favorite in the 4x4 after winning last year, and arguably putting together a stronger team in 2015. Key pieces Sanya Richards-Ross, Natasha Hastings, and Deedee Trotter all return, while 2014 World indoor champion and US outdoor champion Francena McCorory joins this group of All-Stars. McCorory exploded in 2014, running a World lead and personal best of 49.48. 

 

McCorory has been impressive early in 2015 as well, torching the loaded Drake Relays field last weekend by running 50.13, also a World lead. SRR was 2nd in 51.09, with top Jamaican Novlene Williams-Mills 3rd in 51.11.

Sanya Richards-Ross returns to World Relays will similar plans of domination.

Jamaica should have no trouble locking up silver. Stephanie Ann McPherson split 50.47 at Penn Relays last Saturday, and she’s fully capable of registering a sub-50 carry with warmer conditions in Nassau. Williams-Mills should deliver a similar performance, as she ran the fourth fastest time in the world in 2014 (50.05).

 

PREDICTION: 1. USA 2. Jamaica 3. Nigeria

 

4x800 (Sunday, 7:40pm EST)

 

The Americans set a national record of 8:01.58 to win this event last season, proof once again that the United States has become the top 800m nation in the world. It’s remarkable how quickly the American takeover of this event has occurred, and it’s a testament to the depth and youth of our country’s top half milers. Six American women broke 2:00 in 2014, and three of those ladies will run in this event on Sunday.

 

One key loss for the Americans in this event will be Ajee Wilson, but don’t worry, she’s simply opting for the DMR instead. The defending champs return 2014 World indoor champion Chanelle Price, who has already run 2:00.62 in 2015. Price was injured for much of 2014, but she appears to be back to full strength after having surgery this fall. 

Chanelle Price is back after an injury derailed her 2014 summer. 

There’s no Brenda Martinez either, but in her place is Alysia Montano, who won the USATF 600m in February after having a baby in August. Montano was the top American by far before the ascent of Martinez, Price, and Wilson, and it appears that she is well on her way to getting back to the top in 2015. Montano was 5th in the loaded Drake 800 in 2:01.78. 

 

2014 runner-up Kenya is not sending nearly as strong of a team to Nassau in 2015. Gone is 2013 World champion and 1:57 runner Eunice Sum, so to is 2007 World champion and 1:56 performer Janeth Jepkosgei Busienei, who’s 1:58.70 ranked her 7th in the world in 2014. It seems hard to believe, but the lineup that Kenya is sending to the Bahamas does not include a single sub-2:00 performer. Perhaps they’re bluffing with this lineup, or maybe they’re not putting emphasis on World Relays in 2015. Either way, Team USA’s path to victory just got a lot easier. 

 

It should also be noted that 2014 3rd place finisher Russia is absent from the 2015 World Relays entirely. Maybe they’re taking time to get their doping fiasco in order. 

 

PREDICTION: 1. USA 2. Kenya 3. Australia

 

DMR (Saturday, 9:02pm EST)

 

After getting demolished by the Kenyans in the 4x1500 in 2014, the Americans were the biggest beneficiaries of the switch to the distance medley relay this year. Now Team USA can put Ajee Wilson in the 800 and Shannon Rowbury in the 1600 leg, a huge advantage over the rest of the field. 

Ajee Wilson is only 20, but she is a seasoned vet on the international stage.

Just like in the 4x800, it doesn’t seem that Kenya was interested in putting together a team that could contend with the Americans here. Gone is Hellen Obiri and her 3:57 1500m speed; so to is 14:35 5k runner Mercy Cherono. In their place are several unproven entities in Selah Busienei, who has a modest 2:01 PB to her credit. Sylivia Chesebe is the most accomplished name in the group, and even she has only run 2:00 in the 800.

 

I could go on and on about the Americans, but the fact is they should dominate this event. It’s no guarantee that Kenya gets silver, as Bahrain is putting together a strong group, headlined by two-time 1500m World champion Maryam Jamal, her of 3:56 speed. 

 

PREDICTION: 1. USA 2. Bahrain 3. Kenya 

IAAF World Relays are this Saturday and Sunday in Nassau, Bahamas. Competition starts at 7:00pm EST both days.