IN THE 200 HEATS, Olympic champion Gabby Thomas made a statement, throwing down a 21.81 that left World champion (and Ultimate 100 winner) Melissa Jefferson-Wooden well behind.
Jefferson-Wooden saved her statement for the final — and it was much more emphatic.
MJW started in lane 6, with European champ Amy Hunt and Thomas to her outside. At about 50 meters she had already made up the stagger on Britain’s Hunt; a few steps later, she did the same to Thomas. As she pulled away down the straight, the only question was where she would place on the all-time lists.
The answer was third performer and fourth performance with a stunning 21.47. It was the fastest time ever recorded into a negative wind (-0.6), a PR improvement of 0.21, and capped a magnificent 100/200 double.
Jaws dropped around the stadium, especially Jefferson-Wooden’s. She took a knee, wide-eyed, and repeated, “Whoa… whoa… whoa.”
“I did not see 21.47 coming tonight!” she said. “I told myself that I need to be smart in the semifinal [heat as T&FN views the first round in a 2-round comp] and save some energy. I knew when I came out of the curve in the semifinal, it would be just enough to qualify for the final.”
At 100 remaining, Thomas seemed caught off guard and lagged far behind in 4th. If anyone had any hope of catching MJW, it appeared to be American teammate Kayla White. With 50 left, Thomas finally asserted herself, lengthened her stride and made up some ground, but it was much too late. She took 2nd in 21.77, followed by White (21.93) and Hunt (22.10, her season’s best).
Jefferson-Wooden reached the top of the world with this same double last year in Tokyo, so you’d think she would no longer be star-struck. However, she seemed dazzled by the celebrities applauding her and singing her praises.
“I never thought that people like Usain Bolt would watch my races and even have great reactions to my performances. He said to me earlier this week how proud he is of me for making it seem so easy.”
“It was a very competitive race,” Thomas said. “To be disappointed with a 2nd-place finish on the global stage shows how far I have come. I liked this Ultimate from the beginning — the lane draft was a lot of fun. I think in the future whoever is ranked first should get to pick what order they are in and I also think that first place in the semi-finals should get to pick the lane draw in the final.”
UC WOMEN’S 200 RESULTS
(September 13; wind –0.6)
1. Melissa Jefferson-Wooden (US) 21.47 PR (WL, AL) (3, 4 W; 2, 2 A) (11.03/10.44)
2. Gabby Thomas (US) 21.77 (11.25/10.52)
3. Kayla White (US) 21.93 (11.12/10.81)
4. Amy Hunt (GB) 22.10 (11.20/10.90)
5. Ashanti Moore (Jam) 22.34 (11.29/11.05)
6. Cambrea Sturgis (US) 22.46 (11.46/11.00)
7. Anavia Battle (US) 22.54 (11.47/11.07)
8. Fabienne Hoenke (Swi) 22.74 (11.55/11.19)
Heats (September 13)
I(0.7)–1. Thomas 21.88; 2. Jefferson-Wooden 22.15; 3. White 22.28; 4. Hoenke 22.72; 5. Rhasidat Adeleke (Ire) 22.81; 6. Liranyi Alonso (DR) 22.96; 7. Lavanya Williams (Jam) 23.10;… dnc—Jenna Prandini (US).
II(0.2)–1. Hunt 22.22; 2. Moore 22.30 PR; 3. Sturgis 22.40; 4. Battle 22.46; 5. Jael Bestue (Spa) 22.68; 6. Gemima Joseph (Fra) 22.92; 7. Success Eduan (GB) 22.93; 8. Boglárka Takács (Hun) 23.24;… dq—Shaunae Miller-Uibo (Bah).
