Which athletes are people most excited about for 2023?

[18.99s]

For me, it has to be the Jamaican super-trio of SAFP, ETH, and SJ.

Plus an improved Briana Williams who is now training in Jamaica; with her they can break the 4x100 world record. I also think she will get a spot in the individual 100m over Kemba Nelson.

Steiner will run 21.6x if she doesn't get injured or catch Covid.

Will Laird return to his 2021 form?

Will Amusan break the WR again?

[donley2]

Without the pressure of Worlds or OGs,

Huh. There is a meet in Budapest this year.

[ATK]

There are multiple athletes, but after this 1st week of NCAA, Im super excited about names like Jasmine Moore, Talitha Diggs, Britton Wilson etc.
They could have all easily gone pro but decided to remain in the NCAA and already look on pace to kill it this year.

Shout out to NIL.

[DET59]

Huh. There is a meet in Budapest this year.

Thanks for correction! Yes and back to being much later

[Revenant]

I'm excited to see if Gabby Thomas and Christine Mboma can come back into form. We were yet again robbed of an even greater 200m with their absence. I hope this summer we see them in form alongside the other top women (though I wonder whether SAFP will double again, or which Thompson-Herah we get...)

[TN1965]

The latest teen phenom from Japan, except she may choose to represent Canada.

Junior high girl passes 17 runners in setting record in national race | The Asahi Shimbun: Breaking News, Japan News and Analysis

With her team far behind, Sherry Drury took the “tasuki” sash in a national women’s ekiden long-distance relay race here on Jan. 15 and ran like a sprinter, her arms swinging wide.

The Japanese-Canadian junior high school student stole the spotlight after setting a new record for the third stage and overtaking 17 runners.

[AFelixFan]

Plus an improved Briana Williams who is now training in Jamaica; with her they can break the 4x100 world record. I also think she will get a spot in the individual 100m over Kemba Nelson.

Steiner will run 21.6x if she doesn't get injured or catch Covid.

Will Laird return to his 2021 form?

Will Amusan break the WR again?

Williams had a brilliant junior career and I'm certainly interested in seeing her make more of a dent in the senior ranks, but I'd say it's a toss-up between her and Nelson. Could really go either way and with Nelson joining the same training camp as SAFP, I have to think Nelson is in capable hands. Plus the threat of the Clayton twins looms large. I figure Lyston and Davis will be too exhausted from their collegiate exploits to factor in at nationals, but anything's possible.

Steiner is such a power sprinter. Curious to see if she continues moving forward with her times, though I still think Thomas is the best US 200m runner.

I wish the best for Laird. A year can be an eternity in track. His name went to the recesses of my mind, especially with all the American men doing so well in the 200.

Would also love to see Amusan go sub-12, but I'm not convinced she has the highest ceiling of the active female sprint hurdlers so I'll forecast someone getting to that before her!

[Revenant]

I still think Thomas is the best US 200m runner.

The problem I have with Thomas is she never appears to relax, she's always really strained when she runs. It really stands out when compared to the other women

[58Commander]

BRITTON WILSON

If Syd moves to the 400, she is the challenger to Bol and Muhammad for the queen of the hurdles.

If Syd stays in the 400H, I think she is the best 400 runner in the US. She ran (48.59) on a relay leg at SEC 2022 and her 400 leg on the W4X4 at worlds blew the race open. I think she is capable of winning both the 400 / 400H at NCAAs 2023 if the schedule permits.

She is flying under the radar, and reminds me of an American version of Bol, perhaps a step faster in flat 400 speed. I think she has a good family around her to keep her grounded, a strong college program for structure, healthy and is ready for take off.

[GHM]

World Athletics proposes new transgender eligibility rules, https://www.bbc.com/sport/athletics/64373487

Christine Mboma and Caster Caster Semenya may break the records in 400 and 800m.

[CookyMonzta]

The problem I have with Thomas is she never appears to relax, she's always really strained when she runs. It really stands out when compared to the other women

Nonetheless, in a quality final where a team spot or medals are on the line, she brings her A-game and then some, the exception being when Mboma showed up in Tokyo to steal the show in those final 100s.

Gabby vs. Abby showdowns are likely to come by the truckload between now and Paris 2024; unless someone like Anavia Battle or Tamara Clark steal the show.

[DET59]

I think Vashti Cunningham is finally going to have her "break out" year. She's off to a good start (1.97 last week) and at age 25 she no longer has the "young protege pressure" and spotlight. She's avoided injury (clearly doesn't over-compete) and '24, with an August WC, will give her the kind of 'pick and choose' schedule she likes and seems to do well with. I'd like to see her improve her 2.02 PB 1-2cm and maybe move up to Forum on the all-time U.S. list.

[Atticus]

and '24, with an August WC, will give her the kind of 'pick and choose' schedule she likes

Missed it by this much!

[TN1965]

World Athletics proposes new transgender eligibility rules, https://www.bbc.com/sport/athletics/64373487

Christine Mboma and Caster Caster Semenya may break the records in 400 and 800m.

Semenya was barely under 2 min and eliminated in the semifinals of World Championships in 2015. So how is she supposed to threaten the world record when the testosterone limit will be FOUR times lower and twice as long, at age 34 after the de facto 2 yr suspension?

Mboma is still young, and we don't know how much effect testosterone reduction will have on her body. I would not be surprised if she gets down to sub-50 again. But I have no idea exactly what world record she is supposed to threaten.

[DET59]

Missed it by this much!

oops. I'm a year ahead ... I mean '23, with an August WC..... So do you think she might improve in '23 (I worry about her '24 Olympics.... not her best moments in 16/21)