Justifiably so, the women's 200m final at the 2022 Oregon World Championship scheduled for Thursday July 21, 2022 had all the making of an epic encounter; the promotional hype surrounding the event was befitting of a quality final such as this. In fact, it was one of the greatest fields of female athletes assembled based on prior personal bests coming into the Championship and of course the semifinal results.
Shericka Jackson, the double sprint champion at the JAAA National Trials, and the newly-crowned 100m World Championship silver medalist led the way. The twenty-eight-year-old Jackson solidified her status as favorite heading into the finals when she ran a well-controlled time of 21.67 in the semifinals. In the finals, Jackson who had a prior lifetime best 21.55, was assigned lane 4 just behind Tamara Clark of the USA. Clark, who was assigned lane 5, had a lifetime best 21.92, while posting a semifinal time of 21.95.
The British Champion
Britain’s Dina Asher-Smith, the defending 200m World Champion from Doha 2019 was assigned lane 3 which placed her just behind Shericka Jackson and immediately in front of Elaine Thompson-Herah, who occupied lane 2. Asher-Smith entered the 200m final with a lifetime best 21.88, while posting a semifinal time of 21.96. Asher-Smith was a close fourth in the 100m final posting 10.83 to Thompson-Herah's 10.81. Incidentally, Asher-Smith time of 10.83 seconds was a new British national record and this was still not enough to get her on the podium.
Thompson-Herah and Kambundji
Thompson-Herah was just ahead of Mujinga Kambundji who occupied lane 1. Thompson-Herah, the 100m bronze medalist entered the final with a lifetime best 21.53, while posting a semifinal and season best 21.97. Although Thompson-Herah made it into the final, it was obvious that she wasn't her usual dominant and impressive self in qualifying. She seemed suspect and vulnerable, throughout. In fact, Thompson-Herah finished third in her semifinal race, and only qualified as one of the fastest losers.
The Swiss, Kambundji, entered the final with a personal best and semifinal time of 22.05, a Swiss national record. She was Switzerland’s sole representative in the 200m final.
Steiner and Seyni
The twenty-two-year-old American Abby Steiner was assigned lane 8. Steiner entered the final with a personal and season best 21.77, and posted a semifinal time of 22.15. Much was expected from the NCAA and US national 200m champion who recently signed a multi-year deal with Puma.
The twenty-five-year-old Aminatou Seyni was assigned lane 7. The Nigerian entered the final with a lifetime best and semifinal time of 22.04. Seyni was the sole African in the final and much was placed on her shoulders to carry the hopes and aspirations of her country and the African continent.
Mommy Rocket ready to launch
The 100m champion Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce was assigned lane 6. The thirty-five-year-old irrepressible and charismatic Jamaican entered the final with a lifetime best 21.79, and posted a semifinal time of 21.82 to stake her claim as a legitimate medal contender.
After the starter's gun was fired, Fraser-Pryce was out of the blocks like a bullet from a gun; Jackson followed her closely. Both Fraser-Pryce and Jackson quickly separated themselves from the other competitors. Coming off the curve they were clearly ahead. Down the homestretch they came. Jackson went into high gear and overdrive and pulled away from Fraser-Pryce, creating considerable distance between herself and the latter.
Jackson’s dominance
Jackson was in an imperious no-nonsense form and crossed the finish line in a new championship and national record of 21.45. Not only was the time surreal, but the manner of her victory was nothing short of sheer dominance; it was breath-taking and was a complete annihilation of her competitors. In the end, there was no epic battle; it was just Jackson running against the clock.
The remarkable Fraser-Pryce ran a season best 21.81 to take second place and creating a quinella for Jamaica. The sweep for Jamaica did not occur in this event as Asher-Smith placed third in 22.02 seconds. Unfortunately, Thompson-Herah was seventh in 22.38 a far cry from her very high standard and only corroborated the arguments that she came into these Championships underprepared due to a rotator cuff injury.
Seyni was fourth in 22.12 followed by Steiner who posted 22.26 for fifth place. Clark stopped the clock in 22.32 for sixth while Kambundji was eight and last in a time of 22.55.
Jackson is the real deal
Overall, the Jamaicans finished first, second and seventh, respectively. The British was third while the Nigerian was fourth. The Americans finished fifth and sixth respectively and the Swiss took the eighth spot.
There can be no doubt in anyone's mind that Shericka Jackson is the real deal. She has announced herself on the big stage as a potent force in the 200m in particular and that she will prove more than a handful to deal with by all and sundry. Jackson becomes the first women to win world championship medals in the 100m, 200m and 400m.
Based on her 21.45 performance, I think it is fair to say that Jackson has serve due notice of Florence Griffith-Joyner World Record of 21.34 and before long it should be relegated to second best effort on the all-time list.
Henley Taylor
Freelance Sports Writer
Edited by: Raymond Byfield
Comments
Leave a Comment