adminEUGENE. – Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce won a record fifth women’s 100m world title in a Jamaican clean sweep of the medals as Dina Asher-Smith finished fourth.
Fraser-Pryce ran a championship record of 10.67 seconds to finish ahead of silver medallist Shericka Jackson and Elaine Thompson-Herah, who took bronze.
She is the first person to win five golds in an individual track event at the World Athletics Championships.
GB’s Asher-Smith equalled her British record of 10.83 in Eugene, Oregon.
“This performance is phenomenal for me and I’ve had a fantastic championships,” said Asher-Smith, who won silver in the event at the 2019 Worlds in Doha.
“I really couldn’t fault it but I’m so gutted that it didn’t get me on the podium. I was so close. But that’s just champs. I’m upset.
“It’s been an interesting season for me so far. I’ve been in physical shape for a bit but I’ve had some life things that I’ll probably talk about more after the 200m. I needed to make sure my mind was actually in the race rather than with my family or here.
“We’re looking to keep going faster throughout the summer into Commonwealths and Europeans. But I definitely came here with an eye to get on to the podium.”
It is the first time a nation has taken a clean sweep of the women’s 100m medals at a World Championship, and comes a day after the United States completed the one-two-three in the men’s 100m final.
The same Jamaican trio achieved the feat at last year’s Olympics in Tokyo – Thompson-Herah winning her second gold on that occasion – with the nation also doing it at the 2008 Games in Beijing.
Asher-Smith’s GB team-mate Daryll Neita missed out on a place in the final, finishing third in her semi-final in 10.97.
On Saturday, 26-year-old Asher-Smith had qualified fastest for the semi-finals in 10.84, the second quickest time of her career, and placed second in 10.89 in her semi-final behind Jackson on Sunday.
She drew lane eight for the final and after a good start, looked the most likely to threaten the Jamaicans’ podium domination but was reeled in by Jackson and Thompson-Herah.
Asher-Smith’s narrow miss of the podium – by just 0.02 seconds – comes after a mixed start to the season, in which she was beaten by Neita to the 100m UK title.
“I was in better shape than the times I was running throughout the season,” she added.
“I know sometimes it must have sounded crazy when I was saying I was in good shape and then the races were popping up with something different.
“But it is psychological. It’s one of those things where you really have to be in the room and emotionally in the room.
“For lots of the season I couldn’t do that. I didn’t have it in me. That’s just life stuff. I’m happy that I got it in time but I’m gutted.” – BBC Sport.
Online Reporter