Olympic Best Bets: Women’s 200-Meter Track

It’s 2024, which means it is an Olympic year. Now that the Paris Olympics are underway, we will be putting together a series of articles focusing on some of the more niche markets taking place throughout the Olympic Games. While sports such as basketball, golf and tennis are more common, there are markets such as track and field and swimming that I have found an interest in following due to edges that exist in the betting space. In the opening week of the Olympic Games, we’ll be focusing on swimming, while the second week we will turn to track and field. Today, we’ll be taking a look at the women’s 200-meter track races.

Well, this race has turned interesting overnight as reigning Olympic and World Championships Gold Medalist Shericka Jackson has withdrawn from the entry list. This comes just about a week after withdrawing from the 100M competition. She did suffer what was described as a “hamstring cramp” when competing in her final tune-up a few weeks ago, but it was quite clear to the naked eye that it was more than just a cramp. Fortunately, we were able to get Gabrielle Thomas at +200 last month when the potential Jackson injury surfaced. Thomas is now as short as -187 (Caesars) to win the Gold Medal. I believe she is unplayable at that number, but those holding +200 tickets should be feeling great right now.

Thomas’ primary threat is Julien Alfred, the 100M Gold Medalist. Alfred ran a 21.86 in the 200M at the Diamond League meet in London a couple weeks ago, which is her personal best, so the 100M Gold Medalist is certainly in prime position to sweep both the 100M and 200M. The good news for Thomas is Alfred’s personal best isn’t even better than her own season best of 21.78, which she ran during US Olympic trials during the semifinal heat. Thomas then followed with a 21.81 in the final, as well as a 21.82 in the Diamond League London meet, taking home the gold over Alfred. It certainly looks like a toss up between Thomas and Alfred, as the current line courtesy of FanDuel shows, so I don’t see value in Thomas at the moment, but the +200 tickets are very much in play.

As far as other value goes, McKenzie Long is second in the World Lead with a 21.83, which she ran at the NCAA Championships. She ran a 22.55 in the preliminary round Sunday morning at these Olympic Games, but I’m not reading too much stock into that, as most are running to advance, rather than to run the best possible time. It’s the semifinal round where most start finding that extra gear to ensure their spot in the final, as well as a better lane position in a potential final. At US Olympic trials, Long ran a 22.49 in the preliminary round, then followed with times of 22.01 in the semifinals, and 21.91 in the final. Long’s odds to win this event have simply gotten out of hand, as she is currently +2100 to win the Gold Medal on FanDuel, as well as +175 to medal on FanDuel. With Jackson out of the event, the podium is wide open at the moment and getting near 2/1 on Long to reach the podium holds significant value for me, while a sprinkle on Long to win the Gold Medal at +2100 is worth a look as well. 

Best Bets

• McKenzie Long to Win 200M +2100 (FanDuel Sportsbook)
• McKenzie Long to Medal 200M +175 (FanDuel Sportsbook)