The year ahead: Athletics

A Commonwealth title is the only one to have evaded Jonathan Edwards since he took the triple jump event into new territory six years ago.

Given that the 2002 Commonwealth Games (25 July – 4 August) take place in Manchester, the 35-year-old Gateshead Harrier has the perfect opportunity to complete his medal set on home territory, after which he may go on to the second major event of the summer, the European Championships (6-11 August in Munich). Or he may retire.

Britain's other Olympic champion, Denise Lewis, is hoping to defend her Commonwealth heptathlon title despite the fact that she has a baby due in April.

Darren Campbell, Britain's Olympic 200m silver medallist, will be trying especially hard to win in Manchester, his home city. But Campbell will face a huge challenge in the shape of Wales's Christian Malcolm. The short sprint looks equally hard to call, with Dwain Chambers coming under renewed threat as Britain's pre-eminent 100m runner from the up and coming Mark Lewis Francis, who matched his time of 9.97sec at the World Championships, and – if he has recovered from injury – Jason Gardener.

Paula Radcliffe will renew her efforts to win a track gold this summer, but that will not prevent her making her marathon debut in the Flora London event on 14 April. The men's event will also be marked by a notable big-time debut from the double Olympic 10,000m champion Haile Gebrselassie, who faces a field which includes his fellow Ethiopian Gezahegne Abera, the Olympic and world champion.

Prediction: Mark Lewis Francis to break through for senior gold.