Jackson, Levell chase 200m gold in mega showdowns

TOKYO, Japan:

Defending champion Shericka Jackson and Bryan Levell will lead the Jamaica charge in the hunt for a gold medal today in the respective women's and men's 200 metres finals at the World Athletics Championships in Tokyo, Japan.

Both Jamaicans have been impressive throughout the qualification series in the Asian nation, emerging from yesterday's semi-finals as challengers in what appears a likely two-horse race for the illustrious first prize.

Jackson led all qualifiers with a season best 21.99 seconds in the semi-finals, appearing to have plenty left in the tank.

The World champion over the distance in the last two championships, in Eugene, Oregon and Budapest, Jackson, after a conservative curve, stepped on the pedal at the top of the homestretch and created a comfortable lead over her rivals, before easing her way to the finish ahead of Great Britain's Amy Hunt, who clocked 22.08.

Jackson's main threat for the 200m gold, however, appears the United States' Melissa Wooden-Jefferson, the newly minted World 100m champion.

Jefferson-Wooden, in winning her semi-final in 22.00 seconds flat, is the second fastest qualifier overall and has been the most impressive 100-200m female sprinter all season.

After an out-of-character 2024, however, Jackson has been improving with every race this season and appears to be peaking at the right time to set up the one of two Jamaica-USA mega showdowns over the half-lap.

The final is set to run at 8:22 a.m.

The men's final is expected to be equally hot, following statement performances from Jamaica's Bryan Levell and defending World champion Noah Lyles of the United States.

"It is going to be a good one," Levell promised after his semi-final yesterday. "Noah is a great competitor and so are the others."

Levell has been in rare form and the 21-year-old speedster has been impressing in his World Championships debut.

In the heats, Levell was far ahead of the pack as he cruised to an impressive 19.84-seconds, shutting down on the homestretch and leaving a lot in the tank.

He would do the same in the semi-finals, attacking the curve before easing down the homestretch as he advanced in 19.78.

Levell said he has been in good shape throughout the rounds and is expecting a "fast time" when he challenges for the world title.

"It just took a little bit more effort, knowing that the field behind me was a really good field," he explained after his semi-final run.

"I'm just focused on my own lane and just run. I don't know [what it will take] but I know it's going to be a fast time."

He added, "It's just to go home now and recover."

MAKING A STATEMENT

Lyles showed that he is not ready to hand over his title, as the defending champion made a statement with a time of 19.51-second blast to advance to the final.

The American said his performance was not a response to Levell, but rather to the entire world.

"It was more of a statement to everybody," he said. "It's saying that you're not going to beat me off the turn for these next two races."

Apart from the main protagonists, the United States' Kenny Bednarek will be looking for redemption in the half lap event, following a fourth-place finish in the men's 100m; and reigning Olympic champion Letsile Tebogo of Botswana will also be fighting to be among the medal contenders, as he too looked confident throughout his rounds.

The final is set for 8:06 a.m.

Prior to the 200 finals, Jamaica will be represented in the women's 400m hurdles final by Shiann Salmon, who advanced from her semis in 54.03 seconds.

This is expected to be one of the hotly-contested finals, with the Netherlands' Femke Bol, 51.91, favoured to win the battle against the United States' Dalilah Muhammad, 52.58.

VALIANT EFFORT

Reigning men's 400m national champion Rusheen McDonald suffered a bitter end to his quest for a World Championships medal, as he finished fourth in the men's 400m final in 44.28. Coming into the homestretch in third place, McDonald looked assured of a podium finish, but was edged to the line in the final metres by Botswana's Bayapo Ndori, 44.20.

Busang Kebinatshipi took the World title in a world leading 43.53, with Trinidad and Tobago's Jereem Richards taking the silver medal in a national record of 43.72.

In one of the fastest women's 400m races of all time, Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone took the World title in a new championship record of 47.78.

Marileidy Paulino of the Dominican Republic was second in a national record, 47.98, with Bahrain's Salwa Eid Naser third in a season best 48.19.

Jamaica's Nickisha Pryce, the reigning national champion, was eighth in 49.97.

And in the women's triple jump final, Jamaicans Shanieka Ricketts and Ackelia Smith missed out on the medals. Ricketts placed fifth with 14.56 metres, while Smith ended eighth with 14.37m.

Cuba's Leyanis Perez Hernandez won with a world leading 14.94m, Thea LaFond of Dominica, the Olympic champion, snatched silver with her last jump, a season best 14.89m, and Venezuela's Yulimar Rojas capped her return after a long layoff with the bronze, leaping a season best 14.76m.

NATIONAL RECORD

Jamaica's Navasky Anderson will be chasing history when he lines up in the men's 800m final as he advanced from his semi-final in the form of his life.

Anderson dipped just inside the previous national record of one minute, 43.74 seconds (1:43.74) as he set a new mark of 1:43.72 to place third in his race.

Tyrice Taylor, the former national champion, did not advance as his time of 1:46.56 was only good enough for seventh in his semi-final.

In the female equivalent, Jamaica's Natoya Goule-Toppin will run in semi-final one today at 6:43 a.m., after comfortably winning her heat yesterday in 1:59.66.

The top two finishers in each semi-final, plus the two fastest times otherwise, will advance to the final.

gregory,bryce@gleanerjm.com