THE GREATEST!
EUGENE, Oregon — Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce won her fifth World title as Jamaica’s women lived up to expectations by sweeping the medals in the womens’ 100m final on yesterday’s third day of the World Athletics Championships at Hayward Field in Eugene, Oregon.
Their accomplishment is the first in the history of the event.
The Jamaicans matched Saturday’s sweep of the men’s 100m medal. But, unlike Saturday, there was no fly-over of US fighter jets just before the final. The Jamaicans, though, created fireworks of their own.
Cheered on by a crowd that was filled with Jamaican supporters, decked out in the black, green, and gold national colours, Fraser-Pryce ran a championships record 10.67 seconds (0.8m/s). She equalled her season’s best, a time she had run twice before, once in Nairobi, Kenya, and again at Paris, France.
Fraser-Pryce added to the world titles she won in 2009, 2013, 2015, and 2019.
Shericka Jackson was second with a personal best 10.73. Olympic champion Elaine Thompson was third in 10.81.
Dina Asher Smith was fourth, equalling the Great Britain national record of 10.83.
It was back-to-back sweeps by the Jamaican women in a global 100m final after last year’s Olympic Games in Tokyo. Then, Thompson-Herah won ahead of Fraser-Pryce and Jackson.
During a post-race interview, Fraser-Pryce said it was a “fabulous day”. She said she was now turning attention to the 200m that starts on Monday, as well as the 4x100m relay to come later at the championships.
The three medals saw Jamaica shoot up the medals table led by hosts the USA with 14 overall.
Earlier in the semi-finals, Jamaica’s fourth representative Kemba Nelson had run 11.25 seconds in her race and failed to advance.
Elaine Thompson-Herah had run 10.82 to win her semi-finals, while Jackson clocked 10.84 and Fraser-Pryce, while hardly breaking a sweat, eased home in 10.92.
— Paul A Reid