BUDAPEST, Hungary – Americans Kenneth Bednarek and Melissa Jefferson-Wooden upstaged Olympic champions Oblique Seville and Julien Alfred respectively, to win gold in the 100 metres at the World Athletics Ultimate Championship final here on Saturday.
Competing in the men’s event, Bednarek clocked a season’s best 9.85 seconds to relegate Jamaica’s Seville to second in 9.90 seconds, with the USA’s Ronnie Baker claiming bronze in 9.93 seconds.
Seville got the better start, overhauling early leader Christian Coleman midway through the race, but just as he did Bednarek appeared on his left, the US sprinter’s 200m strength paying dividends over the latter half.
Bednarek was elated after capturing his first global 100m title.
“It means a lot to me, because we had a really tough field, and to be able to come out on top with a really stacked field, it’s definitely something to take note of.
“I definitely feel like it’s more of a relief, just because silver, silver, silver over the last few years,” he said when asked what it felt like to finally win a title,” Bednarek said after the race.
“And to be able to get a win over a good event like this, it definitely means a lot because it just proves that I’m capable of doing it and I belong here.”
Just moments earlier, his compatriot Jefferson-Wooden ran a blistering, world leading 10.62 seconds – the seventh fastest of all time – to relegate Saint Lucia’s Alfred to silver in 10.74 seconds, with Sha’Carri Richardson of the USA a close third in 10.76 seconds.
The Jamaican duo of Jonielle Smith and Tina Clayton, finished fourth and fifth respectively, with both timed at 10.94 seconds, while another Jamaican in Lavanya Williams was seventh in 11.07 seconds.
Jefferson-Wooden got off to a strong start but trailed Clayton early, before putting the pedal to the metal in the final 50m, pushing ahead of the field for a comfortable win.
“This feels amazing. I crossed the line with a smile on my face because only I know all the things I have done to get to this moment,” Jefferson-Wooden said.
“When I got into the blocks today, I just told myself that this is my moment. I worked so hard to be where I am today. I didn’t want the moment to be too big. I just had to focus on myself and everything would work out well.”
Trinidad and Tobago’s Jereem "The Dream" Richards and Jamaica’s Nickisha Pryce copped bronze medals in their respective 400m events.
Richards crossed the finish line in 44.23 seconds to finish behind Rai Benjamin of the USA (44.15) and winner Busang Kebinatshipi, who set a new national record of 43.39 seconds.
The women’s event was expectedly won by Marileidy Paulino of the Dominican Republic in 49.07 seconds, with Henriette Jager of Norway (49.28) taking home silver ahead of Pryce (49.56).
Jamaica’s Tajay Gayle produced a sub-par performance to finish fifth in the men’s long jump with a leap of 7.90 metres.
CMC
