That is the score so far in the heated track rivalry between the U.S. and Jamaica at the ongoing World Championships in Athletics. And the battle promises to get even more intense this week.
The two split the main attraction in sprint, the 100 meters, with Jamaican Yohan Blake claiming the men’s gold on Sunday and American Carmelita Jeter taking the women’s a day later. The U.S. assumed the lead late Monday when Jason Richardson was declared the winner in the men’s 110ｍ hurdles, after Dayron Robles, who had crossed the line first, was stripped of the title for obstructing Liu Xiang.
The U.S. almost had a third track gold Monday, but Allyson Felix came up 0.03 seconds behind the winner Amantle Montsho in the women’s 400ｍ. But with no Jamaican on the podium there, it still served as a confidence boost for the Americans.
To illustrate the two country’s stranglehold on the short distances, five of the eight finalists were either from the U.S. or Jamaica. Jeter said the goal all along had been to end Jamaica’s run at 100ｍ.
“I have been working really very, very hard,” Jeter said after edging out Jamaican Veronica Campbell-Brown for the title. “And today, it paid off. My coach (John Smith) showed me that I was ready to get the gold medal, to stop the Jamaican predominance in the sprint.”
Jeter had finished third behind Jamaicans in the past two world championships. In Osaka in 2007, it was Campbell-Brown at the top, and two years later in Berlin, it was Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce.
Jeter came into Daegu in great form, having run 10.70 seconds at a June meet, and will try for a deuce in Friday’s 200ｍ, which once again should feature sprinters from the two nations.
Felix has won the last three 200ｍ races at the worlds, and Jeter has the momentum.
“I’m pretty excited for the 200 because the pressure of the 100 is off of me,” Jeter said. “I did what I was supposed to do there (in the 100) and now all I have to do is line up for the 200.”
As for the Jamaicans, they have a point to prove.
“We’ll see her again,” Fraser-Pryce said of Jeter after finishing a disappointing fourth in the 100ｍ.
Jamaica should make up some ground in men’s events. The 200m may be Bolt’s to lose, given that he will come in extra motivated following the debacle in the 100ｍ. He holds the 200ｍ world record at 19.19 and has the fastest time this year at 19.86. American star Tyson Gay is out with a hip injury, and his compatriot Walter Dix, second in 100ｍ here, will look to go one up in 200ｍ.
How individuals do for both teams may affect the 4x100ｍ relays, which will be the finale of the championships on Sunday. Jamaicans won the men’s and the U.S. took the women’s in Berlin. In Osaka, the U.S. and Jamaica went first-second in both relays.
Asafa Powell may hold the key for Jamaica on the men’s side.
The fastest 100ｍ runner this year, Powell didn’t compete in the distance here due to a groin injury, and has yet to decide whether to run the relay.
Powell said he hoped to be fit by Sunday and will make the call on Thursday.
