Eugene (United States) (AFP) – Melissa Jefferson-Wooden and Kenny Bednarek blazed to victories in the 100m at the US Championships in Oregon on Friday, punching their tickets to Tokyo’s World Championships in blistering fashion. Rising US star Jefferson-Wooden produced a scintillating display of controlled sprinting in the women’s 100m at Eugene’s Hayward Field, scorching over the line in a world-leading 10.65sec. Jefferson-Wooden’s time puts her into elite company, tied alongside Marion Jones, Shericka Jackson, and reigning 100m world champion Sha’Carri Richardson as the fifth-fastest women ever.
The 24-year-old from South Carolina now looks the firm favorite for the World Championships in Japan, where she will be chasing her first major title following a 100m bronze medal at the Paris Olympics last season. “I’ve been dreaming of days like this, and it’s finally starting to come true,” Jefferson-Wooden told reporters, adding that she was still pinching herself at vaulting up the all-time 100m list. “It’s surreal. It doesn’t actually sound real. You look at all these races, all these amazing women who have accomplished these things — me being part of that list is actually kind of crazy.”
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In the men’s race meanwhile, two-time Olympic 200m silver medallist Bednarek dominated the field to win in 9.79secs, ahead of Courtney Lindsey, who was second in 9.82sec. T’Mars McCallum was third in 9.83sec while Trayvon Bromell was fourth in 9.84sec. “I’m happy with the time, happy with the performance,” Bednarek said. “I definitely have way more in the tank. I already knew I was in this kind of shape — I just needed to let one rip, and I did.”
Bednarek revealed though that his race had nearly unraveled after he began cramping mid-race. Bednarek said he had scarcely had time to react to the problem before powering home. “When something like that happens, you say ‘Screw it, I’m going,'” Bednarek said. “You just gotta keep going.” But there was disappointment for 2019 world champion Christian Coleman, who finished fifth and out of the Tokyo qualification places. Coleman qualified for Friday’s final just hours after news emerged he had been allegedly assaulted by girlfriend Sha’Carri Richardson at Seattle-Tacoma International Airport on Sunday.
Elsewhere on Friday, Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone hinted she is ready to carry her dominance of the 400m hurdles into the 400m flat with an imperious victory in the opening heats. The 25-year-old has been unbeaten over the 400m hurdles since 2019, winning back-to-back Olympic gold medals as well as a 2022 World Championship gold. However, McLaughlin-Levrone is focusing on the 400m at the US championships, apparently opting to skip the 400m hurdles at the Tokyo World Championships.
McLaughlin-Levrone was always in control on Friday, finishing first in her semi-final heat in a time of 49.59sec, several meters clear of second-placed Lynna Irby-Jackson in 50.59sec. While McLaughlin-Levrone is looking forward to Saturday’s final with confidence, her 2021 Olympic 4x400m relay team-mate Athing Mu-Nikolayev was heading home. Mu-Nikolayev, who won Olympic 800m gold in Tokyo and followed it up with a world title a year later, was eliminated in her 800m semi-finals.
The 23-year-old looked comfortable in the opening round on Thursday, qualifying second fastest, but could do no better than fourth on Friday in a time of 1min 59.79sec. Despite the setback, which ended her hopes of qualifying for the World Championships, Mu-Nikolayev is optimistic she can compete at the highest level again. “I think that’s helpful for what I need going for (the) next couple of years. Everything’s not going to be pretty, everything’s not going to be perfect,” she said.
© 2024 AFP
