Melissa Jefferson-Wooden embraces the moment and basks in 100m world title

TOKYO – Melissa Jefferson-Wooden produced a stunning performance to win the women’s 100 metres world title on Sept 14, taking her first major individual gold at the Japan National Stadium in Tokyo.

The 24-year-old American clocked 10.61sec in a new World Athletics Championships record, the fourth-fastest time in history.

Jamaican youngster Tina Clayton took silver in 10.76sec with Paris Olympic champion Julien Alfred of St Lucia third in 10.84sec.

“I have been dreaming of this moment,” said Jefferson-Wooden, who will bid to achieve the sprint double in the 200m.

“Instead of putting the pressure on myself and taking it as something overwhelming, I was just embracing it. That (change) was worth the gold medal tonight.”

There was to be no medal farewell, at least in the individual event, for five-time world champion Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce.

The 38-year-old Jamaican legend – her hair dyed in the national flag colours on her last appearance in a major individual final – found her legs just could not keep up with the younger rivals and she finished an honourable sixth in 11.03sec.

American defending champion and Paris silver medallist Sha’Carri Richardson was fifth in a season’s best 10.94sec.

In the men’s race, Oblique Seville scorched to gold in a personal-best 9.77 seconds, leading a Jamaican one-two ahead of Olympic silver medallist Kishane Thompson, second again in 9.82.

Defending champion Noah Lyles took bronze in a season’s best 9.89 as the United States failed to take the gold for the first time since 2015 when Usain Bolt won the last of his three titles.

The sport’s biggest superstar was in the stands in Tokyo – the first time since he retired in 2017 – to roar home his compatriots, though he had predicted a Thompson victory earlier in the day.

Thompson, beaten by five thousandths of a second by Lyles in the Olympic final, had to settle for silver again, having come to Tokyo with the fastest time by anyone for 10 years – 9.75.

Seville’s 9.77 takes him into a share of 10th on the all-time list.

“It’s an excellent feeling,” he said. “The last time a Jamaican got a world gold was in 2016 (Rio Olympics) and that was Usain Bolt, so I am really happy knowing that I actually got the gold medal and I have proved myself that I am a true competitor and I showed my resilience and my fight and determination.

“It is a tremendous feeling. I know my talent and trust in myself. Last year I was injured for the final, so this time I’ve proved myself... I think I have mastered the mental part.”

American Tara Davis-Woodhall leapt 7.13 metres for a dominant victory in the women’s long jump final, adding the world title to the 2024 Olympic crown.

Germany’s Malaika Mihambo, who won the 2019 and 2022 world titles and finished second behind Davis-Woodhall in Paris, took silver with a best jump of 6.99m, while bronze went to Colombian Natalia Linares with a personal-best leap of 6.92m.

France’s Jimmy Gressier pulled off a huge upset by winning the men’s 10,000m.

In the absence of Uganda’s three-time winner Joshua Cheptegei, the Frenchman won in 28min 55.77sec, with Yomif Kejelcha of Ethiopia taking silver 0.06sec adrift and Sweden’s Andreas Almgren claiming bronze (28:56.02).

Two-time Olympic discus champion Valarie Allman won her first world title with a throw of 69.48 metres. Jorinde van Klinken (67.50) of the Netherlands was second while Cuba’s Silinda Morales bagged the bronze (67.25).

Earlier in the day, Peres Jepchirchir edged out Tigst Assefa in a thrilling sprint finish to win the women’s marathon on a steamy morning.

The 31-year-old Kenyan, who won Olympic gold on the streets of Sapporo in 2021, broke the tape at two hours, 24 minutes and 43 seconds, just two seconds ahead of Paris silver medallist Assefa of Ethiopia.

The Olympic marathon was moved to Sapporo three years ago because of the stifling heat of the Japanese capital and Jepchirchir said she had been surprised to have the energy for the final kick after such a gruelling race.

“The humidity was so high and I did not know it would be so hot,” she told reporters.

“It was not my ultimate plan to sprint in the final metres, but... I found some hidden energy there. I was so exhausted coming to the stadium, stepping on the track. So exhausted. But I sprinted for it.”

While east African dominance of the top two steps of the podium was expected, Julia Paternain sprung a major surprise, for herself as much as anyone, when she finished third in 2:27:23 to give Uruguay its first world championship medal. AFP, REUTERS