SHE MADE HERSELF SCARCE on the circuit this year, but when it counted, Jasmine Jones showed up in style.
To call the USC grad’s season thin is an understatement. She never raced stateside and only competed in four 400H races in Europe. Her best, a 52.91, counted for a win on the Budapest track 2 months ago. Her worst, a 54.45, gave her 6th at Lausanne in her only August outing.
So it’s understandable that the spotlight hovered more on European gold medalist Emma Zapletalová of Slovakia and Diamond League champ Anna Cockrell.
Zapletalová won the first heat on Saturday in a controlled 52.93. In the second, Jones surprised in flying by world leader Cockrell on the stretch, winning 52.77–53.31. Grabbing the last qualifying spot was ’16 Olympic champion Dalilah Muhammad, putting off the final race of her career by another day.
Jones drew lane 5 for the final, an ideal vantage point to monitor Zapletalová (6) and Cockrell (7). At the gun, it was Cockrell who exploded into action, boasting a clear lead at the first hurdle and stretching it wide on the backstretch. Jones, meanwhile, hung back and kept pace with the Slovak.
On the final turn, the bear jumped on Cockrell’s back. She slowed markedly, and suddenly Zapletalová and Jones closed most of the gap. Hitting the straight, it was Cockrell by barely a stride. Zapletalová raced faintly ahead of Jones and Muhammad in 4th.
Jones surged approaching hurdle 9. She passed Zapletalová there and outraced Cockrell to the final hurdle. Her charge took her to the line in 52.45, with Zapletalová’s 52.68 also overtaking Cockrell (53.09). Muhammad came close in 4th at 53.11.
Jones’s 52.45 was her third-fastest ever, after her championship finishes in Tokyo and Paris.
“This is wild,” she said. “I didn’t see this coming.
“Going into the next 2 years, my team and I know what we can accomplish. It’s going to be an exciting 2 years and I don’t think there’s any more pressure than I had before.”
“I’m frustrated,” admitted Cockrell. “I think I raced a lot better throughout this season so it’s kind of disappointing to not get it done today.”
Many of the post-race comments focused on Muhammad’s swan song. She said, “I am just so grateful. There have been so many emotions happening today. During the race I just wanted to do my best and I absolutely have no regrets. It never really hits you until you finish your career and see what you have accomplished. I had a really blessed career.
“The fans here are amazing and they kept me going. I didn’t just want to get through, I wanted to put my mark down and show how much fight I still have in me. I am focusing on closing this chapter now. I will miss all the moments from the track.”
UC WOMEN’S 400H RESULTS
(September 13)
1. Jasmine Jones (US) 52.45 (12.58, 24.71, 38.01)
2. Emma Zapletalová (Svk) 52.68 (12.63, 24.62, 37.82)
3. Anna Cockrell (US) 53.09 (12.27, 24.87, 37.64)
4. Dalilah Muhammad (US) 53.11 (12.44, 24.48, 38.29)
5. Sanique Walker (Jam) 53.61
6. Paulien Couckuyt (Bel) 53.88
7. Gianna Woodruff (Pan) 53.89
8. Rushell Clayton (Jam) 54.32.
Heats (September 12)
I–1. Zapletalová 52.93; 2. Woodruff 53.73; 3. Couckuyt 53.81; 4. Clayton 53.84; 5. Fatoumata Diallo (Por) 53.90; 6. Ashley Miller (Zim) 54.23; 7. Shamier Little (US) 54.53; 8. Louise Maraval (Fra) 55.97.
II–1. Jones 52.77; 2. Cockrell 53.31; 3. Walker 53.77 PR; 4. Muhammad 53.79; 5. Amalie Hammild Iuel (Nor) 54.19; 6. Ayomide Folorunso (Ita) 54.57; 7. Lina Nielsen (GB) 55.14; 8. Shiann Salmon (Jam) 56.35; 9. Sára Mátó (Hun) 57.05.
