| Three
Matthew Stockman/Allsport |
By Tim Layden, SI
Marion Jones is running for history in Sydney, but I don't think she'll get her
five gold medals. The odds are simply stacked against her. That said, how many
will she win?
Two events are sure things. No one can touch Jones in the 100 meters; she should
win by a mile. The same goes for the U.S. in the 4x100 relay, which Jones will
anchor.
In the 200, U.S. teammate Inger Miller, the defending world champion, will
provide a stiff challenge, but Jones should prevail in a closer race than people
think. That's three golds.
The long jump is a total crapshoot. Jones has been wildly inconsistent all
season, and she has failed to improve her technique during the past few months.
Just on natural ability, she could easily break the world record. But she could
just as easily foul three times. The guess here is that with a full slate and in
the heat of competition, she won't have enough.
And I don't think the U.S. has enough depth to win the 4x400 relay. Which leaves Jones with a stellar -- but not record-setting -- three gold medals.
| Four
Andy Lyons/Allsport |
By John Donovan, CNNSI.com
Four sounds about right. Five would be fantastic, putting Marion Jones in the Joe Namath and Carnac the Magnificent category.
But four gold medals for the magnificent Mrs. Jones are about all we can expect, really. And, as many figure, the long jump likely will be her downfall.
The problem with the long jump is it's all about technique. And, as hard as she's worked, Jones just doesn't have it nailed just yet.
Oh, it could all fall together before the Sydney Games. But it could all fall apart, too, just that quickly. That's technique.
Jones should win the 100 and 200. She's shown she can perform well in the clutch. The relay events, especially the 4x400, will be a bit trickier, if for no other reason than Jones has to rely on others. A botched handoff could be disastrous. Still, the Americans are talented enough to win both.
Winning five, as Jones predicted, is a lot of pressure. In the end, it may be too much. So, four it is.
But wouldn't five be awesome?
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