Tokyo (AFP) – Melissa Jefferson-Wooden eased into the 200 metres semi-finals on Wednesday in Tokyo as she began her quest to become the first woman to achieve the individual world sprint double since Jamaican legend Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce in Moscow in 2013. Were she to do so—emulating German Katrin Krabbe’s world individual double in Tokyo in 1991—it would be an excellent launching pad in her goal to follow the “greatest,” as she called Fraser-Pryce, and win “multiple medals.”
The task for the 24-year-old American, who timed 22.24sec at the National Stadium, has been made easier with both last year’s Olympic champion Gabby Thomas and silver medallist Julien Alfred absent because of injury. Jefferson-Wooden said she had gone against coach Dennis Mitchell’s advice to conserve energy in her heat, as she thought her rivals were closer to her than they really were. However, she added she was not worried as her season had gone beautifully to plan so far, with her commanding victory in the 100m on Sunday giving her the first part of her double.
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“So far, everything I have been doing the whole year has been working,” she said. “Now I just need to repeat it in the 200m and the relay. I want three gold medals. I want to push my body.” Jefferson-Wooden said her ambition was to enjoy the success and longevity of Fraser-Pryce. The 38-year-old Jamaican finished sixth behind Jefferson-Wooden in the 100m. It was the last individual final for Fraser-Pryce, who has garnered 25 Olympic and world medals over the nearly two decades she competed.
“Shelly-Ann is the greatest of all time,” said Jefferson-Wooden. “I am inspired by her. Being able to run the 100m final with her felt special. I want to do what she has done—win multiple world medals.” Jefferson-Wooden will have to be at her best if she is to wrest the title away from Jamaican great Shericka Jackson. The 31-year-old two-time defending champion, who in the last two editions twice came agonisingly close to the world sprint double, looked impressive as she trotted to victory in her heat, timing 22.33sec.
Her predecessor as world champion, Dina Asher-Smith, may not be the force she was in the 100m, finishing last in Monday’s final. However, it seems to be a different matter over the longer sprint distance. The manner in which the 29-year-old Briton coasted in her heat to clock 22.40sec, and with two big medal contenders missing, suggests she is in with a chance of a podium finish. Both her teammates, fellow veteran Daryll Neita and young hope Amy Hunt progressed, as did all Jefferson-Wooden’s compatriots.
Anavia Battle took her impressive form on the Diamond League circuit this season, winning four times, into her heat as the 26-year-old American ran a season’s best 22.07sec. Ivorian veteran Marie-Josee Ta Lou-Smith, 36, bidding to reach an astonishing 13th world and Olympic final, was second to Battle. The third American, McKenzie Long, also won her heat in 22.51sec, and the fourth and final member of the team, Brittany Brown, who earned a wild card for winning the Diamond League final last month, also cruised. The 30-year-old Olympic bronze medallist, who took silver in the 2019 world final behind Asher-Smith, timed 22.50sec.
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