defending champion Dina Asher Smith faces a fight for her 200m title at the world championships.
Jamaica duo Shericka Jackson and Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce fired their warnings in Tuesday’s semifinals in Eugene.
Jackson’s time of 21.68 seconds and Fraser-Pryce’s run of 21.82 seconds set the tone.
Asher-Smith ran a season best of 21.96 seconds, finishing behind Tamara Clark United States of America in their semifinals and reach the final on Thursday.
“I’m really happy with that,” she said. “We knew we had to do really well here, so I was really happy to finish second. I didn’t actually know if I was first or third, so I just waited.
“We came here precisely because it’s the World Cup, we’re always ready to go and that’s just part of the job – navigating the rounds and making it to the finals. That too is part of the skill.
“I’m glad we have a day off so I can rest, recover, focus and get ready again, just a little faster.”
Jackson holds the world lead of 21.55 seconds, with Asher-Smith likely to have to smash her own British Record of 21.88 seconds set three years ago in Doha to have a shot at the title.
Jamaica’s Shericka Jackson is the favorite to win the 200m title (Martin Rickett/PA)
(PA wire)
Jackson’s performance was the second fastest time in the world this year and the 12th fastest in history. Sunday’s 100m champion Fraser-Pryce continued to impress despite slowing before the finish line.
Asher-Smith finished fourth in Sunday’s 100m final behind a clean Jamaica sweep, although she equaled her British record of 10.83 seconds.
Great Britain Captain Nethaneel Mitchell-Blake ran 20.30 seconds in the men’s 200m semi-final and did not advance as Joe Ferguson was also out. New 100m champion Fred Kerley appeared to suffer a hamstring injury in the same run and was KO’d.
Mitchell-Blake said: “Championships are grueling. I can’t complain about the race load because some people have doubled down. It’s nice to be back in an environment where I compete with the best and I feel like my best is yet to come.”
Jessie Knight reached the 400m hurdles semifinals but there was no place for Lina Nielsen.
Brazil’s Alison Dos Santos took the 400m hurdles crown, Australia’s Eleanor Patterson won the women’s high jump title and Slovenia’s Kristjan Ceh the men’s discus throw.
