Carmelita Jeter: Olympic Gold Would Cement Status as Most Improved U.S. Athlete

After leading the 100 meter heats at the London Games, Carmelita Jeter has a real chance to win gold, which would be a marked improvement from her failure to qualify for the Olympics in 2008.

Jeter has long been a key name in the United States' track and field circuit, but her last attempt to qualify for the Olympics was a flop. Despite running a then-personal best 10.97 seconds in the 100, Jeter failed to qualify for the team.

Rather than give up on her Olympic dream, Jeter instead completely changed course. She hired John Smith to completely remodel her running style, a difficult task for any runner.

The move quickly paid off, as she ran a stunning 10.64 dash in 2009. She has since maintained that level of speed, usually finishing well under 11 seconds.

Her rapid improvement brought Jeter intense scrutiny, however. Doping is rampant on the track, and her new-found speed put her firmly under the microscope.

Fortunately, Jeter has never tested positive for any banned substance, so U.S. track and field fans can gleefully cheer her on as she goes for gold.

Jeter certainly does have a very good chance at the gold medal. Her time of 10.83 did not disappoint, despite the high expectations that surround her as defending world champion.

In fact, Jeter probably has yet to run her best time in London. The track was tremendously fast, with seven sprinters finishing in 11 seconds or better, but the top sprinters were still able to coast to the finish line. 

Jeter was already ahead by ten feet at the halfway mark of the race, so her time will only improve with more intense competition.

Keep in mind that her 10.83 time, an average time for Jeter at this point, would have been a huge personal record only four years ago.

U.S. fans can look forward to Jeter cementing her status as the most improved athlete at the 2012 games. Her dedication and ability to completely transform her running style is incredible, making her one of the top U.S. athletes to root for at the London Games.