By A Correspondent
Sweep for Americans in 200m, Jackson close to WR
Two electrifying 200 metres final marked day seven of the World athletics championships at Hayward Field, Oregon, USA, on Thursday.
In one, Jamaican Shericka Jackson ran the race of her life to beat a ‘who-is-who’ field of women’s sprinting, clocking the second fastest all-time of 21.45s. That is now headed only by Florence Griffth-Joyner’s storied world record of 21.34s. The American set that record at the Seoul Olympic Games in 1988 to go with her stunning 100m mark of 10.49s the same year during the US Olympic trials.
In the men’s 200m, where the Americans made yet another sweep of medals to match their 100m shut-out earlier in these championships, favourite Noah Lyles bettered Michael Johnson’s record of 19.32 for the fastest American, clocking 19.31s to defend his title won three years ago.
Olympic silver medallist Kenny Bednarek took the silver in a season best 19.77s and 18-year-old Erriyon Knighton won his first Worlds medal, clinching the bronze in 19.80s.
Neither Jackson nor Noah gave any chance to the rivals past the 120-metre mark. In the women’s 200m, the shorter sprint winner Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce was marginally ahead entering the home straight, but Jackson produced a strong finish running the final 100m in 10.41s to Fraser-Pryce’s 10.78s.
Britain’s defending champion Dina Asher-Smith was relieved and overjoyed with the bronze in 22.02s. Touted as the biggest showdown of the championships, double Olympic gold medallist Elain Thompson-Herah faded on the straight and finished seventh in a disappointing 22.39s
“I know Shelly is probably one of the best curve runners in the world, so I had to run the curve as hard as possible,” Jackson said after the race. “I know I am fast on coming home so I knew when I eventually caught up with her, I could take it.”
“I’m feeling great. I came out and put on a show. The fastest woman alive, the national and championship record, I can’t complain,” said Jackson.
“Today is my day and I finally got to do what I’ve dreamed about for years. I’ve got my whole family here,” Lyles said after putting on a commanding show in front of home fans.
“I was hoping it was going to be a fast time because I thought it was going to be slow”, Lyles said.
Once into the final 100 metres in clear lead (10.15s to Bednarek’s 10.26s), Lyles was never threatened. He finished comfortably to the extent that he could look towards the timer to see what it was showing even as he crossed the line.
India’s Olympic champion Neeraj Chopra duly made the javelin throw final with an opening effort of 88.39m, but he didn’t have the satisfaction being the No. 1 qualifier into the final.
That distinction went to defending champion Anderson Peters of Grenada who reached 89.91m to indicate in what form he was in at this stage. It would be a battle between Chopra and Peters in the final on Saturday if the script goes as per expectations.
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India had one more qualifier into the final as Rohit Yadav accompanied Chopra with an 80.32m. Others from Asia making it were Roderick Genki Dean of Japan (82.34m) and Pakistani Nadeem Arshad with a last-round throw of 81.71m that was his best for the season.
Chinese Zhu Yaming (17.08m) was one of the qualifiers for the final in men’s triple jump as three Indians battled it to make progress. Eventually, only one of them, Eldhose Paul (16.68m) went through as the 12th and last qualifier into the final. Abdulla Aboobacker (16.45m) and Praveen Chithravel (16.49m) were the two Indians who failed to progress. Chinese Fang Yaoqing pulled out of the contest even before the start. The reason for the withdrawal was not known.
In previous day’s action, Japanese Haruka Kitaguchi was a surprise leader in women’s javelin qualification with a season best 64.32m while Olympic champion and 2019 Worlds silver winner, Chinese Liu Shiying (63.86m) was behind her.
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Chinese Lyu Huihui, bronze medallist last time, could not make it, finishing 16th overall with a below-par 57.59m.
